Secretary of State Bill Bradbury released his final redistricting plan for the state of Oregon Wednesday at a press conference in the capitol saying he had made “significant changes” from past plans because of public input.
While putting together drafts of the redistricitng plan, which the Secretary of State office is required by the Oregon Constituition to do if the state Legislature fails to do so by July 1, Bradbury held 21 public hearings throughout the state.
“These public hearings and opportunities for the public to submit written comment weren’t just window dressing — far from it,” Bradbury said in a statement released with the plan. “I firmly believe that Oregonians are the best experts on what a redistricting plan should look like.”
Summer commencement to be held this Saturday
By the end of this upcoming weekend, nearly 1,000 University students will have made the leap from lowly undergraduates to official University alumni.
Summer term commencement ceremonies will be held 10 a.m. Aug. 18 at the Memorial Quadrangle near the Knight Library, located at the west edge of the University campus. In the event of rain, commencement will be held in McArthur Court.
In keeping with a University tradition of asking the newest dean on campus to give the summer commencement speech, Graduate School Dean Richard Linton will address the graduates.
A race for space
Imagine a dark theater awash in computer-generated sounds coming from all sides while images of shapes in varying colors dance on screens suspended 40 feet above an audience.
This experience could become a reality in a new building that is planned to house student-made electronic music and music technology programs at the school of music.
If the school can raise funds fast enough, it will have the space to record and perform music made by students in the Intermedia Music Technology and Bachelor of Science in Music Technology programs.
Current building plans include an Intermedia Performance Hall and additional classroom and practice spaces to serve as a venue for the modern integration between art and sound performances, music school Dean Anne Dhu McLucas said.
Labor contract still in negotiations
Final offers from both the Oregon Public Employees Union and the Oregon University System are now on the table in their contract re-negotiation, but the two sides still seem no closer to reaching an agreement.
Union representatives are asking for a minimum hourly wage of $9.50 for all employees, a salary increase of 3.2 percent each year for the next two years or a monthly increase of $60, whichever is greater. They are also requesting that OUS cover the rising costs of health insurance premiums since the contract was last negotiated.
According to a statement released Monday, OUS has offered classified employees a total increase of $20.4 million in salary and benefits for 2001 through 2003. Under the OUS proposal, union members would receive a 2.2 percent salary increase in each of the next two years. All medical costs for workers making under $30,000 a year would also be covered by OUS. Those making more would receive 75 percent of the increased premium.