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Eugene, Ore.- The University of Oregon’s Climate Justice League’s campaign, “Take Back The Tap” to make UO a plastic water bottle free campus, has been rejected by Oregon’s executive office. The Climate Justice League has been fighting to ban plastic water bottles for the past three years, but when it was finally pitched to administration, the idea was turned down.

The administrators in Johnson hall, currently in the middle of contracting a multiyear deal with Pepsi, are trying to find the best way to stay sustainable while also doing what makes most sense for the school economically. Due to the rejection of their proposal, the CJL is creating a new campaign within housing and the EMU that educates the students and allows them to work together with administration. This teamwork is important because the administration is not going to approve of the contract until they see a “culture shift.”

The Climate Justice League has collected the data that 72% of students voted in favor of getting rid of plastic water bottles while 85% of the faculty agreed. The community’s support of the initiative, that will aid to the campus’ sustainability and even save them selves money, may show evidence of the culture shift that administrators are looking for.

For more information on “Take Back The Tap,” please visit the Climate Justice League’s campaign website: http://www.climatejusticeleague.org/campaigns/tbtt/

Watch the video here! Water Bottle Ban

Kelcie Goetsch, DuckTV News

Eugene, Ore. –

With a voting outcome of 38-18, the Oregon House passed House Bill 2787. Regardless of immigration status, the newly established House Bill allows for undocumented students to pay in-state tuition at local public universities. The bill allows for an ease of a financial burden on immigrant families. For example, for a four-year degree at the University of Oregon, the tuition would come out to be $37,032 for in-state students. However, for out-of-state students, tuition alone can cost upwards of $114, 612. The difference of in-state to out-of-state tuition is $77,580.

To be eligible, you must have been an Oregon high school student for no less than three years, and you have to be enrolling into a Oregon university. The other requirement for undocumented students is that they need to be in the process of becoming a citizen.

Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber gave praise to the Oregon house, saying that, “Every Oregonian deserves their shot at the American Dream, and I appreciate the hard work of so many Oregonians to make this possible.” Governor Kitzhaber also went on to say that, “By removing roadblocks to their post-secondary education, we open new opportunities to them…” Outside of Oregon, thirteen other states have passed an in-state tuition bill for undocumented residents.

Craig Garcia, DuckTV News

For more on the story, click here.

Eugene, Ore. –

Located next to the UPS office in the EMU is The Veterans and Family Student Association’s center. Founded by UO student veterans, the veteran center is meant to help veterans and active military members with tutoring, counseling, getting information on their military benefits, and help with job placement once they graduate from the university. The assistance provided at the center is also available to family members and spouse’s of veterans and active military members.

The center is currently open, but a ribbon cutting ceremony for the center will be held on April 20th, for all of the public to attend. Veterans and active members of the military will also be honored on April 27th at the spring football game at Autzen Stadium.

If you’d like to contact the veteran center, you can reach their office at (541) 346-4305.

Craig Garcia, DuckTV News

For more on the story, click here.