Several burglaries were reported to Eugene police south and west of the University of Oregon campus on May 5, according to a Campus Crime Alert (PDF) sent out by the University of Oregon Police Department around 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, informing students of the burglaries.

It is unclear if the crimes occurred on Saturday or early Sunday.

According to the alert, residents were home when suspects entered in three situations. The suspect descriptions vary, but all were described as males in the late teens or early twenties.

“There were two people that were seen in each of those three cases,” UOPD spokesperson Kelly McIver said.

Items reported stolen included money, laptops, video game consoles and other items. It is unknown if the incidents are related and how they gained access into the homes.

“They may or may not be related, but for sure we knew this is a trend; people are taking advantage of the fact that windows and doors are being left open because of the warm weather, and people should be reminded of that,” she said.

The crimes are unsolved, and the investigations are ongoing.

About two miles northwest of the University of Oregon, a project that will break ground for the largest public-covered skate park is going to be built under the Washington-Jefferson Bridge. Construction for the project should begin at the end of June and will be completed in early winter or fall, according to Colette Ramirez-Maddock, recreation program assistant with the City of Eugene’s Outdoor Program.

The planning started in 2002 with the mindset of revitalizing Washington-Jefferson Park. Two years later, 1,000 signatures were gathered in favor of building the skate park. The skate park will be on the north end of the currently-existing basketball courts and will replace the playground.

Original estimates put the cost of the park at $1 million, but ended up being estimated at around $2 million dollars.

Three-quarters of the skate park will be funded through system development charges, which will mostly come from the developers of the many new apartment complexes in the university area. The rest will come from the city and three private groups — Skaters for Eugene Skateparks, Downtown Rotary and the Eugene Parks Foundation.

“We’re at about $150,000 and we have another $200,000 in grants that we are waiting to hear back from,” Ramirez-Maddock said. “So we’re doing really good, we’re happy with what we’ve made so far.”

City officials expect to maintain the venue through a combination of volunteer park adoption groups and rental income, from food cart and other vendors, who will be allowed at the skate park, plus rental charges for groups that hold events there.

UO student Alex Bennett has been skating for 10 years and is happy to have a covered skate park come to Eugene. Having the nation’s largest public covered skate park in Eugene is going to be significant toward the local skate scene by bringing events to the area.

“I’m super stoked, Eugene has a lot of nice little parks, but I think a big covered one would be awesome, especially with Eugene’s rainy weather,” said Bennet.

CORRECTION: Original article quoted Intramural Sports Associate Director Brent Harrison. Quotes belong to Acting Assistant Shawn Newton.

Intramural sports at the University of Oregon is steadily increasing — 9,637 new students joined last year. With new events such as intramural battleship in the works, Acting Assistant Director Shawn Newton expects to see that number increase.

There are currently four intramural leagues for spring term: soccer, softball, ultimate and four-on-four grass volleyball, but Harrison is looking into adding Intramural Battleship in the future. The objective is to sink the opponent’s canoe by hurling pool water into his or her boat. Players use buckets, pool noodles and foam boards to throw and defend their boat from sinking.

“A lot of programs are really getting into it and I figured, what the heck, let’s give it a shot if we can,” Newton said.

In addition to expanding sports offerings, the organization provides employment to a number of university students.

Tyler Munds, a referee supervisor, has been a part of the UO intramural program for four years and has been a referee for seven different sports, as well as a player a on a few teams.

“You have to have thick skin because when people get competitive in the heat of the moment, people say things that they typically don’t say, and you can’t take it personally,” Munds said.

Despite their competitive nature, intramural sports provide the chance for students of all experience levels to get involved.

“It’s good for those players that played sports in high school, but aren’t necessarily good enough to play on a club or Division I team, so it’s nice to get a competitive outlet,” Munds said.

Teams that win their respected division win the traditional black Nike T-shirts that read “Oregon Intramural Champions” in yellow print on the front of the shirt.

“(The shirts) are very simple but yet highly desirable,” Newton said.

