Make UCLA a Sister-University

[BroadwayVik]

Back in the '50s, Owen Meredith Wilson, president of the University of Oregon, successfully lobbied the Oregon Legislature to disallow the teaching of duplicate courses at Portland State College, thereby perversely shackling Portland State's natural course of development. He said he did not want that new college in Portland to become another UCLA.

Let us therefore honor the memory of the keen insight of that man by, in a sense, following his prescription for PSU---establishing close ties with UCLA. We can probably do this best officially by making that university a Sister-University. After all, UCLA too is an urban university and the basis upon which we can motivate and establish this relationship will be the very words spoken by Owen Meredith Wilson.

My guess is that a relationship with UCLA will be highly beneficial to PSU and I hope of expectant value to UCLA as well.

 

[pdxfan]

Back in the 50s and early 60s Wilson wasn't the only one thinking of PSC as another UCLA. It was inevitable given the population centers. And no doubt if PDX grew to the size of LA, we would be a UCLA today. But of course we're not, though drawn small we look like them. Oregon just doesn't have the money. It doesn't matter. PSU has forged its own destiny quite different (and I think better) than UCLA with its focus on students and community. We're taking our own path. UCLA doesn't see itself as an "urban" university; we do, self-consciously so. We serve the city and are proud of it.

 

[BroadwayVik]

I think PSU would do well to solicit relationships with allies wherever there is a political social-economic basis to do so. There will never be another UCLA just as there will never be another PSU. But what good strategy it would be to ally ourselves with UCLA and the University of Washington.

 

[pdxfan]

Forget about UW; they wouldn't deign to talk with us (some of our programs have tried).

 

[BroadwayVik]

Neither university would regard us as an equal, but they would regard us as a university with a common nemesis: the University of Oregon. OSU is much more beneficient toward PSU (live and let live) than the UO (seeking to forestall PSU's development or take it over). OSU would also make a good ally but, being in-state, can often be subject to siding with the UO against PSU. They're friendly but not altogether a reliable political bedfellow.

There needs to be a basis for UW to take an interest in PSU and I believe they would foster a protective and nurturing posture toward PSU in consequence of their own rivalry with the UO. A similar kind of relationship with UCLA can be garnered based on Wilson's revealing words.

They may be willing to offer up strategic advice of a reliable political, social or economic nature to shield against the aggressive political movements of the UO against PSU.