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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (March 18, 1985)
Project expected to boost economy Board approves land lease for science park By Michael Hosmar Of the Emerald The University is one step closer to development of its proposed Riverfront Science Park project. At the State Board of Higher Education meeting Friday in the EMU, the board approved the University’s request to lease 70 acres of land to a non-profit corpora tion, which would oversee development of the park. The proposed project would be located north of Franklin Boulevard on land owned by the University and the board. The park will be used primarily by research-related industries that need corporate space at a reasonable price. It is expected to help improve economic develop ment in the Eugene-Springfield area while advancing research at the University. The research-oriented university “is a major academic and cultural attraction for technology cor porations,” according to an executive summary of the project. And research at the University would be enhanced if students and faculty interact with cor porate employees and scientists in the science park. Research areas of “special importance” to the pro ject might include physics, chemistry, chemical physics, biomedical/sports medicine, computer science, artificial intelligence, and brain chemistry, ac cording to the summary. University President Paul Olum told the board the three purposes for the project are to: •Develop significant contact between Eugene’s economic development and research at the University; •Enhance the University’s research efforts; and •Obtain enough receipts to pay for the project’s development. Also related to economic development in Oregon, state system Chancellor Bud Davis gave a report to the board about his recent visit to the General Motors Corp. in Detroit. He met with GM officials to persuade them to locate their planned $3.5 million state-of-the-art “Saturn” automobile production plant in Oregon. “We spent a third to 50 percent of the time talking about education," Davis said. GM officials were interested in the number of engineers and computer scientists Oregon schools turn out. Davis said. They wanted to know about the quality of people, he said, not monetary incentives or conces sions from the Legislature. “Obviously, they were very interested (in Oregon),” he said. If the plant is located in Oregon, there will be a need for a highly trained working staff, Davis told the board, and community colleges in the state have ex pressed interest in such training. The state’s ability to adapt and provide continuing education on all levels for people interested in training for jobs in industry “will be the wave of the 80s,” he added. In other business, the board heard a report on an in tegrated information system that would be part of a computerized communications network for the entire higher education system. Bill Lemman, vice chancellor for administration, said the computer system would, among other things, link the state system's financial, payroll and student in formation together into a more manageable form. The integrated system would provide better access to cur rent information, improve resource sharing throughout the system, and add educational opportunities through two-way video instruction, he said. Automated library systems also would be part of the information network. The automation system at the University calls for computer terminals on each floor of the main library that would enable students, faculty and administrators to tap into a computerized card catolog. With the exception of the library automation systems, the entire communications network would re quire no extra funding from the state. PIZZfl KtTCfi^ ALL YOOCANEAT! SPAGHETTI SPECIAL WITH GARLIC BREAD $2.95 TUESDAY ONLY 5 P.M. to 9 P.M. 2673 Willamette, Ne»f to the Black Forest Tavetn Delivery Service 484-0996 I-MIRTDMV NATURAL HAIR DESIGNS FOR MEN AND WOMEN STYLE CUT SPECIAL *9.95 ' Keg. $1 1.95 Mon.' fif Thurs. Only Includes Shampoo, Conditioning, and Precision Cut 561 E. 13th'» (Across from Max’s) • 485-4422 =UOBo o ksto re— Pages Half the world is hungry for your experience. As a Peace Corps volunteer, you could help people in developing countries obtain the skills they need to }jnm their own food. The Peace Corps trains volunteers with agriculture decrees or experience. Call toll-free 800-424-8580. And put your experience to work where it can do .1 world of gtxxJ. U.S. Peace Corps. The toughest job you’ll ever love. Many positions available now for any degree and an interest in agriculture. Call 686-3235 soon. Monday, March 18, 1985