Student Activities

Beacon Content Switching To All-Digital, Fall 2016

October 23, 2015

The University’s student-run weekly newspaper, The Beacon, has announced that all content will be available exclusively online and the print edition will be eliminated starting in the 2016-2017 academic year.

Last fall, The Beacon launched a mobile app, and the newly redesigned website racked up more than 215,000 page views between October 1, 2014 and October 3 of this year. In contrast, The Beacon distributes 1,750 printed copies on campus and to home-delivery subscribers each week. This semester, the weekly print edition reduced its page count from 16 to 12 to further focus on digital coverage.

To produce the print edition, the editorial board spends roughly 40 hours a week working on layout and design. By being exclusively online, Beacon staff will have more time to focus on content creation.

For more information contact Nancy Copic, student activities, at 7470 or copic@up.edu.

Beacon Accolades Keep Coming

April 27, 2015

A Beacon photograph taken at the Inauguration of University president Rev. Mark L. Poorman, C.S.C., won First Place for Breaking News Photography in the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Mark of Excellence Awards regional competition, according to Nancy Copic, student activities. Freshman photojournalist Hannah Baade took the photo titled “A Hug Between Presidents.” It shows Fr. Poorman hugging ASUP President John Julius Muwulya after Muwulya presented him with a watch as an inauguration gift. As a First Place regional winner, the photo now advances to the national SPJ Mark of Excellence Awards competition. National winners will be announced at the SPJ Excellence in Journalism conference in Orlando September 18-20.

The competition featured entries from collegiate newspapers in five western states: Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Alaska. Regional finalists also include “Are we pushing forward or rolling backward?” by Lydia Laythe (Kelsey Thomas, editor-in-chief) in the category In-Depth Reporting; and “It’s Your $85” by Rebekah Markillie and Maggie Hannon (Kelsey Thomas, editor-in-chief), in the category of Photo Illustration.

For more information contact Copic at 7470 or copic@up.edu.

Beacon Alumni, Where Are You?

April 6, 2015

Beacon alumni, we want to hear from you, since this year marks The Beacon’s 80th birthday. Looking back, what are your most memorable Beacon moments? How did working on The Beacon enrich your college experience? How did working on The Beacon prepare you for professional life? Submissions will be published in the April 19 print edition and on The Beacon website and mobile app. Send your memories (no more than 200 words) to BeaconAlums@gmail.com by April 12. Include your name (and maiden name), graduation year, and current career and job information. If possible, attach a current headshot of yourself.

For more information contact Nancy Copic, student activities, at 7470 or copic@up.edu.

Beacon Wins Best In The Nation

March 23, 2015

The University’s student-run campus newspaper, The Beacon, won the national Apple Award for “Best Newspaper” for colleges or universities with fewer than 5,000 students at the annual College Media Association convention in New York City, according to Nancy Copic, student activities. Other winners were The Miami Hurricane of the University of Miami (10,000+ students) and The Eagle of American University (5000-10,000 students).

Copic attended the convention, along with six selected Beacon staffers: Katie Dunn, Malika Andrews, David DiLoreto, Rebekah Markillie, Parker Shoaff, and Jacob Fuhrer. The Beacon has won four other national awards since September, including a Third Place Pinnacle Award for Best Weekly College Newspaper, and three Gold Circle Awards from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.

For more information contact Copic at 7470 or copic@up.edu.

5th Annual Diversity Dialogues Week

March 2, 2015

The multicultural and diversity programs office will present Diversity Dialogues Week 2015, from Monday, March 2 to Friday, March 6, according to Bethany Sills, student activities. Through a variety of events, this week celebrates, encourages discussion, and builds awareness about diversity, cultural difference, and social justice.

For a detailed list of events, see www.up.edu/activities/diversity. For more information, contact Sills at 7470 or sills@up.edu.

Time to Help with Orientation Planning

February 23, 2015

The planning process for Fall 2015 new student Orientation programs and activities is underway, according to Jeromy Koffler, student activities. Any suggestions, recommendations, proposals, requests, or other all around “we should really do that!” will be gratefully accepted by Koffler (koffler@up.edu) or Allie Hill (hilla@up.edu), international languages and cultures, by Friday, March 6.

African American Read-In, Feb. 19

February 16, 2015

In celebration of Black History Month, the University is hosting its annual African American Read-In and free cultural dinner on Thursday, February 19, at 5:30 p.m., in the Terrace Room. The African American Read-In is a national dedication to literary guests sponsored by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE). Multicultural programs, student activities, and the English department invite all students, faculty, and staff to share in the celebration dinner and reading. Participants are encouraged to read a selection from their favorite African American author, poet, playwright, songwriter, or individual work. All are welcome to attend even if they choose not to read.

Please RSVP to http://tinyurl.com/q5njdhf by Monday, February 16. Questions can be directed to Bethany Sills, multicultural programs, at sills@up.edu or call 7470.

Juniors Set to Host Parents, Feb. 20-22

February 16, 2015

The Office of Student Activities and the student planning committee are gearing up for the 18th Annual Junior Parents and Families Weekend, taking place on campus from February 20 to 22, according to Jeromy Koffler, student activities. Between 225 and 250 families are expected to participate, with approximately 750 overall attendees this year. Please join the junior class and student activities in welcoming our guests when they arrive.

Information about various events can be found at up.edu/activities or by calling 7470.

Beacon Staffer Wins National Award For Digital Media

February 9, 2015

UP student Cassie Sheridan won a national award for an interactive digital timeline she designed for The Beacon last spring, titled “History of Women at UP”, according to Nancy Copic, student activities. Sheridan won Second Place in the category of “Interactive Graphic for Digital Media” in the Gold Circle Awards sponsored by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, based at the Columbia University School of Journalism in New York.

While The Beacon has won several national awards in recent years, this is the first national award the paper has won for digital media. The blog College Media Matters also named the timeline one of the “Seven Standout Student Press Stories.” For more information contact Copic at 7470 or copic@up.edu.

Seeking Student Leadership Candidates for 2015-16

January 26, 2015

Student leadership and involvement are paramount to a vibrant, engaged university community. Becoming involved in student life at the University of Portland will help develop interpersonal leadership skills, enhance students’ educational experience, and help better prepare them to be leaders in the world. Please encourage students who may be interested to consider applying for a student leadership position for the 2015-16 academic year. Various positions are available and some are paid. Complete details and application information can be found at up.edu/leadership. First round submittal deadline is Friday, Feb. 6, 2015.