The Board of Trustees met today in the ballroom of the Ford Alumni Center to discuss important issues to the University of Oregon. Here are some highlights from the first day and a preview of what to expect tomorrow.

The Academic and Student Affairs Committee of the BoT met first at 9 a.m.

Teaching Excellence

Teaching excellence was presented by Executive Vice Provost Scott Pratt, Associate Vice Provost Sierra Dawson and Teaching Program Director Lee Rumbarger.

Pratt said that there are current problems of maintaining teaching excellence through student evaluations, as many studies have revealed their flaws and biases. Pratt also said that teaching should be “the mission of the university” and that it should find an intersection with research.

Services for mental health at UO

Presented by Doneka R. Scott, Associate Vice Provost for Student Success, Shelly Kerr, Director of the University Counseling Center and Kris Winter, Associate Vice President and Dean of Students.

The goals outlined were to increase the size of the counseling staff, to refer students to services offered in the community outside the counseling center more effectively, and to train “paraprofessionals” on campus to help students and lessen the demand for counseling center appointments, according to the presentation.

Data shows that the demand for mental health care at UO and nationally is rising. This has lead to long wait times for students seeking counseling.

At the meeting, Scott, Kerr and Winter showed exit survey data from students who left the UO before graduating. According to the data, 7.5 percent of students cited physical or mental health as the reason for not coming back.

According to data presented, the health center is referring significantly fewer students away due to overcrowding compared to last fall. 44 percent less, proportional to the number of assessments in the term.  

Regardless, the health center still seeks expansion to serve more students. The Tuition and Fee Advisory Board’s proposal includes a $7-per-term per-student increase to the health and service fee to support an expansion of the health center. The Board of Trustees will vote on the proposal tomorrow.

Capital Project Proposal – University Health Center / University Counseling and Testing Center

The renovations of Bean Hall and Oregon Hall were estimated to cost $70 million, however, the project only cost $60 million. The remaining $10 million will be allocated back into the capital budget and will pay for future projects.

Michael Griffel, Director of University Housing, presented a proposal to expand the university health center due to the overflow of students and oldness of the building.

“There’s been a significant growth in the student body since the last renovation was done,” Griffel said.

The new health center will cost an estimated $17.8 to $19.2 million and is predicted to open fall 2019. They hope to break ground in June to start the project after receiving approval from the Board of Trustees.

University of Oregon Police Department – Overview and Updates

Matt Carmichael, chief of the University of Oregon Police Department, gave a report on the accomplishments of UOPD and their goals for the future.

UOPD will be adding a bomb dog to its resources in the coming weeks. The dog is finishing up training in Sacramento, CA and will be on campus in two weeks, according to Carmichael. The dog is hoped to increase safety on campus and improve student-officer relations.

UOPD also absorbed Safe Ride and DDS this year and began offering a third ride service: the off-campus shuttle.

These services offer students approximately 5,000 rides each month, and UOPD is in the process of creating a mobile application for students to request rides more efficiently.

UOPD will also be utilizing Tasers and body cameras to better serve the community and promote safety.

“These tools will bring us up to the national standard,” Carmichael said.

Using Tasers gives officers the option to use something other than lethal force, according to Carmichael.

UOPD also opened a station closer to campus at the Onyx Bridge to be closer to students. According to Carmichael, the closer proximity to students is hoped to improve student-officer relations and house the campus lost and found.

What will happen tomorrow

President Schill will present his proposal for the tuition increase and the BoT will vote on the tuition increase.

ASUO President Amy Schenk, University Senate President Chris Sinclair, Provost Jayanth Banavar and President Michael Schill will present “standing reports” to the BOT.

Finally, there will be a presentation on the Academic Area in Focus: Global Health.

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Five small groups of students at the University of Oregon protested on Tuesday the school’s practices of contracting prisoners to work at the school. Within an hour, police stopped the protest with warnings that students were violating rules.

