February 12, 2020
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INSIDE L O C A L N E W S
The
Week in Review
M ETRO
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PhoTo by b everly C orbell /T he P orTland o bserver
Goodness Adefope, who came to Portland from Nigeria to attend Concordia University, is looking for
another school now that Concordia is closing its doors.
Concordia to Shut Down
Surprise decision stuns
college community
Arts &
ENTERTAINMENT
O PINION
C LASSIFIED /B IDS
by b everly C orbell
T he P orTland o bserver
Goodness Adfope was still in shock on Monday
afternoon upon learning his school was going to
close. Concordia University, a northeast Portland
landmark serving a diverse population, will close its
doors after 115 years of operation.
There was no warning to students that the private
college, founded by the Lutheran Church-Missouri
Synod in 1905, will permanently close after this se-
mester, and many were in tears at the news, Adfope
said.
“It feels really sad,” said the second semester
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freshman. “I’m new here and am just now making
friends.”
Adfope said when he told his family back in Ni-
geria, they agreed that he should stay in Portland
and look for another school.
He said he will try to enroll Portland State Uni-
versity, which announced it is ready help Concordia
and to “provide any needed assistance to the univer-
sity and its students during this difficult time.”
Concordia’s interim president, Tim Ries, who
joined the staff only a month ago, said the school’s
board of directors decided Friday that the universi-
ty’s current and projected enrollment declines and
poor finances “make it impossible to continue its
educational mission.”
C onTinued on P age 6
Breast Cancer Survivor Celebration
An invite is out for breast cancer survi-
vors and fighters from the African Ameri-
can community to enjoy a night of music,
appetizers and beverages, along with a dis-
cussion of initiates to help fight cancer in
the community, coming Saturday, Feb. 22
from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Village Ball-
room, 704 N.E. Dekum St.
“This celebration is a monumental oc-
casion to honor survivors/fighters and
encourage the African American and all
cultures to stay rooted in their healthcare
advocacy,” said Arya Morman, a member
of a Susan G. Komen Oregon and South-
west Washington advisory council of lead-
ers in the community, area health systems
and businesses.
During the event, Komen representa-
tives will update the community on recent
data collection efforts and progress in de-
veloping an innovative, multi-year project
C onTinued on P age 5
Arya Morman,
2020 Ms. Black
International
Ambassador,
and a clinical
operations
manager for
Lifeworks NW,
is helping
promote a Feb.
22 cancer
survivor
celebration
geared to
the African
American
community.