June 13, 2010

At Oregon, Sports Turmoil Marks Leader's First Year

Amanda L. Smith for The Chronicle

Richard Lariviere, the U. of Oregon's new president (standing, addressing other college officials), had hoped to focus on academic issues in his first year but instead found an institution embroiled in athletics controversies.

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Amanda L. Smith for The Chronicle

Richard Lariviere, the U. of Oregon's new president (standing, addressing other college officials), had hoped to focus on academic issues in his first year but instead found an institution embroiled in athletics controversies.

By Eric Kelderman

Eugene, Ore.

When Richard W. Lariviere became president of the University of Oregon last summer, many on the campus here were hopeful that he would raise the priority of academics and rein in an athletics department with a reputation for running amok.

Instead, Mr. Lariviere has struggled for much of his first year to contain the fallout from a string of sports-related scandals, including on- and off-the-field misbehavior by athletes and, more recently, his ouster of the athletic director, who left