The University of Oregon Police Department commissioned its three newest hires on Monday, Oct. 7 – the department's first line police officers. Allison Hart, John Loos, and Steven Barrett are first-time police officers, hired after a rigorous series of tests, interviews, background checks, and psychological and medical screenings over the last four-and-a-half months. Their commissioning, or swearing-in, with UOPD marks the official start of their police careers and their service with the UO.

The University of Oregon will begin an eight-week course on Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for faculty, staff and others on Oct. 7. The course will run from through Nov. 25, with classes each Monday at 6:30 p.m., in the UO Baker Downtown Center. Participants are being asked to attend a mandatory orientation session Oct. 4 at 10 a.m. and a full-day workshop Nov. 16 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., in addition to the regular Monday evening classes.

What are its immediate effects and its potential long-term effects? How may it impact the UO? Faculty members weigh in on the federal government shutdown.

The Oregon Legislature wrapped up a three-day special session on Wednesday by passing a set of five bills that will make changes to PERS, increase revenue and provide additional funding for education, mental health services and senior services. Gov. John Kitzhaber has indicated he will sign the bills, which provide $25 million in additional funding for the Oregon University System. Here's a recap:

Philip Frohnmayer, a University of Oregon alumnus and brother of former UO President Dave Frohnmayer, died Sept. 27 from complications of peritoneal mesothelioma, a cancer of the abdomen. He was 66. Philip Frohnmayer, who joined the music faculty at Loyola University in New Orleans in 1982, taught as a visiting professor of music at the UO in 2005 during the Hurricane Katrina evacuation. His wife, Ellen, is also on the Loyola faculty and also served as a visiting professor at the UO during the 2005 evacuation.