Despite some student protest, the Oregon Legislature’s Joint Ways and Means Committee moved two bills regarding the University’s proposed arena funding to the full Legislature on Thursday.
The $200 million bond request, which has been amended to House Bill 5100 and Senate Bill 5555, is expected to pass both floors of the legislature before Saturday. The bills received overwhelming support from the committee.
Ten University students traveled to Salem to give public testimony, and several contended the University would not be able to complete housing projects if it took on such a large debt.
University President Dave Frohnmayer assured committee members that the bonds would have no affect on the University’s plans to expand and remodel housing.
He said there would be “not one dime more for these projects” even if the bill had been shot down a week ago.
Committee co-chair Mary Nolan thanked Phil and Penny Knight for their $100 million donation saying, “This is the most, the most, significant philanthropic gift ever made to a university in the history of Oregon.”