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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 3, 1981)
Vol. 82, No 92 Eugene, Oregon 97403 Tuesday, February 3,1981 Forensics program aims for top ranking By MEGAN MONSON Of the Emerald Like Oregon State University, the University has a nationally ranked team — in forensics. During the past three years, the University forensics pro gram has risen from obscurity to become the leading forensics power in the Northwest, says speech Prof. Paul Gaske, direc tor of the program. The University’s team is ranked in the top 2 percent of the nation’s programs, based on 1979-80 tournament results. This year the team may place among the top 10 teams, Gaske says. The 65-member team is the largest in the Northwest. Gaske credits much of its success to a wide range of categories for competition and a coaching staff of GTFs that provides in dividualized and experienced help. But team members attribute success to Gaske’s coaching. "Our biggest strength is the coaching staff,” says Tom Peters, a fourth year debater. There was virtually no pro gram when Gaske took over three years ago, says Peters. Gaske, affectionately nick named "Doctor Duck,’ says forensics is primarily an educa tional activity. Even if the team wasn’t per forming well and receiving na tional recognition, “it wouldn’t take away from the merits of the r activity,” he says. The forensics team par ticipates in 12 to 14 tour naments each season, which lasts from September to April. Participants are required to at tend at least two tournaments each term. National debate competitions are held twice yearly. At one such tournament over Christ mas break, University debaters defeated the Dartmouth team, previously considered the best in the country. “We’re real proud of that,” Gaske says with a smile. The forensics program is supported in part by incidental fees. The program supplies matching funds by hosting several tournaments each year But monetary support from the University community is lacking. Every year between five and eight speakers qualify for national competition, but mon ey for travel is not in the tight forensics budget, Gaske says. “There is no commitment on the part of the University to reward excellence. Can you imagine athletes qualifying for national competition and not getting to go?” In an effort to reduce costs, participants are required to qualify in two speech events before attending nationals. The next major forensics competition is the Western States Tournament in Sacramento, Calif., on Feb. 14, 15 and 16. Fmoralri nhnfn L TD plans route changes By KAREN ADAMS Of the Emerald Students who live in Southeast Eugene will have direct bus service to campus if the Lane Transit District decides to implement a proposed route change The University route is one of many changes LTD is considering while redesigning its route system. The district will hold 14 public meetings during February to discuss the proposed route system. "When the routes were first designed 10 years ago, they were designed with coverage as a priority, which meant going by as many houses as possible," says LTD marketing administrator Ed Bergeron. "Now we have the problem that it takes forever to get where you want to go. The new routes will hopefully get people to work or wher ever quickly and efficiently." The new routes won’t follow the present loop pattern — instead they’ll travel generally in a line. The line routes will run at 60-minute intervals, allowing LTD to adjust the number of buses on specific routes during the rush hour, evening and weekend hours. For example, during a rush hour the bus may run every 15 minutes, but during evening hours and on weekends the bus may run every 45 minutes or every hour. “As the routes are now, we can only cut back on the areas we serve. By redesigning with the 60-minute base, we can maintain service areas but let them run less often," Bergeron explains. The redesigning project was prompted by anticipated further service reductions during the fiscal year 1981-82. LTD already has cut service this year because of a projected $340,000 budget deficit. During the community meetings, LTD repre sentatives will hear comments and answer ques tions on all phases of LTD service, including the new route proposals and present service. Because the University provides LTD with many customers, other campus routes may be discussed along with the proposed Southeast Eugene route. Southeast Eugene includes ever ything from 18th Avenue and Hilyard Street south ,to the campus. Community meetings near the University will be held Feb. 18 at the Eugene Public Library at 1 and 7 p.m., Feb. 19 at the Amazon Community Center at 1 p.m. and Feb. 19 at Roosevelt Junior High School at 7 p.m. -1 Photo by Erich Boekelheide Night line An overnight, mid-winter camp out isn’t most people's idea of fun, but Jackson Browne fans made the most of an all-night wait to buy tickets for Browne's upcoming Eugene concert. By midnight Monday night, about 500 fans were in a line that stretched from the EMU Breezeway to the flagpole. Shivering in sleeping bags or huddled under blankets, many of the fans warded off the cold with six-packs and marijuana. Others passed the time playing backgammon and chess on boards loaned overnight by the EMU Recreation Center. While most Browne devotees began wait ing in line Monday morning, freshman Steve Kokes and his buddies Dave Bertelsen and Rick Foster camped out Sunday night to ensure they were first in line. The trio munched on stale ginger cookies and listened to Browne's songs on their portable radio during their 36-hour vigil. “We brought tapes but it was so cold the tape mechanism wouldn’t work," said a red-nosed Kokes with a laugh. Like many others who camped out in the line overnight, the three are veterans of long concert ticket lines, including an 11-hour wait for Fleetwood Mac tickets in Portland The trick to surviving an overnight stay in a ticket line is staying warm and trying not to get bored, they said. But anticipation of a front-row seat is the best incentive, they added.
