UO E-clips, Jan. 10-12

Construction forecast is predictably dismal (Daily Journal of Commerce): As a word, “bleak” only begins to describe the outlook outlined in the Associated General Contractors of America’s 2009 construction forecast. According to the forecast, released Thursday, two-thirds of nonresidential construction companies plan to lay off workers in 2009. … Some construction projects are “shovel-ready” and could begin quickly, said Tim Duy, director of the Oregon Economic Forum at the University of Oregon. But one of the chief benefits of construction projects is their lasting effect on the economy.

A higher standard at the UO (Register-Guard opinion editorial by Dave Frohnmayer): I am compelled to respond to a University of Oregon professor’s attack that appeared in the Jan. 4 Commentary section, “It’s time to give academics top priority.” The author impugned the reputation of both the university and his distinguished colleagues. He misused data to imply that the UO is spiraling into academic disrepair, when in fact every indicator shows a vibrant and growing intellectual and educational community. … Our continued excellence in research and scholarship has helped fuel an unprecedented building boom over the last nine years, allowing us to construct academic facilities that match the world-class quality of our faculty and students. The vast majority of construction, funded with private contributions or carefully leveraged state bonding efforts, supported academic or community purposes and touched virtually every scholarly discipline on campus. This recent construction cycle is unprecedented in intensity and scope.

UO lectures to mark Darwin anniversaries (Register-Guard): In just 150 years, the science of evolution has itself evolved, and the University of Oregon will mark both the sesquicentennial of the theory’s modern introduction and the bicentennial of the scientist who proposed it with a series of public lectures. The monthly series of lectures, which will run through May, are being held to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin and the 150th anniversary of his book, “On the Origin of Species,” which laid the modern foundation for evolution.

UO wants to move Civil War football game to a Thursday (The Oregonian): University of Oregon athletic officials want to move the 2009 Civil War football game to a Thursday night, and possibly move more games next season to Thursday. The reason: TV money. UO spokesman Dave Williford, who called in response to an interview request for athletic director Pat Kilkenny, said nothing had been finalized. But Kilkenny called Oregon State athletic director Bob De Carolis on Friday afternoon to raise the possibility, and De Carolis said he would speak with OSU president Ed Ray this weekend about the idea of moving the game to Dec. 3.