Eugene (KMTR) - More than a thousand members of the University of Oregon student body, faculty and staff attended an emergency meeting of the University of Oregon Senate at MacArthur Court Wednesday. The meeting was called in the wake of the termination of U. of O. President Richard Lariviere by the State Board of Higher Education.Most—but not all—of the students and staff were trying to send a message to the Oregon University System that firing Lariviere was a bad call.
One thing stood out; despite the cheers and support for Lariviere, the crowd stayed silent when the OUS chancellor and a member of the higher education board spoke out. There were no cheers or booing.
The emergency meeting was called to discuss what comes next for the university.
Many students and most faculty and staff members agreed that the school was left out of the loop leading up to Lariviere’s termination. They believe if the U. of O. had its own governing body it may never have happened.
Chancellor George Pernsteiner and another board member were there, they said they were not really there to talk about their decision, but to tell the university they are on its side.
The UO Senate passed three motions. First, to ask that a university representative be on the search committee for the next president. Secondly, to support setting up a local governing board for the university. Finally, that the UO Senate would be given an opportunity to make a recommendation for the interim president.
Ultimately, the Board of Higher Education chancellor will recommend a replacement for Lariviere, then the board will take a vote.
Although Richard Lariviere has been shown a tremendous amount of support, not all of the students and staff of the university are behind him. NewsSource 16 received an email from a staff member who said he and others agree with the board's decision to fire him. The writer pointed out that several faculty members were given pay raises while staff members were ordered to take 14 unpaid furlough days.
