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White Stag building celebrates opening

by Jessie Higgins | News reporter

PUBLISHED ON 10/1/08 IN News

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The University's new satellite campus in Portland is holding a series of lectures, exhibits and tours during its grand opening celebrations this week.

The new University of Oregon in Portland, located in a newly refurbished building that spans the White Stag Block in Chinatown and carries the famous "Made in Oregon" sign, will host a series of lectures from experts in the history of multimedia, sustainability, and urban planning, which begin today and run through Saturday. There will also be an exhibit showcasing painting, sculpture, photography and digital arts Thursday, according to a University release.

Schedule of Events

Wednesday, Oct. 1

12 p.m. - 1 p.m.: Lecture: "Urban Planning and Sustainability" by visiting professor Alexander Schmidt, professor at Universität Duisburg-Essen, Room 142.

Thursday, Oct. 2

• Noon to 1 p.m.: Product Design guest lecture: "Placemaking: Lessons from Portland," Sabrina Jetton, ZIBA Design, will talk about Portland's creative industry, Room 142.

• 4 to 5 p.m.: "Covering the Coverage: A Report Card for Presidential Campaign Reporting," panel discussion with participants from the UO School of Journalism and Communication and media professionals including Bob Caldwell, editorial page editor with The Oregonian; Christy George, reporter with Oregon Public Broadcasting; and Joe Lowndes, UO assistant professor of political science, George S. Turnbull Center, third floor.

• 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.: First Thursday exhibitions and screenings with guest product designer and UO alumna Rosanna Bowles plate signing, fourth and fifth floors.

Friday, Oct. 3

• Noon to 1 p.m.: Digital Arts guest lecture: "A Brief History of Multimedia," by Dana Plautz, Room 142

• 3 to 4 p.m.: Lecture: "Suddenly, the shape of the new city," Thomas Sieverts, Room 142

• 5 to 6:30 p.m.: Panel discussion: "Was there urban history here before Portland, and of what use is it?" Thomas Sieverts joins University of British Columbia historian Coll Thrush (author of "Native Seattle"), PSU Department of Anthropology chair Kenneth M. Ames (co-author of "Peoples of the Northwest Coast"), PSU anthropologist Melissa Darby, and University of Puget Sound historian Douglas Sackman to discuss indigenous patterns of urbanism before the arrival of "city builders" in the region, Room 142

• 8 p.m.: Concert by the UO School of Music and the Bach Festival, main level event room. Note: Tickets can be picked up at Sherman Clay/Moe's Pianos or Duck Store locations.

Saturday, Oct. 4

• 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Guided 30-minute tours of the White Stag Block, lobby; public art displays throughout the building

• 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.: Lecture: "The Scopes Trial: What Really Happened?" Benton Johnson, professor emeritus of sociology, University of Oregon, hosted by the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Room 1

Thirty-minute public guided tours are available Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and staff will be on site throughout the day "to provide information about opportunities for individuals interested in continuing education or academic programs offered by UO in Portland," according to the release.

The Portland campus offers classes in architecture, digital arts, journalism, law, and production design, as well as other continuing education courses.

The University held its first classes at the new location last spring, but all the academic programs did not finish moving into the facility until this fall. The facility is now fully operational.

"The White Stag Block is a fine example of the University of Oregon's commitment to innovation, learning and knowledge," Wendy Larson, vice provost of Portland programs, said in a release. "We invite the public to come and see our amazing facility, but also to soak up our intellectual, artistic and cultural offerings as well."

-Jessie Higgins

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