Wyden recognized at UO for supporting research
Jessica Waters Emerald
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., received the Champion of Science Award from the Science
Coalition on Monday for his help in securing funding for a nanotechnology research program.
Ron Wyden, who helped secure
funding for a nanotechnology
research program, toured the
University's Semiconductor Lab
By Jan Tobias Montry
Managing Editor
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., may
not be a University researcher, but he
is a familiar name around campus
labs. His efforts in the U.S. Senate
have garnered federal support for sci
entific study at Oregon universities,
which many hope will help con
tribute to a more robust economy.
For his support, Wyden received
the Champion of Science Award
from the Science Coalition —
which comprises more than 400 or
ganizations, including the Universi
ty — at the University's Semiconduc
tor Lab on Monday. Wyden also
toured the research facility while
graduate students demonstrated the
doping process to make microchips
and allowed Wyden to view transis
tors — only 10 microns long — us
ing optical microscopy.
Following the tour, University
President Dave Frohnmayer talked
to a room full of graduate students,
University officials and industry
leaders about the University's role in
building a strong Oregon economy
through research. Frohnmayer ex
plained how Wyden had con
tributed to that effort and presented
him with the award.
"It's very important that we con
tinue to nurture and continue to ele
vate, in the public consciousness, the
essential nature of this research en
terprise, especially in the sciences
where we have such strengths al
ready," Frohnmayer said. "Senator
Wyden has been a tireless advocate
for Oregon, for sciences, for the Uni
versity of Oregon. ... We deeply ap
preciate all of that."
Wyden was recognized, among
other things, for authoring legisla
tion that would create a federally
funded National Nanotechnology
Research Program for long-term re
search and would establish the Uni
versity as a major hub for the pro
gram. He was also recognized for his
efforts in 2002 to double the Na
tional Science Foundation's budget,
as well as his commitment to ensur
ing women have greater opportuni
ties in science fields.
In return, Wyden praised Frohn
mayer and the University's research
programs, and highlighted the im
portance of investing in research for
economic growth.
"I think when you look out here,
when you look out at the laborato
ries and look out at the young peo
ple who are doing this great work
with semiconductors, this, my
friends, is the face of Oregon's fu
ture," he said. "This is what it's going
to be all about in the effort to create
more high-skilled, high-wage jobs."
University officials estimate the Uni
versity as a whole had a total impart on
Oregon's economy of $703 million
during the 2000-2001 fiscal year.
Following the awards ceremony, a
short round-table discussion took
place with Wyden, University research
staff and business leaders, who ex
pressed confidence in the relationship
between University research, federal
support and the business world to
stimulate Oregon's economy.
'This is what it's
going to be all about
in the effort to create
more high-skilled,
high-wage jobs."
Ron Wyden
U.S. Senator, D-Ore.
Skip Rung, a retired Hewlett
Packard executive and consultant for
University research programs, ex
pressed the importance of "new, rad
ical innovation" through research to
spur economic growth, and especial
ly endorsed research partnerships
among Oregon universities.
"Hewlett-Packard is delighted to
see the University of Oregon, Ore
gon State and Portland State collab
orating together," he said. "There is
a lot of excitement ... everybody is
going to work together to make a
success out of it."
Contact the managing editor
at janmontry@daityemerald.com.
Labor
continued from page 1A
and it seeks the ability to force fur
loughs (unpaid leave) of up to 15 days
by citing a lack of funds, she said.
OUS offered a very different per
spective, however.
OUS Spokeswoman Di Saunders
said, in the current language, OUS
would provide full-time employees
with full health insurance, but that
part-time employee health insurance
was still being discussed. She said OUS
should have the option of providing
"voluntarily provided perks," such as
bookstore and ticket discounts or free
bus fare, if the budget demands it. She
said OUS was not trying to take away
tuition discounts, however.
In an e-mail to University classified
employees, Vice President for Ad
ministration Dan Williams also de
fended the OUS position, saying
"There is no intent to discontinue the
(Lane Transit District) free bus rider
ship program ..."
"The concern now is that the cur
rent contract language prohibits cam
puses from being able to alter, in any
way, these kinds of voluntary bene
fits, regardless of economic or other
changes that occur that are out of
OUS' control," Williams continued.
As far as cost-of-living adjustments
and the wage step freezes, Saunders
said OUS has proposed a lump pay
ment of $350 for eligible employees
as an alternative.
That lump payment would be dis
bursed in November 2004, a time
when employees would likely face
extra holiday expenses, Williams said
in the e-mail.
For scheduling, OUS needs the
flexibility to work employees during
later hours when non-traditional stu
dents, such as parents and returning
students, are attending school, Saun
ders said. OUS wants to narrow the
area in which laid-off employees can
"bump" into another's position from
geographical area to administrative
areas, such as each department, to re
duce the costs of retraining an em
ployee and the stress caused to the
bumped employee. Lastly, as far as
the ftirloughs, OUS would rather
temporarily lay off an employee dur
ing slow times, like holidays, than
have to lay them off permanently,
Saunders said.
✓ Washer and dryer
✓ Computer Lab
✓ Decked-out kitchens
✓ Bus ride to campus
✓ Ample resident parking
✓ Monitored alarm system
✓ Roommate matching service
✓ Gameroom with fitness center
✓ Resort-like swimming pool
✓ High speed internet hookups
✓ Prices starting at $335
universiTY
COMMONS
apartments
Jessica Waters Emerald
SEIU members and supporters gather on the lawn in front of Oregon Hall Thursday to protest current contract negotiations with OUS.
As a result of the stalled negotia
tions, OUS declared an impasse on
Friday, August 8, a day SEIU mem
bers have dubbed "Black Friday." As
far as Kirtner could remember, it was
the first time OUS has ever declared
an impasse.
But Saunders said OUS has de
clared an impasse before, and the
union itself declared an impasse in
1999, she said.
On Friday, Aug. 15, each side sub
mitted their final proposals. No
agreement was reached.
According to an e-mail from Kirt
ner to classified employees on cam
pus, OUS made large concessions on
Friday, including halting the propos
al for temporary layoffs, retaining the
current rules on bumping after a lay
off and retaining current work sched
ules. OUS also called the union and
said it was "willing to make even
more movement" on Saturday, ac
cording the e-mail.
Saunders confirmed OUS did pro
pose an offer that "moved in the di
rection" of the union with respect to
insurance and economic settlements.
"We're trying to come to a final
settlement over the next couple of
days," she said. "It's sort of in a
wait-and-see mode. The endpoint is
an unknown right now, but we're
hoping to reach a settlement."
Susan Carver, an office specialist at
the University for 12 years who
marched in Thursday's rally, said she
was protesting because she couldn't af
ford more cutbacks, adding that she is
"basically the breadwinner" of the
household. Her husband worked for
Weyerhaeuser for 26 years before his
plant shut down. Now, he works part
time and doesn't receive any benefits.
"It's really hard when you can't af
ford prescription medicines," she
said. "It's really discouraging when all
of the higher-ups" get all that they
need in contracts.
George Kokis, a member of the
emeritus faculty who is working part
time as a fine arts teacher, said he felt
a certain responsibility to support the
classified employees even though he
is not one.
"I have to support my friends in
the office," he said. "It's terrible to see
them squeezed like this. Whenever
it's necessary to come forward, I think
the faculty should be there. As faculty,
we know what it's like to be squeezed
financially, but to these people it's
even worse. One retires from teach
ing, but you don't retire from caring."
Jared Paben is a freelance reporter
for the Emerald.