Portland State's Ann Cudd: What's next
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Ann Cudd took time to reflect on her first year as president of Portland State University. Photo: Portland State University
Ann Cudd's first year leading Portland State University took a dramatic turn when student protests over the war in Gaza broke out on campus in the spring, leading to arrests and $750,000 in damages at the school library.
Why it matters: While the school was just one across the nation that saw such protests break out, PSU's campus drew international media interest when about 75 students occupied the Millar Library for three nights.
Driving the news: Cudd will mark her 1st anniversary as president next month. She chatted with Axios Portland about her tenure so far, reflecting on the protests, placemaking and a new performing arts center.
Zoom in: After the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, pressure built on campus and, in April, student tent camps formed on campus, followed by the occupation of the Millar Library. Clearance by police followed in May.
What they're saying: Cudd told Axios the university is updating its rules for protests and will share them soon.
- While she said she and the university staunchly uphold the First Amendment,"we want our students to understand that there are boundaries: when speech becomes action that's violent … that's gone too far."
Cudd acknowledged the "divisiveness and high emotions" of national protests around Israel's war in Gaza.
- "I think the library occupation went well beyond that. It wasn't just the occupation, it was all of the horrible graffiti inside and outside the library that clearly was not respectful debate or dialogue."
- She notes that of 31 people arrested, only six were PSU students, "and nobody was hurt."
Zoom in: Cudd was appointed to the governor's task force in August to revitalize downtown. Plans included reducing public drug use, property crime and camping, plus rethinking the campus, which is open to the public.
- PSU last week announced landscape architecture firm Walker Macy (who also designed Pioneer Courthouse Square) as the winner of a competition to design vibrant and inclusive public spaces
- The designers will decorate some concrete and bring "the energy from inside PSU buildings to outdoor locations," according to a press release.
- Cudd said the design will make the area "more attractive, more safe."
What we're watching: PSU also has one of three proposals for replacing Keller Auditorium, south of campus and near the I-405 overpass, and a presentation is planned for Aug. 14.
- The site would tie into the Halprin Sequence of paths, parks and fountains leading south from the current Keller.
- If the university wins, she said, it will have to raise much of the $400-plus million from philanthropy.
- "We're very optimistic about our proposal and think it could transform the whole city."