Around 60 University of Oregon students and community members gathered in the EMU on Monday night to condemn police brutality against minority groups, as part of a national campaign called Ferguson October.

The event was part of continued demonstrations in the wake of discussions about the relationship between police and the public sparked by the shooting of Mike Brown in Ferguson, Missouri in early August.

The rally began at 5 p.m. with a candlelight vigil, moment of silence and a prayer by senior economics major Mark Dusseau. Then, the crowd began its march down 15th Avenue, chanting phrases such as “Hands up, don’t shoot!” and, “An injustice anywhere is a threat everywhere!”

Ferguson October declared Oct. 22 as the “National Day of Action Against Police Brutality.” The campaign is named for the suburb of St. Louis, Missouri where 18-year-old black male Michael Brown was shot six times by a police officer.

Representatives from organizations such as the Anti-Racial Profiling Committee and League of United Latin American Citizens were also at the rally.

Participants had the opportunity to share their thoughts and experiences regarding marginalization once the crowd arrived back the amphitheater. ASUO Executive Vice President Patrick Kindred led and facilitated the dialogue following the march, and brought the event to a close with a recitation of the poem “Invictus” written by William Ernest Henley.

Another event honoring the victims of police brutality is scheduled for Nov. 10 in the EMU Amphitheater.

The No. 2 Oregon Ducks are hosting the Arizona Wildcats at Autzen Stadium on Thursday night. As the Arizona offense looks to dismantle the Ducks’ perfect season so far, our reporters are in the press box calling the game live. Check out their coverage and feel free to add your own with the hashtag #ORvAZ:

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You can’t steal a sidewalk. At least that’s what the City of Eugene is hedging its bets on in the West University neighborhood.

Students returning to the area after a summer away may have noticed that although certain intersections — hint, hint: 420 — may still be without signs, you’ll be able to find High Street now that its name has been spray painted onto the curb.

Street sign theft isn’t exactly a new problem. According to the City of Eugene, nearly 1,000 street signs are replaced every year. And visitors to West University neighborhoods will notice that some avenues are more difficult to navigate than others.

On a recent afternoon, Henry and Kate Jinings — 2010 and 2012 grads, respectively — said that it’s easier to get around when there are clear markers for the streets near campus.

“I bet it’s really dangerous at night,” Kate said. “We knew the area well enough when we lived here, but we definitely had to use our cell phones to get around sometimes.”

Henry said that there were times he’d invite friends over only to give them directions by landmarks rather than street names because of the missing signs.

High Street’s signs are a common — and obvious — target for thieves. But back when Harry Potter movie premieres and book releases were an annual occurrence, Potter Street signs would also top the city’s list of of-stolen street markers.

The average cost to replace a stolen street sign is between $20 and $30. Much of it depends on the length of the sign. And the more expensive the sign, the more severe the penalty if you’re caught jimmying it loose — stealing the marker for Martin Luther King Jr., Boulevard, for example, might earn you a charge of first-degree theft, while Mill Street’s signage won’t bear quite as severe a penalty.

Although the city is under no legal obligation to maintain street signs, traffic signals are another story officials cite safety concerns as a reason to keep the roads marked.

A 15 cent increase in Oregon’s minimum wage may be enough to buy the average part-time worker an extra cup of coffee every other week. But its effects on the University of Oregon, where the majority of minimum wage workers are students, will be minimal.

Work study programs won’t be impacted because wages paid are based on static financial aid awards. According to the Office of Institutional Research, the university employs 488 minimum wage workers — 461 are students and 17 are temporary workers. The remaining 10 are permanent university employees.

The Oregon Board of Labor and Industry announced on Sept. 17 that the state’s minimum wage will increase to $9.25 per hour starting on Jan. 1.

This puts Oregon $2 above the federal minimum wage of $7.25 and 7 cents below Washington, the state with the highest minimum wage.

The announcement comes at a time when wages and cost of living are making headlines around the state and nation.

City councilors in Seattle passed a $15 minimum wage ordinance earlier this year, which will take effect April 15, 2015. A group is lobbying for similar legislation in Portland.

The Oregon labor department estimates that 21 percent of the state’s employees work in the hospitality and leisure sectors—that’s you, sandwich-makers and dish washers. Retail accounts for the second most minimum wage workers at 10 percent.

The Register-Guard reports that Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian plans on pushing the Oregon Legislature to re-think the way it sets minimum wage—right now the state’s House of Representatives and Senate tie the number to annual inflation growth.

Avakian argues that a minimum wage of $12 would be necessary to lift a family of four above the poverty line, nearly 30 percent more than the current rate.

For hourly part-time employees working 20 hours per week, the Oregon increase amounts to a boost of $6 per biweekly paycheck before taxes. That’s a little more than the price of that venti double-shot pumpkin spice latte you just bought.

