Posts published in “Uncategorized”

4/27/2012: Like it or not, most UO faculty are now in a union. This union needs by-laws and then a constitution. My understanding is that these are to be determined democratically. Why does this matter? The PSU union negotiated a 0.75% union dues deal with the AAUP. Way better than…

4/25/2012: Email sent yesterday: This email is being sent to all Optional Retirement Plan (ORP) employees on behalf of the OUS SB 242 Optional Retirement Plan Review Committee. This committee was formed as a result of Senate Bill 242 which requires OUS to review the current ORP plan and make…

From today’s retirement event for CAS Assoc Dean and Chief of Operations Marriane Nicols.

4/23/2012: The current list of Senate committee nominees and instructions for volunteering are here. I believe nominations close tomorrow. Incentives? Rumor down at the faculty club is that the provost will enter all faculty who volunteer for committee service into a raffle for a slightly used beamer.

4/23/2012: From the RG: “To trigger the law, five or more people would have to be present at a gathering where alcohol is being served and where at least two offenses are taking place, such as excessive noise … and public urination, officials said.”

4/23/2012: U of Florida, from Forbes via an anon correspondent, thanks. The crazy part is that, just as at UO, the university could tax athletics to support academics instead of the other way around. (UF does this, but to a very small degree.) It would just take some courage on…

From Diane Dietz in the RG: Variations on the word “collaborate” appear nine times in the committee’s formal “position description and ideal candidate profile.” “It was definitely on purpose,” Oregon University System Vice Chancellor Sona Andrews said. The committee is seeking “someone who can be a real collaborator with the…

From Josephine Woolington in the ODE on a break-in at the Jaqua jock box this morning: Officers responded around 6 a.m. and found the man in the bathroom sitting on the toilet. The officers handcuffed the man and said he thought the building was a nightclub. “Hey, is this where…

4/20/2012: From Insidehighered: … Fichtenbaum repeated Wednesday what he had said during his campaign: union organizing will be a priority. “That certainly is a direction we would like to take the AAUP. Tradition is important and we support the core policies of the AAUP but we need to build an…

4/19/2012: The issue of the net social social value of this blog has come up in the comments. While not even an economist would argue that the revealed preferences of our readers and commenters means it must be positive, there is an argument from history, and from authority – no…

4/19/2012: That’s the word from the ERB on the hearing to consider the UO unionization case: The hearing is set for May 7-9 here in our offices beginning at 9:00 a.m. The notice of the hearing will be posted no later than May 1 on our website (www.oregon.gov/ERB) and the…

4/18/2012: Springfield school district graduated 897 HS students last year. 258 dropped out before graduation. 51% of the 2008 graduates have enrolled in college (including 2-year) at some point. 60% of the students are eligible for free or reduced lunch – for a family of four this means income below…

4/18/2012: In case you had no idea what was the source of that sweet smell drifting over from the “student athlete” apartments in The Kilkenny Towers. Patrick Malee has the story in the ODE. ESPN report here. The consensus is that the wide dissemination of the fact that Oregon law…

4/18/2012: At least that’s the word from our normally reliable source in Randy Geller’s office. Starting time is 9:00 AM, Room 340 in the Old Garfield School Building. 528 Cottage Street NE, Salem. More info to come.