UO student killed in train accident

On April 4, the Eugene Police Department identified the body of a man who died after falling from a train as University of Oregon student Connor James. James’ body was reported to the EPD on the morning of April 1 near Northwest Expressway and North Park Avenue.

It is unknown whether alcohol or other substances were involved.

UO continues halt of FSL expansion after latest review

After seeing the results of the external review of Fraternity and Sorority Life at the UO, Vice-President of Student Life Robin Holmes said the concerns about sexual assault in the community were affirmed.

After the report’s release, the Division of Student Life extended a halt on new fraternities and sororities forming at the UO, as well as a cap on membership levels until staffing increases.

The report examined documents and conversations with both campus and fraternity and sorority members regarding the issue of sexual assault. It made several recommendations to solve the issues, which include high-risk behaviors such as hazing and substance abuse. The recommendations include establishing closer communication between FSL leadership, university administration and the Office of Student Life.

Divest UO banner removed from Johnson Hall

The UO administration ordered campus operations to remove Divest UO’s sign that ask UO President Michael Schill to call for the UO foundation to divest from fossil fuels.

“We routinely remove signs across campus,” UO spokesperson Tobin Klinger said. “The university has a lot of locations where students are able to share their message and we [have] provided ample opportunity for the Divest students’ message to be heard.”

Divest UO disagrees with this, however.

“I think it is pretty clear that the administration just wants the sign gone and they’re trying to find ways to prove that we’re not allowed to have it here,” said Selena Blick, a Divest UO member.

Divest UO’s sit-in will continue into its fifth week. The campaign has reached out to the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education to research its free speech rights in this case.

Terry Shockley, former Eugene property manager, pleads guilty to wire fraud

Terry Shockley, former owner of Eugene Rentals and Property Management Concepts, pled guilty to two counts of wire fraud on April 6.

Shockley is accused of using rent and security deposits from properties his firm managed for personal use. The two counts of wire fraud against Shockley also accused him of communicating across state lines in an attempt to cheat people out of their money.

Each count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

I’m With UO, One Oregon advance to executive runoff election

I’m with UO’s Quinn Haaga received 2,306 votes and One Oregon’s Zach Rentschler received 2,056 in last week’s ASUO presidential election. Duck Squad’s Samara Mokaya received 963 votes, eliminating her from contention.

The ballot measure about funding initiatives passed with an 83.6 percent majority.

A total of 6,269 students logged on to DuckWeb to vote. Voting for the runoff election, which also includes most senatorial races, will re-open on DuckWeb at 9 a.m. on April 11 and continue through April 15.

Oregon’s public universities presidents petition state for $100 million

UO President Michael Schill, along with the presidents of six other public universities, is petitioning the state of Oregon for a $100 million increase in funding. The petition was sent to the Higher Education Coordinating Commission on Wednesday, March 30. Collectively, they asked for $765 million for the 2017-2019 cycle, which is $100 million more than the current cycle. According to the petition, this will not stop tuition increases but help the increases stay lower than 5 percent each year. The HECC will review the petition for a budget increase on April 13.

UO student charged with sexual assault

Sean Wood was arrested March 30 by the UOPD. Wood has been charged with unlawful sexual penetration in the first degree following an investigation that stemmed from an incident at Wood’s residence on Feb. 6. According to court documents, he is also charged with sexual abuse for an occurrence in September 2013. Both victims are University of Oregon students. Prior to his arrest, Wood was a member of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity.

Gun pulled at Taylor’s

Forest Laughner was arrested by the Eugene Police Department around 1 a.m. on March 29 after revealing a gun outside Taylor’s Bar and Grill. Laughner, 23, was cut off from service and asked to leave by Taylor’s staff before he revealed a gun in his waistband outside the bar. Laughner attempted to flee the scene but was ultimately arrested on the corner of 11th Avenue and Alder Street. He is charged with reckless endangering, unlawful use of a weapon and three counts of menacing.

Printers on campus hacked to produce anti-Semitic flyers

Five printers on the UO campus were part of a national hacking that produced anti-Semitic flyers promoting a neo-Nazi website. On March 25, network printer ports received the flyers that were open to the Internet. A 30-year-old hacker, Andrew Auernheimer, took credit for the hack, according to the Washington Times. The flyers appeared at a number of institutions — including Oregon State University, Brown, Princeton, University of Southern California and University of Rhode Island – as they prepared for Holocaust Remembrance Week.

