A good time for some PR, U of O

As many University of Oregon students, faculty, and those in the community are aware the University of Oregon plans to build a new — $200 million — basketball arena to be completed by 2010. While this is great news to most U of O students and athletes, such is not the case with the neighborhood surrounding campus. According to today’s edition of the Daily Emerald, the Fairmount Neighborhood Association is wanting more of a say in the project, many of whom oppose it. Additionally, City Planning Director Lisa Gardner, has decided that the U of O does not have to go through a more public approval procedure because “the university has not done enough to address their concerns.” Apparently, it may be up to the university whether to conduct the procedure for a conditional use permit, which would give the public a louder voice in the construction and mitigate their concerns — traffic, noise etc. I feel this is a perfect time for some stellar PR work by the U of O. Maybe it would be a job for the athletic department’s PR team? I think some good community relations are in order. Maybe have our PR department hold a public question and answer night? Hold it at Mac court perhaps? Either way, the city of Eugene and its neighborhoods owe a lot to the university, as the university owes a lot to its community. What do y’all think?

~ by patrickfoulon on April 23, 2008.