text:
For just $5M more we could have hired a Harbaugh. Cousin Jim is currently 6-0, and #5 in the national rankings. But instead our Board of Trustees bought local:
For just $5M more we could have hired a Harbaugh. Cousin Jim is currently 6-0, and #5 in the national rankings. But instead our Board of Trustees bought local:
A month ago UO's directory listed longtime UO administrator Lorraine Davis's only current UO affiliation as Professor Emeritus [sic] – an unpaid honorific typically bestowed upon faculty who retire after long and distinguished careers as teachers and researchers:
I was a little surprised to see this, since Davis's recent work has been more focused on Duck sports than UO academics, and if not honorific has certainly been well paid:
I'm sure these "Overload Alamo Bowl Duties" are essential to our academic mission – although I'll be more sure after my obligatory tax deductible bowl game junket as Senate President – but has UO really sunk to the place where this crap gets you a Professor Emerita rank?
Not yet. Ms Davis's position as Professor Emerita has now been removed from the UO directory, there is no mention of her on the Department of Educational Methodology, Policy, and Leadership's website, and she's now just listed on the UO website as a "Special Assistant" to our Athletic Director, President, and Provost:
But I wonder who costs the academic budget more – Special Assistant Lorraine Davis, or "Faculty" Athletics Representative Tim Gleason?
3/5/2015: No, of course I'm not talking about the $30K that UO administrators get each year as part of the lousy apparel contract they signed with Nike. That seems like an interesting potential conflict of interest, but I'm sure UO's Office of Internal Audit has carefully vetted it, just as they must have done with Vin Lananna, the UO Foundation, Track Town, and UO's lobbying efforts.
I'm talking about this report by Jeffrey Gettleman in the NYT (thanks to a helpful reader for the link):
… In the documents, Nike provided detailed instructions on how the $100,000 yearly honorarium was to be used (to cover travel costs and phone bills, among other things). No details were provided for the commitment bonus, though, even after the former employee, who worked as an administrative assistant and in other jobs at Athletics Kenya for more than 10 years, wrote to a Nike executive asking him.
In a sworn statement provided to Kenyan investigators, the former assistant said the $500,000 commitment bonus was "bribe money from Nike" so that the top officials could pay back the $200,000 from the scuttled deal with the Chinese company and then make even more by agreeing to sign up again with Nike.
The former administrative assistant requested that his name not be revealed, saying it was extremely dangerous to expose high-level corruption in Kenya — a sentiment shared by others.
"Put that away! You could get killed for that!" exclaimed a member of Athletics Kenya's board, his eyes widening when a reporter pulled out the amended contract from Nike listing the $500,000 commitment bonus during an interview at a quiet Nairobi restaurant.
6/17/2015 update: The WSJ has a good summary of the apparel deal between Nike and the Brazilian soccer team, and the secret Swiss bank account side payment, here. (Gated, also try here.)
UO has its own apparel deal with Nike, some stories about that are below. The public records were heavily redacted by Dave Hubin's public records office, so it's unclear whether or not the same UO administrators who signed off on the deal – which doesn't seem that good for UO – get free shoes or other swag from the $185K annual "discretionary apparel" budget. And if they do, would that be illegal?
The UO / Nike contract and discretionary apparel list are here, and Matthew Kish's excellent database on these deals is here.
12/18/2014 update: Athletic department ditches Nike for Adidas, gets twice the cash
Matthew Kish has the story in the Portland Business Journal, here.
McElroy was hired from the Dallas Cowboys in May and charged with increasing the department's revenue. The Adidas deal does that. It's worth $4.2 million annually through 2023, more than double the $2.1 million the university will receive from Nike this year.
That's at Arizona State University. Nike's contract with UO is far stingier – just $600K in cash. Doesn't someone have a fiduciary responsibility to get a better deal on this?
12/9/2014 update: Which football championship team has the worst Nike contract? The Ducks.
From Matthew Kish in the Portland Business Journal:
Here's a breakdown of Nike's [athletic apparel] deal with each university in the playoffs. The terms cover the 2014-15 academic year [reordered in descending order of cash payment]:
– Ohio State: $2.5 million in equipment and apparel and nearly $1.5 million in cash. The university also gets $150,000 in discretionary apparel, typically for athletic department personnel.
– Florida State: $3 million in equipment and apparel and $1.4 million in cash.
– Alabama: $2.8 million in equipment and apparel, $780,000 in cash.
– Oregon: $2.2 million in equipment and apparel and $600,000 in cash. The university also gets $185,000 in discretionary apparel, typically for athletic department personnel.
But hey, we're #1 in "discretionary apparel"!
From what I can tell from Dave Hubin's redacted public records, $30K of that goes to our colleagues in Johnson Hall, presumably including some who signed off on the contract. So they'll be looking good on their Jan 1 Rose Bowl junkets.
2/3/2014 update: Under Armour pays Notre Dame $9M, Nike pays UO $600K
Nike just signed Tennessee to a new deal for $1M cash a year, plus $2M signing bonus.
1/23/2014: Our Uncle Phil drives a tough bargain. Nike's merchandising deal with UO pays us just $600K a year. Meanwhile Notre Dame just closed on a 10 year deal with Nike competitor Under Armour for ~$9M a year. Bloomberg financial news has a report here:
Adidas and Under Armour would love to get a marketing deal with the Ducks. Why won't UO use this to negotiate with Nike for more money?
In part because a sweetheart deal for Nike is just part of the price the UO administration is willing to pay for the vague promise of $1B for the endowment, someday. It would pay off big in outside offers and raises for every admin involved. And perhaps also because Nike gives UO administrators $30K worth of free sneakers and clothes. Portland Business Journal reporter Matthew Kish has a thorough report on these deals, here.
And how much did UO pay Lorraine Davis for her Alamo Bowl duties? Last year's bowl overload was pretty lucrative:
The NCAA's unwritten rule is that "no black man shall make money off college football". MLK biographer Taylor Branch's expose is in the Atlantic, here:
The Washington Post reports on a new study on how racism drives opposition to paying college football players, here:
Racial prejudice is driving opposition to paying college athletes. Here's the evidence.
… To find out whether racial prejudice influences white opinion on paying college athletes, we conducted a survey of opinions on "pay for play" policies using the 2014 CCES.
In a statistical analysis that controlled for a host of other influences, we found this: Negative racial views about blacks were the single most important predictor of white opposition to paying college athletes.
The more negatively a white respondent felt about blacks, the more they opposed paying college athletes.
UO Athletic Director Rob Mullens's contract is here:
While the Duck players get this:
12/28/2015: Two and a half weeks after asking, UO's Public Records office responds to a request for the Alamo Bowl junket list:
No University employees will be receiving paid "junkets" to the Valero Alamo Bowl on January 2nd. However, the following University employees will be travelling to the Alamo Bowl as a part of the official delegation, and will be expected to perform work on behalf of the University.
Mike Andreasen
Roger Thompson
Tim Gleason
Rob Mullens
Randy Sullivan
The office considers this to be fully responsive to your request, and will now close your matter. Thank you for contacting the office with your request.
That's going to save a lot of money from last year's extravaganza, when Interim President Coltrane offered all-expense-paid trips to the Rose Bowl and the football championship game to everyone from Board of Trustees Secretary Angela Wilhelms to Library Dean Adrienne Lim, plus their spouses:
