Scholarships In The Name Of An Education Advocate

Sen. Ron Wyden’s recent visit to Eugene Weekly during our election endorsements process reminded me of the stories I have heard him tell about his start in public service work, including his work as an aide to the late Sen. Wayne Morse of Oregon.

This week — Oct. 20, specifically — marks Morse’s 122nd birthday. He was a staunch advocate for equality in education, and in early October, the Wayne Morse Historical Corporation in Eugene awarded scholarship money to two young women to help them pursue their academic goals and public service careers.

Cassandra Wilson is a liberal arts major at Portland State University who aims to become a climate and social justice advocate. Evelyn Peter, a freshman at the University of Oregon, is studying business administration with a minor in public health. She hopes to “attend law school and further represent and protect women, youth and people of color.”

Morse’s name adorns a handful of buildings and organizations in Eugene, and the scholarships serve as a reminder of the importance of funding public education to one and all, a policy that he spoke of often.

“We have the duty laid upon us,” he once noted, “to open the widest door of education to all who have the innate capacity to step over the threshold.”

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!