• If the East Grandstand of Historic Hayward Field is so hazardous, why were so many track fans allowed to sit on it during the Prefontaine Classic May 25 and 26? We were waiting for it to “collapse” with every cheer.
• Something about the scale of the University of Oregon’s women’s softball program is so much fun. Here we are, ranked first in the country, playing in the world series in Oklahoma City, and President Michael Schill gives the players what the Register-Guard calls a “group hug” after they win the super regionals in Eugene on May 26. Hard to imagine a “group hug” for the football team.
• If you are a strategic thinker, someone who loves public policy, and a fighter for economic justice, here’s a good job for you. It’s the next executive director of the Oregon Center for Public Policy, the progressive think tank in Portland founded and headed by Chuck Sheketoff for the last 20 years. He will be a hard act to follow, but the importance of OCPP to this state and country right now is apparent in the slogan, “Because facts matter.”
• Nationally, stories are swirling about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) losing children and purposely separating parents from children as a way to deter families from crossing the border into the U.S. While the issue of ICE losing 1,475 immigrant children is more complex than it might first appear — experts have pointed out that the unaccompanied minors can be sent to relatives who may not want to be found because of the risk of deportation — separating children from their parents in order to attack immigrants is simply inhumane and cruel.
• What we’re reading: Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now by tech skeptic Jaron Lanier. The book, published May 29, was written before the news of Cambridge Analytica, Russia and Facebook. A virtual reality pioneer whose writing includes 2010’s You Are Not a Gadget, Lanier argues forcefully that Facebook and similar platforms poison social discourse in their endless quest for clicks and money.
A Note From the Publisher
Dear Readers,
The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.
That’s because of you!
Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.
Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.
We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.
And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.
None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.
As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.
Thank you for standing with us!
Publisher
Eugene Weekly
P.S. If you’d like to talk about supporting EW, I’d love to hear from you!
jody@eugeneweekly.com
(541) 484-0519