Gottfredson was even willing to pay for Interim General Counsel Doug Park's kids:
Lest you think those 5 names the Public Records office provided is really the complete list of Alamo Bowl junketeers, here's the full dump of 2015 junketeers here, courtesy of a public records request by Nathan Tublitz: A snippet of those getting free tickets:
I'm guessing this year's list will be similar.
12/6/2015: This year's Johnson Hall junket: The Alamo Bowl
I've sent in my traditional pre-Christmas public records request for the list of Johnson Hall bowl game junketeers:
Date: December 6, 2015 at 4:44:37 PM PST
To: Lisa Thornton <firstname.lastname@example.com>
Subject: Re: PR request, Alamo Bowl junkets
Dear Ms Thornton –
This is a public records request for the email, memo, or similar announcing which UO employees will get paid junkets, as they are commonly called, to the Jan 2, 2016 "Valero Alamo Bowl".
Last time the Ducks went to the Alamo Bowl the president's office got a bit pissy about me calling it a junket, and wouldn't send the documents:
On MondayDec 23, 2013, at 5:37 PM, Office of Public Records <firstname.lastname@example.com> wrote:
Mr. Harbaugh-
Your request was for a "copy of any email, memos, or similar announcing which UO employees will get paid junkets to this year's 'Valero Alamo Bowl'". No UO employees will be attending the Valero Alamo Bowl on a junket.
Lisa Thornton
Public Records Officer
University of Oregon
Office of the President
While we wait to see what happens this time, here's some background info on the Alamo Bowl, CEO Derrick Fox, and UO's efforts to claim this will help us recruit top students. According to their most recent IRS return, the "non-profit" San Antonio Bowl Association brought in $10M from the 2014 Alamo Bowl – about half from tickets, half from TV and sponsorships. Each team nominally gets ~$3M (maybe a bit more now) but the Ducks have to split that 12 ways with the rest of the PAC-12. Then there's a travel allowance of about $1.5M. All in all UO will be lucky to come out even.
The justification for the bowl's IRS non-profit status is that the bowl gives out scholarships and help local charities. Here's Alamo Bowl CEO Derrick Fox, explaining this to congress in 2009:
Fox was lying, as the Arizona Republic reported in 2011:
Alamo Bowl Chief Executive Derrick Fox appeared before Congress in 2009 during hearings on bowl and BCS financial issues, saying bowls provide tens of millions of dollars to local communities annually.
"Since almost all the postseason bowl games are put on by charitable groups and since up to one-quarter of the proceeds from the games are dedicated to the community, local charities receive tens of millions of dollars every year," Fox said.
The Republic's examination of financial records for U.S.-based, non-profit organizations that ran 25 bowl games in 2008-09 and 24 bowl games in 2009-10 doesn't support Fox's claims.
The Republic found the non-profits that ran the bowls in 2008-09 generated about $216 million in revenue and gave away $6.4 million, roughly 3 percent of revenues. In 2009-10, the bowls generated about $202 million in revenue and gave away nearly $3.7 million, less than 2 percent.
For 2013, the Alamo Bowl gave a total of $200K for scholarships, or 2% of their revenue:
Fox, on the other hand, got $550K, or 5.5% of the gross:
But at least the Alamo Bowl's Derrick Fox has managed to stay out of federal prison, unlike former Fiesta Bowl CEO John Junker, who used bowl revenue for illegal political contributions and taking athletes to strip clubs:
The Alamo Bowl is a minor bowl but the coaches will do OK. Under the contracts that Board Chair Chuck Lillis and the Trustees approved this spring, Helfrich gets $100K, and his assistants probably get another $200K or so.
No word how much AAD Eric Roedl paid Lloyd's of London to insure the bonuses this year. Noah McGraw has the story on the last time Roedl tried this, in the Emerald here. It's still in court. So at ~$300 per billable hours, you can add UO's Harrang, Long, Gary, and Rudnick law firm to the list of Bowl game winners. And even the players will get some swag, thanks to a little known NCAA loophole. From SBNation's swag report:
3. Valero Alamo Bowl
GoPro Hero4 Silver camera and 32MB memory card; Fossil watch; Oakley Works backpack; Schutt mini helmet; panoramic photo
There's some meta-trolling going on when a bowl game gives you a GoPro camera. It's like "Hey, you're used to being filmed and not getting paid for it, so might as well do it yourself."
Part of the cost of bowl games is travel for the swarm of administrators and their spouses and families, paid for by UO out of a travel allowance the conference provides. Some of this is totally legit. It's a fundraising opportunity, and the president and deans need to be there to make sure Athletic Director Rob Mullens leaves a few scraps for the academic side. Likewise, it would be a violation of the AAUP's principles of shared governance not to invite the president and vice president of the UO Senate and the Chair of the Senate Intercollegiate Athletics Committee, assuming he's playing along with Rob Mullens and not asking too many tough questions about UO's low graduation rates for revenue athletes. And of course no big-time college sports team should travel without its general counsel, that's just basic due diligence.
But this is not exactly an academic event, so to ensure that the IRS doesn't treat the administrator's junkets as taxable income, Roger Thompson typically has a enrollment recruiting event, which he videotapes just in case anyone gets audited. Here's former Journalism Dean Tim Gleason at the Fiesta Bowl a few years back, earning his airfare and per-diem by trying to convince a student to transfer to UO:
And surely all the publicity about the big game will help bring in new students, as $115K Duck PR flack Tobin Klinger posted on "Around the 0" from his all-expense-paid Dallas junket:
Of course when you recruit at football games, you don't hear from the parents who don't want to pay for their children to attend a football-factory party school. And apparently there are lots of them. Here's a link to a recent working paper: College Football Success and the Quantity and Quality of Applicants: Evidence from the BCS.
In this paper, we use a panel data set of university funding, applications, enrollment and the quality of students at the university measured by percentile on entrance exams from 2002 to 2009 to examine the effects of various levels of success including: BCS national championships, conference championships and AP top 25 rankings. Our results indicate, individually, that national championships and AP top 25 rankings can lower the quantity and quality of applicants and enrollees, however, conference championships can positively impact the quantity and quality of applicants and enrollees. Yet, when the [football] success measures are combined, tests reveal that overall success negatively affects the quantity and quality of applicants and enrollees.
The negative academic effects of football continue after enrollment. UO Economist Glen Waddell's 2012 paper, published in theAmerican Economic Review: Applied Economics, showed that football wins led to worse grades for current UO undergraduates – particularly for males. The effect is striking:
Why? Just what you'd expect – after a win our students party, get drunk, and skip class:
Not exactly a surprise to any parent who was once a student themselves, so they send their kids to a school without so many distractions. The only puzzle here is why the UO administration and its PR flacks are still pretending that big-time football is good for the academic side. Oh, right, junkets!
Columnist Sally Jenkins, here:
… For years, athletic directors have styled themselves as CEO-types and moaned about the difficulties of managing costs. But a Washington Post project published earlier this week shows that these so-called executives are about as fiscally responsible as Gabor sisters serving sevruga in chinchilla capes. The truth is, their deficits aren't a necessity. They're a choice.
Throughout The Post's findings is the distinctly acrid smell of books cooking. The ledgers show that there is never enough money to fully comply with Title IX or cover the true cost of a scholarship but always enough to pay themselves more or to buy a new toy.