On April 5, the Emerald will moderate its annual ASUO debate from 6-7:30 p.m. in room 123 of Global Scholars Hall. Unlike previous years, which have only allowed ASUO presidential candidates to debate, this year’s event will include a debate between the vice presidents on all three election campaigns: Duck Squad, I’m with UO and One Oregon.

Click here to see the roster of those running for president and vice president.

The debate is in partnership with the ASUO Elections Board and the Residence Hall Association. Free pizza will be provided.

RHA representative Erika Goto, who is booking the venue for the debate, is running for Senate Seat 5 on I’m with UO slate. Goto did not participate in drafting the questions or establishing the rules of the debate.

Primary voting starts on April 4 on DuckWeb at 9 a.m.

In the midst of bombings on March 22 in Brussels, Belgium, two students traveling through University of Oregon programs were reported safe.

The attacks at a metro station and the airport left at least 30 dead and more than 200 injured, according to CNN.

One of the students is studying abroad in London, but was traveling through Brussels at the time of the attacks, Chakris Kussalanant, director of marketing and communications for the Office of International Affairs said. This student is not a UO student, but from a partner university studying through a program offered by the UO.

The other student studying in Brussels is Jennifer Eyler, a junior majoring in international studies. She lives south of downtown Brussels, so she wasn’t near the attacks, but felt their effect at the time and during the aftermath.

Eyler is attending Vrije Universiteit Brussel and said that on the day of the attacks, a bomb squad was sent to the area of her school after a suspicious package was reported. Her classes were cancelled for the rest of the week, but her program is running as normal, Eyler said in a message to the Emerald.

Eyler said security was still high throughout the city, and that the day after the attacks you couldn’t enter a metro station without a police search.

“When talking with other students in my program, we all noticed in the following days that when we were on public transportation, there was complete silence,” Eyler said. “Hardly anyone was talking and it didn’t sound like the average metro or bus ride.”

The day after the attacks, Eyler went downtown to Place de la Bourse where a memorial is set up to honor the victims.

“Many people were gathered to pay their respects to the victims and some were singing or would give a little speech,” Eyler said. “It was truly beautiful because you saw everyone from this diverse city come together.”

Kussalanant said that they have “no other concerns” for the students traveling abroad. The UO sent out an email to students traveling abroad encouraging them to inform loved ones of their safety and providing safety tips.

“Our safety is their main priority so they’ve kept us updated on everything that’s happening,” Eyler said about her program.

Eyler maintained she isn’t in fear for her safety going forward.

“I don’t feel scared or unsafe because things like this can happen anywhere in the world,” Eyler said. “It’s scary to think how close I was to it all but it doesn’t change my perception of Brussels whatsoever.”

University of Oregon student Sean Donald Wood was arrested around 8 a.m. this morning by the UOPD for unlawful sexual penetration in the first degree, according to his arrest report. Wood was later booked at the Lane County Jail.

Wood was arrested without issue following an investigation stemming from an incident that took place at Wood’s residence on Feb. 6., Kelly McIver, communications director for the UOPD, said in an email.

Wood was arrested at his home in the 1400 block of Hilyard. His charge is a Class A felony with a minimum mandatory sentence of eight years and four months.

Here is a screenshot of the arrest report:

ASUO released three upcoming ballot measures

Students can vote on these three measures on DuckWeb starting April 4:

1. One would make ASUO services universally accessible by requiring ASUO to implement universal design. The measure won’t increase the incidental fee and will provide accommodations for all students for ASUO meetings and events regardless of disabilities, ages, culture, religion, etc.
2. Funding initiatives will grant ASUO-recognized programs or services more money if they get signatures from 10 percent of the student body.
3. An update would require the ASUO president to appoint committee members by Oct. 1.

Mother of Lauren Jones filed $2.5 million lawsuit against PeaceHealth

The mother of Lauren Jones filed a $2.5 million lawsuit against PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center University District claiming medical negligence and wrongful death.

