Inside Oregon: IO Highlights, December 22, 2003 This issue: IO Highlights, December 22, 2003 Arena Project Faces Financing Issues GCIU Contract Ratified Facilities Crews Praised for Storm Response Announcements and Briefs... Our People Arena Project Faces Financing Issues The University of Oregon announced on Dec. 18 that the arena design team would take a break over the holidays while administrators review the scope, cost and financing for the project. "The design phase has shown us that to build a state-of-the-art arena will be more expensive than originally anticipated," said Vice President Dan Williams, Administration. "We need time to recalculate the required investment and determine a feasible financing program." Last spring, a feasibility study conducted by Conventions, Sports and Leisure International provided financing information based on construction costs of up to $150 million for a 13,500- to 15,000- seat facility to replace McArthur Court. New cost estimates exceed that amount. The project will not use any general fund or tax dollars but may require bond funds, which would be paid back through athletic department revenue. Williams said the university is exploring whether the nonprofit corporation, National Championship Properties, set up last summer by the UO Foundation to oversee the project, remains the best mechanism for moving forward. In announcing plans for the new arena last spring, the university listed several goals, including to: a71 Strengthen the financial stability of the athletic department, one of the few in the nation that is self- supporting; a71 Enhance athletic recruiting; a71 Improve the fan experience, including accessibility; and a71 Provide economic and other benefits for the community. Harvey Develops a Passion for Coaching By Danielle Gillespie Paul Harvey can't think of many things that are better than being a Special Olympics coach. A UO Libraries database specialist, Harvey has coached Special Olympics athletes in such sports as basketball and softball. This past summer, he had the honor of coaching a bowling team at the Special Olympics World Games in Dublin, Ireland. Now coordinator of volunteers for the Eugene-Springfield Special Olympics program, Harvey helps recruit people like himself to coach teams or raise money. For the past 18 months, volunteer labor and locally raised funds have paid for operation of the local program. Harvey first became involved with Special Olympics in 1995, when he signed on as a volunteer coach, helping a friend with an adult co-ed softball team. He enjoyed it so much he opted to coach adult co-ed basketball, too. "I genuinely believe I have more fun than they do," he says. "There is something pure about it." Because he has many of the same players on his softball team every year, Harvey gets to watch them grow and develop their http://duckhenge.uoregon.edu/inside/display.php?s=20031222 (1 of 4) [2/24/2005 9:45:57 AM] Inside Oregon: IO Highlights, December 22, 2003 The Howe Field site on campus at East 18th and University has been selected as the arena's location. GCIU Contract Ratified Members of Local 116-C of the Graphic Communications International Union (GCIU) and the Oregon University System (OUS) have ratified a new four-year contract, with a limited re- opener in two years. Provisions are very similar to those in the contract between SEIU and OUS. Alana Holmes, Human Resources employee relations manager, says copies of the GCIU contract will be distributed to the local's approximately two dozen members on campus in the next few weeks. For information, call Holmes, 6-2965. Facilities Crews Praised for Storm Response Twenty-seven Facilities Services employees on the Exterior (Grounds), Custodial and Maintenance teams have to be wondering if Mother Nature has it in for them. These employees, many of whom had been called to campus to deal with the aftermath of a heavy rainstorm overnight onDec. 5 and 6, were asked again to drop what they were doing on Saturday, Dec. 13, so they could address the immediate problems, including inspecting each and every campus building for water damage, associated with a second winter storm that dropped nearly four inches of rain and snow on campus and the surrounding community. "Time and again, I have witnessed Facilities Services staff respond to emergencies of all kinds, and I have come to expect great results," says George Hecht, Campus Operations director. "Their response to this latest emergency exceeded my expectations." For the most part, major campus damage from the latest storm was averted through the efforts of these employees, he says. "All in all, it was a tremendous effort on their part under very miserable conditions," added Vice President Dan Williams, Administration. skills. Constantly instilling principles of good sportsmanship and reinforcing the basic fundamentals of the game with his players, he stresses that athletes catch the ball with two hands--to ensure that it doesn't fall out of the glove. However, while sitting at a Eugene Emeralds baseball game in 2002, Harvey reached into the air with his glove to catch a foul ball. He caught it easily--but he didn't practice what he teaches. He forgot to cover the ball with his free hand. A shortstop on his Special Olympics softball team who was sitting nearby noticed the mistake right away and hollered, "Hey coach, use two hands." For Harvey, this was a great moment. "At least, I know I am getting through," he says. Chosen to coach a four-person bowling team for the June 21-29 Special Olympics World Games, Harvey wasn't quite sure what he could teach the three Alaskans and one Idahoan that made up the team. "I didn't know much about bowling. I mean, I had bowled before, but that was it," he says. "But now I love it." Harvey says he was amazed by the Special Olympics World Games that drew about 7,500 competitors from 160 countries. Every athlete who qualified for Team USA had received a gold medal at a state tournament. "I had a lot of fun," he says. "One day, I just went from venue to venue and watched all of the different events." On Dec. 5, Harvey and the other coaches and 16 athletes who represented Oregon on Team USA at the Special Olympics World Games received Greatness Awards at the Governor's Gold Awards ceremony in Portland. Since returning from Ireland, Harvey's love of Special Olympics has only increased. "There is nothing bad about it at all," he says. "I would pay money to do this if I had to." Danielle Gillespie is a student reporter for Inside Oregon. Our People IN THE SPOTLIGHT Leon Johnson, Art, is one of