Letter from the CAS Advisory Council

By Gary Feldman ’77, Chair CAS Advisory Council In September of 1973, I was a kid from southern California embarking on an adventure. During the next four years at the UO, I made lifelong friends, discovered the value of learning, and participated in a college experience that I wish everybody could have. Virtually from day one, my time at the UO was interesting, exciting, and challenging. From early on, student government captured my interest, culminating during my senior year when I served as ASUO president. I was lucky to be part of an active student body that played a significant role in university affairs. We increased the visibility and effectiveness of the student body as a force for legislative advocacy, kept incidental fees down so the UO remained affordable for the average student, and worked with the University Senate to make public student evaluations of faculty. And we raised one of the first collective student voices against apartheid, calling for divestment of public assets held in companies in South Africa and companies that did business with its government. Now, twenty-five years later, and after a long absence from UO involvement, I am pleased to be serving our alma mater as an advocate. The College of Arts and Sciences Advisory Council has reconnected me to the business of the university, and I am much the richer for it. I have seen very clearly that today, perhaps more than ever before, broad study within the liberal arts at the UO offers students lasting advantage: the chance to enjoy a thorough array of intellectual content, the best technology available for learning, and the advantage of forming skills that will make them life-long learners and high achievers. While I like to think my perspective of the university was fairly complete as an engaged student, I am all the more impressed at the scope, depth, and quality of the institution today. Years of life experience have given me a new appreciation for the opportunities that I had -- we had -- as a student, and for the wonderful array of learning options that students have today. I know that my education at the UO prepared me well for life. I work in a business in which decisions based upon emotion can hurt you. The analytical skills I learned in school have made me a better financial analyst; speech and debate helped me to learn clear expression of ideas; and courses in literature increased my desire to explore other cultures. I received an outstanding education that has been of immense value to me over the years. We’re about to reach another UO milestone: 125 years of excellence in teaching and research. I take great pride in being part of our combined heritage of achievement, commitment, and promise. In every generation, there are people who give meaningful assistance to those who will make the world of tomorrow a better place. Some illuminate the path, some hold the door open. I hope you share my confidence in the potential of our university, and I urge you to join me in supporting it so future generations of students benefit as we have.

1245 University of Oregon • Eugene, OR • 97403-1245 (541) 346.3950 • FAX (541) 346.3282 • alumnidev@cas.uoregon.edu Copyright © 2001 University of Oregon Updated October 13, 2001