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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 8, 1978)
Access privileges favor ‘professionals’ Carter won’t cater to college press By MELODY WARD Of the Emerald Ed. Note: College journalists are ex cluded from Presidential Press confer ences, but thanks to KBDF-AM Radio, former KBDF announcer Melody Ward (now an Emerald associate editor) was able to obtain credentials for Jimmy Carter’s visit to Portland Thursday. Only one major thing stands between a journalist and a Presidential press con ference. Credentials. Aquiring them is a fairly simple pro cess, provided one works at a “profes sional” media outlet and is not on the secret service’s blacklist. Until last fall, “professional” status applied to both student news organizations and those lurking out in the real world. Then a young man on the East coast who was not a college journalist, succeeded in obtaining credentials by claiming to rep resent all the college television stations in a New England state. According to a White House press aide, the fact that this same person ap peared on national television while ask ing the President a question was fine. What “burned” them came later, when he granted interviews to several leading publications, in which he boasted of “duping the White House Press office." The aide said the decision also as sures professional journalists fairer ac cess, because the president can only recognize a fraction of those attending during an half-hour press conference. Jimmy Carter The White House press office (Room 1137) scrutinizes the journalist, and a secret service man gives final approval. Next, one is equipped with a brief entail ing the president’s Portland schedule, and a small paper identification card which reads “PRESS: Visit of the Presi dent.” Lose that, and one could probably be Walter Cronkite and not gain entrance to the press conference. The ladies in the press office remark that the secret ser vice is quite “strict.” Strict indeed. The only answer they are permitted to give a journalist is “no comment.” But one younger secret ser vice man offered that he loved Oregon, and could see why “you all want to keep everybody out.” Another, whom the head of the secret sen/ice identified jokingly as the “chap lain” looked more like the gestapo. Clad in an ominous black overcoat, he growled, “I’m the rude one." Though the press conference actually takes place up the street six blocks in the Hilton, the filing room for reporters is located at the Benson. In the lobby, jour nalists mingle with suit-clad secret ser vice, searching through phone books, sitting singly, and combing their hair. While many reporters are covering the President's arrival at the airport, others talk to demonstrators in front of the Hil ton. Groups of protesters line both sides of the street, carrying placards and voic ing disapproval of nuclear power, the Shah of Iran, dioxins, paraquot and her bicides. Near the Hilton Ballroom reporters are arriving from the airport and coming in out of the shower of protest. They gather in small groups throughout the waiting area, much like persons at a cocktail party. “So far all we’ve got is garbage,” says one photographer. “The boss said not to get any waving shots. So what’s left?" Not all reporters stand about engaged in casual conversation. A cluster pres ses near the Ballroom doors, appearing relaxed, but each person straining for some sign that the doors are opening. One-half hour is allotted to set up all the camera and taping equipment, and get good seats. Print journalists and broadcasters chat while photographers, engineers and camerapersons find their places around the room. Several wonder if the President will call on them, some won der what to do if he does. Over the subdued din of speculation, the public address system intones, “Ladies and Gentlemen, the President of the United States." As one person, the Northwest press shoots to its feet. How to make M your last twoyears of college mean even more. Take the Army ROTC Two-Year Program. If you’re a man or a woman and you’ve just about completed your second year of college, and you’re planning on two more, it's not too late to take Army ROTC. You start the program with six weeks of Basic Camp (you’ll be paid for it) between your sophomore and junior years, or you can attend our summer school on campus next term. Then it’s back to school in the fall. Learning how to become an Army of ficer while you're working on your col lege degree. Earning an extra $100 a month, up to ten months a year. And two years later, you’ll graduate with your degree, your com mission as an Army officer and some real experience at leading and manag ing people. The last two years of college mean a lot. Take the Army ROTC Two-Year Program and you can make them mean a lot more. or visit ROTC 1679 Agate 686-3102 4RC-T-58 Student host program opens Students interested in lending a helping hand to new students this fall, should attend a training ses sion Tuesday night from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in Room 112-113 EMU. The New Student Host Program, sponsored by the University's Orientation Office, is designed to use current students’ experiences to familiarize new stu dents with intracacies and opportunities of the Uni versity. Don McCarty, coordinator of the program, says a hundred or so volunteers are needed for the pro gram starting Sept. 18. ‘‘Each group is likely to attend a number of new student week activities together, will take care of particular orientation needs and interests of the group members, and will serve as a resevoir of in formation and support for the individual group mem bers,” said McCarty. Each student host will probably work with a group of about 10 to 15 new students. McCarty says there is no screening of candi dates or any qualifications necessary to be eligible for the program. "Anyone who wants to help will be welcome,” he says. Volunteers will be expected to attend two train ing sessions Tuesday night and again May 16. GRAD STUDENTS... AFTER YOU’VE SPENT MONTHS ON YOUR GRADUATE THESIS, KEEP THE QUALITY WHEN YOU PUBLISH The professionals at Eugene Print reproduce theses and dissertations to meet the exact specifica tions of the Graduate School. Make sure your publication meets Graduate School re quirements. Talk with our experienced staff today. We have the answers you need. EUGENE PRINT 115 W 7th, Eugene OR PHONE 484-2601 Conference features NW peace leaders A conference on disarmament and human needs scheduled for today will feature slide shows and workshops to highlight activities in conjunction with the UN Special Session on Disarmament later this month. The conference, opens today with a speech at 12:30 in the EMU, will also feature two leading non-violent activists from the Pacific North west. Sister Kathleen Smith and Jim Douglass will both speak this after noon in the EMU, followed by meetings with persons interested in a non-violent protest against the Trident Nuclear submarine project. Smith, a founding staff member of the Spokane Center for Faace and Justice, has participated in an international seminar on training and organizing for non-violent action. She teaches a course on non-violence in American history at Gonzaga College and serves as a consultant on racism to the YWCA. Douglass founded the peace studies program at Notre Dame Uni versity and was a consultant at the Vatican II conference on the issues of war and peace. He is working full-time in preparation for a legal mass demonstration at the Trident submarine base in Bangor, Wash. Activities for the conference are set for most of the evening, with a complete schedule available at the Clergy and Laity Concerned Peace Office, 1414 Kincaid St. emu food service offers qou a variety: CflfeieRW ii:30-i:00 m-f New item: Baked potatoes with cream cheese SKHLIGHT 9:00-2:30 m-f
