UO E-clips, Nov. 11

Oregonians face tough job market as economy sinks (Associated Press, on Forbes.com): About six weeks ago, Kendall Brawner went from sales manager at a technology company - and making close to $50,000 a year - to job hunter. Her boss said the company needed to reduce costs and close its Portland office. Since she lost her job and health benefits, Brawner's been busy polishing her resume, hoping to make her credentials stand out in the increasingly crowded pack of job-seekers in Oregon, where the unemployment rate has been above 6 percent for months. ... But Timothy Duy, an economics professor at the University of Oregon, and others predict an unemployment report the state plans to release next week will show a grimmer picture.

Civility expert dissects rude 'tude at Autzen (The Register-Guard, Bob Welch's column): When the boos began Saturday at Autzen Stadium, I was reminded to call P.M. Forni. He's a professor at Johns Hopkins University, founder of the Civility Initiative and author of a new book, "The Civility Solution: What to Do When People Are Rude" (St. Martin's Press, 2008). Monday morning, I did so, making sure I wasn't interrupting anything. After all, you want to be extra polite to the guy who literally wrote the book on rudeness. I explained to him the boorish drunks masquerading as "fans" at Autzen, the rain dampening their rudeness Saturday but not stopping their offensive offense altogether.

White Stag Block honored in Portland (Associated Press, appearing on KTVZ.com): Portland's White Stag Block has been honored as 1 of 9 historic rehabilitation projects in the United States to receive the 2008 J. Timothy Anderson Award for Excellence in Historic Rehabilitation. The project was honored for Best Sustainable/Green Historic Rehabilitation by the National Housing & Rehabilitation Association. The buildings in Portland's Old Town have been renovated into a new home for the University of Oregon's Portland Center. The buildings were built between 1883 and 1907. The award recognizes excellence in the rehabilitation of historic buildings that use federal historic rehabilitation tax credits.

Free coffee and car washes for Veterans Day (KVAL News 13): Freedom isn't free, but for veterans on Veterans Day, the coffee and car wash are. As Albany gears up for the granddaddy of Veterans Day parades, the University of Oregon takes time to mark Veterans Day as does an organization that works with homeless veterans. Residents of southern Oregon and northern California should watch the skies for a fighter jet flyover. ... The University of Oregon will participate in the national observance of Veterans Day on Tuesday, Nov. 11. The event, which is free and open to the public, will begin with the ROTC color guard at 11 a.m. in the Knight Library Browsing Room, 1501 Kincaid St. The UO administration, represented by David Frank, dean of the Robert D. Clark Honors College, and Frances Dyke, vice president for finance and administration, will join members of the university's ROTC program and the Veterans and Family Student Association to mark the occasion.

University gets key approval for new arena (OBP News): University of Oregon president Dave Frohnmayer was positively effusive about the decision. Frohnmayer: “The approval and the conditional use permit is a big step -- and virtually the final step. You know, I can hardly wait for it to open.” The arena is supported by Nike founder and U of O alumnus Phil Knight -- and would be the most expensive college basketball arena ever built. Would-be neighbors had filed complaints, citing the cost and scope of the project. But Eugene planning director Lisa Gardner says this permit approval may have quieted the critics. Gardner: “It was representatives of the neighborhood association, the University of Oregon, and staff from the city of Eugene working through all kinds of issues. We came together with an agreement that all three parties signed. That’s what’s unique -- we agreed ahead of time.” Unhappy citizens could still appeal -- but a challenge comes with a hefty 3-thousand-dollar price tag. If no appeal is filed, the university could break ground by the end of the year, possibly on track for a 2010 opening tip-off.