Eugene Weekly

UO big wigs have been taking a lot of hits in the media recently for kowtowing to the almighty swoosh. On April 16 the Oregonian reported that the UO had evaded state anti-corruption laws to hand the contract for the basketball arena—the most expensive public building in state history—to a Nike subsidiary and Nike related contractor and architect without a competitive or public bidding process. Continue reading →

If you enjoyed the cover story this week about Eugene’s new City Manager Jon Ruiz, you’ll love listening to the hour and a half of interview audio here . Here’s Ruiz at his public swearing in and speech on April 14: Continue reading →

Here’s an old Herblock cartoon from 1970 when tricky Dick Nixon was escalating the Vietnam war despite campaign promises to end it. Déjà vu? So what would the caption be now? How about: “You see the reason we’re dying in vain here in Iraq is so dying in Iraq will have some purpose.” Any other suggestions? Continue reading →

The Oregonian has a front page story today about a couple of Portland brothers tearing down a little old house to build an “ultrasustainable” home. The article and website for the house sound great. Continue reading →

With the Olympic trials coming to Eugene and all the attention on protests of the Chinese torch run, it’s worth it to ask, who came up with this Olympic torch thing anyway? The ancient Greeks? Wrong. Here’s a hint: Continue reading →

A story in the Wall Street Journal March 19 featured an interview with UO Professor Nathan Tublitz and the headline: “Has Serious Academic Reform Of College Athletics Arrived?” The article describes Tublitz as a neurobiology professor who is co-chairman of the faculty driven Coalition on Intercollegiate Athletics. The WSJ describes theoretically tough new standards on academic progress by the NCAA, but raises the question about whether they will actually be enforced. Continue reading →

The City of Springfield is conducting an anonymous online survey to determine support for the city’s plans to expand its urban growth boundary (UGB) creating more urban sprawl. Continue reading →

Willamette Week’s Nigel Jaquiss has a cover story on the state attorney general race between former federal prosecutor John Kroger and state legislator Greg Macpherson. Here’s some highlights: • “‘I prosecuted Enron, and Greg’s firm represented them,’ says Kroger.” Continue reading →

Now we’re talking. (I also love the Campion/St Vier shirts another online shop seems to have run out of, but that’s a wee bit more obscure.) It may be time for me to actually put my “Republicans for Voldemort” sticker on my car… Continue reading →

Eastside alternative elementary parents who have strongly opposed a merger with the poorer and browner Harris neighborhood elementary have verbally “beat up” their own teachers to the point where half may no longer want to work at the school, according to 4J Superintendent George Russell. “I worry now how Eastside can be Eastside if half or more of the teachers are deciding they don’t want to be Eastside,” Russell said at a school board meeting today, March 8. Continue reading →