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This content was published: May 15, 2012. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.

Founders’ Week: It’s PCC Day in Oregon

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May 15 has been declared PCC Day by the Oregon Governor! Celebrate PCC Day and the signing of the college’s charter by wearing your blue 50th Anniversary t-shirts and other PCC apparel. Show your PCC pride and join your campus community for an ice cream social. They will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Borthwick Mall, Cascade; 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Upper CC Mall, Sylvania; 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5-7 p.m., Great Hall, Southeast Center; and 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Building 3 Mall, Rock Creek.

A student chills out on a Sylvania Campus lawn in the 1970s.

A student chills out on a Sylvania Campus lawn in the 1970s.

Read all the details about Founders’ Week.

PCC Trivia Question of the Day:

In 1970, PCC won first-place for this at Portland’s biggest event. What was it? (Yesterday’s answer: The Sylvania Campus).

History Story of the Day: Alternative transportation? A horse, of course

In 1970, parking at the Sylvania Campus was so bad that students resorted to horsing around. Kathy Bucher was one of those students. She started riding her horse named Citation to Sylvania because she rarely found a parking spot for her car when she arrived for her classes.

At first she tied Citation to a tree in the parking area. But when the college’s board of directors caught wind of her new mode of travel they immediately approved an installation of a hitching post in an area away from the parking lots so the horse could wait in peace.

A thankful Bucher told the board that it had taken her 20 minutes to drive to campus and another 20 minutes to find parking. But by riding Citation, it took her 10 minutes to get to PCC using back trails and short cuts. A few other students joined Bucher in her horse-riding to school, but the mode of transportation never really caught on.

And none of those students, including Kathy, were ever given a parking citation.

Read the “The PCC History Series.”

Part 5: Southeast Campus: 30 years in the making

Part 4: Despite hurdles, PCC builds Sylvania Campus

Part 3: Cascade Campus an education gateway for North Portland

Part 2: The Battle for the Rock Creek Campus

Part 1: PCC’s origins started with a Failing school

About James Hill

James G. Hill, an award-winning journalist and public relations writer, is the Director of Public Relations at Portland Community College. A graduate of Portland State University, James has worked as a section editor for the Newberg Graphic... more »