Follow Eder Campuzano on Twitter: @edercampuzano

It’s a moment you’ll remember for the rest of your life: the minute your mom dropped you off in front of the place where you’re going to spend the next four years. Whether you’re stuffing your belongings into a residence hall or shaking hands with your new roommate, the day will be chock-full of firsts.

We’ll be covering move-in day throughout the morning and afternoon, but University of Oregon officials are already receiving the first wave of new Ducks. Check out the feed below to follow along with Unpack the Quack 2014.

Want to contribute? Tweet out with the #HelloUO hashtag and look for your post in our custom feed.

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Follow Eder Campuzano on Twitter: @edercampuzano

The University of Oregon Senate’s Task Force to Address Sexual Assault sent its official recommendations to Interim President Scott Coltrane on Friday. This is the first action the group has taken in response to the university’s handling of an alleged sexual assault by three basketball players in May.

The only recommendation with a price tag for the university is to set up a $10,000 emergency fund for survivor support and sexual assault prevention. Task force co-chairs Carol Stabile and Randy Sullivan said the fund should be set up by Sept. 29 in an email to Coltrane.

The task force also recommended that the university officially adopt a good Samaritan policy — students reporting a sexual assault would not be reprimanded for violating drug or drinking policies. Although most university departments currently work this way, the task force heads say it should be written policy.

Stabile and Sullivan also recommend that syllabuses include a statement with sexual assault resources for students and that faculty receive guidelines for addressing the issue. In addition, the task force suggests that the university stop tracking the IP addresses of anyone reporting a sexual assault.

Coltrane is expected to issue a response to the recommendations this week. The task force’s recommendations will be finalized on Oct. 22 and a public discussion will be held on Nov. 5.

The senate task force was created by former University President Michael Gottfredson in response to the administration’s handling of the alleged rape of a student by three basketball players in May. Although the players were dropped from the team. The Lane County district attorney also dropped the charges against them.

Follow Eder Campuzano on Twitter: @edercampuzano

A fourteen-person committee has been appointed to search for the University of Oregon’s next president. The Board of Trustees announced on Friday that Connie Ballmer will act as the committee chair, which is composed of faculty, administrators, a representative from another public university and another from the public at large.

The search committee doesn’t have a deadline to fill the position, which Scott Coltrane is performing on an interim basis. Instead, the search goes on until “a candidate who is well suited to lead the university is found.”

The university’s next president will be the first to report to the Board of Trustees, which took over much of the governance that was once handled by the Oregon State Board of Higher Education.

The search committee consists of Ballmer, whose husband Steve bought the Los Angeles Clippers and replaced Bill Gates as CEO of Microsoft, and a variety of other folks, including:

Barbara Altmann, senior vice provost for academic affairs.

Peter Bragdon, senior vice president of legal and corporate affairs for Columbia Sportswear.

Rudy Chapa, former global vice president for sports marketing for Nike.

Bill Cresko, director of the UO Institute of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.

Joe Gonyea III, partner and CEO of Timber Products Company in Springfield.

Robin Holmes, UO vice president for student life.

Mariann Hyland, member of the UO President’s Diversity Advisory Community Council.

Leslie Leve, professor in the College of Education’s Department of Counseling Psychology and Human Services.

Chris Maples, president of the Oregon Institute of Technology.

Jamie Moffit, UO vice president for finance and administration as well as the school’s CFO.

Michael Moffitt, dean of the UO School of Law.

Joseph Robertson, president of Oregon Health and Science University.

Paul Weinhold, president and CEO of the UO Foundation.

Michael Gottfredson resigned from the position in early August. His contract wasn’t set to expire until June 30, 2016. Gottfredson said that his decision to step down was inspired in part by a desire to spend more time with his family, a motivation The Oregonian reported is usually associated with forced departures.

He received a $940,000 severance package upon his resignation.

An advisory group will be appointed to aid Ballmer and the search committee over the next few days.

Follow Eder Campuzano on Twitter: @edercampuzano

The Oregon Board of Labor and Industry announced on Wednesday that the state’s minimum wage will increase to $9.25 per hour starting on Jan. 1.

That puts Oregon $2 above the federal minimum wage of $7.25 and 7 cents below Washington, the state with the highest minimum wage.

The announcement comes at a time when wages and cost of living are making headlines around the state and nation.

City councilors in Seattle passed a $15 minimum wage earlier this year, which takes effect April 15, 2015. A group is lobbying for similar legislation in Portland.

The labor department estimates that 21 percent of the state’s employees work in the hospitality and leisure sectors — that’s you, sandwich-makers and dish washers. Retail accounts for the second most minimum wage workers at 10 percent.

The Register-Guard reports that Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian plans on pushing the Oregon Legislature to re-think the way it sets minimum wage — right now the state’s House of Representatives and Senate tie the number to annual inflation growth. Avakian argues that a minimum wage of $12 would be necessary to lift a family of four above the poverty line, nearly 30 percent more than the current rate.

