UO E-clips, Nov. 27-Dec. 1

UO Foundation sees drop in endowment: The U.S. economic crisis pushes down the value of the fund, but officials say many universities have fared far worse -- the Register-Guard (The University of Oregon’s endowment is taking a hit from the ongoing turmoil in the stock market and the economy, but money managers at the UO Foundation say they’re weathering the financial storm better than many investors. Jay Namyet, the organization’s executive director, said that for the calendar year the total value of the university’s endowment is down about 18 percent. He said comparable investment funds and university endowments have fared far worse, with many losing as much as 30 to 50 percent of their value. Even with the decline, Namyet said the UO foundation will allocate to the university all of the money it expected to provide this year. Plus, he said chances are good that next year’s allocation will be close to this year’s and could even top it. That would be good news given that the foundation will be charged with managing much of the new-found wealth the UO pulled in from the largest fundraising drive in Oregon history. Now in its final weeks, the UO’s Campaign Oregon brought in more than $800 million in private donations for buildings, scholarships, endowed faculty and other needs.

UO to upgrade physical plant (Associated Press, appearing on KTVZ.com, The Oregonian): A $227 million basketball arena, set to open in two years, is the construction project getting most of the attention at the University of Oregon. But another project set to break ground will affect a greater number of students. The university is upgrading the physical plant -- the operation that provides heating, cooling and part of the electricity to almost every building on campus. Officials say the project will boost the capacity of the campus utility system while shrinking the school's carbon footprint, a measure of greenhouse gases produced by human activity. It will provide more steam and electricity at less cost and greater efficiency.

UO to upgrade campus utilities (Register-Guard): If physical plants were cars, the University of Oregon would be on the verge of trading in its 1945 Chevy on a brand-new Prius. The UO is about to break ground on a big upgrade of what’s generally known as the physical plant, the operation that provides heating, cooling and part of the electricity to almost every building on campus. If a second phase gets funded next year, the entire project could be the third-most-expensive construction job in campus history.

Oregon's economic question: Do public works work? (Associated Press, appearing on Forbes.com): Last week, House Democrats unveiled an ambitious economic plan to help Oregon weather the economic storm ahead. Spending hundreds of millions of dollars on state-funded construction projects could create thousands of jobs, they said. .... Public works, it seems, is the latest political craze. Economists - and even Oregon Republicans - generally agree that these projects "do have a simulative impact," but economist Bruce Blonigen of the University of Oregon said there are uncertainties.

UO wants to change 'Made in Oregon' sign (KATU.com, Portland Business Journal): It's a Portland landmark to say the least, perhaps moreso during the holidays. That's when a bright red nose appears on the stag on the big neon "Made In Oregon" sign above the Burnside Bridge in Old Town. The newest academic tenants in the building the sign rests on say they want to make some changes to the sign - and have it read University of Oregon. A quick sample of people on the street by KATU indicated that most people were opposed to such a change - but not everyone felt that way. The sign has seen changes in text over the years. For decades, it read "White Stag" before the current version. And before that it was different again. But the outline of the state, the leaping stag, and the red nose during the holidays have always been a constant. To some, the holiday season really doesn't start until that red nose glows. No final decision has been made - yet.

Are you ready for the big one (KVAL.com): Geologists say The Big One is bound to hit Oregon: a 9.0 earthquake spawning massive tsunamis and causing widespread devastation. When the quake shakes, it will do so without warning. And it could be tonight -- or 200 years from now. ... "People who live right on the coast would have the greatest devastation," said David Schmidt, a professor of geology at the University of Oregon.