Siting of UO's new basketball arena a values call.Byline: Guest Viewpoint By David Orique For The Register-Guard What are our priorities as a community? After attending the Sept. 17 South University Neighbors community meeting where Dan Williams Daniel Lawrence "Dan" Williams (born on September 3, 1966 in San Gabriel, California) is a former professional baseball player and the current bullpen catcher for the Cleveland Indians. He has been a player or coach in the Indians system since 1988. , the University of Oregon's vice president of administration, came to discuss the possibility of locating a new basketball arena on Howe Field, I was left wondering about the UO's priorities. Are they sports, or are they academics? Or should they be something more? If the university's primary focus is sports, then we should support it without question. The plan to build the new basketball arena should move full speed ahead, without further delay. After all, the expanded capacity will accommodate more fans, especially paying ones. But if the primary goal of the UO is not sports - if, let's say, it is serving the community - then perhaps the university should consider the impact of this arena on those in the community who will be most affected by it. If the Howe Field site is chosen, it will be at the expense of the university's neighbors in this beautiful part of town. Many of these neighbors who attended the Sept. 17 meeting have been faithful and positive contributors to the UO community. In our case, the Newman Center has been serving the spiritual needs of faculty, staff and students since 1912. We have been able to do this successfully in large part because of former Oregon athletic director Athletic director (commonly, "athletics director") is a position at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, which oversees the work of the coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic and head football coach Len Casanova Leonard Joseph "Len" Casanova (June 12, 1905 - September 30, 2002) was an American college football coach first at Santa Clara, then the University of Pittsburgh and finally for nearly 20 years, from 1946 to 1966, at the University of Oregon. , who was instrumental in leading our fund-raising efforts Noun 1. fund-raising effort - a campaign to raise money for some cause fund-raising campaign, fund-raising drive crusade, campaign, cause, drive, effort, movement - a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end; "he supported to build our current worship facility. If Howe Field is selected, the additional traffic, noise and activity will create, on this end of campus, a parking and pedestrian nightmare. For us as a faith community, it will significantly hinder our ability to effectively serve our members. The other community affected, albeit indirectly, are the students, faculty and staff of the university. Does it seem odd that the university made significant spending cuts Noun 1. spending cut - the act of reducing spending cut - the act of reducing the amount or number; "the mayor proposed extensive cuts in the city budget" and raised tuition substantially this past year, but is still able to secure tens of millions of dollars to fund additional sports facilities See:
Many of us have heard the argument that these resources come from a different "pot of money." But it still begs the question: What are the priorities of the university? Why is it that our university is being sucked into the upward spiral of collegiate athletic spending? We all want our university to be nationally known, respected and honored - a great and worthy goal, something we should all strive to make a reality. Yet at what price? Do we starve starve v. 1. To suffer or die from extreme or prolonged lack of food. 2. To deprive of food so as to cause suffering or death. academics while we overfeed o·ver·feed v. To feed or eat too often or too much. athletics? Yet the debate between athletics or academics may not be the real question. Rather, does this proposed expansion reflect a more disturbing cluster of North American North American named after North America. North American blastomycosis see North American blastomycosis. North American cattle tick see boophilusannulatus. cultural characteristics? We are a nation of consumers. Consumer culture dominates how we live and the choices we make - buy, buy, buy, more, more, more. We love to shop, buy and consume. We are a country that loves money. Money considerations drive so many of our daily decisions that we often do not question how we accumulate and allocate this commodity. That is, are there any ethical considerations of wealth accumulation and its use, especially in this proposed project, especially considering that the academic efforts of the university are stymied? Moreover, we are a nation that loves its pleasure. A lot of the things, the stuff, the experiences that we consume by spending our money is for pleasure. Pleasure is not bad, but is it the goal of life? Is not life more than consumption, money and pleasure? Are we not called to care for others? To share what we have? To make the world a better place for our children? If this is true, then how can giving such high priority to spending great sums on athletics be a good thing for the university community? Perhaps a certain "calculus calculus, branch of mathematics that studies continuously changing quantities. The calculus is characterized by the use of infinite processes, involving passage to a limit—the notion of tending toward, or approaching, an ultimate value. of utility" is driving this question - do it as cheaply and as quickly as possible, without considering who it will affect, whether neighbors, students, faculty or staff. But the real damage is this: that consumption, money and pleasure are the only factors being used to decide on this proposed building site. Is that the way we want to live? Or do we have a higher priority? The Rev. David Orique is the director and pastor of St. Thomas More Newman Center, the Catholic campus ministry Catholic Campus Ministry is a term used to describe an organization at a college or university that is the presence of the Roman Catholic Church on campus. Other names for Catholic Campus Ministry may include Newman Club, Newman Apostolate, Cardinal Newman Society, or Catholic Student at the University of Oregon The University of Oregon is a public university located in Eugene, Oregon. The university was founded in 1876, graduating its first class two years later. The University of Oregon is one of 60 members of the Association of American Universities. . |
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