UO E-clips, July 2, 2008

Two proposals for site rise to top (Register-Guard): Now the butt of jokes, the city-owned pit in downtown Eugene across West 10th Avenue from the public library could be transformed with apartments and possibly offices under development proposals soon to be evaluated by the City Council. Five development ideas were submitted to city officials in May. Two of those -- from Eugene-based WG Development and Portland-based Opus Northwest -- have emerged as the leading contenders, according to residents asked by city officials to review the proposals. “We really focused on the WG and Opus proposals,” said Greg McLauchlan, a University of Oregon professor and former co-chairman of the West Broadway Advisory Committee.

Sports giving: An offer they can’t refuse (Register-Guard, guest viewpoint): OK, I give up. Why, exactly, is it a bad thing for rich dudes like Phil Knight and Pat Kilkenny to underwrite the University of Oregon athletic department? It’s not where I would spend my money -- but then, it isn’t my money. Note to music dean: If you ever hear that I have become a rich dude, take me to lunch. Those faculty members who object to private donors building athletic facilities seem to have heard a theory somewhere that rich dudes who don’t give their money to linebackers give it to the math department instead to improve knowledge of algebraic topology. I must have missed that study.

Living canvas (Newsweek): Great artistic movements begin in rebellion, and end up in museums. Along the way, there is typically an inflection point, a paradigm shift when the response they elicit changes from shock and outrage to "ummm... is this the only color it comes in?" Michael McCabe has tattoos on both arms down to his wrists; he has written about tattoos and been a tattoo artist for 20 years, during most of which time it was illegal in New York City. … "Tattooing has been on the increase for, probably, two decades," says Daniel Wojcik, who studies folklore at the University of Oregon at Eugene and estimates that at least a third of his students have tattoos.

After trials, could Eugene host a world track competition? (Associated Press): The president and acting CEO of USA Track & Field says he hopes the US will someday host a world outdoor or indoor track and field meet. And Bill Roe says he knows just the spot for the indoor meet: the new basketball arena at the University of Oregon. Roe says he has had "preliminary" discussions about the possibility with Oregon director of track and field Vin Lananna. Roe said it could be more plausible for Eugene to host a world junior outdoor track and field meet at Hayward Field.