For hourly part-time employees working 20 hours per week, the Oregon increase amounts to a boost of $6 per biweekly paycheck before taxes. That’s a little more than the price of that venti double-shot pumpkin spice latte you just bought.

Follow Eder Campuzano on Twitter: @edercampuzano

There’s nothing better than a good commencement speech (except maybe a nice, expensive dinner paid for by Mom and Dad). The University of Oregon has had its fair share, from Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy to the ever-elusive TBD, who as of press time was scheduled to speak at Matt Knight Arena for the general ceremony on June 16. Here are some of the best commencement speeches from around the country in recent years:

J.K. Rowling

The author of the Harry Potter books spoke at Harvard University on June 5, 2008. Less than one year after she finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the former British billionaire — the first author to reach a 10-figure net worth — gave Harvard grads a talking-to on the virtues of failure.

“So given a Time Turner, I would tell my 21-year-old self that personal happiness lies in knowing that life is not a check-list of acquisition or achievement. Your qualifications, your CV are not your life, though you will meet many people of my age and older who confuse the two. Life is difficult and complicated, and beyond anyone’s total control, and the humility to know that will enable you to survive its vicissitudes.”

John F. Kennedy

The 35th president of the United States gave two commencement speeches in his time as the commander-in-chief — once at Yale in 1962 and at American University the following year. In his latter speech, Kennedy stressed the fact that graduates have the power to overcome any problem they face.

“Our problems are man-made. Therefore, they can be solved by man. And man can be as big as he wants. No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings. Man’s reason and spirit have often solved the seemingly unsolvable — and we believe they can do it again.”

Amy Poehler

As the second season of Parks and Recreation was winding down, Harvard hosted Poehler as its speaker. There’s something to say about a commencement speech that’s equal parts comedy and inspiration and Poehler knocked it out of the park. The best part about this speech is its reinforcement of something your teachers have been telling you since Day One: There are no stupid questions.

“Even though, as a class, you are smart, you are still allowed to say, ‘I don’t know.’ Just because you are in high demand, you are still allowed to say, ‘Let me get back to you.’ This will come in handy when your parents ask when you plan to move out of their basement and you answer, “I don’t know. Let me get back to you.” Which leads me to my final thought: would it kill you to be nicer to your parents?”

Remember when you first set foot on the University of Oregon campus four years ago? It was so big, so imposing, so … last century. Although the university’s impressive Lillis Buisiness Complex had been standing for about seven years by the time you got here, there were plenty of others that were in need of an upgrade. And if your parents are UO alums, there are plenty of changes that will have them dropping their jaws. Here’s the tour you should give your folks:

Allen Hall

In the old days, if you wanted to meet a friend to study in Allen Hall … well, you would rarely want to do that. Space was a bit of a premium in that building prior to January of 2013. Step into the building now and you’ll find plenty of spots to sit down for a cup of coffee or a whiteboard brainstorming session. Collaboration is the name of the game these days — with computer labs surrounded by glass walls, there’s a sense of airiness in the building pretty much all the time. Should you tour the facilities with your parents, don’t forget to snap a selfie and tag it with the ever-annoying #lifeasajstudent.

Matt Knight Arena

When your parents cheered on the Ducks basketball team back in their day, they had to walk uphill both ways to get there and there was never any confusion about the Pit Crew’s name. That’s because MacArthur Court, better known as The Pit, was one of the most raucous environments for visiting teams. Although Matt Knight Arena is a relatively new venue, it kicked things off right when it booked its first performer: Elton John. Then Macklemore came. And, most recently, Lee Brice. The court alone is worth seeing — as a nod to the university’s first basketball team, the Tall Firs, it’s outlined by silhouettes of — what else? — a row of tall firs.

The Hatfield-Dowlin Complex

Phil Knight has spent an awful lot of money on the football team in the last few years. Most recently, he dropped some mad money on the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex, which we estimate cost close to $138 million to build. Relics of the old facilities are still around — you can snap that classic grad photo between the Xs and Os just off Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. And the main entrance boasts some impressive displays. While you’re out there, you can give the ‘rents a tour of PK Park, another recent addition.

The Erb Memorial Union

It’s easily the most used building on campus, but the EMU has been notorious for its difficulty to navigate and lack of technological support. When was the last time you had to meet a friend in the Skylights from the third floor for a laptop study session only to find yourself crying out of frustration in the corner of The Buzz, clutching your mango-strawberry smoothie (with ice cream) in an attempt to keep your sanity? Too recently. That won’t be a problem in a couple of years when the building renovation is done. If your parents graduated from this fine institution, give them a bit of a surprise by taking to the chain link fences blocking off the courtyard — that graffiti is guaranteed to blow their minds like Gwen Stefani and Eve.