Portland State's weekly student newsletter for the week of January 20, 2026

Next month, visitors from across the city and beyond will have the opportunity to see Portland State University in a whole new way. PSU and LAIKA, the stop motion animation company based in Hillsboro, will collaborate on three installations during the annual Portland Winter Light Festival. Stephen Lee, associate professor in the Schnitzer School of Art + Art History + Design and some of the LAIKA faculty fellows will create the light display at the Simon Benson House. Local artists will collaborate with LAIKA for installations on the side of the Smith Memorial Student Union and in the trees in the South Park Blocks between Montgomery and Harrison streets. The Winter Light Festival’s theme is “All the Little Things” and runs Feb. 6-7 and 13-14.

Sunday, Jan. 25: Last day to withdraw with a 40% refund 

Academic Calendar  | myPSU  | Registrar

Heads up, we are testing PSU Alerts, our campus emergency notification system, today at 12:50 p.m. While no action is required during the test, this is an opportunity to take small steps for a more resilient community. Don’t get scared, get prepared! Visit PSU Emergency Management’s new preparedness landing page for tools and resources to weather the unexpected. A second test alert will be sent to on-campus housing residents as part of an update to our notification system.

If you’re hoping to land a summer internship, now is the time to start. This week, the University Career Center is hosting three sessions of “How to Get an Internship You Actually Want.” Come learn search tips for finding a quality internship, how to craft an effective resume, how to make your application stand out from the crowd, and more!

In person and virtual sessions:

Tuesday, Jan. 20 
3:30 - 5 p.m.
Fariborz Maseeh Hall (FMH) 342H
Register for in person

Wednesday, Jan. 21 
11a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Register for virtual  

Friday, Jan. 23 
12:50 – 1:20 p.m.
Fariborz Maseeh Hall (FMH) 342H
Register for mini session

The School of Business Career Center has invited chosen professionals for a panel discussion about how to stand out in the job search process. Socialize, network and enjoy free snacks! Panelists include: Anne Bohrer-Clancy, Riverview Community Bank, Emma Kiefel, Keen Footwear, Stefanie Jacquemin, Keen Footwear, Kristin Mcintire, VanderHouwen.

Thursday, Jan. 22 
4:15 p.m. 
Karl Miller Center (KMC) 190

New term, same goal: connect YOU with employers and career readiness opportunities. This is your week to focus on the future! Career Week kicks off Feb. 2, with the Winter Career Fair on Monday, Feb. 9. Find events to help you explore career paths and connect with employers. Plus, get real-world advice on resume reviews, networking events and panels. Don’t sit this one out. Check the event lineup, pick what interests you most, and show up ready to discover opportunities that could shape your path after PSU.

Make new friends while playing a sport together! Campus Rec is hosting leagues for basketball, indoor soccer, pickleball, and volleyball! If you're curious about learning a new sport, free pickup games and open gym times are a great space to try it out in a welcoming environment. Get your intramural pass for $20, then register for a league as a team or as an individual. Preseason games start this week, so register now to play!

This winter, Campus Rec is piloting a series of small group courses. These introductory courses meet for four sessions to learn the fundamentals of a specific activity. These include Foundations of Pilates, Women on Weights, and Womens+ Learn to Climb. Small group courses are led by knowledgeable and experienced instructors in a supportive community environment, perfect for members new to the activity. All small group courses require registration through our member portal. Cost is $40. Registration is open now, so reserve your spot today!

Attend a town hall with state Rep. Dacia Grayber, who represents the PSU campus. This is a great opportunity to hear about her priorities and expectations going into the 2026 legislative session, ask questions and thank her for championing students and Portland State University.

Tuesday, Jan. 20
6 - 7:00 p.m.
Toulan Library (Urban Center Building) 770

Your donation saves lives. The Red Cross needs donors of all blood types to keep the U.S. blood supply stable this winter. Schedule your appointment at Portland State University and make a direct impact on patient care.

Wednesday, Jan. 21 and Thursday, Jan. 22
11 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Smith Memorial Student Union (SMSU) 327 and 328
Schedule a donation time (scroll down to find PSU)

The PSU-OHSU School of Public Health needs participants for a study on how healthcare experiences affect Oregonians with prediabetes. Negative healthcare experiences can worsen health outcomes — especially for BIPOC communities, LGBTQIA2S+ individuals, and people with lower incomes. Researchers are interviewing individuals with prediabetes to develop a survey measuring adverse healthcare experiences. Your participation helps ensure this work reflects diverse perspectives. 

Mapping Familiar Territories, Charting New Paths is on view Jan. 20 - April 25, at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art (JSMA) on the PSU campus in Fariborz Maseeh Hall (FMH 110). The exhibition features work by 11 contemporary artists who use mapping as a creative and critical practice to explore place, identity, power, and social and environmental issues. Presented across a range of media, the works examine how maps shape personal and collective understandings of the world.

Admission is free and open to the campus and community.

Services for students with children open house and hot chocolate bar 

CEE Bachelor's + Master's Information Session

Beginner climb night

Mixed volleyball league

Weeknight belay class

Mario Kart tournament

ECE graduate programs info session

The chronicles of cocoa

Music @ Midday: On the Horizon: New Trombone Works from Asian Composers

5th Avenue Cinema Presents: I Have Electric Dreams

Friends of Chamber Music: Axelle Fanyo and Julius Drake

Virtual Viking is Portland State University's student newsletter, published weekly by University Communications. To submit a news item or event, email virtualv@pdx.edu.

Visit Virtual Viking for submission guidelines and deadlines.