Jones passed away last year from meningococcemia. On Feb. 17, 2015, PeaceHealth diagnosed Jones with an “influenza-like illness” when she went to the hospital with a 103 degree fever. She was sent home to her residence hall with Tylenol and ibuprofen, where she was later found unconscious that same day. She never regained consciousness.

The lawsuit alleges the hospital failed to perform a blood test and have her evaluated by a specialist for infectious disease.

Former basketball players Dominic Artis and Damyean Dotson filed a lawsuit against University of Oregon

Artis and Dotson are seeking $10 million each from the university, claiming the investigation against them in the wake of rape allegations in March of 2014 was biased, denied them due process and diminished their chances of playing in the NBA.

Former player Brandon Austin was also accused and sued the university last October. All three players were dismissed by the UO and banned from campus for up to 10 years in May 2014. Austin filed his own suit seeking $7.5 million in October.

In August 2015, the survivor of the alleged assault settled her suit against the UO for violating her Title IX rights, receiving $800,000 and free tuition.

A crash involving an EMX bus and a truck near campus sent a child to the hospital

The crash occurred at Franklin Boulevard and Orchard Street around 12 p.m. on March 17. It sent five people to the hospital with minor injures, including a seven-month-old child. According to EPD reports, the child was brought to the hospital after hitting her head on a metal pole during the crash, but was reportedly unharmed. The accident was caused by a Ford F-350 pickup truck when it ran a red light while trying to make a left turn onto Orchard Street.

Both students studying abroad in Brussels accounted for after attacks

Bombings at the airport and a metro station left 30 dead and 230 injured. Two UO students in the area were confirmed as safe and accounted for following the attacks.

Jennifer Eyler is one of the students studying international studies at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. She wasn’t near the attacks but said a bomb squad came after a suspicious package was reported near the school.

According to a tweet from KEZI 9 a University of Oregon spokesperson confirmed that the two students in Brussels are accounted for after the attacks today.

Bombings at the airport and a metro station left 30 dead and 230 injured according to CNN.

Jennifer Eyler is a UO junior studying abroad in Brussels through the CIEE program. Eyler said she lives south of downtown Brussels so she wasn’t near the attacks, but a bomb squad came after a suspicious package was reported near Vrije Universiteit Brussel where Eyler is studying international studies.

“I know police are taking extra precautions all around the city today,” Eyler said in a message to the Emerald.

Eyler was out when she first heard about the explosions, but she hasn’t left the house since the program coordinators said the city was in lockdown and encouraged her to stay home until further notice. Eyler said she has seen reports of taxis offering free rides since public transportation is down.

“As I was returning home around 10 a.m. there were many sirens and many cars on the road, which I’m assuming was everyone trying to go back home from work or wherever they were,” Eyler said.

More to come.

Clark Honors College Professor Emerita of Literature passed away at the Riverbend Hospital on Tuesday according to an email sent on behalf Terry Hunt, Dean of the Honors College. Cogan began teaching at the Honors College in 1981. Hunt had no further information about when a service will take place, but wrote that information will be shared as it becomes available.

“Her contributions to the CHC community are long-standing and significant.
 Francie will be greatly missed by our CHC community,” Hunt wrote in the email.

The University of Oregon’s appeal for a new trial in light of a lawsuit they lost in September was denied today.

In September, James Cleavenger won $755,000 in a federal lawsuit he brought against the UOPD. The jury found that UOPD wrongfully terminated Cleavenger and made attempts to injure his future career in law enforcement to punish Cleavenger for whistleblowing.

The defendants in the case were Lieutenant Brandon Lebrecht, Sergeant Scott Cameron and former chief Carolyn McDermed. McDermed abruptly announced her retirement Friday, despite emails that showed her full schedule for this week obtained hours before the announcement. The UOPD announced today that former captain Pete Deshpande will fill the role of interim chief.

More to come.

A construction crew potentially caused a natural gas leak which temporarily closed the Ferry Street Bridge this morning, the Register-Guard reported.

Road closures were due to the response of emergency crew, but all roads have since reopened. The line was reportedly ruptured near Broadway and High Street but the origin is still unknown.

All emergency response has cleared the area and the construction crew at the future Whole Foods site in the area is continuing work.

More to come.