The protests at 1 p.m. appeared at multiple locations on campus, and they were organized by University of Oregon Student Labor Action Project (SLAP). Protesters held banners reading, “UO USES PRISON SLAVERY” at two locations in the EMU, on the roof of Mckenzie, Lillis Hall and 13th Avenue and University Street.

The group demands that the University of Oregon cancels all current contracts with the Oregon Corrections Enterprises, a semi-independent state program that connects private and public organizations with prisoners.

The Emerald sent a list of eight claims in the pamphlets that were handed out by the protesters to the OCE. The OCE responded to each one refuting all the claims.

For example, the OCE stated that it has no current contracts with the school, although it has worked with UO in the past. “UO has periodically submitted purchase orders to OCE for specific products and installation services. The only time AICs are on UO grounds is when they are delivering or installing products,” according to OCE in a written statement.

All of the banners in the EMU that the protesters held up violated rules of the school’s protesting policy. (Hannah Kanik/Daily Emerald)

The OCE also disagreed with the statement that laborers are forced to work. “All assignments with OCE are voluntary assignments. No AIC [adult in custody] is forced to participate in an OCE program.”

One protester named Jamie, who didn’t give her last name, told The Emerald that the campaign is meant to expose the school’s profits from “slave labor” from the prisoners.

“The UO has huge contracts with Oregon Corrections Enterprise which is the corporation that sells and makes contracts with universities like this one to profit off of the prison labor,” Jamie said. “Our campaign is essentially advocating for those folks in poor conditions that are working for very little in unethical circumstances.”

One protester who goes by Martin said that by employing prisoners, the school is displaying “modern slavery and the University has sponsored it by providing this organization millions of dollars.”

Protesters in the EMU were approached by UOPD officer Justin Gardner and a manager of the EMU after about 30 minutes. They were informed that they were not allowed to hold their banner in that location. Officer Gardner told protesters said that they could be escorted out of the EMU because they had not reserved a space for signage and the space they were in was not reservable.

Martin said he was unhappy with the school’s handling of the protest by warning that they were in a non-reservable space.

The Emerald could not reach any protesters for further comment.

This article was corrected to state that only the banners in the EMU were violating UO’s protesting policy, and the statement that the school “employs” prisoners was changed to reflect that the school “contracts” the prisoners through a program.

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The University of Oregon’s official Twitter put out a tweet this morning in support of walk-out protests for gun control. The tweet was aimed at high school students who may apply to universities but may be afraid to protest in walkouts.

The University of Oregon joins hundreds of universities and colleges around the country that support the protests and pledge that participating won’t negatively affect applications to the schools, including Cornell University and MIT.

The UO tweet reads, “With a long tradition of standing for what we believe in, we are proud to support students who participate in peaceful walkouts for gun control. This will not jeopardize your admissions process in any way.”

There is a walk-out planned on March 14 at 10 a.m. in the EMU by the UO College Democrats in conjunction with Women’s March Youth EMPOWER, according to a public Facebook page for the event. The walk-out will last 17 minutes.

The event description explains that the reason for the protest is, “to protest Congress’ inaction to do MORE than tweet thoughts and prayers in response to the gun violence plaguing our schools and neighborhoods.”

UO College Democrats president Hannah Argento-McCurdy commended UO for its support.

“I appreciate UO’s support and response to high school students taking strong stances against gun control,” Argento-McCurdy said.

A representative from UO was not immediately available for comment.

The tweet has received a fairly even split of positive and negative replies at the time of publication.

Best school on earth.

— blake (@blaketopia) February 27, 2018

What about students who go to class like they’re paying for and support not infringing on people’s constitutional rights?

— Brandon Frymire (@blfrymire22) February 27, 2018

This is why Oregon is amazing. Good job. #GoDucks

— Glenna Mae (@_Glenna_Mae) February 27, 2018

Do the pro second amendment students have a say?

— Larry Hebert (@LarryHe73092709) February 27, 2018

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About 35 people participated in a “die-in” next to the O Desk in the EMU at 11:30 this morning to protest UO’s lack of action for climate change. The campaign is called “CAP the Carbon.”

