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.