Last year’s ultimate coed championship team, “Jesus and the Disc-iples,” was formed after a group of kids that took ultimate frisbee as freshmen decided to make a team. Team Captain Robert McLauchlan has played intramural ultimate for three years, and is also on the UO Running Club.

McLauchlan said when he’s running with the club and on his own there is not a lot of competition, which is why he enjoys intramural sports.

“It’s something to look forward to after a long day of class,” McLauchlan said.

Sarah Spring, who was the co-captain of “Jesus and the Disc-iples,” was asked to be on her roommate’s intramural flag football team during her freshman year.

“It was a good bonding experience and good way to meet people,” Spring said.

Arsalan Kazemi has come a long way — 7,120 miles if you want to be exact.

Even though it wasn’t very popular in his home country, Iran, Kazemi decided to add basketball to his already-full list of sports when he was 9.

“In my elementary school I was competing in five different sports,” he said. “I was really into sports from the beginning.”

Kazemi quickly narrowed the list down to one. At 14, he was playing for the Iran national team in his age group and began helping them win championships. Only a few years later, Kazemi left everything and came to America for his senior year of high school at The Patterson School in North Carolina.

“I had to sacrifice a lot of things. When I came here (U.S.) I was only 17 years old, I came here by myself and don’t have any family in the U.S.,”said Kazemi.

Before transferring to UO Kazemi attended Rice, in Houston for his first three years. Although he won’t disclose the reasons, reports emerged of complaints of discrimination.

Kazemi petitioned the NCAA for waivers to the rule that requires transfers to sit out a year. His exception was granted.

“The process was so quick, I came on Saturday and was in school on Monday,” said Kazemi.

As the first Iranian to play Division I basketball, he understood the importance of his athletic career.

“It was sometimes hard because I felt a lot of pressure because I was the first one. I always wanted to show that I was good and that we have talent back in Iran, and like people should recruit more people (from Iran),” said Kazemi.

For the one year he attended Oregon, Kazemi made an impressive collegiate resume for himself with numerous school records, winning the Pac-12 championship, and played a key role in the UO going to the Sweet 16 during March Madness, but ultimately Kazemi has bigger plans. 

“I’m happy with what I’ve accomplished so far and my family is really proud of me and all that but obviously my main goal is to make it to the NBA,” said Kazemi “I had this dream since I was a kid and I never thought I would get this close to it.”

If he makes it into the NBA, Kazemi will be able to help give other Iranian players opportunities to play in the U.S.. Kazemi plans to promote American teams travelling to Iran so they can experience the country and hopefully form a better relationship between the two nations.

“I think sports is that one thing that can open up the doors to other countries and that’s my main goal,” said Kazemi. “NBA is the next level and it’s the highest level you get. People look at you different and obviously you kinda get more power and more sponsors and more people to help you.”

Now living in L.A. for the NBA draft in June, whether or not Kazemi is drafted he will continue to work toward his life long goal.

“

I’m going to train really hard and do my best to make it to the NBA,” said Kazemi. “But if it doesn’t work, there are other countries that have good basketball teams, then play in the NBA in the future.”

A new bill that was presented by Representative Brent Barton (D-Oregon City) will force coaches to be responsible for their actions when they were employed.

The proposed bill will hold college coaches responsible for breaking NCAA sanctions when they decide to leave before facing NCAA discipline. Currently, the University of Oregon, players and fans will be left with the outcomes of any penalties enforced by the NCAA while former Oregon head coach Chip Kelly recently left for the NFL.

The summary of Legislative Concept 3524:

“Provides that coach at public university who intentionally or recklessly commits or causes to be committed major violation of rules of National Collegiate Athletic Association is liable for university’s actual damages and attorney fees. Applies to major violations committed before, on or after effective date. Declares emergency, effective on passage.”

More information to come.

The University of Oregon sent a letter to Iowa school district officials in December asking the Okoboji High School Pioneers to stop using a maroon-colored “O” because the shape infringes on the Ducks’ trademarked “O.”

The Oregon “O” was designed by Nike in collaboration with the UO and was first used in 2001; by 2003, the logo became the UO’s official mark.