The group, called the University of Oregon Climate Justice League’s (CJL), included students who wore black and laid on the floor around the O Desk in the shape of an oil or natural gas droplet for 10 minutes to signify their “deaths.”

Protesters held banners that read “Keep your promise @UO. Natural gas is a no.” “Off fossil fuel,” and “#Capthecarbon.”

Students are wearing black and are arranged in the shape of an oil drop to represent UO’s dependance on fossil fuels. (Frankie Benitez/Emerald)

UO spokesperson Tobin Klinger wrote in a statement to the Emerald, “The University is deeply committed to the environment and keeps related issues on top of mind in all its facilities and construction projects.”

“We have a strong track record on this topic but are always open to input on ways to continue to improve. We applaud the passion of our students around this critical issue facing the planet,” Klinger wrote.

“We at Climate Justice League and a coalition of other environmental groups on campus are staging a die-in to protest the UO’s failure to meet or to make any effort to follow the climate action plan that they put into place,” Dylan Plummer, event coordinator for the Climate Justice League, said.

“In particular, we are demanding them to switch from using liquid natural gas to heat their buildings to an electric boiler,” Plummer said.

He handed out fliers to anyone passing by. The fliers contained information about the Climate Justice League’s mission and reason for staging the protest. The fliers indicated the Climate Action Plan that was put into place by the UO in 2009.

Plummer indicated frustration with administration. “We have been in communication with administration for the last three or four years trying to encourage them to make changes and make efforts to be more carbon neutral and they have refused to meet with us. Even when they do meet with us they shrug us off,” he said.

According to the event’s Facebook page, “The UO consistently markets itself as a ‘green institution’ and a leader on environmental issues…when in reality the UO has failed to meet its own sustainability goals and blatantly ignores its own contributions to global climate change.”

Students protest UO’s failure to reduce carbon emissions on campus. (Frankie Benitez/Emerald)

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There will be a public memorial for University of Oregon journalism professor Tom Wheeler on Sunday, Feb. 25 at 11 a.m. at the Shedd Institute, according to an email sent out by journalism school Dean Juan-Carlos Molleda.

In the email, sent out to all journalism students, Molleda stated that the memorial will be open to the public and that a separate event in honor of Wheeler will be held for the SOJC community.

The Shedd Institute is located at 868 High Street in Eugene. It is a music and performing arts venue as well as a community music school.

Wheeler died on Saturday, Feb. 11.

Read Wheeler’s obituary here.

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University of Oregon Provost Jayanth Banavar sent out an email to the entire UO community asking for feedback on the proposed tuition increase for the 2018-19 academic year.

The proposed increase is $6 dollars per credit, or $240 per year, for in-state students and $18 per credit, or $810 per year, for out-of-state students.

In addition, the proposal includes a $7 increase in the student health center service fee. The increase will help fund the health and counseling services at the health center. Read about wait times and the proposed increase here.

The tuition increase was discussed and set by the Tuition and Fee Advisory Board (TFAB) in a series of public meetings. Read about those meetings and the proposed increase here.

Banavar directed UO community members to read the full TFAB tuition proposal and submit comments to this online comment form. The form will be closed at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 15.

Banavar also recommended students to attend the student tuition forum on Feb. 15 at 5:30 p.m. in the Gerlinger Lounge.

President Schill will make his final recommendation to the Board of Trustees at the Board’s meeting on March 2. According to Banavar, Schill’s recommendation will be available to public review before he presents it to the Board.

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University of Oregon students now have another option for getting home at night.

This month, the UO Campus Shuttle was created by the UO Police Department and student volunteers. It is a free shuttle for students. The shuttle runs on a route similar to a bus, and students, faculty and staff members can wait at the set stops to be picked up. A UO ID is required to ride.

The vans are easily recognizable due to the Christmas lights and magnetic signs on the two vans. The shuttle runs on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to midnight. They follow a route with 11 stops.

