SOJC Events Calendar

RSVP for the Watch Party HERE! The University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC) invites you to join us at our campus watch party for the livestream of the first debate of the Oregon 2026 governor's race. 

The SOJC is excited to be hosting Election 2026: The Governor’s Debate, the first debate between Oregon gubernatorial candidates Governor Tina Kotek (D) and State Senator Christine Drazan (R).

Election 2026: The Governor's Debate is hosted in partnership with the Oregon Journalism Project, KVAL, and Lookout Eugene-Springfield.

While the debate itself is not open to the public, we are hosting a public watch party where the live debate will be streamed. We invite you to join us at the watch party. Light refreshments will be provided. 

Election 2026: The Governor's Race

Watch Party Details

When: Thursday, October 1st, 2026

Where: Ford Alumni Center Ballroom at the University of Oregon

Program:

5pm: Doors open to public

5-5:45pm: Tabling by event partners

This is an opportunity to get to know some of our event partners who support civic engagement in Oregon. You can find the list of tabling groups in the FAQ section below.

5:45pm: Opening remarks from SOJC and event partners

6-7pm: Livestream of debate

7-7:30pm: Optional post-event discussion among attendees

Other Ways to Watch: You can also tune into the live broadcast of the debate on KVAL or watch the livestream of the debate on KVAL's website:  https://kval.com/thegovernorsdebate (KVAL Site for Debate) https://www.youtube.com/live/LW9RFEcMcOc?si=cbctCPpGoAkwGMQI (Youtube Livestream Link)

Event Partners

The gubernatorial debate at the University of Oregon is organized and sponsored by the UO School of Journalism and Communication, Oregon Journalism Project, KVAL, and Lookout Eugene-Springfield.

The watch party for the debate is hosted by the UO School of Journalism and Communication in partnership with the Wayne Morse Center for Law and Politics, the City Club of Eugene, and the Springfield City Club. Additional support for this event comes from the University of Oregon Office of Intergovernmental Policy and Operations.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is this where the actual debate is happening? Will the candidates be there?

No. We are streaming the debate at this watch party. The watch party location is not the location of the actual debate. The candidates will not be at the watch party, and the debate itself will not be open to the public. The public is invited to gather in person at the watch party to watch the livestream of the debate.

2. Is the debate open to the public?

No. The debate itself is not open to the public. The watch party, however, is open to the public. See Question 1 above.

3. Where should I park?

Hourly parking and permit parking is available on campus. Learn more about UO parking information. Free two-hour street parking is also available in the neighborhoods directly surrounding campus.

Please note that parking may not be available at or immediately near the Ford Alumni Center, so please factor in travel time from your vehicle to the venue when planning your arrival.

4. Do I need to register to attend the watch party? Registering for the watch party in advance is strongly encouraged. Alternatively, guests may attend without RSVPing if they show valid ID at check-in. Valid forms of ID include a driver's license, passport, student ID, military ID, indigenous or tribal ID, or another form of state-issued ID. All attendees must acknowledge they have read and agree to abide by the event code of conduct. You can read the Code of Conduct here. Copies will also be made available at check-in for those who did not RSVP in advance.

5. Who will be tabling at the watch party? Event partners who will be tabling at the watch party include: The Oregon Journalism Project (OJP): OJP is a nonprofit investigative journalism newsroom for the state of Oregon that produces regular stories on matters of real interest to Oregonians, while shining a light on those institutions whose proper functioning is central to our quality of life. State and local government — along with the federal government’s impact on Oregon — is OJP's main beat. City Club of Eugene: The City Club of Eugene's mission is to build community vision through open inquiry. Through its public forums, it explores a wide range of significant local, state, and national issues and helps to formulate new approaches and solutions to problems. Springfield City Club: The Springfield City Club hosts regular programs about local issues. These events offer an opportunity to learn more about important and current topics in Springfield, such as civic initiatives, ballot measures, candidate forums, and more. The Wayne Morse Center for Law and Politics: The Wayne Morse Center for Law and Politics encourages civic engagement and inspires enlightened dialogue by bringing students, scholars, activists, policymakers, and communities together to discuss public problems affecting Oregon, our nation, and the world.

6. Are there any prohibited items that I am not allowed to bring into the venue? Yes. For the safety and security of all attendees, the following items are prohibited inside the event venue:

• Firearms, ammunition, weapons, and dangerous instruments of any kind
• Prop, replica, simulated, or toy weapons that could reasonably be mistaken for a weapon or otherwise create a safety concern
• Explosives, fireworks, or other incendiary devices
• Glass containers
• Alcoholic beverages and illegal drugs or controlled substances, except as specifically authorized by the University or venue
• Handmade or printed signs, posters, banners, or placards
• Sign poles, sticks, or other rigid supports
• Balloons, confetti cannons, paint cannons, or similar devices
• Whistles, megaphones, air horns, sound amplifiers, musical instruments, or other items intended or reasonably capable of being used to disrupt the event
• Wrapped gifts, packages, or other items that cannot reasonably be inspected
• Any other object that event staff or security personnel reasonably determine presents a safety or security concern or is intended to facilitate disruption

We will have bag check at the check-in table when guests arrive. 7. Will food be served?

Light refreshments will be provided, but it will not constitute a substantial meal. If you are concerned, we recommend eating ahead of time or bringing food with you to the watch party. 

