University of Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
An independent newspaper
Volume 97 ttume 143
IY. MAY 6. 1996
INDEX
EdMortol 2
Now* 4
Sir»ng*f Than F«wn 9
Boons 17
CUtMtfNKJS 18
Crossword 19
TODAY
Initial rrgistratum far
/Wft summer class*s
begins
INSIDE
The Olympic torch pnnessum visited Has
ward held on Sunday
Candidates for the Lane Counts Hoard of
Commissioners speak out
12
WEATHER
ktomwg ilnujx fog
High 65 Urn 40
Pride Week
celebrates
community
■ CELEBRATION: The
Lesbian, Gay. Bisexual
Alliance plans for a
supportive atmosphere
By Kristin Bailey
StuHr* Actvt** flwwnar
For Cassia Salewske. this
week is symbolic of her biggest
personal triumph.
"I crime out of the closet last
year during Pride Week," she
Mid. "My life has done a com
plete 180 in the past year “
This week marks the la-shian
Gay Bisexual Alliance's Pride
Week — a celebration of what
the group stands for and the
pride of it* members
"Pride Week i» important
because It promotes visibility
and fosters a strong sense of
community," Salewske. Pride
Week coordinator, said "It give*
people the opportunity to be
together and feel safe."
During last year's Queer lest, a
mix of music and dance In the
KM I1 Courtyard. Saiewske said
she publicly acknowledged her
homosexuality for the first time
"It was when I went public
and felt most comfortable," she
said “l put a Prtde Week rain
bow pin on my backpack that
day. and I've never taken it off
That w#» I lie best day of my life
l didn't want to leave "
Pride Week preparations
began in January Activities will
include panel discussions, per
fomtaitce*. humor, wit and peat
i harm. LG BA Co Dirt* tur Mar
garet Butler said
I've never really *xp*rt«Bced
Prtde Week before, so I'm look
ing forward to this," she said
"I'm hoping to learn from some
of the workshops, and I'm hop
Tum to CELEBRATION Paye 7
■ ABORTION he Food and Drug
Admmrsiratron will consider the pill
lor approval by 1997
By Tamyra Howtw
ewMinev JWunw
The Fiwch abortion pill RU 4M« ha*
reached Amwioii ihnM aftvt 10 yiw* of
controversy am! delay. Widely u*ed
throughout Europe and (Uinta. I he United
Si aim may lie the next country In legalise
these pills
After extensive clinical Irult throughout
the i otumv. Kt ’ 4Mt will In* considered fin
Food and Drug Administration approval
by 1007. Developed hv French mannfac
Hirer Roussel Ikiof, RU 4M» was legalised
in France in uuut (deal Britain. Ormany.
Sweden and China fullowed soil
Marilyn f teflon, patient servic e* direc -
tor fur Planned Parenthood of Eugene,
believes it to lie a safe and effective
proem*
“It's a wonderful alternative In ttirgi
cal abortion,** she said "Women feed a
greater control over the procedure If* not
something (wing done to them They lake
the medicines; they see the process hap
pwiiing “
If the FDA doe* legalise RU 4H0
Planned Parenthood of Eugene will not
distribute lit# drug Hal ton said
At ibis point, |the southwest! c linic * in
Turn to ABORTION Page 6
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Ground-breaking blesses Northwest’s first women-built home
■ HOUSING Women s Project and Habitat for
Humanity are organizing construction
By Oawri Paugh
Eight shovel*. a hammer and a paint brush laid in a
circle. upon the uneven lumps of gras*, weed* and din
that will be the plot of land in the Bethel Oanebo area
where l .ail Johnson and her three children — *ge» eight,
14 and I?— Will build their own house
"This has been a lifelong dream of mine." Johnson
said. "This is a place where we t an be called • family .'*
Johnson's home will be the first women built home
in the Northwest, with the help of the Women s Project,
in partnership with Habitat for Humanity, a non profit
organisation that helps people obtain decent housing,
said Kay Brandt, a member of the Women's Project pub
licity committee
At the ground breaking ceremony Saturday, about 75
paopia gathered to hie** I he ground and the female pro
fessionals and volunteer* who will he donating their
time to build Johnson’* home.
"Ground breaking is done every time a house will he
built." said Martha Schneider, a member of Women's
Project "It’s the Indian way of blessing the project to
give it a spiritual uplift "
From design to finish work, lohimm* house will he
completed by about 150 women
"Women often don't get the opportunity to do this
type of work ' Brandt said That is the empowering
thing about this group of women, it’s about supporting
women to learn more skills and empower women to
believe they can do it,"
Only 45 completely women built Habitat for Human
ity home* have lawn built in the United Mate*.
land and lots are very hard to come by," said lean
Tate, with the Women’s Project. "What we need is land,
land, land "
About 2.300 people «(t on the Lane County wailing
list for a Habitat home The Johnson* were on a list for
2 M2 years She qualified to bn on the list bm sum the
was below the Standard of living, yet she Ini* the income
to pay for a non-interest loan.
Women began meeting in December to start planning
the project It began with a small group of women who
filled out Habitat for Humanity volunteer form*, and
were contacted about working on a separate women's
project. Brandt said
Passing on the news of a women-built home caused
the growth in interest, she said.
Meetings got bigger every time we met.” Brandt said.
Habitat homos are sold to families at no profit and are
financed with affordable, no interest loan* The home
owner's monthly mortgage payments go into a revolv
ing Fund of Humanity that is used to build morn houses
Families help with the building of their own hOHM and
HOUSING s> , j. - ‘