Once again, the University has its man. They also have his money.
Nike CEO Phil Knight, the University’s largest donor and a former Duck, decided that he wanted to “reunite” with the University of Oregon and will donate an unspecified amount of money to the $85 million Autzen Stadium renovation plan. This marks the first time in 17 months that Knight has publicly donated money to the University.
“It’s a very happy day for us,” University President Dave Frohnmayer said at a press conference to acknowledge the donation, which was announced Wednesday in an opinion piece in The Oregonian.
Knight and the University have been estranged since April 2000 over issues surrounding labor rights and the apparatus in which groups monitor the conditions of textile factories contracted by U.S. companies. Knight cut off ties to the University after it joined the Workers Rights Consortium, a group critical of the factories contracted by many U.S.-based shoe and apparel makers, including Nike.
The issue, which Frohnmayer called a “controversy that was deeply painful for all of us,” came to a head when Knight released a statement indicating he would make no further donations to the University.
However, University officials spent most of yesterday speaking of the future and not dwelling on the past. Frohnmayer called Knight’s change of mind “one of the most heartwarming acts of reconciliation that I have ever seen in my life.”
“I can speak for the entire University community, students, faculty, staff and alumni, in expressing our deep gratitude, especially in this time of our nation’s life,” he added.
Frohnmayer pointed out that Knight is the “the single most generous donor” to the University, whose philanthropic list includes donating money for the Knight Library, contributing to the Knight Law Center and pledging matching funds to create 16 endowed chairs at the University.

Explaining his reconciliation in The Oregonian, Knight noted that recent current events, specifically the attacks on New York and Washington, D.C., attributed to his decision to begin donating money to the University.
“Like so many others, I have been searching for a time and a way to go on with business, while not turn-ing my back on the terrible events in New York, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania,” Knight said.
He also pointed to the future of the Autzen Stadium renovation.
“I have decided to personally financially contribute in a way that will allow the Athletic Department to complete its renovation of Autzen Stadium without delay or any alteration of construction plans,” Knight said.
Athletic Director Bill Moos said that Knight’s pull-out in April 2000 delayed the renovation project by a year and forced the department to “trim back what we felt was the total cost” of the project, which is expected to be completed in 2003. The renovation will add 12,000 seats to Autzen stadium as well as creating 32 new premium suites.
Moos also said that Knight’s announcement may lead to a boon in athletic donations, perhaps even securing more funding for the renovation project, which was originally estimated at $80 million but could eventually top $85 million.
“This announcement will help some people who may have been on the fence,” he said.
Frohnmayer was quick to point out that Knight’s decision will not only affect athletic fundraising, but donations to the University in general.
“The renewal of the Knight commitment will have ripple effects throughout the entire academic departments of the University,” he said.
During the debates over the WRC in April 2000, Frohnmayer was caught between two warring factions: the students and faculty members who wanted to join the WRC, and not wanting to anger the University’s largest donor.
While traveling to China for a conference this summer, Frohnmayer said that he and other academics visited a factory contracted by Nike to get a first-hand look at working conditions.
“The Nike sub-contracted factory I saw was clean, it was efficient,” he said. “The workers were well cared for.”
Some University officials feel that Knight’s return may also help facilitate a return by other groups or individuals who fled during the fractious debates surrounding the WRC.
“I think (Knight) and the University realized some people felt ostracized after Phil severed ties,” said Paul Stieber, deputy director for alumni communications. “His coming back paves the way for others to do so — if they left because they felt the same way.”

— Higher education reporter Leon Tovey contributed to this story.