Maggie Dapp
Articles
A River Campus waiting game: Track complex construction delayed due to uneven ground on building site
On the north side of the Franz River Campus, in an area that was expected to house a competition-ready track complex complete with a Pilots-purple race track, is now a construction site covered in 12-18 inches of gravel in an effort to level the ground. While the complex was initially slated for completion by the fall of 2019, uneven ground on the building site flagged as a concern by engineers that same year, halted all construction as the University implements an engineering practice known as surcharging to level the site before construction.
Pilot in the spotlight: Walk-on to watchlist — rower Rachel Hester makes waves for the Pilots
When Rachel Hester first stepped on campus in the fall of 2022, she knew basically nothing about the sport of rowing. “I had never touched an oar before,” Hester said. “And now here I am, three years later, just absolutely loving it.” Three years later, Hester is a pillar of the Pilots rowing program. In the preseason, she was named to the prestigious FSN Watchlist, the only Pilot to be named, and recently rowed on Portland’s first varsity eight, which took the West Coast Conference (WCC) Crew of the Week honor for their wins over Santa Clara and Seattle April 11 and 12.
Pope Francis dies at 88: ‘A man of great humility, mercy and compassion’
Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, died at 88 on April 21. He suffered serious health issues this year, but the death came as a shock following an Easter appearance in St. Peter’s Square hours before. In an April 21 email to community members, University President Robert Kelly shared a message of mourning.
‘Her whole heart and soul is in her work’: Feminist activist Yasmina Benslimane set to give impactful talk
Growing up in Rabat, Morocco, Yasmina Benslimane witnessed the strength and resilience of the women around her. Women who toiled in the fields with bare hands, walked miles to fetch clean water and endured forced marriages leading to lives of domestic servitude. These scenes, both inspiring and unsettling, left a lasting impact on Benslimane. "Seeing all of these injustices ignited a fire within, and that's when I started learning about feminism," Benslimane said. This “fire within” would ignite change that continues to influence communities around the world. On Monday, April 14, at 7 p.m. the University of Portland will welcome young feminist champion Yasmina Benslimane on Zoom from the Dundon-Berchtold Auditorium for the 2025 Mazzocco Lecture.
ASUP senior class run-off election fails to reach minimum voting threshold, election postponed until fall semester
The run-off election for the remaining Associated Students of the University of Portland (ASUP) senior class senator seat failed to reach the minimum voting percentage required for a valid election, leaving the seat vacant.
ASUP senators elected for 2025-26 school year
The votes are in for the 2025-26 Associated Students of the University of Portland (ASUP) Senate elections. Fourteen students competed for positions this spring, but only two races — the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and senior class seats — were contested, according to ASUP Vice President Stephanie Vasquez.
Pilots end historic season with 71-61 loss to Villanova in WBIT
Pilots women’s basketball (31-5) fell to the Villanova Wildcats 71-61 in their quarterfinal matchup of the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT) March 27.
Pilots, with a late game surge, advance to WBIT quarterfinals
Pilots women’s basketball (31-4) took down the Seton Hall Pirates (23-10) 61-55 on March 23 to advance to the quarterfinals of the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT.)
Pilots beat Stanford with 69-68 overtime win, advancing in Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament
Portland Pilots women’s basketball beat the No. 2 seeded Stanford 69-68 in their first game of the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT) March 20.
