Connecting Eugene is again taking a resolution to University Senate in an attempt to compel University administration to consult students and faculty before building the proposed Willamette riverfront development.
Concerned students, faculty and past ASUO members founded Connecting Eugene at the beginning of the 2009-10 academic year to try to centralize the concerns of Eugene residents about developing the land along the Willamette River into an office building for the Oregon Research Institute.
This month, the local environmental group helped unanimously pass a resolution through the ASUO Senate and proposed a companion resolution for the University Senate. Connecting Eugene aims to bring University President Richard Lariviere to a University Senate meeting for riverfront development discussion. Lariviere previously met with ASUO Senate in September and University Senate in October to discuss University restructuring.
“It’s a similar issue, we basically rewrote the resolution for a new audience … we’re taking a step back now that we have our foot in the door,” ASUO Environmental Advocate Nathan Howard said.
Howard said last year’s University Senate was not unanimous in voting for the resolution they presented because people didn’t believe they knew enough about the issue to feel comfortable voting for it. He said the group hopes to change that this year by encouraging University Senate members to discuss the issue with students, staff and faculty.
“(University Senate President Nathan) Tublitz is excited that it’s happening again … we’re expecting people to know what this issue is about,” Howard said. “Decision-makers, free up some time and talk to stock-holders.”
Connecting Eugene member Paul Cziko said the resolution was officially proposed to the University Senate body Monday and said he hopes the resolution is considered more important now with the possibility of development in the coming months.
“(University) Senate has said this many times, (but) since it is imminent, this is somewhat different,” Cziko said. “If they want to develop, they have to fulfill these conditions that were set when (the land) was set aside for development in 1986.”
He also said he sensed that much of the community has opposed this construction as long as there has not been a public process for discussion.
“It’s really like everyone against this development,” Cziko said. “The only people pushing for this are (University) administration and the research park.”
Though ASUO President Amelie Rousseau took a major role in the group’s progress last year, she said this year she’s had more of a background task.
“I’ve been encouraging Nathan, giving him background, connecting him with Connecting Eugene,” Rousseau said.
But she also said she has hopes for the result of this resolution.
“I’m hopeful that (President Lariviere) will be open to revisiting the plan,” Rousseau said. “Under the new University Senate guidelines, we can compel him to come to the next meeting.”
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University President to meet with University Senate to discuss riverfront development
Daily Emerald
October 18, 2010
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