Posts published in “Uncategorized”

Dear University of Oregon colleagues, As I think about Thanksgiving this year, I am flooded with conflicting emotions. Like many of you, my plans to visit family and friends have been canceled, one more unfortunate change in a difficult year. Since many, if not most, of our students will leave…

The latest example is from the Oregonian, regarding OSU’s new President F. King Alexander, who had apparently been hoping for a job in the Biden administration. The report: Oregon State president F. King Alexander on Wednesday afternoon emailed a statement to the school’s staff, asking the campus to “contribute to…

This is an odd one. Pat Kilkenny is well known for his friendship with Phil Knight and his brief tenure as Dave Frohnmayer’s Duck Athletic Director, during which he set up the peculiar financing scheme for the Knight Arena, which is still costing UO’s academic budget $450K a year. Connie…

This is a strange way to conduct shared governance of a public university. Back in May, Senate Pres Berkman told the Senate “Tangibly, we do plan to share our work plan, timeline, roster, attendees list, and narrative reports once we begin our work. I welcome additional ideas from everyone about…

UO’s official log is here, with the last few months below. Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum’s Public Records and Meetings manual is here, with this warning: “Knowledge will forever govern ignorance. And a people who mean to be their own governors, must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives. A…

Update: Details on plan and release of rights here. Thanks to an anonymous reader for forwarding this sketch of the plan, which looks like it was devised by VP Brad Shelton. Word is that, in addition to one year salary, the university will also pay PEBB costs for single coverage…

Here. NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETINGThe Board of Trustees of the University of Oregon will hold the following public meeting: Friday, November 13, 2020, at 11:00 a.m. PT Due to current orders regarding campus operations and social distancing, the meeting will be held via video conference with a telephone conference option…

The Lund Report has the OHCA press release and some examples of OHCA lobbying here. Batlan has apparently already been replaced in UO’s State Affairs office by her assistant VP, Hans Bernard, according to his linked in page. And UO is searching to fill the job of assistant for him,…

Worth reading this one, it’s not the usual pablum: Dear University of Oregon community, Recent incidents of police violence against people of color have led to a healthy debate across the country about police reform and how best to utilize law enforcement agencies to protect and serve ALL of the…

I swear I will never click on 538 again, no matter how many polls they post about the upcoming GA run-offs.

Doneka was a big supporter of SAIL and worked with many Econ honors students on empirical research projects involving student retention and graduation. She’ll be missed! Dear Colleagues, I am writing to let you know that Doneka Scott, vice provost for Undergraduate Education and Student Success, has accepted a position…

11/4/2020 update: Apparently earlier speakers went over time with their charts – who could have guessed – so Pres Berkman had to cut this. But don’t worry, $202K AVP Melanie Muenzer promised the Senate that compliance with HB 2864 is a mere technicality. I’d post a video clip of her…

Yes, Oregon’s state government wasted $500m on a failed Obamacare website, takes 2 months to process unemployment claims, and gave $200M away for fake green energy tax scams – which only came to light after a reporter’s public records requests. But it just takes our SOS and county voting registrars…

In Willamette Week, here: “… Bridges was wearing an ankle monitor in the Fred Meyer parking lot, because he was out on bail on previous charges for burglary. He told the officers he was not aware that selling his ballot was illegal. …” And why would he think it would…