Laura Heffernan

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The land that UP sits on first belonged to Native American tribes, such as the Multnomah, Cowlitz and Clackamas.

UP celebrates Native American Heritage month virtually

We might think of The Bluff as the home to college students and faculty, but this wasn’t always the case. The land that University of Portland sits on first belonged to Native American tribes, such as the Multnomah, Cowlitz and Clackamas. In acknowledgment and out of respect, it is our duty to give homage to this land and culture. 

Laura Heffernan is a reporter for The Beacon. Photo courtesy of Laura Heffernan.

STAFF OPINION: OCD is not an adjective

Up until the point of being diagnosed with OCD in my first year of high school and continuing in my life now, I was and still am experiencing and noticing all these different things I have to do in my everyday life in order for everything to feel right and under control. All those compulsions, intrusive thoughts and general anxieties I have to cope with daily are exhausting. What makes it worse is when people use OCD as an adjective. OCD is not an adjective and should not be used as one.

Photo courtesy of Brittney Cooper

Black feminist Brittney Cooper urges UP community to ‘trust Black women’

On Sept. 4, Black feminist, scholar, author and activist Dr. Brittney Cooper gave a keynote address entitled “Trust Black Women: The Importance of Black Women in U.S. Politics” to University of Portland students, staff and faculty. Cooper originally planned to give her talk in March but was forced to reschedule due to COVID-19. Six months after its original date, Cooper’s message had new meaning after the deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, as well as the insurgence of nationwide protests against police brutality and systemic racism.  

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