8. I have questions about this event that aren't covered by the FAQ. Who can I speak to? For questions about the watch party not covered by the FAQ, please send inquiries to: sojcevents@uoregon.edu

The Center for Science Communication Research invites you to join us for free coffee and donuts. Stop by for Tailored Coffee, Voodoo Donuts, and conversations about all things science communication, including our minor and small grant program. 

See you there! 

Creativity and technology can go hand-in-hand! Let's meet some Oregon companies that are innovating across industries (tech, video game design, web/graphic design, UX, government, & more! ) AND explore Eugene all at the same time! Hop on the bus and let’s go explore!

Students will have the opportunity to tour local companies passionate about creating innovative solutions for complex problems, and helping YOU learn more about all the different types of job functions needed to keep this growing industry booming. They are excited to introduce you to careers and internships at their companies, meet alumni and leaders, and show off some of their innovations in action! This event is FREE, open to all majors, faculty/staff, and bring a friend! Register on Handshake to save your spot & get updates! Our last tour had a waitlist, so sign up today!

OUTLINE OF TOUR:

Meet at Ford Alumni Center Lobby (near Matt Knight Arena Duck Statue) NO LATER THAN 9am; We'll walk over to the bus stop (Agate) to catch the EMX to downtown Eugene. All our sites are within walking distance of one another, so be prepared to get some exercise! While at the stops, you'll get an opportunity to tour their facilities as well as meet with leaders in the field. At 1 we'll be done with the tour and you can stick around downtown to keep exploring and grab lunch OR a group will be getting on the bus to head back to campus you can join.

ABOUT OUR TOUR STOPS: 

Pipeworks Studios Video Game Developers of awesome apps and well-known video games like Madden 24 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. Learn about creative careers, project management, and see behind the scenes at one of the coolest workspaces in Eugene.

Avant Assessment builds and delivers ever more effective assessments of real-world proficiency. They’ve expanded their offerings to support all areas of language acquisition with professional learning for world language and dual language educators in addition to Mira, the newly released AI-based language learning app.

Lane County Government Technology Services: featuring Mark Davis for an inside scoop on the Eugene Tech community Open Eugene: community connectors providing access and opportunities to create, collaborate and innovate to solve problems and invest back into the community.

NOTE: make sure you have your FREE LTD bus pass loaded on your phone https://transportation.uoregon.edu/bus

questions, email htate@uoregon.edu for more info or if you don't have a Handshake account and want to join us! 

Why YOU should come to this Expo...

• You're curious about your future. Explore different career paths and job roles across industries. EXPOse yourself to unique career pathways that can use your career readiness skills and passions to make an impact in the world.
• You want to make connections. These organizations LOVE to hire Ducks and want to help you find your career fit. You might even meet UO alumni recruiting for them at the expo. Ask a recruiter what career readiness skills you can be building now to make you a top candidate in the present or future (and add them to your Linkedin network for future connections!).
• You want to find a job, internship, year of service, volunteer opportunity, and more! If you're actively job searching, have your resume ready to hand out and a short and sweet synopsis about yourself and your professional interests ready to go! If you're just exploring options, collect contact info, do some additional research, and do an informational interview to learn more before you apply.
• You want to build your confidence! Practice asking questions of employers AND sharing about who you are and what you're passionate about.  Every expo you attend and each time you approach a recruiter, you get more and more comfortable presenting yourself in a professional manner.

WHO'S COMING? Find your career fit with over 70+ employers comprised of private industry; public, educational, and non-profit organizations; local government, the federal government, law enforcement, and military--ALL on campus and excited to share more with you about their organization and early career talent opportunities. Open to students from ALL majors, classifications, and identities. Every expo looks a little different so come each term to keep exploring and expanding your career opportunities!

WHAT NEXT? Register for the Expo on Handshake today to learn about all the companies coming, and positions of interest you can be researching. We'll also send you tips and advice for how to make the most of the expo, including Career Readiness Week workshops like our Resume Extravaganza so you can have a great resume to hand to potential employers!

The University Career Center thanks Enterprise Mobility for sponsoring all our Fall Career Readiness Week events and workshops! Special thanks to Insight Global, States Industries, and Concora Credit for their support of the Fall Career & Internship Expo.  

For a full list of Fall Career Readiness Week (October 16-23) events and workshops, check out http://career.uoregon.edu/events

Join the Wayne Morse Center for Law and Politics for a post-election roundtable examining the significance and implications of the 2026 election. The discussion will consider the political, social, and institutional dimensions of the election and its potential consequences for Oregon, the United States, and democratic governance. Bringing together perspectives from political science, journalism, global studies, and public policy, the panel will situate the election within broader questions about contemporary American politics and public life.

Moderater: Dan Tichenor, Philip H. Knight Chair of Social Science | Director, Wayne Morse Center for Law and Politics Panelists:

• Aneesh Aneesh - Executive Director, Schnitzer School of Global Studies and Languages
• Hon. Peter DeFazio - Former US Representative (OR-04)
• Rebecca Tweed - President, Tweed Strategies
• Regina Lawrence - Dean, UO School of Journalism and Communication

Ford Alumni Center Giustina Ballroom, 1720 East 13th Ave, Eugene Livestream link TBA