It was 1 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 11, and it was cold throughout Ukraine — no more than 12 degrees. The streets were covered in snow and ice. It was snowing in the capital. A cold wind was blowing.

The stern-looking men came to the capital city by the thousands, some of them by buses from hundreds of miles away. They wore black coats and gloves. On their heads were black helmets. In their hands were shields and nightsticks.

President Michael Gottfredson and Vice President for Enrollment Management Roger Thompson were thrilled at the remarks made by Secretary of Education Arne Duncan praising the University of Oregon’s PathwayOregon program.