Controversial PNRC opts to relocate
By DEBBIE HOWLETT
Of th* Emaraid
The National Wildlife Federation will
move the controversial Pacific Northwest
Resource Center to a regional office,
probably in Portland, a NWF representa
tive announced Wednesday
The decision — the latest move in a
chess game that has evolved over the
PNRC's location — calls for a move to a
regional office, possibly as soon as
December, when the center's existing
contract with the University expires
"We are 98 percent sure that the
regional office will be in Portland," says
Pat Parentau, NWF's liason for PNRC
The PNRC is a branch of the University
law school’s Environmental Law Clinic,
which has been immersed in controversy
since the start of fall term
University Pres Paul Olum has ex
pressed concern that the PNRC does not
remain neutral in matters of public
policy, and that the center's lack of
neutrality casts shadows on the Univer
sity's neutrality
'It's been understood for some little'
time that the NWF would set up a
regional office,'' says Derrick Bell,
University law school dean
"I don't know I'm hopeful that we ll
retain the affiliation with them,'' Bell
says
"If they (the NWF) want to contribute
funds to the operation of the ELC, that's
something that we d be willing to listen
to,” Olum says, adding that if the NWF
did contribute to the ELC “with no
strings attached, then that's something
we'd have to look at''
Parentau says Bell has asked the
center to stay — at least for the time
being
"It would be more convenient for us to
leave after the contract expires in
December, but we are willing to consider
staying if the University promises to find
a full-time director,” he says
Parentau also says the University
would have to foot the bill for adminis
tration costs “But we are willing to
negotiate with the University,” he says
That puts the pawn in the University's
hand, and what the University will do is
still up in the air.
There are a number of different possi
ble arrangements for the ELC, Bell says
“The faculty urged that the present
arrangement continue, at least through
the end of the academic year,” he says
"We have three responsibilities. First,
we have an ethical responsibility to the
students Number two, we already have
students pre-registered for next
semester, and number three, we would
like the additional semester for a transi
tional period."
dailyfemerald
Vol 83, No 50
Eugene, Oregon 97403
T
Thursday, November 12, 1981
More than 200 students sank to the damp pavement in front of the EMU Wednesday, "dying" in protest of
nuclear arms
Patio ‘nuked'
Drenched students take bomb lying down
to protest future nuclear holocaust, wars
By DEBBIE HOWLETT
Of Via Emaratd
' You have five minutes to be alive,” boomed the
voice of a man atop a chair on the crowded EMU patio
"How does it feel?” countered a voice from the
mass of about 200 people who protested nuclear arms
at "The World Held Hostage” symposium
In answer, bronx cheers and shouts came from
the audience and a guitar player strummed the first
chords to Bob Dylan's "With God on Our Side "
Rain fell from cloudy skies as Brad Passenger,
"die-in"' coordinator for Students for a Nuclear-Free
Future, announced to the crowd, "a nuclear bomb
has hit Eugene, in eight seconds you will die "
Like obedient puppies, the group lay on the patio
and played dead Passenger read from a list of the
consequences of a nuclear bomb as its force spreads
outward The list detailed destruction of buildings,
property and people
The event attracted a lot of attention from curious
observers and the media Television cameras and
reporters were among the crowds of people Several
people from campus political groups also were pre
sent
The Revolutionary Communist Youth Brigade was
on the patio with red flag and literature in hand
"It's amusing," said Mike Cross, a member of
Young Americans for Freedom "I'm just here as a
casual observer ”
"We re making a peaceful point, trying to make
people aware that this is not just possible, it’s fact,”
said John Hannon, one of the "dead" and a student at
the University
"Things like this make people aware,” said Mag
gie Lear, a University student, as she lay on the cold
cement
People lay everywhere on the patio immediately
outside the front doors of the EMU Some braved the
rain and "died" away from the protective cover of the
patio roof Some smoked while they were "dead " One
woman lay face down, rain rolling off her cheek
"Lefties unite" was stiched on the flip pocket of her
jeans
A poetry reading and more singing, with some of
the songs written by survivors of Hiroshima, followed
as the "dead” came to their feet
A man on a stretcher, his body draped with a U S
flag, was delivered to the audience A man, pro
claimed "true father of our country,” dressed as
George Washington, was "resurrected " He ripped his
mask off and played the "Dead President's Lament"
on a plastic, toy saxaphone
Additional photo* on Pag* 7
Bay calls off
fall jog-a-thon
Negative publicity and the threat of a $500 fine have
forced the University athletic department to postpone
its annual Jog-a-Thon fundraiser, athletic director Rick
Bay said Wednesday.
Organizers of the fundraiser, which is promoted by
professionals outside the University, apparently failed
to obtain a solicitations permit required by the city of
Eugene The permit is required for any event that uses
professionals to solicit for contributions.
The Jog-a-Thon was postponed "in order to clarify
the constitutionality of the ordinance in question," Bay
said Under the ordinance, the University could have
been fined $500 for holding the fundraiser without a
permit.
The controversy began with an article printed in
last Sunday’s Eugene Register-Guard that pointed out
the athletic department's failure to obtain the permit. A
follow-up article in Monday’s Register-Guard, under the
headline "Jog-a-Thon may result in $500 fine,” drew
criticism from Bay
Calling the headline "sensationalistic and irre
sponsible,” Bay said, ”1 resent the suggestion that we
would even consider a willful violation of city code "
Monday’s article indirectly criticized the athletic
department for signing a contract with the same
promoter that handled last year’s "Raise the Roof" and
"Love that Library" jog-a-thon The article stated that
last year’s event grossed nearly $60,000, yet netted only
$3,873 for the athletic department.
But the articles neglected to mention that athletic
teams and groups within the athletic department
earned an additional $15,748, Bay said
Bay said the Jog-a-Thon will not be cancelled, but it
may have to wait until next spring
"The negative publicity makes me wonder if the
Jog-a-Thon would be as successful as it could be,” Bay
said
University Pres Paul Olum agreed with Bay "I
think in view of all the questions that were raised and all
the negative publicity, his postponing it was a very good
idea," Olum said
f-^
PE degree OK
Confusion about what exactly was eliminated
in the physical education department has fos
tered the rumor that the University dropped its
physical education degree program
In fact, only PE activity classes were elimin
ated. the PE major itself is still available "We have
one of the top programs in the country,” says
Micheal Ellis, PE department head “We aren't
about to eliminate it"
"We’re dealing with normal people here,
sometimes they can get things mixed up,” Ellis
says.
. I -—>