Week focuses on acceptance By Edward KlopfanaMn OraQon Daily (morakl Shortly after last year's anti gay rights initiative failed, Uni versity Prof. Henry Alley received a phone call that helped spark a University back lash against intimidation. Alley, who "came out of the closet" and announced he was gay about two years ago. (Mine to the Standing Committee for Les bian. Gay and Bisexual Con cerns then out of the frustration over the harassment. "Ho was making fun of my status os a gay man.” the profes sor said, concerning the phone call. Alley suggested that the com mittee had to do something in the face of the rising tide of hate crimes against homosexuals. Thus, the first Hate Free Week was horn late last February. Events last winter then addressed a growing trend of violence against homosexuals, triggered partly by the Oregon Citizen Alliance's failed coup against gay rights. Monday marked the begin ning of the second Hate Free Week. This fall's events hope to expand debate to all minorities and drive home the idea that all hate crimes are wrong. Organizer's broadened this week to include discussions on racism, sexism and issues We have to start at the root so people can go out to the community and stop hate crimes ~ Shannon Wall Organizer against religions. "We have to start at the root so people can go out to the com munity and stop hate crimes," said Shannon Wall, one of the organizers of the event Statistically, thespoakers said more discussion of minority and gay issues sparks more violence from against those groups. But. Alley said activities like Hate Free Week can create a base of support for minorities and possibly grounds for accep tance within the community. ASUO President Eric Bowen said at Monday's meeting that ever since coming to the Univer sity in 19B9, he has seen a con stant Dow of hate crimes In a letter on Hate Free Week, Troy Shields, ASUO Safety Affairs Coordinator and co-chair for the National Lesbian Cay Bisexual Student Caucus of the United States Student Associa tion, agreed with Bowen. "At the University, there is a lot of talk about diversity and tolerance, but through my expe rience the result is just talk and frequently it is insincere talk." he said. "I have learned just how vio lent and cruel this world ran be,” Shields said. "I have dealt with women who have been stalked on this campus, and I have had women share with me some very personal heart wrenching stories of their assaults.“ Hate Fn*e Week, said Shields, hopes to be that impetus for change. Pink triangle buttons will be passed out during the week with the hope that students, faculty and staff will wear them not just during the week but throughout the year, said Alley. The symbol, made famous by gay rights activists during last year's Ballot Measure 9 anti-gay rights campaign, can mean sup port of diversity. Alley said "Even heterosexual people can show their support," said the professor. Events sponsored by the ASUO Safety Affairs staff and the Standing Committee for Les bian. Cay and Bisexual Con cerns will hold speeches throughout the week. For more information and a list of scheduled events, please contact the ASUO at 346-3724. ET ALS MEETINGS Stydmi Sm«» will moot lonfcght at * .10 in KMtl Canlufy Room K Tor mom inf<*tnalion. cull 346 06X) Mortar Board will moat tonight ai 6 in EMU t amftirr Room F For mom information, iall 4IM 4426 Alpha Lambda Doha and Fhl fcla Sigma will moot tonight «t © 30 in EMU Cod at Room F Oub Sports will hold a mandatory Snow board (Jub mooting tonight at 7 >0 In EMU Odor Room K For mow information, coll 34© 17)3 Vtiyascal TWrapy (Job will moat tonight at 6 30 in Room 112 Katllngor For mom information, call 43S 96*6 MISCELLANEOUS C Vim Htmm Ckrtaliaai will boat a Mari Alan awitarl tonif^ti frum 6 to 10 at 1651 Ckiyx Si Fut mom information tail 343 2674 frwmti SIw4m* Umm will praam! a panel flit*nation with local |a«i of all parwiawow filled Why he fewiah7'‘ lonight af 7 in the EMU Ben Linder Room For more informa non rail 346 4)66 Information sessions examine gay issues By Itonya Shorr far tf StOO 343 6729 Modal SIS Pracor arth oompuMi *190. 464-09*4 TMOHCMCAM Aa aaan on Hart Copy 9 •» Haw Lo feon rnnlarwg an*nopli|tana awki wmri'i ly* 129 95 461-6233 TV61 Graphmg CataAartf MO CONN Trump* *75 466-2167 NoodaMaa 6 baaa tar ataa Media noma approved Ca( aannga 6669172 ir Oanaral Bacartc cotar TV «ntn ra mota control 6 anlanna 2 yaara oM *1501060 Ca* (66-3492 Over 10,000 served daily! Doonesbury BY GARRY TRUDEAU I KNOW A LOT Of- yOUH/M mo AhfJNO kC5. ’WHO 19 S VUffi. TH&Gem&tuHOcn Alio A NhWMJOVOf f.- “V. — u/a”‘ ~" UlU . CM MANY IHtNOO. (T COK5T PlU MOST tT ALU.l'M A5URW0R. Anrjz A % COUNT NPtCTMfNT ANP A 6 COUNT PITA JiANuXin I'M 97XJ. HM ANPUATH ■U * ' »UJON TO SNOUT tUHY'BCCAlSieiNeVf-P 1 WAvfJlH'FltOMWtHUft f PRINCIPLE OF THt MtLKf N \ OXt1AHPUHAT*, 1H£ COt* > j. & AIL 7O60TH&: I MM/. Gf£W WORKS! CFJMBfWS! zwvbopy po&m 1 AND i P6AIN’ \ 4JI/JJI £