UO DAYBOOK

New students this week (Sept. 20—26) can learn to tie-dye a shirt, try out windsurfing, learn how to cope with Oregon’s rain, or find out where to go for relief when the flu bug strikes. They can experience an Oregon Duck version of Mardi Gras, explore a few academic fields, and say hello to Gladstone, Donald and Darkwing, names for the mainframe computers that are integral parts of the UO network. They also can move into their residence hall, join a bike tour, find a social, religious or academic interest group, or check out the Student Recreation and Fitness Center. They can quiz a panel of faculty members on what to expect when classes start on Monday, Sept. 25, sign up for a club sport such as crew or lacrosse or take a one- or two-day outdoor adventure on whitewater rivers or on Cascade Mountain or Oregon Coast trails. Oh yes, they also can sit down with an academic adviser to sort out their class schedule. All new students received a 32-page booklet of activities designed to help them and their families learn about university life and get acquainted with all that the University of Oregon campus offers, both in and out of the classroom. SOURCE: For details on the schedule of Week of Welcome events, call the Office of Communications, (541) 346-3134.

UO business students looking to become hardball players in the lucrative sports marketing field will warm up with a softball game when they arrive on campus. New and returning students enrolled in the James H. Warsaw Sports Marketing Center will compete in the annual fall orientation softball game at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21, at Howe Field, located on University Street south of McArthur Court. "If you want to be a player, you’ve got to learn to play," says event organizer Shannon Sweeny, a second-year student in the elite program. Like most of the center’s second-year students, she spent the summer as a paid intern at a top sports marketing company. "I’m looking forward to swapping stories with everyone and telling the new students just how quickly this program can get you to first base," Sweeny says. The ball players also will enjoy a post-game pizza feed. SOURCE: Shannon Sweeny, graduate teaching fellow, UO James H. Warsaw Sports Marketing Center, cell phone (541) 338-0659; e-mail seens6@hotmail.com.

Top media companies like Disney, Dreamworks and Sony have been snapping up graduates of the University of Oregon’s computer graphics program for years. Now, computer graphics graduates will enter the job market armed with a bachelor of fine arts degree in multimedia design. "Our program is already well known. Two of our recent graduates were listed in the credits for the last Star Wars movie," says program director Craig Hickman. The new degree is important, he explains, as it "makes them even more employable." SOURCE: Craig Hickman, UO associate professor of art, (541) 346-3605; e-mail chickman@oregon.uoregon.edu.

—30—

#T-1300/Day