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UO E-clips, Jan. 15
Top stories for January 15, 2008: UO law students see first hand as Oregon's Court of Appeals works on campus, reports the Oregon Daily Emerald; Both the Oregonian and the Register-Guard urge, in editorials,that the risks be considered in moving forward with state bonds for a new UO arena
Court of Appeals visits School of Law (Daily Emerald): University law students received some notable preparation for their oral arguments Monday: They got to watch the pros at work. What's more, they didn't even have to leave the School of Law. The Oregon Court of Appeals visited campus Monday to hear two cases in front of students and the public. The proceedings were a real court session, carried out at the William W. Knight Law Center. The recurring event is designed to allow students to witness first-hand the interaction between attorneys and judges. It is practically identical to a typical Court of Appeals session, the only difference being the judges ask the attorneys to talk about their cases for the sake of the audience.
Risk, rewards and Oregon's new arena (Oregonian editorial): In a February special session that is being touted as risk-averse, the University of Oregon will try to persuade the Legislature to approve $200 million in state-backed bonds to build the most expensive college basketball arena in the country. The successor to Mac Court -- the most costly bonding project in the history of the Oregon University System -- is as ambitious as it is reckless. Arena financing is supported by revenue forecasts that would make the Rose Garden blush, projections that, magically, have doubled to serve the needs of the UO athletic department and its chief steward, Phil Knight.
Consider arena risks (Register-Guard editorial): In any major endeavor there is an element of risk, and that risk must be fully acknowledged and considered if the venture is to have optimal chances of success. So it is for the University of Oregon’s bold plan to issue an unprecedented $200 million in state-backed bonds to build a new arena to replace 81-year-old McArthur Court. Last year, the UO prudently commissioned an independent market study to assess the risk of the arena project. The consultant, San Diego-based Conventions, Sports and Leisure Inc., concluded that Eugene’s significant market limitations were offset by two critical factors: Phil and Penny Knight’s extraordinary gift of $100 million to create the Oregon Athletics Legacy Fund and the community’s voracious appetite for Ducks athletics.