UO E-clips, Feb. 5

UO among schools with offshore investments (Daily Emerald): Another strong year of endowment investments by colleges across the nation caused federal legislators to take a closer look at how these non-profit institutions are making so much money. What they're finding is that many of these schools with huge endowments - such as the University of Oregon's more than $450 million - are making a portion of their investments in offshore fund structures. These offshore investments shelter the school from federal taxes that can be as high as 39 percent.

Students to chip in their two cents at gay rights conference (Daily Emerald): Activism on Facebook, arrest rates among transgender people and immigration may not have many things in common, except that all three will be discussed at the Creating Change Conference 2008 this week. Centered around building the grassroots power of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, the National Lesbian and Gay Task Force organizes the annual conference - five days of workshops, lectures, networking and training sessions, and strategizing for taking action - for LGBT rights activists from all over the country. "(Creating Change is) a loose, general term for sparking change for a more progressive society, community and relationships, or anything to be more equal for LGBT individuals and their rights," said junior Jory Card, one of seven University students flying to Detroit Wednesday to participate.

Entrepreneurs launch businesses despite economic downturn (KVAL.com): Jane Kindberg left her teaching career behind--and opened her first business in November. Talk of a recession doesn't scare her. In fact, Kindger says it will help her store, Zida Fashion Acsessories, because every item they sell is $29.95 or less. … Dick Sloan, the Undergraduate Coordinator of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Oregon, says they're right not to worry.