INSIDE STUDENT AFFAIRSA weekly insider’s guide for those helping students reach their goals toward optimal health and well-being, engagement with learning, and sense of belonging at PSU
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Fall Return to Campus Webinar
President Stephen Percy recently announced that most staff members can expect to return to campus no later than September 7, the day after Labor Day. On Tuesday, May 25 at 1 pm, learn about Portland State’s plans for a safe return of employees to campus at a live webinar. Hear from expert panelists who will address COVID-19 vaccine-related questions, COVID-19 testing protocols, physical improvements on campus, and Human Resources policies and procedures. Ask questions in advance by emailing coronavirusresponse@pdx.edu. To tune in, visit the livestream on YouTube.
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Queer Students of Color Conference
Join Queer and Trans, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color from across the country for PSU's 10th Annual Queer Students of Color Conference (QSoCC) on May 28-30. QSoCC was created in 2011 to foster an inclusive learning environment for marginalized communities of color who are traditionally excluded from mainstream queer and trans conversations. This conference centers the experiences and the voices of queer and trans people of color. This year's event will be entirely virtual with keynote speakers, workshops, community building, and more. To register and learn more, visit the QSoCC event page. Registration closes on May 27!
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Midnight Breakfast: Street Fair
Come join Portland State Programming Board for Midnight Breakfast! The event will be held before Finals Week on June 2 from 6:30-8:30 pm! Students can take pictures at the virtual photo booth, receive a digital portrait, and participate in tarot reading! Learn more and register at the PSPB event page.
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Rental Assistance and Expanded Student Relief Funds
Do you know a student struggling to pay rent? Are you? The Oregon Emergency Rental Assistance Program, which helps qualified renters impacted by the pandemic pay past-due rent and utilities, began taking applications last week. In addition, all students — including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and international students — are now eligible for assistance from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding. Students who haven’t received $500 in emergency funding this term and were enrolled one or more credits on April 12, can apply by June 6. Please spread the word!
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Juneteenth Named Official University Holiday
Starting this year, Portland State will celebrate Juneteenth — the oldest national holiday commemorating the end of slavery — as an official university holiday. By recognizing Juneteenth (observed this year on June 18), PSU aligns itself with many other universities across the nation, as well as with ongoing work in the state of Oregon. Look for educational and celebratory events as we draw closer to the date.
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NASPA Western Regional Conference Call for Proposals
The NASPA Western Regional Conference Committee is seeking program proposals for this year’s event in San Francisco on November 10-13. The conference theme is “Courageous and Resilient Leadership: Together We Rise.” In the past year of unprecedented times, the experiences of student affairs professionals have radically changed them and the students they serve. At this year’s conference, attendees will be called to connect these words with the difficult work they have done and in the ways the practice has evolved. The deadline to submit program proposals is Friday, June 4.
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Five Practical Tips for Managing Anxiety
"Let's just be real for a second and acknowledge that there's a lot to be stressed about when juggling regular life stressors, COVID-19, and the political climate. What makes it even more overwhelming is that many of the ways we usually combat anxiety have become even less accessible in recent months. Let's also not forget that marginalized populations (e.g. people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, and those with limited financial resources) may be struggling even more as they continue to face disparities during the pandemic. All of this can be really challenging, but there is good news. Yes, I said there is good news about your anxiety. And it's that there are things within your control that can help make it a little easier."
To learn five practical tips to help manage anxiety, visit the PDX CampusWell.
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|  | In the past couple of weeks, PSU has hosted numerous COVID-19 vaccine clinics for students, faculty, staff, community members, and their families. Victor E. Viking was just one of the individuals who received a shot on campus.
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One of my colleagues recently shared a 4-minute video that opened my mind to a revolutionary insight: the human brain's tendency to solve problems through additions rather than subtractions. The video draws on the concept explicated in Leidy Klotz' book Subtract: the Untapped Science of Less. In his book, Klotz, who teaches engineering, architecture and business at UVA, interrogates the idea that we seem to overlook the possibility of removing stuff, instead of adding stuff, to solve problems. He fell upon this realization while playing Legos with his son, who was stumped trying to build a bridge that didn't topple. He struggled because he didn't have enough Legos, but all he needed to do was remove one in order to have a balanced structure. Examples of the genius of simplicity show up throughout history--Picassso, da Vinci, Lao Tzu--but we often overlook reduction as a solution. Klotz recognizes that less is not easy. Biological, cultural and economic forces push us towards more, but we have a choice. Our blind spot for subtraction takes a toll -- on our cities, our world and our lives. Klotz has me thinking, where can I subtract in my own life? What if the beauty of minimalism could be even more transformative than Marie Kondo-ing our closets? What if we weren't driven to hoard by fear of scarcity (money, power...toilet paper)? What if we lived in a world of abundance and plenty and were incentivized to let go and subtract our way toward lives of greater meaning and purpose?
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OFFICE OF STUDENT AFFAIRS
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SUGGESTION FOR A FUTURE EDITION?If you want to include something in an upcoming Inside Student Affairs, please email studentaffairs@pdx.edu. Archives of past issues can be found here.
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