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 protest, 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.

Zoom in: Cudd was appointed to the governor's task force to revitalize downtown and rethink the campus, which is open to the public. She was on Portland's Value Proposition subcommittee, aka the optimism committee.

• PSU last week announced landscape architecture firm Walker Macy (who also designed Pioneer Courthouse Square) as the winner of a competition to design public spaces.

Keller Auditorium plans

With over a dozen Oregonians competing at the Summer Olympics in Paris this year, there's no better way to cheer on our own than at a local sports bar.

State of play: While the opening ceremony is on Friday at 5:30pm, several competitions start today.

• Today's events kick off with the Olympic men's rugby tournament and a headline matchup between the U.S. men's soccer team and host nation France.

What to expect: Paris is nine hours ahead of Pacific Time, so keep that in mind when planning your day around an event.

• Here are some spots around town where they're showing all the action.

The Sports Bra

2512 NE Broadway

Dedicated to celebrating all things women's sports, this spot is sure to be playing many of the games featuring Oregon's female athletes — especially the U.S. women's national soccer matches, where two Thorns players are on the team.

Pro tip: If there's a game you want to watch here, get there early. With only 40 seats, it's bound to get cramped.

George's Corner Tavern

5501 N Interstate Avenue

A perfect place to stop in after work (or on your way to work depending on what game you're into) with friends, or make some new ones.

Pro tip: Don't be that guy, keep it polite: The bar has a no-cursing policy — no matter how lively the game gets.

Three more sports bars

👀 Mayor Ted Wheeler selected Commissioner Rene Gonzalez to serve on a committee overseeing the Joint Office of Homeless Services — an agency Gonzalez criticized in the past for its spending. (Willamette Week)

🔌 The EPA awarded Oregon $200 million to boost climate change efforts, including state programs that reduce energy costs for low-income households and provide rebates for those switching to electric vehicles. (OPB)

🎭 Portland Opera CEO Sue Dixon said she supports PSU's Keller Auditorium replacement plan because closing the performance hall for renovation — as one of the other proposals recommends — "threatens the arts community." (The Oregonian)

Stephen Slappe is a digital artist who runs the Dead Media Hour archive, where he showcases videos and stills he finds on old formats such as Super 8, VHS and audio tape.

The intrigue: The 50-year-old has been an avid skateboarder since age 4 and loves to explore Portland's underground skate spots from his home in Mill Park in SE Portland.

We asked him what his best Portland day looks like.

🌯 Breakfast: La Osita, a lone food cart near Market Street, where he gets the $10 breakfast burrito with chorizo, egg and salsa.

🛹 Morning activity: Slappe skates first thing. He likes Luuwit Skatepark, because it's quiet, and he loves Feral Cat Cove, a DIY skatepark in Lents that started during the pandemic.

• "At first the neighbors complained, then they smoothed it over. It's better than a camp full of broken-down RVs."

🍛 Lunch: With his wife, artist Samantha Wall, at Nong's Khao Man Gai for their eponymous chicken and rice dish.

• "It's one of our favorite meals in the city."

His favorite shopping spot

At any given time, no matter the neighborhood, you're sure to find a box of used goods — sneakers, old paperback novels, cassette tapes or slightly broken furniture — on the sidewalk with "Free" scribbled on it.

♻️ The big picture: So-called "free piles" are not unique to Portland. It's how many people get rid of once-prized junk without hauling it to Goodwill.

• There have been spirited debates about whether this phenomenon is just the circular economy at work or adds to street litter.

🤔 We want to hear from you: Tell us what you think about free piles by completing this one-minute survey.

• We'll use responses to inform our reporting.