(Photo courtesy of UO Campus Shuttle)

A – UO Parking and Transportation

B – 2125 Franklin

C – Jaqua Academic Center

D – Columbia 150

E – Lillis Business Complex

F – Riley Hall

G – Knight Library

H – HEDCO

I – McArthur Court

J – Student REC

K – Global Scholars Hall

The UO Campus Shuttle was created to help alleviate Safe Ride and the Designated Driver Shuttle, which are ride options that already exist for students. Like Safe Ride and DDS, the UO campus shuttle is a part of UOPD.

The shuttle is funded by the Division of Student Life and UOPD, while Safe Ride and DDS use student funds to operate.

“Safe Ride and DDS are doing a great job and are very popular programs. But there just isn’t the current capacity to serve everyone who needs a ride, and not all potential riders will choose to use a call-ahead service,” UOPD spokesman Kelly McIver wrote in a statement.

According to Safe Ride data, 6,361 students were turned away in the 2016-17 school year because Safe Ride was overbooked.

The shuttle is in a trial period at this time, according to McIver, and if it is found to be useful and operable, it will be launched officially in the fall of 2018.

UO Campus Shuttle outside the Student Recreation Center. (Ben Green/Emerald)

Kylan Carlson, UO senior and assistant to UOPD Chief Michael Carmichael, said that, just like Safe Ride and DDS, students can ride without fear of getting in trouble. The shuttle’s staff are not mandatory reporters, and they are not required to report underage drinking.

“We don’t care if you’re underage or if you’re drinking, but you can’t have an open container,” Carlson said.

In its nine days of operation, the shuttle has provided 394 rides to students, faculty and staff according to Carlson.

While the drivers are paid positions, navigators are volunteers. They help make sure that riders and the driver are safe and that the bus stays on route.

In a statement to The Emerald, organizers of the shuttle wrote, “UO Campus Shuttle is looking for those who don’t mind working late and enjoy talking to people, as well as those who want to help make our campus a better place to live, work and study.”

More information about the route and hours can be found on the shuttle’s Facebook page.

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Basketball: UO vs USC

Jack Butler writes about UO’s men’s basketball loss to USC yesterday, and what the loss means for the tournament. Here are photos from the game by Ben Green.

Arts & Culture Podcast

Arts & Culture editor Sararosa Davies teamed up with podcast editor Alec Cowan to make a podcast about what they are looking forward in 2018.

The Women’s March

News reporter Ryan Nguyen talked with organizers of the second annual Women’s March for Action which will take place on Jan. 20.

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The Student Food Pantry doubled its hours at the beginning of fall term. Before the change, students would stand in line hoping for a chance to get some groceries from the tiny one-car garage full of food.

Now, Food for Lane County, a nonprofit organization, began donating more food to the pantry, and students don’t feel afraid that food will run out if they don’t come early to wait in line.

“People would show up an hour in advance, and the line would extend clear down to the corner,” said Rev. Doug Hale, manager of the Student Food Pantry. “Then it would take at least an hour to get those people through,” he said.

Rev. Hale said that the pantry now opens from 5 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday and 5 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, rather than just on Thursday. The Pantry now serves about 150 students per week – 50 more than when the pantry was only open on Thursdays. Plus the line is shorter and it takes less time for students to get through.

Although the pantry is serving more students more efficiently, it still doesn’t have the space that it needs to grow.

Oregon State University and Lane Community College both have food pantries on campus for students, but the Student Food Pantry is different. It isn’t officially associated with the University of Oregon. Instead, it is run entirely by the Episcopal Campus Ministry, and it is open to any student with a student ID from any university or college.

The Pantry has been open for six years, and Rev. Hale has been managing it for five. He explained that the Pantry is very complicated to run, and it takes the majority of his time to maintain, even though the Ministry also has weekly worship services and discussions.

“This is about caring for people as people, whether it’s about food or not,” he said.

Rev. Hale said he has thought about every angle of how to get food to more students; he has added more shelves for food in the pantry, found more volunteers for the extra hours, thought about trying to expand the garage or move to a bigger space and has tried to work with administration to get a space on the UO campus.

