Since moving to Portland 16 months ago, I have learned a lot about what it means to be an Oregonian. I am learning to prefer a raincoat to an umbrella, I have fully embraced the Marionberry, and I know how to recognize “Portland nice.” But I recently learned something that made me even more proud to call Oregon home.
In 1987, Oregon became the first state to pass a statewide law stopping state and local police and government from helping federal authorities with immigration enforcement. With that, Oregon became the first sanctuary state, standing up for the safety, dignity and human rights of all Oregonians. In 2017 Portland made a declaration as a sanctuary city, something that PSU had already declared about its campus the year before.
At Portland State we talk a lot about belonging, but beyond our efforts to provide a welcoming environment for folks of any background, it is my hope that every student knows we also strive to be a place of refuge. Whether it’s finding community in cultural and resource centers, support through the Center for Student Health and Counseling or Student Legal Services, or advice from faculty or friends, PSU is here for students.
Growing up in a conservative farming community, I never felt the sense of belonging that we want for our students. For me athletics provided a refuge from feeling powerless and out of place. Sitting now in a completely different place and time, I can still relate to those who feel unseen and unappreciated. I know that being in community with others, sharing experiences, is the way forward.
As we near the end of what has been a very eventful fall term and look toward a new calendar year, I hope we can continue to create the community we want to see in the world right here at Portland State.
The guiding commitments of PSU’s strategic plan animate everything we do as a university and I hope they hold meaning for all of us. We welcome and support all learners while providing equitable access to quality education; we actively work to build a community ethos or care and well-being while modeling responsible stewardship. And, perhaps, most importantly, we are co-creating the future of our region. What we want that future to look like is something we can work toward every day — together.