The war in Ukraine drags tragically on with no reasonable end in sight. The city of Eugene sent $10,000 to relief efforts, as well as some stiff words to Eugene’s Russian sister city Irkutsk. The University of Oregon also condemned the “unprovoked violence” in an email to students, staff and faculty and included an important reminder that the action of governments does not reflect the actions of individuals (don’t believe us? Just remember Donald Trump was the U.S. president). 

• If you’ve been escaping into Duck basketball like some of us, that reverie ended March 19. University of Oregon men lost in the second round of the National Invitational Tournament, and the women lost in double overtime in the first round of the Big Dance. Oh well, there’s always next year. Now we can watch softball, baseball, tennis, or maybe just go play pickleball.

• “Barriers to Latino Engagement in Lane County” is the City Club of Eugene topic at noon Friday, March 25. Speakers will be Jose W. Melendez, assistant professor of planning at University of Oregon, and Ashley Espinoza, executive director of Lane Workforce Partnership; the Q&A panel will be Emma Avalos and Davis Wenzell Nieto. Watch a livestream or attend the Friday forum at the First United Methodist Church, 1376 Olive Street.

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• Lane Community College has selected its next president. Next to Mary Spilde’s 22 years, Marge Hamiliton’s tenure seemed brief — but five years and a pandemic is nothing to sneeze at! LCC’s incoming leader, Dr. Stephanie Bulger, was announced at the March 16 LCC board meeting. She comes to Eugene from her position as vice chancellor for Instructional Services at the San Diego Community College District California. Bulger will be coming into a school with reduced enrollment and budget cuts, but also one beloved and supported by the community.

• Speaking of education, The Register-Guard is losing its education beat reporter Jordyn Brown. For more than three years, Brown has kept an eye on Lane County’s education system, telling stories about the issues that K-12 and higher education students face. Although we’ll miss her reporting, we wish her the best as she moves on with her career. 

• Spring has sprung and the daffodils are blooming. Sometimes in the middle of chaos, it’s good to note those things. And take your allergy meds.

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