October 26, 2007

Oregon Debates Role of Big Sports Donors

Some professors warn that large gifts for athletics are creating 2 cultures at the university

By Paul Fain

Eugene, Ore.

The Willamette River flows through the heart of this bustling college town. On the southern bank is the University of Oregon's main campus, where backpack-toting freshmen gather in front of a campus map, and students look at leaflets handed out by activist groups.

Across the river, a new face of the university has emerged. Here, a $160-million facelift has made ultramodern athletics facilities the envy of Oregon's peers. Behind a glass enclosure in the Len Casanova Center is a