UO E-clips, Dec. 3

UO names successors for athletic programs (Register-Guard, with similar coverage in multiple other publications): The University of Oregon on Tuesday announced a bold, open-ended plan to shore up the two most important positions in the athletic department and retain offensive football coordinator Chip Kelly, who was being courted by other schools. Following an increasingly popular national trend, the Ducks designated Kelly as the eventual successor to current head football coach Mike Bellotti. Concurrently, but at a time yet to be specified, Bellotti will replace Pat Kilkenny as the university’s director of athletics.

Oregon's announcement makes everything clear, except for the stuff that still isn't (The Oregonian): In a Tuesday afternoon conference call, University of Oregon officials announced something might happen at an unspecified future date -- unless the situation changes. If that happens, something else happens. "Because there has been some speculation and because it's important to proceed on the basis of best knowledge," UO president Dave Frohnmayer said before outlining, "my intentions for the future of the athletic department, in so far as we can know that."

UO tenders reward for sculpture’s return (Register-Guard): University of Oregon spokesman Phil Weiler doesn’t claim to know why someone went to great lengths last month to steal a heavy, bronze statue from the Prince Lucien Campbell Hall courtyard off Kincaid Street. “It could have been a prank, or it could have been someone who wanted to sell it for scrap,” Weiler said. “Either way, it is a loss for the entire community.” UO officials badly want “The Falconer” sculpture back on campus, so they’re offering a $2,000 reward to anyone who provides police with information leading to the artwork’s safe return.

Governor offers idea on stimulus to Obama (Register-Guard): Gov. Ted Kulongoski on Tuesday pitched President-elect Barack Obama on a plan to sink billions of dollars into ready-to-go maintenance projects on college campuses. Kulongoski delivered his proposal while in Philadelphia, where governors from across the country met with Obama and his transition team to discuss their mutually shared top priority: reversing the economic slide. ... The governor also has proposed $980 million in campus capital projects. His proposal includes the renovation of the UO’s Straub Hall and the completion of a Fenton Hall project. The UO also would get a share of a $75 million allocation for renewable energy projects. The UO’s share would upgrade its power station.