Gary Janssen, the Okoboji Community School District superintendent, stated in a newsletter the school’s nickname and mascot will remain the Pioneers but will transition from their current logo — the Okoboji “O” — to something new. He is asking residents of Milford to submit ideas for a new school logo.

Ryan Paulsen, the Okoboji high school athletic director, has formed an eight-member committee of students, staff, parents, community/board members and alumni to solicit ideas for a new school logo. The Logo Committee will decide on the top three submitted ideas and send their recommendations to the Okoboji School Board at its May 13 meeting; the board will then make the final selection for the school’s next logo.

This is the second time an Iowa school has been asked to change their logo by a university. In 2006, Waukee School District agreed to change its “W” logo at the request of the University of Wisconsin.

Beginning on May 1, Eugene retailers will be required to stop providing single-use plastic carry out bags that are more than four one-thousandths of an inch thick to customers. The city council approved the ban late last year in an effort to promote reusable shopping bags and keep plastic bags from becoming litter or garbage.

The City of Eugene says removing the majority of plastic bags from the retail landscape requires community members to use reusable bags more often and that the switch from single-use bags to reusable bags lessens the impacts of plastic bag production. This includes a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions associated with production and transport of the bags, less material in local landfills and less litter in woods, streams and natural areas.

The ban also requires customers to bring bags to carry food and merchandise or buy paper bags from merchants for a minimum of five cents per bag.

In response to the ban, the Duck Store will make its iconic plastic bags — known for their impressive book-carrying strength — even thicker.

“We’re increasing the thickness of our bags to 4 mils,” said Eric Breitenstein, Duck Store marketing coordinator.

UO grad student Sarah Brady was happy to hear about the Duck Store’s continued use of plastic bags, however she would rather see thinner bags. 

“I know I will continue to reuse plastic bags and as long as that’s the consumer mindset I think that’s great,” said Brady.

Brady attended a Gordon Research Conference on science and technology policy in New Hampshire last summer. There, she was among 50 other graduate students to present a project that she did outside of academia to compare the life cycle of plastic bags to the plastic bag policy.

“I don’t think consumers are aware of the other environmental impacts,” said Brady, “such as water use or greenhouse gas emissions for plastic bags versus their reusable bags that are very popular.”

Plastic bags are commonly known for clogging waterways, choking fish and because they don’t decompose, they tend to end up as litter.

According to the City of Eugene, residents use an estimated 67 million single-use plastic carryout bags each year. UO chemistry professor David Tyler said every type of bag has some sort of harmful impact on the environment, but the most sustainable option is a reusable tote bag made of recycled plastic.

Regarding the ban, it depends on which environmental impact interests you the most.

“Just because paper is a renewable resource doesn’t automatically make it better for the environment,” Tyler said. “You’d like to use renewable resources whenever possible, but if in the manufacturing process it’s tough on the environment, you don’t really come out ahead.”

Eugene residents had little opposition against the ban, making it fairly easy for the city council to approve. Because plastic bag litter is one of the more visible types of litter, it makes it easier for the public to support the ban. Although it ultimately comes down to what environmental issue you value the most, according to Brady.

“Most people are convinced that plastics are evil,” said Tyler, “so it’s easy to ban them in a community.”

About six months ago, Tyler was asked by plastic bag supporters to write an editorial piece to the major local papers but declined and unknowingly had a comment featured in a YouTube video uploaded by a website titled “Bag the Ban.” The website was made by Hilex Poly, a global leader in plastic bag recycling and manufacturing.

Tyler is against the plastic bag ban, but not for the typical reasons. He’d rather see people being educated not to litter plastic bags and increase research on biodegradable plastics.

“Litter is a human behavior problem that we can solve by education,” Tyler said. “Let’s eliminate the bad things about plastics.”

Collegiate climbers made their way to the top at the third annual “Plastic Surgery” bouldering competition at the University of Oregon Student Recreation Center this Saturday.

