Week One Elections Circus Wrap-up: Part Two
Last night there was a Q&A session with the ASUO executive candidates held in Lillis 282. Unfortunately, the only people who attended were candidates from the various slates and a couple of reporters. Oddly, it was a moderated session, and audience members were not allowed to ask questions.
Audience members were, however, given the opportunity to answer questions about how they felt about student government via weird clicking devices. (Of course, this resulted in about ten minutes of figuring out how to use said clicking devices, replacing dead clicking devices, etc.) In short, it was like a microcosm of student government – non-existent student involvement, rampant technical errors, lots of giggling.
There were, however, some bright spots in the meeting. All of the candidates expressed a desire to overhaul the horrific ASUO website and improve access and transparency in general.
Michelle Haley and Ted Sebastian, the Oregon Action Team candidates, talked about renovating the EMU and the Oregon 2020 plan.
Carina Miller and Nick Gower from the Students First campaign mentioned setting up student advisory councils in each department. (The AAA and PPPM departments already have such councils, which act like intermediary’s between the students and their department.)
Other good moments included exec candidates Ryan McCarrel and Ian Baldwin, whom many have dubbed the Ron Paul of the ASUO elections, chiding the other candidates for turning the elections into “political theater.”
There will be more information on the slates’ specific platfoms soon. I’ve finished interviewing all of the exec candidates, and I’ll put up the transcripts on the blog. (They will also be appearing in the elections issue, which is going off to the printer on Sunday, so be on the lookout!)
The smoke free fascists are on the march again. Funny how admin and wellness groupees can whine about ciggys when half the dorm rooms are stuffed with dope.
Sorry, CJ. Not your disposition or type.
Seems like some people (^^^) can blow me.
So, where’s your reporting on the election board’s rulings from Tuesday and stuff?
Seems like some people are laying down on the job.
The shamplan 2020 will get cherry picked. It is designed to create the impression there is some long term “vision”. The actual plans are secret and change with donor mood swings. If you think the EMU remodel is going somewhere you must have been hanging out with Dustbunny Miller too much. Preservation of dorms without fire sprinklers for eternity is a primary UO planning goal. Do not mean to ruin the excitement surrounding the promised hip new EMU but having administrators on board does not mean much. UO is now squarely focused on the land surrounding the arena to the East. UO Campus Planning just got renamed Campus Planning and Real Estate. This name change reflects the UO planning office goal of developing high-end condos along Franklin boulevard…..on land they do not even own yet. Two reports have just been compiled that evaluate the viability of this scheme(the Johnson Report). Engaging students in happy talk buys administrators more time without students taking any real action in opposition to them. Engage those same administrators on details of the dorm they plan to build East of Bean and I am sure they will fall silent.
The Oregon 2020 Initiative not only outlines renovation of the EMU, but also completion of the Rec. Center, renovation of the Residence Halls and renovation/re-purposing of Oregon Hall.
Oregon Hall is being considered for renovation because as it stands now we do not have an official entrance to our campus. Soon we will have a big, beautiful arena, and we’ll still be starting our campus tours out in a dimly lit hallway next to elevators and a cubicle farm to the left of that. If we are able to re-purpose Oregon Hall, so all of the student needs are met on the first floor, and all the back-office work is located in the upper floors, and basically sight unseen, we can create a more welcoming environment.
As for the EMU, the difference between students advocating for the EMU Master Plan, and Oregon 2020, is that we finally have members of central administration that realize the actual EMU structure is failing, and the building’s poor design is keeping us from bringing in businesses that will create revenue. Because we now have members of administration on board, they are able to solicit big dollar donors that we, the EMU Board and Staff, don’t have access to on our own.
Speaking as an excited student, and not a representative of the Oregon 2020 Committee, this is the first time I have actually felt like the EMU Master Plan might actually get somewhere, and that someone from the administration is trying to reach out and make campus better for students.
Of course.
20 million dollars is needed for a whole new entire EMU. It ain’t happening until such time as a few major donors pitch in a few million each.
Of course, that is in this current economic climate. Given what may happen once Teddy K is forcefully ejected from his office, things may turn around.
The EMU was to be remodeled a decade ago. keep dreamin
2020 as in the year.
The plan is to get the EMU Master Plan fully implemented (including a brand new renovation and/or build-up/teardown) by the year 2020.
I know a way it can be done, but it would take a GOP Governor to actually allow for it to happen. And it would also mean taking away money from Public Employee Unions.
The Oregon 1984 Plan?
This piece of crap 2020 plan is so vague it could mean anything. “Learning neighborhoods”-they keep saying that and it is like saying they will be “sustainable” which we all know does not mean shit. UO leaders are so brilliant at plannerspeak. And our diligent journalist friends are such well trained parrots. I guess we will find out in 2020 what the 2020 plan is. It is a surprise kiddos, for all who attend this kidnergarten university. What is plannerspeak ? Google it. Mr. Otoole describes it well. (he used to attend UO)
I didn’t read the whole Oregon 2020 plan (‘cuz I’m lazy), but is it just a pun on “20/20” vision, or is it a program whose potential gains are targeted at a future class of students (that of the year 2020?) Because if it is the latter, that would be quite stunning for ASUO government … to have a vision of student government that extends beyond the next election season.