UO E-clips, Jan. 30

University of Oregon campaign raises $850M (The Associated Press, appearing on KGW.com and in the News Review): The University of Oregon has raised more than $850 million in an eight-year fund drive. University President Dave Frohnmayer will announce the results of Campaign Oregon Friday. The amount raised has far surpassed a goal set when fundraisers launched the drive during the 2001 recession. Eight years ago, Campaign Oregon architects set their sights on raising $600 million. The school has already begun to reshape its campus with money from the drive, which will also provide tens of millions of dollars for new scholarship programs, faculty positions and program expansions.

UO builds big savings account (The Oregonian): The University of Oregon has raised $853 million in an eight-year fundraising campaign that will provide a financial cushion to support academics and athletics during the recession, President Dave Frohnmayer will announce today. The university exceeded its goal of $600 million with big boosts from Nike co-founder Phil Knight and his wife, Penny, who gave more than $168 million, according to estimates by The Oregonian, and businessman Lorry Lokey, who gave $132 million.

Fund drive for UO surpasses all hopes (Register-Guard): Sparking a bright light in otherwise dim economic times, the University of Oregon will today announce the final numbers for a record-breaking fund drive that brought in more than $850 million and beat its goal by almost 50 percent. The formal end of Campaign Oregon marks the conclusion of the most successful philanthropic effort in state history, one that already has reshaped the Eugene campus and will transform it further in years to come. It also is pouring tens of millions of dollars into new scholarship programs, faculty positions and program expansions.

The UO raises the bar Campaign Oregon closes with $853 million (The Register-Guard, editorial): The University of Oregon spent the 1990s adapting to the weakening of state support that followed voter approval of a property tax limitation. It has spent the current decade in an effort that UO President Dave Frohnmayer describes as “finding through private resources the ability to fulfill our public mission.” That effort has been a resounding success -- so much so that the UO’s challenge now is to sustain the levels of fundraising that have been attained, while also ensuring that state lawmakers recognize that private philanthropy is no substitute for public support.

Donations to UO are a good investment (Salem Statesman Journal): Here's some good news about the economy: The University of Oregon has completed the largest fundraising campaign, public or private, in the state's history. University officials will announce today that the total has exceeded $853 million. That is 42 percent above the original goal. That comprises gifts from more than 90,000 donors.

University of Oregon Raises Record $853 Million in Campaign Oregon (EarthTimes, UK): Despite beginning and ending during serious economic recessions, the most ambitious fundraising campaign in state history soared past its $600 million goal to raise $853,120,266, more than three-quarters of a billion dollars, University of Oregon President Dave Frohnmayer announced today.

Charcoal evidence tracks climate changes in younger dryas (Innovations Report, Germany): The study -- appearing online this week (Jan. 26-31) ahead of regular publication in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences -- however, did find clear links between abrupt climate changes and fire activity during the transition between the last Ice Age and the warm interglacial period that began 11,700 years ago. … Charcoal particles, along with tree pollen, provide snapshots of types of vegetation and frequencies of wildfire activity in a given area, said study co-author Patrick J. Bartlein, a professor of geography at the University of Oregon.

John Kroger should fix Oregon's public records law (Blue Oregon guest column by Bill Harbaugh, UO professor of economics): Oregon has horrible public records laws. They can be fixed overnight. In his inaugural speech President Barack Obama said that he would make sure our federal government would "do our business in the light of day." He meant it -- his first official act was an executive order strengthening the federal FOIA act. Oregon needs to do the same thing. Our public records law gives too much discretion to state agencies and too little power to citizens who want to know what those agencies are doing. We need change. We can get it quickly.

Being good for goodness sake: Do you have the “giving” gene? (Nantucket Inquirer and Mirror): With stocks tanking and jobs dwindling, down-on-their-luck islanders’ need for a charitable community has never been surpassed. While some may fear that altruism could vanish in such dreary times, mounting scientific evidence indicates some tender souls are programmed to give through thick and thin. … The same brain region that’s excited by sweets, sex and winning the lottery also lights up when acting charitably, according to research out of the University of Oregon headed by professor of psychology, Ulrich Mayr.

Many ways for Series to become Super (ESPN.com): Here at Rumblings and Grumblings, we know exactly what the World Series is -- namely, the most historic championship extravaganza in sports. … We have our own thoughts on that matter. But we also fungoed that question in the direction of two astute men with unique insight into this topic -- Paul Swangard, managing director of the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center at the University of Oregon, and Dennis Mannion, now the chief operating officer for the Los Angeles Dodgers but formerly the senior vice president of business ventures for the Baltimore Ravens for nine years.