… The chair of an engineering department is not permitted to spend indiscriminately, so why should athletic directors be able to — especially when they siphon university money away from other departments to cover their overdrafts?
As matters stand, athletic departments aren't answerable to anyone, budgeted separately from the university and almost completely unregulated. Their only real oversight comes from high-dollar donors. The reason for this is that years ago college presidents tried to wash their hands by allowing them to become stand-alone entities that raise and spend funds however they wish. Author Gilbert Gaul, in his new book "Billion Dollar Ball," likens them to hedge funds or entertainment divisions rather than academic entities. As one Texas administrator put it to Gaul, "We eat what we kill."
But that's not enough, so they take from the academic side too.
Apparently this win means the Ducks are going to some bowl game, and Helfrich gets a $50K bonus for that. Then we have to pay for all the admins and their families to go along for the junket. Here's Tim Gleason, then Journalism Dean, now Faculty Athletics Representative, at the 2013 Fiesta Bowl student recruiting event:
VP for Enrollment Roger Thompson videotapes one or two humiliating events like this at every bowl game, so that the administrators can show the IRS there was a business purpose for their family's holiday junket:
4/12/2015: Coach Helfrich's raise totals more than all 1500 UO staff combined
UO has about 1500 staff workers, making an average wage of about $35,000 a year. Their SEIU local 503 is currently bargaining with OUS for a new contract. The OUS offer is an 0.5% COLA, or $175 each per year.
Meanwhile, the UO administration just found the money to give football coach Mark Helfrich a slightly larger raise:
Here's the message from the SEIU local:
Higher Ed Management Proposals Not Unified Across State, Return to the "Big Three," Attack Health Care, Steps, and More Continue reading
This could save UO a lot of money. The athletic department's report to the NCAA, here, says they lost $832K on last year's bowl games, after you count the cost of the administrator's junkets and the coach's bonuses. That's right, our coaches' bowl game bonuses are so large that UO loses money when Ducks get into bowl games. What a scam:
5/5/2015 update:
Jon Solomon of CBS Sports reports that, after accounting for the administrative junkets and $2.2M bonuses for AD Rob Mullens and the coaches, UO lost $1.5m on the Pac12 and BCS championship games:
But surely all that publicity will help bring in new students? Actually, the latest research shows the opposite:
In this paper, we use a panel data set of university funding, applications, enrollment and the quality of students at the university measured by percentile on entrance exams from 2002 to 2009 to examine the effects of various levels of success including: BCS national championships, conference championships and AP top 25 rankings. Our results indicate, individually, that national championships and AP top 25 rankings can lower the quantity and quality of applicants and enrollees, however, conference championships can positively impact the quantity and quality of applicants and enrollees. Yet, when the [football] success measures are combined, tests reveal that overall success negatively affects the quantity and quality of applicants and enrollees.
Why? Parents are unlikely to want to pay for their children to attend a football-factory party school. Of course that's not the message UO's $115K Duck Advocate and PR flack Tobin Klinger posted on "Around the 0" from his all-expense-paid Dallas junket, but here's a link to the working paper: College Football Success and the Quantity and Quality of Applicants: Evidence from the BCS.
The negative academic effects of football wins continues after enrollment. UO Economist Glen Waddell's 2012 paper, published in the American Economic Review: Applied Economics, showed that football wins led to worse grades for current UO undergraduates – particularly for males. The effect is striking:
Why? Just what you'd expect – after a win our students party, get drunk, and skip class:
Not exactly a surprise to any parent who was once a student themselves, so they send their kids to a school without so many distractions. The only puzzle here is why the UO administration and its PR flacks are still pretending that big-time football is good for the academic side. Oh, right, they get a party too, and there aren't any adults in JH to tell our administrators to get their act together.
1/9/2015: Coltrane leads Johnson Hall old guard on one more junket
Jeff Manning has the report in the Oregonian:
University President Scott Coltrane is bringing a delegation of 25, including the provost and deans of the law school, Honors College, journalism, music and dance and other academic departments. Spouses and partners are also among the delegation. All are required to participate in social events like the VIP tailgate.
Airfare and other travel costs alone will cost $50,000. The university was unable to provide an estimate of costs for food, lodging and other expenses.
… The Oregon athletic department is sending a much larger contingent to Dallas. About 570 players, cheerleaders, marching band members, coaches and administrators, as well as spouses, will be leaving Eugene Friday or Saturday, university officials said.
The euphoria over the big game can't mask serious issues at Oregon.
There's the revolving door in the president's office. The UO has been through four presidents in five years. Michael Gottfredson lasted in the job just two years before he resigned in August amid a furor over the university's handling of sexual abuse allegations against three UO basketball players.
The alleged victim sued the university on Thursday.
Instructors are disgruntled. UO graduate teaching assistants went on strike last year in a dispute over compensation and benefits. The professors also voted to unionize in 2013. Some of Oregon's best researchers and professors have left for other institutions, a problem the administration admits has reached serious proportions.
… Oregon Law School Professor Margie Paris said the distrust and resentment between Oregon's academic and athletic sides is nothing new. Fourteen years ago she helped lead a task force convened to examine athletic spending some deemed out of control.
Since then, athletics spending and revenue have exploded.
Paris share's Dreiling's misgivings about UO's sports-centric culture. But she also believes you have to credit Knight and Nike for making Oregon relevant in the billion-dollar pop-culture industry that college sports have become.
"There's already been a huge benefit," Paris said. "We're cool, we're the Ducks."
Yeah, that's huge.
1/12/2015 update: Scott Greenstone has the story in the Emerald here, along with plenty of VP Roger Thompson's usual protests that it's all about recruiting new students, honest:
Officers of administration going include the deans of the Honors College, School of Journalism and Communications, the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Education. The money for travel, expenses and lodging comes out of the budgets of each of these departments, so it is each department head's choice whether or not to go.
Our student tuition dollars at
work play.
3/31/2015 update: It took a month or so – presumably they were hoping people would forget about it. Full dump here. Check the manifests to see who actually went. Senate President Kyr didn't. Presumably he understands that taking this sort of largess from the athletic department, while the Senate is taking up legislation to get some money back from the Ducks for the academic side, would be a conflict of interest. And indeed, state law forbids the UO Trustees, and their relatives and household members from taking these sorts of gifts from the Ducks:
But for our Johnson Hall colleagues, who are now considering whether or not to implement the Senate legislation, it's a family vacation opportunity:
12/4/2014 8:00 PM update: UO admins evacuate for family bowl-game junkets, as GTF strike mediation drags on
As mediated talks drag into Friday, a photographer captured the chaotic scene as Interim President Scott Coltrane's executive assistant Dave Hubin packed UO's top administrators, lawyers, consultants, and their family members into the last helicopter to leave Johnson Hall for Dec 5th's PAC-12 Football Championship festivities at Levi Field in Santa Clara:
The university, devastated by years of corrupt puppet governments and a series of coups d'etat orchestrated by athletic department extremists, faces a long, uncertain period of rebuilding, as collateral damage from infighting for the vacant presidency increases.
The careers of several administrators were last seen clinging to the Huey's skids.
I can't imagine why they are stalling. With luck, Prof Tublitz will get these names in time for me to post them before the bargaining session with Jamie Moffitt starts:
On Mar 13, 2015, at 10:22 PM, tublitz <firstname.lastname@example.com> wrote:
Dear Ms Joubran:
I submitted the following request over a month ago. Can you please tell me why your response is taking so long and when I will be supplied with the requested information? It is a simple request that should not take very long to fulfill.
Thanks very much,
N. Tublitz
On 2/13/2015 2:59 PM, firstname.lastname@example.com wrote:
Dear Mr. Tublitz:
The University of Oregon, Office of Public Records has received your
public records request for") a list of the names and titles of all
University employees and family members who received free tickets, free
transportation and/or free accommodations to the College Football
playoff semi-final game between Oregon and Florida State played on Jan
1, 2015 at the Rose Bowl, Los Angeles CA; and, 2) A separate list of the
names and titles of all University employees and family members who
received free tickets, free transportation and/or free accommodations to
the College Football playoff championship game between Oregon and Ohio
State played on Jan 12, 2015 at AT&T Stadium, Arlington TX. For each
person, please list whether they received free tickets, free
transportation and/or free accommodations," on 02/13/2015, attached.
The university is uncertain whether it possesses the records you have
requested. However, the university will search for the records and make
a response to your request as soon as practicable.
If documents exist and may be provided, the office will provide the
documents electronically to avoid a copy fee of 25 cents per page. The
office also charges for the actual cost of making public records
available. The charge includes, but is not limited to, staff costs for
locating, gathering, summarizing, compiling, reviewing, tailoring or
redacting the public records to respond to a request. The charge may
also include the cost of time spent by an attorney in reviewing the
public records, redacting material from the public records, or
segregating the public records into exempt and nonexempt records.
The cost of time for each employee is calculated by multiplying the
employee's hourly wage calculation (including benefits expenses) by the
hours or portions thereof necessary to locate, gather, summarize,
compile, tailor, review, redact, segregate, certify or attend the
inspection of the public records requested.
Thank you for contacting the University with your request.
Daphne Joubran
Office of Public Records
University of OregonOffice of the President
6207 University of Oregon
Eugene, Oregon 97403-6207
(541) 346-6823
email@example.com <mailto:firstname.lastname@example.com>
1/1/2015 junket update:
It's good to see he's found some honest work as a limo driver. Meanwhile our Chief Strategic Communicator's team is churning out the traditional "Around the 0" stories on the obligatory charity and student recruiting events:
12/27/2014: Johnson Hall admins take off for semi-final bowl game junkets
Last year it was the storied
Fiesta Alamo Bowl. (Assuming time off for good behavior, former Fiesta Bowl Director John Junkers should be out of federal prison any day now.)
This year the Ducks have been selected by a committee including former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice to participate in the new College Football Championship semi-finals at the Rose Bowl. (Ms Rice is also a former Stanford Provost, and widely rumored to be the dream candidate of at least a few UO Board of Trustees members for new UO President.) I'll wait to make the traditional public records request for the list of this year's Johnson Hall junketeers and their travel receipts until we see if the Ducks will make it to the nationals.
Each of these bowl games typically includes a PR puff piece TV ad about the UO, with production and broadcast cost of $500K or so, a sham charity event where players and administrators put in an hour or two helping out at a food bank or similar for the TV cameras, and an undergraduate recruiting event organized by VP for enrollment Roger Thompson.
The enrollment events typically include a few puzzled potential local undergraduates besieged by a horde of administrators desperate to get their talk with a potential undergraduate on video, just in case the IRS asks for proof that there was some business reason for deducting airfare game tickets, and per diem ($138 lodging, $71 food) for their whole family. For example, here's former Dean of Journalism and current UO NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative Tim Gleason giving it his best shot, from last year (or maybe the year before, I've lost track, check the comments):
If you want to see who else took this junket, there's video here and photos here.
Presumably our colleagues in the Johnson Hall administration will still get their free junkets, courtesy of UO's "general fund". But it sounds like the UO undergrads whose tuition pays for those Pasadena trips are getting a little restless. Twitter feed here:
This is part of Interim President Coltrane's new effort to reduce athletic subsidies and shift money towards academic excellence. Breaking news here:
The biggest cost-cutting move is just limiting the number of people who go, which saves travel and hotel costs. In 2009, the Wolf Pack did not take its band to the Hawaii Bowl. Some schools will charter either a large jet, a second jet or take multiple trips, but Nevada has consistently gone with smaller, less-expensive jets and told some support staffers that they'll have to watch the game on TV at home.
The school also saves money by taking the less-expensive team-meal options at the hotels and not splurging on expensive rings and watches in the event of a victory.
Brian Polian is headed to his first bowl game as a head coach, too. Hired three months before Knuth, Polian has extensive history in big bowl games as an assistant coach at Stanford, Notre Dame and Texas A&M, schools where the presumption is that money is handed out like athletic tape.
And while that's a stretch, the comparison has legs. Schools with massive athletic budgets tend to be more free-wheeling with money, and big-money bowls tend to cost more — in some cases a lot more — which can lead to red-pencil accounting.
Oh wait, that story is about the University of Nevada. Never mind. Here at UO, all indications are that our Johnson Hall colleagues, and their families, are planning their usual all-expense-paid bowl-game junkets. The next one is to the historic Rose Bowl in sunny Pasadena, for the football championship semifinal extravaganza, Jan 1.
6/21/2014 update: The Arizona Republic has the story here. No word on how much Duck money was involved.
2/1/2013: No Policy Update: Duck administrators fly south for Felony Bowl
UO has no policy on free tickets or travel – not exactly "best practices" when it comes to claiming it's exempt income, folks.
From: "Thornton, Lisa"
Subject: Public Records Request 2013-PRR-185Date: February 1, 2013 12:28:59 PM PST
Dear [UO Matters]-
The University does not possess records responsive to your request for " a copy of UO's policies and/or procedures on paying for travel and tickets to away games and/or postseason games", made 1/28/2013.
Thank you for contacting the office with your request.
Lisa Thornton
Office of Public Records
1/28/2013: Ever wonder how the Ducks get our administrators to look the other way about the accounting tricks that leave the academic side holding the bag for millions in athletic department costs? Free junkets are part of it. The Fiesta Bowl has a long history of corruption, see here.
Continue reading


text:
Psalm 138Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
138 (0) By David:
(1) I give you thanks with all my heart.
4 All the kings of the earth will thank you, Adonai,
7 You keep me alive when surrounded by danger;
Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.
You'll get this book and many others when you join Bible Gateway Plus. Learn more

subset: commoncrawl


text: Please follow the following format to create first contact bonus threads. Permitted once per user. Title: <username>'s First Contact Bonus Content: I'll be hosting (or you can host) various <chapter information> runs for multiplay first contact. Feel free to ask me to join your room for the bonus as well. Bonus only works once with a new player. Don't join if you've already received the bonus between the two of us. <Additional information you want to add> Current progress: <write down / update how many bonuses you got so far> 1: 1 energy 2: 1 energy 3: 1 energy 4: 1 energy 5: 3 energy 6: 1 energy 7: 1 energy 8: 1 energy 9: 1 energy 10: 3 energy 11: 3x Metal Tix 12: 3x Metal Tix 13: 3x Metal Tix 14: 3x Metal Tix 15: 3 energy 16: 3x Metal Tix 17: 3x Metal Tix 18: 3x Metal Tix 19: 3x Metal Tix 20: 3 energy multiplay bonus credit @Rexlent Additional rules As you play with more players and get additional bonuses, update your post to let others know about the progress and empty slots. Once you completed all bonuses, please let mods know asap, so that we can delete the thread. You can advertise this at any place you want, including the chat, since there is no direct disadvantage for any party doing this. Thanks,


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Kevin Cramer Violates North Dakota Republican Party Resolutions, Again.
Principles Schminciples Who needs principles when you've got the support of the Paul Ryan-John Boehner Swamp? The act of parties creating party platforms is meaningless, much like politics altogether. Say one thing, do the opposite, or in this case write one thing and do the contrary. The North Dakota Republican Party Platform and Resolutions explicitly state individuals are solely responsible... Read More


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Westminster Chime Wall Clock
c. 1920 Gremany
Offered by Worboys Antiques
SoldRequest Information Call Dealer Favourite Item
A three glass 1/4 Westminster Chime (Big Ben) wall clock. It has a mahogany case, with 3 bevel edge glass panels. The polished steel dial has arabic numersals with a matching wood rod pendulum. The 8 day movement has four sonorous chime bars that sound the 1/4s and two separate hour bars. It also has a chime silencer.
If you would like to hear this clock chime please email us for a call back or a video clip
**A 20% deposit will secure this itm for up to 3 months.**
If you would like to hear this clock chime please email us for a call back or a video clip
**A 20% deposit will secure this itm for up to 3 months.**
The case retains its original finish. The dial is in good original condition, the movement has been serviced and is guaranteed for 12 months.
|75.00 cm
|(29.53 inches)
|33.00 cm
|(12.99 inches)
|18.00 cm
|(7.09 inches)
Worboys Antiques
Worboys Antiques
86 London End
+44 (0)1494 673055Favourite Dealer Request Dealer Alerts
Opening Hours
9.30 to 5.30 Tuesday-Friday, 10-5 Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday and Bank Holiday Saturdays.
Mr Nigel WorboysView Dealer Location


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- Home
- Other Makes
- Toyota
- Toyota Corolla AE86
- Interior
- Nagisa/Nams Auto Super Low Seat Rails - Toyota Corolla AE86
NAMS super low adjustable seat rail features 3 adjustment for the front and 3 adjustment for the rear of the seat providing many different combinations of angles and seat height. Great for for tall persons who need super low seat for helmet clearance or persons who want adjustable bucket seat height and angle. Ball bearing rollers provides super smooth sliding adjustment with heavy duty lock for safety and reliability. This seat rail will fit most standard sized bucket seats utilizing SIDE MOUNTING brackets such as Bride, Sparco, Buddy Club, etc...
Drivers Side
For toyota Corolla AE86


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Homemade Onion Rings-Recipe
My girls were all but begging me to place a random order at one of the local pizza shops for onion rings the other day. I told them I wouldn't order them, but I'd make them. I used this recipe from All Recipes for Beer Battered Fish for the batter. (This is the same recipe… Read More Homemade Onion Rings-Recipe


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Let us take our bitter medicine
Fine Gael must follow the UK's lead and take a knife to the bloated public sector wage bill, writes Eamon Delaney
In the week of the Queen's visit, there was much talk of the similarities between our two countries and what we can learn from each other. So how about following the UK lead and taking robust action to correct our public finances?
In Britain, there have been some of the harshest cuts seen in modern times, but far from being punished the Conservatives did very well in recent polls, because people respect the necessary measures taken. A discerning take-the-medicine British public recognise the damage was done by the previous profligate Labour government and now the UK exchequer is drained and spending needs to be cut.
But no such measures are being taken here, despite a similar and even more reckless bout of spending. Our new Government, despite its large majority, continues to tinker around the edges. We have the farce of the Croke Park agreement, which itself is a barrier to any real cuts in the public sector, still being resisted by unions and the Government playing along with it. In the UK, quangos have been obliterated. Here, they remain, despite all the talk of reform.


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My understanding is that the numbers being trained and required to parachute are being drastically reduced and therefore less will receive the pay supplement. Paradrops haven't been used for a large force (doubt if a company has jumped together in operation for more than 20 years) for some time. The pay supplement is not being removed entirely. The problem lies that they are removing it from a significant number who have got used to the extra pay and it will hit them. It does appear odd that it is proposed that 2 Bn of the Parachute Regiment will not be trained to parachute. Is this the end of the Parachute Regiment? I was in receipt of extra pay and it is difficult to justify if you are not actually doing that role but merely qualified.
However this comes shortly after there were talks about putting the 'Military Covenant' on a formal legal footing. I thought then that rather than talk about this it would be better if the Government provided the right equipment in adequate numbers, kept the pay correct and tried not to reduce morale. MQ's and accommodation are also important of course. IMO it was a mistake to close the military hospitals. It seems that at every turn there is another morale lowering initiative mainly due to the poor way in which it is announced eg warning personnel serving in Afghanistan that they may be made redundant.
Perhaps a better target than the Olympics is the money paid in overseas aid.


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When NBA free agency opens at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, the Miami Heat will have more salary cap space than any other team in the league. The team is expected to devote much of the more than $50 million in cap space to LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade.
But, the team is also in the market for both big name and lesser known players who might help the team make it to a fifth straight NBA Finals next season. In addition, the Heat could clear an additional $2 million in salary cap space by trading backup point guard Norris Cole.
The Heat will have the option of using salary cap space to sign free agents or can use several exceptions including the full mid-level exception, a bi-annual exception, and a trade exception from the trade of Joel Anthony last season.
So who might the Heat target with their free agent money?
The player that has been most frequently associated with the Heat in the last few days is Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry. Adding Lowry would give the Heat a dynamic point guard who averaged 17.9 points, 7.4 assists, and 4.7 rebounds last season. Lowry is also a solid defender which would fit into the Heat's defensive first philosophy.
Still, the nine-year veteran is expected to have a multitude of suitors including the Raptors, who can offer Lowry the most money.
Center Pau Gasol would give the Heat an interesting scoring and rebounding option down low if he chose to sign with Miami. However, Gasol has set up meetings with several other teams at the beginning of free agency and Miami isn't among them.
While there were rumblings about bringing Carmelo Anthony to Miami, the salary sacrifices that would be required of the Heat's Big Three and Anthony would likely be too much to get them all under contract in the Magic City.
Among the second tier of free agents, Vince Carter is reportedly a possible target for the Heat. Carter shot nearly 40 percent from behind the three-point line last season and excelled coming off the bench for the Dallas Mavericks last season.
Some other names that could be on the list include Shaun Livingston, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Emeka Okafor, and others.


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Gaucho - Canary Wharf
Evoking the essence of Argentinian cooking, Gaucho Canary offers a passionately compiled mix of steaks, classic South American recipes, and drinks compiled by a 'Bartender of the Decade' award winner. Contrasting with the simplicity and richness of the dishes, the sultry, clean-cut dining room pays homage to its meat-focused menu, decked out in smooth leather and spotted cow hide. A 150-strong wine list celebrates Argentina's unrivalled growing regions and includes some supreme rare bottles, while the cocktail list takes inspiration from Buenos Aires culture from 1930 through to 1960.
|Typical meal price:
|From £41.00 (USD54.01) per diner
£41 and over
Images and Videos
Venue Details & Map
Gaucho - Canary Wharf
- Address
29 Westferry CircusMillwallLondonE14 8RR


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6744 AZALEA PARK RD, Jacksonville, Florida
$272,9743 Beds2+ BathsActive
$272,9743 Beds2+ BathsActive
6744 AZALEA PARK RD, Jacksonville, Florida 32259 - Richmond American's Pearl plan offers 2 stories of thoughtful living space. A spacious kitchen provides a panoramic view of the main floor--overlooking an elegant dining room and a large great room. You'll also enjoy a convenient powder room and private study located by the entryway. Upstairs, an open loft features access to a laundry room and 3 bedrooms, including a lavish master suite with a roomy walk-in closet and attached bath. Options include bedrooms in lieu of the loft and study. Personalize this home with your chosen finishes! Located in one of the fastest growing areas in North Florida. Crossings at Bartram offers all natural gas community along with easy access to popular schools, shopping, dining, downtown and I-95.
Listing Courtesy of PABLO CREEK REAL ESTATE LLC


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ZENARINDA never looked like catching the winner at Wolverhampton last time but was beaten less than a length over C&D before that. Mark Tompkins' mare can finally open her account here as she had today's rival Community five lengths behind on that occasion. The latter had won her maiden over track and trip earlier and she makes more appeal than Inpursuitoffreedom, who makes her Fibresand debut and hasn't scored since 2010.
Maven 6-1 (8-8) Took keen hold, led after 1f, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened entering final furlong, 12th of 13, 13l behind Archie Rice (9-1) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Jan.
Zenarinda 14-1 (9-13) Took keen hold, tracked winner, ridden 2f out, one pace final furlong, 2nd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Arch Of Colours (8-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn fll (5) pol in Jan.
Community (USA) 25-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride, soon recovered to chase leaders, pushed along over 3f out, weakened inside final 3f, last of 12, 40l behind Prince Of Burma (9-7) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Jan.
Inpursuitoffreedom 8-1 (8-8) Towards rear on inside, headway under pressure over 1f out, went 4th inside final furlong, no impression, 4th of 9, 6l behind Spinning Ridge (9-1) at Kempton 1m clm stks (6) pol in Jan.


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I believe in Fairies with Fairy and Magic Wand
- StickTak Stickers very own handmade highly detailed vinyl decal stickers
- Unique design crafted and produced in Sydney Australia
- Made from high-quality removable matte finish self-adhesive vinyl designed to blend into your home environment
- The vinyl can be used indoor or outdoor
- Quick and easy to apply (instructions included) or remove without residue
- Position stickers in whatever way you wish as they do not come Pre-Spaced
- Stickers are Non-Re-Positionable and Non-Reusable
- Stickers are individually StickTak Stickers made and not mass-produced
How to order: Please select your preferred COLOUR and SIZE.
Available colours:
Sticker Description: You don't need to see to believe that this sticker can bring magic to your child's room. The vinyl decal sheet contains one magic fairy with wand embellishments and stars. Dimensions as specified below.
Medium Size Sticker:
X-Large Size Sticker:
Images are for illustration purposes only. Sticker sizes are as specified. Colours may vary from the original due to different monitor settings.SaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSave


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Hi,I'm using CellProfiler (2.4.0rc1) in Windows 7, and when I try to run IdentifyObjectsManually, I get the following error:
Traceback (most recent call last): File "cellprofiler\gui\pipelinecontroller.pyc", line 2847, in do_step File "cellprofiler\pipeline.pyc", line 2103, in run_module File "cellprofiler\modules\identifyobjectsmanually.pyc", line 83, in run File "cellprofiler\workspace.pyc", line 353, in interaction_request File "cellprofiler\modules\identifyobjectsmanually.pyc", line 181, in handle_interaction File "cellprofiler\gui\editobjectsdlg.pyc", line 144, in init File "cellprofiler\gui\editobjectsdlg.pyc", line 273, in build_ui File "matplotlib\backends\backend_wx.pyc", line 1570, in init File "wx_core.pyc", line 10271, in GetParentTypeError: in method 'Window_GetParent', expected argument 1 of type 'wxWindow const *'
This didn't happen a couple of months ago when I previously used this pipeline. I've tried downloading the latest version of CP but didn't see any difference.Any help would be appreciated!
Unfortunately this is a known bug; we're working on getting it fixed but in the meantime I'd recommend the Stable or Beta versions of the software instead, as IdentifyObjectsManually seems to work on those. Sorry!


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Fiat 2000 Spider for Sale
Selected Filters:Type of Ad: Vehicles for Sale Make: Fiat Model: 2000 Spider Remove All
1979 Fiat 2000 Spider
Monterey park, CA
1979 Fiat 2000 Spider, Original owner, car is original, purchased in Pasadena, was still wrapped in plastic when purchase. Well maintained, history available. Motor... More
1979 Fiat 2000 Spider Pininfarina Convertible
Hastings, MI
Fiat offered the 2000 Spider (1979-1982); 1979 first and most valuable years of the Spider. Pininfarina designed body of the car. Our Fiat Spider... More
1979 Fiat 2000 Spider Convertible
Merrimack, NH
1979 Fiat Spider 2000. Mint Condition. New Timing Belt, Water Pump,Radiator, Ball Joints, Motor Mounts, Drive Shaft Couplers,Exhaust, 4 Wheel Brakes: Pads , Rotors and... More
1982 Fiat 2000 Spider
Hampton, NH
1982 Fiat Spider 2000 Convertible Like New - Fuel injection, automatic, in excellent condition with no tears or rip in the interior and... More
1981 Fiat 2000 Spider Pininfarina 2000 50th Anniversary Model
St. Paul, MN
1981 Fiat Spider Pininfarina 2000 50th Anniversary Model. #236 of 1000 in US Market. Champagne exterior with original tan convertible top and tan leather... More


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Black women everywhere are wearing their hair at a medium length, thanks to inspiration from celebrities who have made new styles popular and inspired black women to keep their hair at a medium length. Traditional hairstyles are being extended to a medium length to give the style a more sleek look. Medium-length hairstyles provide the best of both short and long styles, giving you an in between satisfaction.
Medium Curly Hairstyle
The medium curly hairstyle is a medium-length haircut with curls. These curls can be big or small depending on the way the hair is cut. Many medium-length hairstyles are styles that have grown from a short hairstyle.This hairstyle can have a curled bang and have the rest of the hair remain straight. Black women wear medium-length hairstyles for trendy fashions to keep up to date with today's fashion.
Medium Shag
A medium shag is popular hairstyle known to be worn by black women. This look is modern and sassy. The medium shag is a style that is cut in multiple layers to frame the face. Shags have come back into style but with a small twist: Modern medium shags are highlighted to provide the style with more depth.
Medium Curled-Out Bob
The medium curled-out bob consists of a bob curled outward from the face. Medium-length bobs have become one of the top hairstyles in the fashion world today. Curled bobs are new to the bob world but provide the wearer with options of curling the hair framing the face out or in toward the face. Curls may be worn throughout the hair for a twist on tradition.


