Dragged Through The Mud

Sexual assault survivors endure

“$30,000. That’s the going rate for rape these days.” When Laura Hanson settled her case against the University of Oregon for mishandling her allegations of sexual assault against a fraternity brother, the money was not the point. Hanson wanted — and still wants — the UO to fix its broken system of dealing with sexual assault and to support survivors. Continue reading 

Corvallis Play Structure To Honor Tribes And A Child

The memorial will be a piece of art, a sculpture, but art that kids can play on

A play structure at Shawala Point in Corvallis’ Riverfront Park will honor the short life of a little boy and pay tribute to the Kalapuya people who lived in the Corvallis area in pre-settlement times.  Trish Weber has begun fundraising for the memorial for her son, Nigel Rose Weber, and says she hopes to raise $30,000 for the play structure, which will be in the shape of a traditional Kalapuya bowl. The bowl, about 4 feet tall, will have handholds for kids to climb on it.  Continue reading 

Rape Survivor Seeks To Change Oregon Laws

In 1998, Brenda Tracy reported to the police that she was sexually assaulted — gang-raped — by four men, two of them Oregon State football players. More than 16 years after the ordeal, Tracy is speaking out and working to change Oregon laws dealing with campus sexual assault.  The University of Oregon Intercollegiate Athletics Committee is sponsoring a talk by Tracy on Thursday, May 14. Continue reading 

Label Love

Nothing says ‘drink me’ like a puppy or pony

I’m no oenephile. Don’t get me wrong, I like wine, but its niceties are lost on me, perhaps because in my college years my idea of “good wine” was strawberry Boones Farm, preferably after it had sat in the freezer long enough to give it a certain Slurpee-like texture.  I’m still that chick who, when asked what I’d like to drink at an elegant restaurant, responds, “Give me your cheap red.”  Continue reading 

Kathmandu Relief Nonprofit Confusion

As concerned Eugeneans are rushing to try to help the people of Nepal, it's hard to know what to do. Donating money is usually a sure bet, but how do you know what's a scam? The Better Business Bureau has sent out a list of what to look for (see below) and Charity Navigator does a nice job helping people to evaluate charities.  Continue reading 

Dog Killed by Trap at Lane County Park

D2 the dog was killed by a beaver trap on Friday, April 17 while on a walk at Hileman Landing County Park off River Road. The women who have owned and loved D2 for the past year want people to know that there could still be traps out there. Mo Strader and Vonnie Willard also want the owner of the trap — which they believe was placed illegally on public land — to know what he has done, remove any other traps and let the public know when the area is safe. Continue reading