COC Spooktacular 2.0

COC staff pulled themselves away from their desks Friday afternoon to celebrate Halloween COC-style before heading home to pass out candy to trick-or-treaters or attend other Halloween parties. A big thanks goes to our host, Daniel, who was responsible for organizing the afternoon’s fun-filled festivities. The party was complete with snacks, conversation, contests and a group skit activity.

Contest Results

1. Best Costume (Spirit Award) – Bob Wise as “John McAin’t”
2. Pumpkin Carving Contest:
   • Silliest Pumpkin – Arnold Cogan
   • Scariest Pumpkin – Daniel Christensen
   • Best Overall Pumpkin – Jim Owens
3. Holiday Potluck Throw-Down (Black Spoon Award) – Steve Faust

Photos

More photos from this event are available on Flickr.

PSU Forums Fall Term 2008

Presented by Arnold Cogan, FAICP, Planner-in-Residence in the Nohad A. Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning

Two forums will be held in room 303 of the Urban Center from 10 to 11:30 am. Specific dates, topics and speakers are as follows:

October 31: How will the poor economy affect state and local government in Oregon?
Guest speaker will be Joseph Cortright, an economist with Impressa, a Portland consulting firm. Joe is a non-resident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution and the chief economic analyst for the Oregon Business Plan. He is an advisor to state and local governments, private businesses, foundations and advocacy groups in more than a dozen states, Canada and Europe. With the economy in dire financial straits, he will discuss the significant challenges facing planners and others in federal, state and local agencies who are feeling the pinch. In addition, he will provide his insights on the changes needed if governments in the Portland region are to continue providing needed services and facilities.

December 5: A month after the election—what does it all mean?
Guest speaker will be Russ Dondero, who has been an adjunct professor of political science at PSU since 2005. Russ received his B.A. in political science from Whitman, an M.A. in political science from the University of Minnesota and a PhD. from the U of M. He is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Politics and Government at Pacific University where he taught for 31 years. He will discuss the impact on Oregon and local policies of the presidential and congressional elections, legislative and local government races, as well as key ballot measures. The emphasis will be on how all this affects planners and public officials, why voters made the choices they did and likely results.

All forums will be webcast live and archived for future viewing. Our expectation is that each event will stimulate spirited conversation, focus our expectations on the role of planning in the future and provide students, faculty and others with new insights.

For more information, please contact Arnold Cogan at: 503-225-0192 or at arnold.cogan@coganowens.com