Oregon Daily TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1993 EUGENE. OREGON VOLUME 95, ISSUE 60 Students accuse ‘Emerald’ of bigotry, insensitivity □ Members of the Black Student Union demand changes to editorial policy By Edward Klopfensteln Oteyor Daily Eme'M Members of the Black Student Union accused the Oregon Daily Emerald of "latent bigotry and prejudice" nt a Monday press conference and demanded changes in the paper's editorial policy. The press conference was sparked by the Emerald’s use of several mug shots portraying three black University of Wash ington students accused of sex abuse and burglary The photos were supplied by the Eugene Police Department. The photos' placement on page one of the Nov. 2 edition represents the Emerald's insen sitivity to minority issues, said Nichole Muhammad, director of the BSU. "By releasing an article deal ing with issues of a sexual nature concurrent with pho tographs of young black men. the Emerald exacerbates the racial tension prevalent in Eugene, which mirrors the situ ation throughout the nation," she said in her speech. The city's three major TV stations and the Eugene Register-Guard, along with several campus pub lications, attended the press conference. "This has really taken me by surprise.” said Emerald Editor JCFF PASLAV/tnwWd Staphanla Patara (laft) and Nlchola Muhammad loin olhar mambara of tha Black Studant Union In pro aantlng tha EitwraM with a Hat of damanda outaida tha nawapapar a off leas on Monday. in-Chief lake Berg about the opposition to the use of the pho tos. "Before this, 1 only saw two letters to the editor and then a flyer about two weeks ago.” Minority students also voiced opposition to past stories in a private meeting with the editor about two weeks ago, said Berg, but the three photos featured on the Nov. 2 edition didn't seem ns great a concern at the time as student of color issues. Muhammad featured several past Emerald stories in her speech, which she said repre sent the paper's insensitivity to minorities on campus. A Jan. 26 Emerald story focused on Otis Scarborough, a black OPS officer cited with sex ual harassment. Another article that concerned BSU members was a story that ran in the fall of 1990, which reported on sexual assault charges against a black athlete formerly with the Oregon Ducks. Both stories were accompa nied by photos. Hut Muhammad points to other stories not on blacks or other minorities this fall that didn't have photos, including one that featured a white profes sor cited by the University (or sexual harassment and another about <i Korean student accused of rape "Journalists have a social responsibility to service their c onimunities by presenting the (nets of a newsworthy story and not interpreting them." she said After the press conference. HSU members protested in front of the Emerald office and pre sented Herg with a list of sug gested changes to the Emerald'* editorial polit v and a Dei I deadline for a response. Included were requests for a higher percentage of minority staff memlters. better training on minority issues, a weekly < ul timo about minority activities and an apology for the Nov 2 photos. If Berg doesn't meet the Dec :i response deadline. Muhammad soid HSU members would decide on a response at that time. Herg was not sure if he could discuss all the options with staff and the Emerald board of direc tors and offer a reply by the deadline, but said he would do his liest. Yosief Kmbaye, an undergrad uate student majoring in inter national relations, said he agrees with the HSU that the Emerald needs a more consistent photo policy. Turn to EMERALD. Page 5A Citizens debate bridge solutions □ More than 150 residents turn out to discuss expansion of Ferry Street Bridge By Rebecca Merritt Oregon Daily Emerakt Plans to decrease traffic con gestion on the Ferry Street Bridge creeped one step further Monday as more than 150 concerned res idents attended a Eugene City Council hearing to discuss pos sible solutions. Although the debate over which solution would best meet Eugene's needs hasn’t disap peared. most of the people speak ing at the hearing agreed that it's time for the Council to reach a decision and utilize the federal money that has been earmarked for the project. "It is time we act upon a plan to improve the Ferry Street Bridge." said Eugene resident Bruce Bergby "Build a bridge that will see us through the next century.” The majority of last night's dis cussion focused on the three solutions recommended to the Council more than two weeks ago by the planning commission and the Citizen's Advisory Commit tee. which was organized in 198H to work on remedies for conges tion on the Ferry Street Bridge The planning commission favors a six-lane bridge with room for u hike and pedestrian lane on each side. The bridge could he ex [Mind ed to eight lanes if needed. The citizens' committee rec ommended an eight-lane bridge, and both committees support a six-lane “Franklin Boulevard Option." This option would con nect 6th and 7th Avenues with Broadway and relocate main access to Highway 99 through Agripac facilities. Two proposed options that would build bridges through Alton Baker Park were eliminated by both committees, as well as the no-huild option. Several people at last night's hearing said they support a six ktna or an eight-lane bridge because it is needed to accom modate the needs of the city's growing population. The city already fails to meet emergency and safety needs because of traf fic problems around the bridge, said Michael Roberts. An expand ed bridge would allow ambu lances to reach Sacred Heart Hospital faster and would speed up police and fire responses. Others said an expanded bridge would improve access to downtown and would help stop businesses from relocating out side of downtown. "We need to do everything we t an to support downtown and facilitate access." said Gene Pritchard. Still, several people aren't sat isfied with the city's effort and believe more emphasis should 1st placed on alternative transporta tion mode*. One group of citizens have proposed a “Mill Street Alternative Mode" bridge that would build an mass transit and emergency vehicle bridge west of the Ferry Street Bridge Others say that none of the city's proposals are acceptable and planners need to consider the impact of the bridge project on the entire city. “We haven't proceeded this planning process with a vision." said jerry Rust, Lane County Commissioner. The City Council will accept public written comment about the bridge project until Dec. 2, said Pam Berrian. City Council coordinator. The council will then work toward a feasible solu tion that will probably be referred to a vote of Eugene residents. Once a decision is approved by (he Council and the voters, the city will undergo an exten sive design process for a new bridge Conduct Program reports cheating to be on the rise □ Campus dishonesty has generated concern among faculty, administrators By Julie Sweneen O*gori Dairy [marold The number of University students wfio hove been caught cheating has steudily increased over the past four years, according to the Student Conduct Program's annual report During the 1992-93 academic year. 44 cases of academic dis honesty were referred to the Student Conduct program That 's an increase from 35 cases in 1991-92. 30 cases in 1990-91 and 27 cases in 1989-90. But whether that moans there is an increase in cheating, or just wider reporting, is difficult to interpret. "! don't hove any data to say that it (cheating) has increased, but I think the numbers go up when the faculty reports it more.” said Elaine Green, student conduct coordinator, who also said the increase could be attributed to a growing concern about values and ethics. But some faculty and administrators say the 44 cases are not representative of the problem. "With a student body of close to 17,000.1 think most rea sonable people would assume there are more cases than that." said Norm Wessells, University provost and vice president for academic affairs. The number of students who admit to cheating has varied widely in different surveys. A recent Oregon State University study found that 25 percent of the 500 university students sur veyed admitted to cheating on an exam. But in a 1992 survey by Donald McCabe — a study that is regarded as the most Turn to CHEATING. Page 5A