Bouldering is a rock-climbing style that is undertaken without rope and is typically limited to short climbs over padded mats so a fall will not result in fatal injury. Around 100 climbers from across the Northwest — including Washington, Idaho and Oregon — came to compete.

“Bouldering is super hard,” said competition coordinator Chloe Potter. “It’s harder than climbing with a rope; it requires a lot of technique.”

The competition was scored using the Northwest Collegiate Climbing Circuit point system, which varies by the difficulty of each route. To earn points, a climber must complete the route under supervision of an official.

Each climber was given two hours to ascend as many routes as they could. The three climbers with the most points by the end went to the finals.

There were three categories climbers could enter: Beginner, intermediate and open. Like the holds on the wall, climbers’ skills were all vastly different.

“There’s some people that are really competitive and there are some people that are just here to climb,” Potter said.

For UO student Kylor Snook, Plastic Surgery was his first competition, and he has only been climbing since fall term. Snook joined the UO rock climbing team after his chemistry partner told him about it.

“I feel like I did pretty good,” Snook said. “I mean it was fun, that was [the] best part.”

The competitive aspect was almost invisible to any spectator because of the friendly atmosphere. During the finals — when competitors are sent out one by one — the entire crowd would cheer just as much for one climber as they would their own team’s climber.

“Everyone is here to compete but at the same time everyone is helping you out,” Snook said. “Everyone is cheering you on no matter what team you are on. Meets like Plastic Surgery allow fairly new climbers, as well as well-experienced climbers, to meet students across state lines that enjoy the sport of competitive climbing as well as outdoor climbing.”

Snook says that the friends he has made through climbing will be lifelong relationships, and even plans to move-in with a few people introduced to him by the sport.

“The three people I’m living with next year, I’ve met through climbing,” he said.

All the routes on the the UO rock wall had to be set and rated for this competition. The event turnout was exactly what coordinators hoped and ran just as smoothly, too.

According to assistant rock wall manager Chuck Woodward, the event exceeded his expectations.

“There’s 94 climbs and we have to climb and grade them all, and we did it all last night so we are exhausted,” Woodward said. “Everything went right and that’s exactly what you hope for.”

In honor of Sexual Violence Prevention Week, the ASUO Sexual Violence Prevention Task Force released a document Monday and created a survey for University of Oregon survivors of sexual violence and their allies.

The survey will be available for one month and will be used to form a subsequent critique of this policy. The survey is done in part because of visceral reactions of the implementation of the mandatory reporting protocol.

The ASUO President Laura Hinman created the task force early last fall. It is made up of students — from different backgrounds as well as areas of campus — who have expertise in sexual assault education and prevention.

In light of the tragedy at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, Eugene Police will take extra precautionary measures for the upcoming Eugene Marathon on April 27 and 28, which is fewer than two weeks away.

“This will be (the) first public domestic type event, ironically a marathon, in the nation after the bombing,” said Paula Hunt, EPD information coordinator.

To prevent any possible organized attack attempts during the Eugene Marathon, police met Tuesday night to discuss enhanced security options in preparations for the marathon. Eugene Marathon coordinators went over options with local police. A bomb commander and the University of Oregon Police Department were in attendance. No decisions were made at the meeting.

“We plan for unpredictable, but we can’t predict the future,” said Melinda McLaughlin, EPD public information director. “That’s why the planning and training is very important so we can be flexible in how we respond.”

EPD is unable to release information regarding the details of the enhanced security proposals to prevent their compromise. The department will stay in contact with marathon coordinators up until the day of the event.

“We will be having ongoing meetings with the marathon coordinators,” McLaughlin said.

Marathon coordinators released statements showing respect to those affected by the tragic events in Boston. They also ensured participants the marathon will take place as scheduled and they are working with city and law enforcement officials to ensure the safety of participants and spectators.

“All emergency dispatch agencies are extremely supportive, professional and prepared to help in any way,” said Hunt.

EPD had held previous training in planning security for a large-scale event already with the U.S. Olympic Team Trials last summer, so there will be an extra level of preparedness after having that experience.

“The likelihood of something happening is slim, but obviously we don’t want to take any chances,” said Hunt.