In a statement released on Wednesday, Oregon Democratic Rep. Peter DeFazio said he is disappointed in the Oregon University System’s unanimous decision to remove University President Richard Lariviere from office. DeFazio not only comments on the president’s removal, but he also argues that the OUS chancellor’s office should be abolished.
Here is DeFazio’s full statement:

I am deeply disappointed in the Oregon University System board’s decision to remove Dr. Richard Lariviere as the president of the University of Oregon (UO). I am equally disappointed in the governor’s strong support of this decision.
It is no secret Oregon’s approach to financing our university system has been broken for decades; State support for the UO has dwindled to an abysmal seven percent of its total budget, and continues to decline.
Since coming to the university, Dr. Lariviere has been a strong advocate for public higher education. He has consistently said the UO must be accessible, affordable, and, just as importantly, a world class academic institution. Oregonians deserve no less.
During his short tenure, fundraising at the UO grew significantly; there is a renewed focus on academics campus-wide; increased enrollment has provided greater stability for the institution; and there is a tangible improvement in faculty, staff, and student morale. These are outcomes that make all Oregonians proud.
For over two decades, I have argued the chancellor’s office should be abolished. Given the state’s current financial reality, the money spent on this office is of little or no use to our system of higher education. I believe it has long outlived its usefulness and is a vestige of a time when the state robustly funded our university system. This apparent management squabble has strengthened my resolve. This board, fed by this chancellor, allowed themselves to be mired in a fight for control without appreciating the quality work happening at the UO.
Our state is lessened by not having Dr. Lariviere serve as the president of the University of Oregon. But his leadership and his vision have created a path toward excellence that those who care about public higher education in this state should follow.