Sports broadcasters are steaming, and one state senator is threatening legislative action, over a proposed University policy to limit the length of sports highlights on television newscasts.
Although broadcasters statewide believe the proposal violates their Freedom of Speech rights, they are waiting until it becomes actual University policy before deciding how their stations will cover Duck sports events in the future.
The proposal aims to restrict broadcasts to 20 seconds of game highlights and 20 seconds of interviews during the 48 hours after any Duck game. Special shows outside a daily sports report during the news would get 30 seconds of each.
The Athletic Department held a public hearing last week and is still talking to broadcasters statewide before making a final draft of the policy, which is projected to be ready by August.
A fair to remember
The Oregon Country Fair experience began at the front gate, where on Saturday a woman wearing pixie wings and blowing bubbles was among those waving in visitors.
“Proceed with the forward,” she said with a tranquil tone, elongating the vowels of each word. “Proceeeeed with the forwaaaard.”
When asked about the fair, most people sigh, struggle to find appropriate words and express feelings ranging from adoration, to indifference to loathing. Nearly everybody says the event is memorable.
The fair’s numbers are staggering. This year, the fair saw 44,000 visitors, 250 art booths and 50 food venders.
But as event spokesman Robert DeSpaincq said: “What people come here for is people watching and sight seeing.”
University reaches record numbers with IntroDUCKtion
An estimated 3,000 incoming freshmen and transfer students who will take part in the University student orientation program, IntroDUCKtion, this summer.
Compared to 2,400 students last year, this summer’s IntroDUCKtion group is the largest ever, said Karen Dickinson, one of two student directors for the program.
IntroDUCKtion is put on by the Student Orientation office, and includes six two-day sessions held throughout July, as well as a one-day orientation for transfer students only. There will also be a one-day orientation session held in Hawaii on Aug. 6.
During IntroDUCKtion, Dickinson said students and parents receive information on a wide range of topics — everything from what classes to take to whether they should bring a car to school.
Going through the orientation program also gives student the chance to meet other students, and become familiar with the campus, she said. For many students, this familiarity “eases a lot of their tension about the school,” she added.