“Sometime there might be space but it might not be appropriate,” he said. A space for the pantry would need to have enough electrical access for multiple fridges and freezers, access to the street for unloading food and at least some sort of counter and water access for preparing food.

Rev. Hale said that for years there has been talk of moving the pantry to a larger space on campus so that it could serve more students.

“This is really an important issue to [ASUO President] Amy Schenk. The ASUO is really mobilizing to get some things happening. We need a bigger space for this,” Hale said.

Moving and expanding the Pantry was a major part of Schenk’s platform last year when she ran for ASUO president. Schenk remains passionate about moving the pantry on campus.

She has created a task force within the ASUO focused on getting a space for the pantry.

“Efforts are coming along. We’re hoping to solidify location prospects by the end of winter term or the middle of spring,” Schenk said in an interview with the Emerald. After the location is chosen, Schenk predicts that the pantry will be opened within a year. The ASUO food pantry task force meets with administration this Friday from 1 to 2 p.m. Anyone interested in attending this meeting can contact Schenk at ASUOpres@uoregon.edu.

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The Oregon state legislator is laying down new laws that started on Jan. 1, so watch out for some of them that are likely to affect University of Oregon students — especially drivers, smokers and beverage drinkers.

Here are some new laws in Oregon that you should know:

Bottle Tax increase:

You’ll pay 10 cents per bottle of soda, coffee or other canned or bottled drinks instead of 5 cents with a new law passed in April. There are some exceptions to the tax, including wine, liquor, dairy and meal supplement bottles or cans. Nine states have such laws, ranging from 5 cents to 15 cents. The reason behind Oregon’s bump in price is because when the law was first introduced in 1971, the price was a nickel. It aimed to encourage people to bring bottles back to deposit sites where they can get their deposits back. But a nickel is worth less now, and return rates have been decreasing. Oregon’s increase to 10 cents aims to raise the bottle return rates. In 2015, returns dipped to 68 percent, compared to around 90 percent in the first few years that the law was introduced.

Gas pumping:

New to most native Oregonians, and a source of much outcry, will be the new law allows counties with populations less than 40,000 the ability to pump their own gas.New Jersey and Oregon are the only states that require an attendant at gas stations pump gas. Nearby counties such as Curry, Jefferson and Wheeler will be able to pump their own gas instead of needing an attendant.

Gas Tax:

New to this year, Oregon residents will see a 4 cent rise in the gas tax, which will now be 34 cents. This is part of a transportation bill that will aim to improve the state of Oregon’s roads and bus systems across the state. The transportation funding package is a seven year, $5.3 billion endeavor tied into other fees that are also being put into place in 2018.

Vehicle registration:

Oregon issues 2-year and 4-year registrations, and most car owners will see the fee for 2-year registrations rise from $86 to $112, a 30 percent increase. The total fee increase amounts to $26 total, due to a $13 jump per year.

The fee to transfer and replace the title of a car is also increasing: Car owners will have to pay an additional $16, a 20 percent increase from the former $77. The fee adds up to a new total of $93.

Tobacco age:

As of January 1, the legal age for tobacco use has been raised from 18 to 21 statewide. The age was raised in Lane County in April 2017, but now the rest of the state has followed suit, making Oregon the fifth state to raise the legal age for tobacco to 21.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown signed the change into legislation in August, according to the Oregonian. The change affects cigarettes, cigars, vape, and devices for tobacco use like pipes and water pipes.

The change is intended to prevent young people from getting addicted to nicotine. The U.S. Surgeon General reported that 9 out of 10 smokers start before age 18.

The Oregonian reported that the new law will focus on punishing tobacco vendors who sell to underage people more than tobacco smokers who are underage.

A side effect of the new minimum age is that people under the age of 21 will no longer be able to shop at head shops, where glassware and smoking accessories associated with cannabis are sold. Back in April, when the smoking minimum was raised in Lane County, many students were more upset about that consequence than tobacco.

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