UO E-clips, June 10

University of Oregon wrestlers sue to keep sport (Associated Press -- appearing in the Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Statesman Journal, and numerous other publications): University of Oregon wrestlers have gone to court to prevent the school from dropping the sport to make room for a baseball team. The suit filed last Friday in Marion County Circuit Court in Salem claims the plan to eliminate wrestling would violate state law and the Oregon Constitution. The complaint says the university was mistaken when it decided that federal requirements for gender equality in sports meant that it would have to drop wrestling if it wanted to add baseball, which is returning to the school after a 28-year absence. The wrestlers are seeking a preliminary injunction to keep the team in place until hearings can be held.

Team sues to restore Oregon wrestling (The Oregonian): That it has come to this deeply saddens Jeremy McLaughlin. Rather than prepare for his senior season, the 23-year-old junior is preparing to spend part of his summer in court. A nonprofit organization -- on behalf of the Oregon wrestling team -- has filed a lawsuit in Marion County Circuit Court against the University of Oregon, which announced last July that it would eliminate the wrestling program after the 2007-08 season.

University of Oregon hosts talk by notorious Holocaust denier (Fox News): The University of Oregon will play host Monday night to Holocaust denier David Irving, prompting protests from a local rights group. The Pacifica Forum, a group that holds weekly meetings on the university’s campus in Eugene, Ore., has invited Irving to make an address about free speech. Irving's presentation is part of a nationwide tour which includes what he calls the "real history" of Adolf Hitler and Heinrich Himmler. Irving is the third accused Holocaust denier who will have spoken to the group on campus. … “The Pacifica Forum is not affiliated with the university -- the space is being used under a campus policy that allows retired professors to rent rooms on campus,” said Julie Brown, director of media relations at the University. Brown said the school would not seek to block Irving’s presence because it has a policy of respecting freedom of speech for all groups. “The university is really committed to freedom of speech and wanting to make sure that there is a place for groups to be able to express their viewpoints,” she said.

Low-key protest marks historian’s UO visit (Register-Guard): In the end, the extra security provided by the University of Oregon for controversial British historian David Irving’s lecture Monday night proved unnecessary. While Irving’s remarks questioning the Holocaust clearly angered many who attended his Pacifica Forum-sponsored talk in Erb Memorial Union’s Walnut Room, a demonstration outside the building that included about 50 sign-carrying protesters did not spark any disturbance that required police intervention. Five uniformed campus security guards were on hand for the low-key event.

Olympic Trials in Eugene will help jump start local economy (KVAL News 13): Ready or not, the U.S. Olympic Trials are approaching the starting gate. An estimated 1,000 athletes, 900 reporters and technicians, and thousands of track fans are about to descend on Hayward Field. Tourism officials say their arrival couldn't come at a better time. A forecast 15,000 to 16,000 people will jam Hayward Field each day during the competition. Add in the 10,000 folks per day they predict for the Eugene 08 Festival, and that's a ton of buying power and filled motel rooms.

Fitch boasts Oregon GO Rating to AA (The Bond Buyer): Fitch Ratings upgraded Oregon's general obligation rating to AA from AA-minus yesterday as the state prepares to bring $200 million of bonds to market for a new basketball arena at the University of Oregon. The rating upgrade "reflects sustained revenue performance and growth overall reserve levels despite the economic downturn, which to date has only moderately affected the state," Fitch said in a report.

Report on use of Taser due Aug. 29 (KVAL News 13): The Police Auditor’s Office has received a number of calls from concerned citizens regarding the police response to an anti-pesticide rally and the arrest and the use of a Taser on a University of Oregon student at Ken Kesey Square on May 30, 2008. Ian Van Ornum, the UO student, filed a complaint with the Auditor’s Office alleging excessive force by the Eugene Police Department. Van Ornum was charged with resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.