Many Thanks

Katie D.

November 24, 2011 - 7:24 PM

I have a lot to be thankful for during this Thanksgiving weekend. For one, and at its most basic, I am grateful to have spent today with my friend Madeline, who is home from California for the holiday. I just had a fabulous turkey dinner with Madeline and her family, which included some hilarious dinner preparation as well. This family has taken me in on many occasions, and I was so happy to be part of this holiday in their home.

But the long weekend is also giving me time to think a little more about how lucky I am this year. The biggest thing on my mind, of course, is the Mitchell Scholarship. It's been a little overwhelming, actually. I am the first thing you see when you click on the University of Oregon these days (http://uoregon.edu/) and have an article and video posted about me as well (http://champions.uoregon.edu/katie-dwyer-uos-first-mitchell-scholar ) As I said, it's been a bit overwhelming. The UO has taken a flattering and humbling interest in me and in my scholarship, and I'm trying to figure out how to deal with the sudden fame.

Plus, my thoughts keep wandering back to what I'll be doing this time next year-whatever it is, it will be over there in Belfast, or perhaps on a weekend trip elsewhere in Europe. I am the luckiest girl...

This is also the last part of the term, which always makes me think about how lucky I am to be studying here, and to be pursuing a Masters degree. Education is something I am always, always thankful for.

I have also spent a good amount of this Thanksgiving Day thinking about the recent turmoil in the UO community. On Tuesday, University of Oregon students and faculty were informed that our university President, Richard Lariviere, has not had his contract renewed for the next academic year. You can read a bit of information about it here: http://uonews.uoregon.edu/archive/news-release/2011/11/uo-president-state-board-higher-education-wont-renew-his-contract-presi There is a growing movement around campus to protest his firing by the state Board of Education. I've started to get emails from professors and deans, and to see student activism on Facebook, from wall comments and group formation to the very creative "I Follow the Hat" slogan, which references the fedoras that Richard Lariviere favors.

We'll see what happens in the coming days. My sense from what I've read so far is that this is based primarily on Lariviere's stance that the UO should have more control and autonomy, and should be able to leverage our success beyond the control of the Oregon University System. Lariviere has campaigned to move the UO into the private sector. While I am not sure how I feel about this move from a philosophical angle, I do agree that this makes structural sense: we receive only a tiny fraction of our budget from the State, and Lariviere's creativity so far has meant that the UO is improving as a university in any measure taken. Since Lariviere has been president, we have better freshman to sophomore retention rate, improving grades and graduation rates, increased alumni giving, and even excellence in sports.

All day today I thought about what Thanksgiving at the Lariviere home must look like today. So while I am thankful for my own recent news and my exciting future in Ireland and Northern Ireland, I am also hopeful that our community might band together in support of our university president.

I hope good news will follow this Thanksgiving.