UO E-clips, March 25

Potential recession affects nonprofit agencies Giving and volunteering suffer as economy spirals downward (Register-Guard): With threats of a recession looming, local nonprofit agencies have become among the first to feel the crunch. Economists and fundraisers say their groups, which provide a safety net to those facing hard times, are among the first to be trimmed from tight budgets -- and those cuts are beginning to sting. ... At the moment, the local economy is experiencing a slowdown and could tip either way, said Tim Duy, an economist and author of the University of Oregon's Index of Economic Indicators.

How we fare in the quest for academic pork (Crosscut.com, Seattle): The respected Chronicle of Higher Education has just published a new report on the scramble for academic earmarks. A surprise, considering how well the University of Washington does in federally funded research and how well placed Sen. Patty Murray is: The UW is not among the leading porkers. ... Appearing well down the list are these Northwest public universities: University of Idaho (60th), University of Washington (68), Washington State University (75), Oregon State (155), University of Oregon (190), and Idaho State (196).) The Chronicle of Higher Ed's article "Top college recipients of earmarks" can be found here.  And the complete listing of all institutions receiving non-shared earmarks (including UO) can be found here.

'Telling' hard truths about war (Inside Higher Ed): As a pacifist, I want to see an end to the Iraq War, the sooner the better. As a citizen, I feel guilty that this desire is my sole contribution. As a result, I don't know how to engage, how to approach the increasing number of returning vets I encounter in my day-to-day life, inside the classroom and out. When a friend, the University of Oregon administrator Jonathan Wei, told me about an innovative play being performed by student-veterans there, I was immediately intrigued.

Repealing gay-rights laws would have chilling effect: Economy suffers if businesses, workers avoid Oregon (Salem Statesman Journal): Oregon voters may well face two issues this fall that many people probably think were resolved some time ago: the state's new anti-discrimination and domestic-partner laws. ... America's most highly regarded colleges and universities, including Oregon State University, the University of Oregon and Portland State, ban such discrimination and provide domestic-partner benefits similar (although not equal) to those provided to married couples.

Guys and Dolls: An Ugly Remake (New York Times): What is it about Uglydolls? They're soft, they're plush, they're cute, they're openly called by a name that is usually anathema to boys: dolls. ... Marjorie Taylor, a psychology professor at the University of Oregon, said the dolls could be subtly signaling "I'm for boys." As an example, she cited researchers who made a toy tea set black and spiky, prompting boys to ask for it. The dolls' faces (Uglies don't smile, but some show teeth or stick out tongues) may tell boys they're kindred spirits, she said.