Oregon Daily
WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBER 18. 1992
EUGENE. OREGON
VOLUME 94, ISSUE
Outside influence
University treshmen Matt Thorne (from left). Harmony Matthews and
Melinda Jaeger camp out overnight Tuesday in the EMU Courtyard as
part of the OSPIRG Hunger and Homelessness Week Only a lew
students took part in the event, which included homeless speakers
Police identify woman;
say death was suicide
jf-rienas say i'jj-year-oia
woman who died Monday
spoke of killing herself
By Jake Berg
Emerald Nti*'. Editor
Authorities have tiflcti n woman
who committed suicide Monday morn
inn by jumping from the top floor buleo
nv of Prince l.in ten ( ampbell Hall
Eugene police department spokesman
Tim flirr said the woman was Monica
Margaret Abrams, !, of 1H7.’ Harris St ,
Eugene Abrams was not a student and
was not affiliated with the University,
be saiil
Pollen distovered Abrams' I tody .itw mi I
H to a m lying near the base ol the
south balcony on the outside of I’l.t
the tallest building on campus alter
reports of her fail reached l-.PD Abrams
is believed to have jumped from tfie
ninth-floor balcony, fltrr said
Police could not immediately identify
Abrams because there was no identifica
tion found w ith her body.
Polite discovered the woman's identi
ty after KPD olfli er Ken Saxon learned
the victim, who is originally from the
Seattle area, regularly visited a local res
taurant at night Upon further investiga
tion. police learned Abrams' first name
and an approximate address, Hirr said
The lame County Medical Examiner's
office also officially determined the
death was suii ide t.ynn Walter, a depu
ty medical examiner, said Tuesday there
was no reason to ixdievo otherwise
"Everything looks to tie (suicide)." he
said "There's no tiiougiit about foul
play,"
Birr said Abrams' friends also indie at
ed she was exhibiting "Irrational Imhuv
lor" prior to her death.
"Apparontly sfie was upset alMiut a
Turn to SUICIDE, Page 4
PLC danger
concerns
renewed
By Matt Bender and Jake Berg
Emerald Writers
A University Physical Plant
safety committee recommended
the south external balconies ad
joining Prince Lucien Campbell
Hall he fenced in for safety rea
sons two years ago, two Physical
Plant employees said Tuesday.
(fillers outside of the Physical
Plant said thev remembered "talk"
of enclosing the balconies
A 2 3-year-old woman commit
ted suicide Monday morning by
lumping from the ninth-floor bal
cony.
Two Physical Plant employees,
who said they were with the safety
committee when the recommenda
tion was made, said concerns
about tlie balconies' safety arose
when students threw a moped and
a vending machine in separate
Incidents from the ninth-floor
balcony, the building's top floor
(ius Morse, who works in sup
port services at the Physical Plant,
said the safety committee sent a
recommendation to the Campus
Safely Advisory Com mi I too that
the balconies lie fenced In. From
there, tie said, the recommenda
tion went to University Vice Presi
dent Dan Williams' office, where
"nothing was done vvitit It be
Turn to PLC, Page 4
Citv officials ioin in campaign to stop drunk driving
□ MADD, Project Eugene sponsor an
nual red ribbon awareness effort
By Daralyn Trappe
Emerald Associate Edit of_
Local politicians and police officers joined forces
Tuesday with Mothers Against Drunk Driving to offi
cially start the holiday season's drinking and driving
awareness campaign
Project Eugene: A Century Coalition is co-sponsoring
Lune County’s effort, along with the local chapter of
MADD
A major part of the local campaign Is something that
has caught on nationwide during the past seven years
MADU's "Project Ked Klbbnn."
This campaign involves asking people to sign u
pledge to not drink and drive. In addition, participants
am asked to attach red ribbons to their cars as a visible
symbol of the pledge and a reminder toothers
Ked ribbons are also attached to trees along Sixth and
Seventh Avenues near Willamette Street Palsy Hand,
Project Eugene's local coordinator, said each ribbon
symbolizes a Lane County resident who has taken the
pledge Nearly 3,500 rii>bons are already on the trees.
Hand said, and l.(MM) mom are expected to be added
this week
The large white hows on top of the trees are there in
memory of Lane County residents who have been vic
tims of drunk driving
U.S. Congressman Peter DeFazto. D-Springfield, was
among the local politicians who renewed support (or
the project DePazio said it has a personal meaning (or
him liecause his wife's sister died at a young age in an
alcohol-related car accident.
Lane County District Attorney Doug Harcleroad said
his commitment stems from his job
"We re good at prosecuting people after the tact," he
said "But we're not so good at slopping it before It
starts, and that's why this kind of thing is so important
"If we only save one life, this effort will have been
worth it." Horcleroad said. He said 30 percent of all
misdemeanor cuses in his office during 1991 involved
driving while under the Influence, and the flnundHl
cost to taxpayers was substantial
Turn to MADD. Page 3
i WEATHER
There will be mostly cloudy
skies today with a chance of
rain late Highs will be in the
upper «Qs to mid 50s
Today in History
In 1928. the first sound-syn
chronized animated cartoon.
Walt Disney s Steamboat Willie,
starring Mickey Mouse, pre
miered at the Colony Theater in
New York.
MORE DUCK CALL
In response to heavier-than-antitipated student use of DUCK CALL this
week, DIKIK CALL will be available for two adtlitional hours Wednesday
through Friday of this week. DUCK CALL hours will be 7 a m In 9 p m.
November 18-20
Because new groups of students become eligible only during the hours
from 8 30 a m to 7:30 p m. the extender) hours should increase registration
opportunities Students may register at any time after they become eligible
Normal DUCK CALL hours during the initial registration period are 8 a m
to 8 p.m
_SPORTS
SEATTLE (AP) - The University of Washington won't have
to forfeit any of the games in which suspended quarterback
Billy Joe Hubert played, officials of Pacific 10 Conference
schools decided today
In a conference (all this morning, university presidents awl
chancellors decided logo along with the recommendation of
the Pac-tO Conference Council, said |im Daves, sports infor
mation director for Washington
Washington Athletic Director Barbara Hedges refused to talk
to the media about the Hoberi decision
But in a statement, she said. *We are pleased with the out
come of the review by the Pac-10 presidents and chancellors ’