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UO E-clips, June 18
News stories for June 18, 2008: The Register-Guard's Greg Bolt reports on coming departure of UO Provost Linda Brady and the challenges now faced by the UO; the Associated Press reports on a Eugene review board that is looking into the police use of a stun gun on a UO student; The Oregonian quotes UO law professor Leslie Harris in its coverage of McMinnville boys who are suing over strip-searches; Oregonian science writer Joe Rojas-Burke features the work of several scientists, including UO psychologists, who are studying the links between brain and meditation; and The Oregonian features a story about a scholarship offered -- and withdrawn -- from the UO's football program to an athlete at a California high school
UO losing another of its top leaders (Register-Guard): The University of Oregon had barely begun the search for a new president when it learned last week that the campus’ second-in-¬command, Provost Linda Brady, also is leaving, continuing a wave of top-level turnover. Since 2005, the UO has seen the retirement of previous Provost John Moseley as well as two key vice presidents, Lorraine Davis and Dan Williams. It also lost its first vice president for diversity, Gregory Vincent, who left for a similar job at the University of Texas.
Eugene Police review board tests its strength (Associated Press, appearing on KVAL.com and in The Oregonian): Eugene's three-year-old police review board has for the first time taken on a case that could lead it to try to influence a disciplinary decision by Chief Robert Lenher. The board has decided to investigate a charge that a Eugene officer unjustly used a stun gun on an 18-year-old University of Oregon student Ian Van Ornum in a downtown demonstration May 30th. Eugene police arrested him on charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. One officer, not identified publicly, shocked Van Ornum with a Taser stun gun. Eyewitnesses claim Van Ornum was shocked three times. Van Ornum and about a dozen others complained about excessive force. The designation gives the board a recommendation. The board could also compel police to reopen the investigation if it deems the probe incomplete.
4. McMinnville boys sue over strip-searches (The Oregonian): Two McMinnville boys who were prosecuted last year on felony sex abuse charges for swatting the behinds of girls at their middle school are now suing Yamhill County over juvenile strip-search practices. Cory Mashburn and Ryan Cornelison are two of six plaintiffs in the federal class action case that alleges the county routinely conducted strip and body-cavity searches of juveniles in its custody without reasonable suspicion. … Courts generally have held that the same standards that apply to adults with respect to strip-searches pertain to juveniles, said Leslie Harris, a law professor at the University of Oregon who specializes in juvenile issues.
Scientists study links between brain, meditation (The Oregonian): To unravel the workings of the brain, neuroscientist Michael Posner and colleagues at the University of Oregon have turned to an ancient discipline: meditation. A recent experiment tested college students' ability to focus their attention and filter out distractions. Half the students received training in mindfulness meditation while the other half received relaxation training.
When a promise really isn't (The Oregonian): The scholarship letter from the University of Oregon arrived last week. And 17-year old Xavier Ramos opened it and waited for the single mother who raised him to come home from work so he could tell her that she wouldn't have to worry anymore. His college decision was done. He was going to UO, where one of the assistant football coaches who recruited him told him, "It's unanimous among all seven defensive coaches -- we want you." (… only problem was, Ramos later received a letter saying the first letter was a mistake, and the scholarship offer was being withdrawn).