Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 26, 1978)
Poor women’s right to abort decided today By MARY BETH ALLEN Of the Emerald Supporters ask for state money Women could experience a return to the days of coat hangers and knitting needles if the Oregon Legislative Emergency Board decides today to discontinue state-funded abortions for poor women, according to tes timony presented by a coalition of Eugene interest groups. Women s groups and other community organizations presented humanitarian, constitutional and economic arguments in support of continued state funding at a press conference held Wed nesday at Gertrude s Cafe. The burden of funding abortions for women on welfare and Medicaid fell on the state when Congress passed legislation in December restricting federal funds for abor tions to very rare cases. The federal law virtually wiped out Medicaid money for non-therapeutic abortions. In a compromise decision this fall, the state legislature voted to take up the finan cial slack of Medicaid abortions until this month, when the Emergency Board must decide whether or not to continue funding through the 1977-79 biennium. Barbara Corrado Pope of the New American Movement, said, “We are con cerned with the trends of events against women’s control over their reproductive capacity. We are particularly concerned today with how the new federal law blatantly and cruelly discriminates against poor women. Because of these concerns, we are joining with our sisters in the state to protest against all backsliding on the issue of re productive freedom.” Mary Simon, spokesperson for the Eugene chapter of the National Organiza tion for Women, (NOW) said her group supports free abortion on demand. She said, “as stated in a nation-wide news con ference, the spectre of illegal back-alley abortions still haunts the lives of all women because an extremely vocal and emotional minority has been successful in restricting the access of low income women to medi cally safe legal procedures. “We cannot allow this to happen in Oreg gon," Simon continued. “It is a woman s right to control her own body, not a politician's to impose his morality.” Sandy Gill of the Feminist Theory Collec tive, explained that in the long run, it would cost taxpayers as much as 10 times more in welfare and Medicaid dollars if abortion funding is halted. “While the average abortion would cost Oregon $240, the tax costs for birthing a child and supporting a child and mother for the first year is $2,200,” she explained. Gill stressed that “parenting should be a freely chosen responsibility which women and men assume. It should not be coerced by the state. Clearly, cutting out abortion funding not only restricts the freedom of poor women, but it is also an added burden on the taxpayer." Several women presented testimony written by women who have had devastat ing experiences with self-induced and il legal abortions. Representing a physician’s viewpoint, Sarah Hendrickson, a Eugene doctor, said "I want to keep medical deci sions between my patients, myself, and my colleagues. Please preserve my freedom of choice.” In remarks after the press conference, Pope said the emergency board is “really split. According to her, seven members are strongly in favor of state-funded abor tions and the other seven are just as strongly opposed. Pope said Jack Ripper, North Bend Senator who is still undecided about the issue could be the deciding factor in the outcome of today's session. Supporters of the abortion funding are urged to call or send telegrams to the emergency board expressing their support. ESCAPE program seeks volunteers by Friday By CAROLYN BEAVER Of the Emerald Tomorrow is the last day to sign up for ESCAPE programs in the EMU main lobby and ESCAPE di rector Susannah Malarkey says there are still ‘‘lots of needs out in the community not being met.’’ As well as fulfilling a need in the community, being an ESCAPE volunteer “is a good opportunity for students to get involved,” Malarkey says. IFC appropriates $3,500 for women’s symposium The IFC Wednesday night allocated $3,500 on reserve for the Women s Symposium which will take place April 10-15. The money will come from the IFC s unallocated funds which had totalled $7,000. The funds will be released by the IFC upon presentation of actual dollar expenditures consistent with the goals of the program. All events during the symposium which charge admission are on a 75 percent payback plan to the IFC. All publicity on the symposium will carry the phrase "sponsored by the Associated Students of the University of Oregon The measure passed the committee by a 6-1 vote with Tyler and Benson casting the dissenting votes. Occupation (Continued from Page 1) “when it’s time to leave and you don’t, you'll be arrested.’’ Just after 5 p.m. ASUO Pres. Gary Feldman set up a confer ence between Vice-Chancellor Freeman Holmer and the occu pants. The protestors issued a "modified” demand that Holmer put the divestment question on the State board's agenda for this Fri day. Holmer decided he could not comply with the group's demands, reasoning it would be inappro priate for the board to further dis cuss the issue since they are sim ply waiting for Redden s opinion. At 6 p.m. Bob Bowlin, custodian of Student Record’s acting on be half of the University, informed the protestors that they were violating state, city and University trespas sing codes. Eighteen protestors decided to leave the premises. After waiting for 30 minutes, Sergeant John Parsons and De tective Jack Cater of the Eugene Police department locked the pro testors in the office and waited for officers to arrive. Almost two hours elapsed be fore fifteen policemen and two vans arrived to take the protestors into custody. Shortly after 8 p.m., Captain Larion of the EPD informed the demonstrators they were violating trespassing ordinances and gave them the option to leave the prem ises without being arrested. The protestors refused, chanting “A people united will never be de feated.” Persons arrested for occupying Johnson Hall are: John Kaiser, 111 N. Garfield, Renee Romanoff, 717 Highway 99N, Mansoor Ehsan, 214016th Way, Monica C. Lazano, 941 Almaden, Cheryl Stroll, 158 E. 14th St., Michelle M. Bobzien, 3830 SE 64th, Portland. Others arrested without known addresses at press time are: John Lanier, Richard Wenraub, David Miller, Fereydoon Partovi, Abdol Hossein, Farhad Lanklrani, Pat rick J. Zurcher, Falamak Bardaei, Teresa Dach, llene Gusfield, and Kelley L. Cameron. Two others ar rested were unidentified at press time. In 1880, women wore so few clothes, that a lady’s whole attire including shoes and orna ments was expected not to weigh over 8 ounces! Jeans $8.00 - $14.96 SHANG DRAPER’S DISCOUNT CLOTHING 539 E. 13th open 11 am - 5:30 pm ESCAPE programs are divided into three areas, elementary schools, secondary schools and community services. Malarkey says several openings are avail able in each area. Tutors are needed for a blind first grader, children in alternative schools, and trainable mentally re tarded children in elementary schools. In secondary schools, ESCAPE needs tutors for metal work, drama, language, P.E. and journalism students. In the community, volunteers for Switchboard, a refferal service, Harmony House, a social program for ex-mental patients, and the Amity Foundation, a house weatherizing service, are needed. These are only a few of the posi r tions left. More information is a vailable at the ESCAPE desk in the lobby or in the office, Room 327, EMU. Malarkey says ESCAPE “reaches people on a lot of differ ent levels because it's such a di verse program. We help students find a placement they want to do." Malarkey says ESCAPE is very popular with the community, “we always have more placements than we can fill. ESCAPE volun teers are valued people, they’re really appreciated. Most schools and agencies are willing to give the student as much responsibility as they’re willing to handle.” Students work in schools or with community groups on a volunteer basis, but University credit is a vailable. Volunteers receive one credit for three hours weekly work. A weekly seminar is required for first-time volunteers. The seminar enables new workers to meet with a student coordinator to discuss problems and other occurances during the week. “The coor dinators are also resource per sons. We don't put someone out in a field and then abandon them,” says Malarkey. Tutors receive one credit for the seminar. Also required is a field placement-related project. Malar key says in the past the projects have usually been designed to help the institution for which the vol unteer works. Malarkey feels the program is worthwhile because “about 50 percent return fora second term. It really makes a statement. They know there’s something to gain.” If you're looking for responsibility, take o look at today's Navy... os a supply officer. You'll be in complete charge of everything it takes to keep your base in operation, or your ship underway. And it's great training for a career in business,... because supply savvy in the Navy con really put you in heavy demand. The Officer Information Team on campus 30 Jan. - 3 Feb. Interviews scheduled througn the placement office or see us in the EMU Century Rooms.
