Lesson plan

Stephen Epler

Stephen Edward Epler (1909–1997) was an American academic administrator who founded what is now Portland State University (PSU). In 1934 he developed six-man football for small high schools, and in 1940 became the dean of men at Southern Oregon College in Ashland, Oregon. After serving in the United States Navy in World War II, he founded the Vanport Extension Center in 1946, which later became PSU; he succeeded in keeping the institution running after the building housing it was destroyed in the 1948 Vanport flood. After being passed over as dean and later president of the institution, he accepted presidency of Reedley College in California and then the College of Marin. In 1966, he was chosen as first president and superintendent of Ohlone College. Epler died in Carmichael, California, in 1997. A residence hall at PSU is named for him.

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Article summary

Stephen Edward Epler (1909–1997) was an American academic administrator who founded what is now Portland State University (PSU). In 1934 he developed six-man football for small high schools, and in 1940 became the dean of men at Southern Oregon College in Ashland, Oregon. After serving in the United States Navy in World War II, he founded the Vanport Extension Center in 1946, which later became PSU; he succeeded in keeping the institution running after the building housing it was destroyed in the 1948 Vanport flood. After being passed over as dean and later president of the institution, he accepted presidency of Reedley College in California and then the College of Marin. In 1966, he was chosen as first president and superintendent of Ohlone College. Epler died in Carmichael, California, in 1997. A residence hall at PSU is named for him.

Key claims

  1. date of death: 1997 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
  2. date of foundation: 1946 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

  1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
  2. The record states that the date of death is "1997". What evidence would count against this claim?
  3. The record states that the date of foundation is "1946". What evidence would count against this claim?
  4. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
  5. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

  1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1314655987

Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.