UO E-clips, Nov. 20
News stories for November 20, 2007: Students rally against the rising costs of birth control pills, reports KVAL TV; 'Turning green with Pride," an update from the Daily Emerald on Campaign Oregon; the Newport News reports on the Nye Beach Writers' hosting (Nov. 17) of the UO's Lauren Kessler, and how one of her books will become a must-read in the state
Students rally against birth control costs (KVAL.com): University of Oregon students are protesting health matters of a different sort today. Students rallied at the E.M.U. with signs in hand against the increasing costs of birth control pills at campuses across the country. Officials said prices have sky-rocketed as a result of the Deficit Reduction Act. "Which essentially changed the status of safety net health providers and college student health centers so that they no longer qualified for deep discounts from pharmaceutical companies," explains Rose Kelsch with Planned Parenthood of SW Oregon. To show the price difference, students demonstrated that they could spend $35 to $40 on the pill or buy 385 packets of Top Ramen noodles. Students are hoping the Prevention through Affordable Access Act will fix the cost crisis.
Turning green with pride (Daily Emerald): Campaign Oregon has shot more than $100 million past its goal, but the Office of Development isn't stopping there. The University's unprecedented $600 million fundraising campaign will still continue until spring 2008 as originally scheduled, and Associate Vice President for Development Shane Giese said it will be very much "business as usual within the campaign context. "There are needs that have come to light as we've gone through this," said Giese. "We are hoping we will be able to maintain the same pace to some degree that we've been able to meet in the campaign."
Nye Beach Writers present Lauren Kessler (Newport News): A special honor has been bestowed on the next featured author of the Nye Beach Writers' Series. Lauren Kessler's book, "Stubborn Twig: Three Generations in the Life of a Japanese American Family," was chosen the one book people all over the state will read for Oregon's first "Oregon Reads" celebration in 2009, part of the state's celebration of its 150th birthday. Kessler, director of the graduate program in literary nonfiction in the School of Journalism and Communication at the University of Oregon, was the featured author in the Nye Beach Writers' Series on Saturday, Nov. 17.