UO E-clips, Feb. 23-25

University or Oregon dedicates Nanoscience Research Center (CampusTechnology.com): The University of Oregon has joined the fast-growing nanotechnology industry with the dedication last week of a new science and technology research complex. The new underground Lorry I. Lokey Laboratories building is a signature research center associated with the Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute, a consortium that includes the University of Oregon, Oregon Health & Science University, Oregon State University, Portland State University, Pacific Northwest National Laboratories and the region's high-technology companies.

Raising hope (Oregon Daily Emerald): Going into the America's Giving Challenge charity fundraising competition, University President Dave Frohnmayer admits he didn't know what to expect. The Fanconi Anemia Research Fund, a Eugene-based organization founded by Frohnmayer and his wife Lynn to research the disorder that has claimed the lives of two of his daughters, was up against more than 700 charities that included some much bigger names, he said. But that didn't stop them from trying. "We, just like everyone else, talked to friends and got them interested," Frohnmayer said. "This is the kind of thing where you're almost reluctant to ask for help."

Eugene day of remembrance (KVAL.com): The University of Oregon took time Saturday to honor the Eugene Day of Remembrance. The day honors Feb. 19, 1942, the day President Roosevelt signed an order that sent thousands of Japanese Americans to desolate areas. Guest speaker Tetsuden Kashima spoke about a relatively unknown bit of history - how people of Japanese ancestry were not only interned here in the United States, but also abroad in Canada and Peru. Kashima is a professor of American Ethnic Studies at the University of Washington. He said it's important to learn what happened so history doesn't repeat itself. "It's a gross violation of civil rights and civil liberties," said Kashima. "It's a gross overuse of the military logic in overcoming civilian kinds of protection under the constitution. And, we have to keep saying this so it doesn't occur to other groups." UO School of Law graduate Minoru Yasui went on to challenge the legality of internment. The School of Law hopes to establish an endowment faculty position in human rights in his name.

America shortchanges itself by failing to do more to teach children languages other than English (Register-Guard, part of column by UO junior Chris Bradley in the 20-Below section): America’s once-great status among the nations of the world is ebbing. Challenges have come from many fronts, including the realms of economics and foreign policy. Despite these recent struggles, though, America remains the leader of the free world. We are stretched but resilient, roiled but rich. Another threat looms, however, one that we may not be able to withstand so easily. A stalwart of our strength has been the English language, the established international standard. But the day is coming when we will no longer be able to enjoy its benefits in politics, business and tourism. Uprising languages are already appearing. On our home soil, Spanish is emerging as a challenge because of an influx of Latin American immigrants, particularly along the West Coast and throughout the Southwest.

Climate ‘weirdness’ demands attention (Register-Guard guest view point by the UO's Bob Doppelt): Although Lane County has mostly been spared, this winter has been especially brutal in many places. China is experiencing its worst winter in more than 100 years. Record snow and freezing weather has caused more than $15 billion in damage to homes, businesses and farm production. Hundreds of thousands of travelers were stranded in southern China before their lunar new year, which is many people’s only opportunity to take a holiday. In the United States, a powerful storm hit the mid-South this month, killing more than 50 people and injuring many others in the deadliest tornado outbreak in decades. Tornados normally kill an average of 70 people in the United States all year, and we haven’t even entered the tornado season yet.

Fans take to McArthur court (KVAL.com, article in its entirety): McArthur Court was packed full of Duck fans and athletes Sunday. But, it wasn't to watch Duck basketball team fight for an NCAA birth. It was the 11th Annual Warsaw 3 on 3 Classic presented by the Duck Store. More than fifty teams took to the court with their eyes on sweet prize - the ultimate sports fan pack that includes Blazers, Beavers and Em's tickets, a pair of Jordan 23's and even an I-Pod. And, it was all for a worth cause. "All the proceeds will benefit the Stephen Dember Memorial Scholarship Fund which is eligible to any business student in the Lundquist College of Business who has a passion and interest in working in sports," said Tournament Director Anna Geiger. Stephen Dember died in a diving accident in Italy in 2005. Geiger said Sunday's event was a huge success, raising more than four thousand dollars, almost double last year's total.

Oregon lawmakers clear the way for Knight gift Chronicle of Higher Education, AP): Oregon legislators approved the University of Oregon’s request for $200-million in state-backed bonds to pay for a new basketball arena. University officials said earlier this month that if they did not secure the bonds by June 1, they faced losing a $100-million pledge from Philip H. Knight and his wife, Penny. The couple made the pledge in September for the Legacy Fund, an endowment to be used to support the athletics department, but not for construction or design of the arena. According to the donor agreement between the Knights and the university, payment on the pledge is contingent on the institution’s ability to secure the bonds. The Associated Press article says the university agreed to set aside $1 from all tickets more than $8 in a reserve fund to help pay off the debt if necessary.

Goodbye, Mac Court; hello, questions and higher ticket prices (The Oregonian): The University of Oregon's basketball programs scored the biggest victory of the season Friday, and the teams didn't even play. Late Friday evening, the Legislature voted to approve $200 million in state-backed bonds to build a replacement for McArthur Court, the Ducks' classic but creaky arena.

Arena bills clear the Legislature (Register-Guard): Weeks of scrutiny, debate and controversy gave way Friday night to the University of Oregon arena’s biggest win to date: final approval by the Legislature. Before that happened, the $200 million project faced what amounted to a two-minute drill: two separate financing bills had to win majority support in each of the two legislative chambers as lawmakers rushed to adjournment. The two bills passed with overwhelming support in every floor vote. One of the measures authorized the project’s construction and the other gave the go-ahead to borrow $200 million through bond sales to finance it.

Experts want to hear from volunteer owl trainer (Register-Guard): What happened when the owl met the journalism professor? Who-who knows? Seriously, although Archimedes now has love for the glove, it took some doing for Melissa Hart to get the 8-year-old snowy owl to cooperate without, uh, flying the coop. Hart is a University of Oregon adjunct writing professor, the author of the memoir “The Assault of Laughter” and a volunteer at Eugene’s Cascade Raptor Center. She not only achieved the nearly impossible task of glove-training the bird, she’s been invited to Amsterdam on March 3 to give a humorous lecture about her experience at a conference at the International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators.