Steve had a caller today (Fred) mention an article from the Oregonian about Jonathan Bowers, a 33-year-old journalism student at the University of Oregon, who formally appealed the sale of an alleyway necessary to complete the UO's new basketball arena.
It appears from the Oregonian article that Bowers has imposed another setback on the UO's plans to start building by Nov. 30. While the school was already a little behind schedule, according to the article, appeals of this type usually take four to six months and the earliest this appeal could be decided on would be Dec. 10.
Bowers said that vacating the alley is not in the public interest, and that the university should save Mac Court. He also noted that Mac Court is one of the most historically significant buildings in the area, and is also the second oldest arena in the country that still houses a team.
It seems obvious that most people in the community back the university's decision to build a new arena as Mac Court's gray hairs are starting to fall out -- not to mention its mice out of its leaky pipes. Is Bowers's point valid, though? Should more effort be put into restoring and enhancing the arena with so many great UO memories? Or is Bowers just being a jerk by appealing something that will inevitably happen anyways?
As is the case with any sports arena or stadium that has been around for over 80 years (1926), Mac Court has a lot of problems in terms of catering to fans and safety. It has undergone several renovations over the last 15 years to attempt to solve some of these issues, but it became clear to the athletic department that it was time to set a new standard in facilities -- something it has a tendency to do.
The UO already has the necessary financing and permission from the city to undertake the construction, which is something Bowers said is due to the UO's "huge public-relations campaign."
It should be mentioned that Bowers hosts a radio show on UO student radio about media criticism, so this very well could be an expensive shot at the very thing he's arguing against: hype for the sake of a personal cause.
Here's the link to the article:
http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindducksbeat/2008/09/arena_protester_makes_his_stan.html
What do you guys think?
-Alex The Intern
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2 comments:
It angers me that yet another thumb sucking left wing liberal whacko has decided the need to disrupt a process in the manner he has chosen for his own individual desires. There are so many outlets with the freedoms we have in this country using this measure is purely extreme and selfish. The media is so available in today's market to get your opinion heard and to rally people for a cause it seems a bit much at this stage to engage a bureaucratic appeal to bring this type of thing to a halt. He even has his own campus radio opportunity and the word was not even able to spread enough to rally the pubic because nor did I or anyone I know become aware of his desire to save Mac court much less the stupid alley until this made news. On top of that it had to come from our long time transplanted Portlander Fred through the Oregonian. Pathetic in itself. The article cites establishments back east that near or equal it's age. I only have one thing to say on that note, Have you ever been back East? Everything there is antiquated! Please people, I enjoyed Mac court too but it's time to move on. There is nothing wrong with joining George Jefferson and movin' on up to the East side. Oregon is not the east coast and we don't and won't want to live like them. It would be one thing if it was a marvel of architecture and in well cared for condition. But let's face it....IT'S NOT! If you've ever talked to anyone in facilities you would also know that he cost and time of maintenance alone is a joke as well as the fact that the place is literally a pit, (pun intended). Let it go and look to the future of our children's children. They will thank us. This guy needs to have kids to get real perspective on life although it is obvious that's not gonna happen. If ya can't hook up in college you are the ultimate loser. It appears he has spent way too many years trying with no luck. Someone needs to give him back the toys mommy took from him years ago and let him go play by himself so he can't hurt anybody. That's what I think!
While I wholeheartedly agree with you about Mac Court and the need to move on, it's good to be careful when judging those who disagree with you. I don't think political afiliation has anything to do with his decision to appeal - something that is surely within his legal right to do. He may have been trying to get his message out for a while for all we know, but no one was listening, leaving him left with this desperate attempt at a formal appeal. And who knows, he might be great with the left-wing ladies.
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