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Destrehan offense will be tested against No. 2 Dutchtown
September 29, 2011 at 1:12 pm | Mobile Reader | Print
|Jonathan Menard/Herald Guide
Destrehan running back Kevin Smith rushed for 162 yards and scored a touchdown against West Jefferson last week. Smith and the rest of the Destrehan offense will have to avoid Dutchtown safety Landon Collins this Friday.
And their offense must improve if they hope to have any chance to pull off the upset.
Destrehan struggled offensively in their 14-26 loss to West Jefferson last week, even though running back Kevin Smith rushed for 162 yards on only 14 carries. Much of Smith's yardage came in the second half, however, as Destrehan trailed 0-26.
The Buccaneers struck first with 3:38 left in the opening quarter on a 44-yard run by Ronald Lewis. Lewis was actually trapped five yards in the backfield on the play, but he shrugged off the Destrehan defender, reversed field and found a seam down the left sideline.
The extra point was no good and West Jefferson led 6-0. The Destrehan defense held tough for much of the second quarter, but with their offense failing to sustain drives, they got worn down towards the end of the second. The Bucs gashed the Destrehan D using their running game and then scored their second touchdown of the night on a 12-yard pass from David Davis to Jamell Gilbert. Destrehan would block the extra point, but the Bucs extended the lead to 12-0.
On the ensuing kickoff, the ball soared over the heads of returners Rickey Jefferson and Smith. Smith backtracked to pick up the ball at the 2-yard line and managed to take it five yards to the 7. With only 2:14 left until the half, Dent dropped back and threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown to give West Jefferson a 19-0 lead.
The Bucs increased their lead in the third after successfully converting a fake punt for a 35-yard gain to the Destrehan 10-yard line. Devin Scott scored two plays later on a 4-yard run to put West Jefferson on top 26-0.
Wildcat quarterback Dillan Dent found receiver Ferman Victor in the endzone for a 10-yard score to end the third, and Smith bulled his way into the endzone for Destrehan's second touchdown in the fourth quarter.
But Destrehan head coach Chris Stroud said miscues kept the Wildcats from getting any closer.
"We shot ourselves in the foot with penalties and dropped balls in the first half," he said. "In the second half, we ran right at them and had a little success, and in the third drive we are inside the 30-yard line of West Jeff and we run a screen and have one guy to block and we miss him and lose five yards."
After that play, Destrehan was called for an offsides penalty, and on 3rd and 14, Dent was sacked.
"We could've gone to a 26-21 ball game with just under six minutes left but we didn't execute in crunch time," Stroud said.
Defensively, the Wildcats performed well despite the score, forcing West Jefferson to punt in seven of the Buccaneers nine possessions.
"We gave up a pick 6 interception and gave up bad field position on punt returns," Stroud said. "We did give up a couple of big plays on defense when we had their running back corralled but overall another good performance by the defense."
The Destrehan D will have to corral another talented running back when they host Landon Collins and the Dutchtown Griffins at 7 p.m. this Friday. Dutchtown is 4-0 on the season.
Collins is ranked by ESPN as the 19th best recruit in the nation and has offers from LSU, Alabama, Florida, Texas and several other major programs.
"Looking at their offense, Collins jumps out at running back and they have a good offensive line," Stroud said. "Their quarterback, Mason Nickens, also runs the zone read game well."
Stroud said that Destrehan will have to gang tackle and play physical for four quarters in order to slow down Dutchtown.
"We have to play Fighting Wildcat technique," he said. "We have to stop the power, counter and QB zone read plays and we must make them pass the ball downfield."
While Collins is his team's top running back, he has gained national attention for his ability as a safety.
"Landon Collins is everywhere on defense he is literally Superman for them," Stroud said. "But the whole team is well coached and sound, their D-line is phenomenal in technique and running to the football."
Though Collins is impressive, Stroud said his team has faced great future D-1 players for the last two weeks.
"Our kids have to play with confidence and realize we have some pretty good players too, but in the same breath we have great respect for Landon," Stroud said. "He is special."
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Ornamental-Metal Worker
Set up and operate machines to fabricate ornamental metal products.
Sets up and operates vertical contour-band saw to cut straight, curved, irregular, or internal patterns in metal or plastic stock, according to specifications, utilizing knowledge of sawing techniques: Reads work order or blueprints to locate cutting layout lines on stock, to determine dimensions and tolerances, and to determine metal to be cut, type of blade to be used, blade tension, cutting speed, feed rate, table angle, and positions of table stops and guides. Relieves saw blade support and drive-wheel tension, using handtools. Places saw blade over wheels and resets tension to change blade and adjust tension. Turns controls to set prescribed cutting speed, feed rate, and table angle. Loosens table stops and guides, using handtools, and positions them to align and secure workpiece. Places stock on cutting table, either manually or using hoist, and clamps it into position. Cuts saw blade, threads it through hole drilled in stock, welds blade together, using butt-welding attachment, and files weld smooth to cut internal pattern in stock. Starts saw and manually guides stock along layout lines to cut pattern, or engages automatic feed to cut straight line. Turns control to start airflow to blow metal cuttings away from kerf. Verifies conformance to specifications, using ruler, calipers, fixed gauges, templates, and micrometers. May make precision cuts, using magnifier to see layout lines. May calculate and mark layout lines, according to product specifications. May be required to have experience with particular product or size, type or trade name of machine.