three new members elected to the 25- http://duckhenge.uoregon.edu/inside/display.php?s=20031222 (2 of 4) [2/24/2005 9:45:57 AM] Inside Oregon: IO Highlights, December 22, 2003 Announcements and Briefs... GCIU Contract Ratified Members of Local 116-C of the Graphic Communications International Union (GCIU) and the Oregon University System (OUS) have ratified a new four-year contract, with a limited re- opener in two years. Provisions of the settlement are very similar to those in the previously ratified contract between SEIU Local 503 of the Oregon Public Employees Union and OUS. Alana Holmes, Human Resources employee relations manager, says copies of the GCIU contract are being finalized and will be distributed to the local's approximately two dozen members on campus in the next few weeks. For information, call Holmes, 6-2965. UO Press Offers Discounts Look for holiday gift ideas on the secure UO Press web site, . Specials and seasonal discounts are available on new and featured products such as the award-winning Atlas of Oregon (in hard bound, soft bound and CD- ROM formats) or Best Essays NW. During the holidays all faculty staff students and alumni get 25 percent off all UO Press products. To get your discount, order direct by calling 6-5885 or by e- mailing the order to . Holidays Cause Mail Service Adjustments Schedules for Mail Services pickups and deliveries during the holidays are posted online at . Departments with any changes that will affect Campus Mail pickups or deliveries between Dec. 22 and Jan. 2, should notify Diane Longworth, Mail Services coordinator, 6-3130, or send e- mail to . Here's What to Do with 'Found' Property If you find personal property that has been dropped, lost or left behind on campus, here's a reminder from Public Safety about what to do with it: If the 'found' property is of value, such as wallets, purses, credit/debit cards, watches or other items of intrinsic value, either hand deliver it to the front counter of the Public Safety office in Straub Hall or call 6-5444 to arrange for a DPS officer to pick it up in person. Send or deliver other 'found' property of lesser intrinsic value, such as gloves, scarves or umbrellas, to Lost & Found at the Break on the ground floor of the EMU. member board of directors of the UO Museum of Art. The museum is scheduled to reopen in October 2004 after completion of a major renovation and expansion project that will nearly double the size of the building. ON THE MOVE Carla McNelly joined Multicultural Affairs as office coordinator on Dec. 1. Formerly the Romance Languages office specialist, she now works in 164 Oregon Hall and her phone is 6-3477. McNelly's e-mail remains . IN PRINT/ON DISPLAY Peter Suttmeier, Political Science, is the author of "Globalization, Structural Change, and the Role of Government in China's Search for a National Innovation Strategy," a paper about to be published by the United Nations University Press in a volume on innovation in developing countries, edited by Gu Shulin. IN MEMORIAM Raymond "Max" Wales, Journalism and Communication emeritus, died Dec. 11 in Eugene of cancer. A graduate of Washburn College (now University) of Topeka, Kan., Wales, 91, later did graduate work at Harvard and received a master's degree from the University of Iowa. After stints as a sales promotion manager and analyst, owner-operator of an advertising agency and an advertising instructor at Iowa and Michigan State University, he joined the UO faculty in 1957 where he taught advertising until his retirement in 1977. He co-authored a textbook in 1958 and was a Fulbright lecturer in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 1963. After his retirement, he was vice president of Wales, Williamson and Warr Ad Agency in Eugene for a number of years. He also served as a consultant to The Register-Guard. A memorial service was held Dec. 20 St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Eugene, the designated beneficiary of memorial contributions. Steven Lowenstam, Classics, died Dec. 12 in Eugene of cancer. A graduate of the University of Chicago and Harvard, Lowenstam, 57, joined the UO faculty in 1975. He was the author of four books, two forthcoming, and the recipient of numerous academic fellowships and teaching grants. During fall 1989, he taught two Northwest Interinstitutional Council on Study Abroad courses, on ancient Greeks and Romans, in Siena, Italy. His research interests included Greek and Roman literature, the Homeric tradition in poetry and art, and Platonic studies. A funeral was held Dec. 16 and Classics will plan a memorial program for early in winter term. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Sacred Heart. This Week a71 Happy Holidays! See the online calendar regarding Christmas Eve, Dec. 24; Christmas Day, Dec. 25; the day after Christmas, Dec. 26; New Year's Eve, Dec. 31; New Year's Day, Jan. 1; and the day after New Year's http://duckhenge.uoregon.edu/inside/display.php?s=20031222 (3 of 4) [2/24/2005 9:45:57 AM] Inside Oregon: IO Highlights, December 22, 2003 Day, Jan. 2. The next Inside Oregon will be published Jan. 5. a71 The Ducks play the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the Wells Fargo Sun Bowl televised by CBS Sports at 11 a.m. pst on Wednesday, Dec. 31, in El Paso, Texas. a71 "No Boundaries 2004," an exhibit of art by artists with disabilities, opens Monday, Jan. 5, in the EMU's Adell McMillan Art Gallery. An opening reception is at5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9. For more about University events, visit the Calendar of Events. Each issue of Inside Oregon is archived on the web at http://comm.uoregon.edu/inside/archive.php . If this issue displays improperly, please go there for the correct version. Inside Oregon is the official newsletter for employees of the University of Oregon and is published weekly during the academic year and monthly in June, July and August. Dates of upcoming issues, with copy and calendar deadlines, are posted at IO Deadlines. Inside Oregon Staff: Editor in Chief: Paul Omundson Web Developer: Taper Wickel Published by Internal Communications, Room 106, Johnson Hall, 1098 E. 13th Ave. Mailing Address: Inside Oregon, Internal Communications, 1281 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403- 1281 Telephone (541) 346-3134; FAX (541) 346-3117 Email inside@oregon.uoregon.edu The University of Oregon is an equal-opportunity, affirmative-action institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. http://duckhenge.uoregon.edu/inside/display.php?s=20031222 (4 of 4) [2/24/2005 9:45:57 AM]