CRIME Student captured The father of a Portland high school student helped police catch his son, who had been on the run since April PAGE 2 RHYTHM & REVIEWS Finding Eugene’s groove Karim Panni, originally from San Francisco, is introducing hip-hop to the Eugene music scene, and he is becoming more successful with each gig PAGE 5 THURSDAY, JULY 30, 1998 TODAY At 4p.m., The city ’s Citizen Involvement Committee meets at the Atrium Building on W. 10th Avenue WEATHER Today Showers High 78. Low 60. Friday Partly Cloudy High 82. Low 56. Promise Keepers return to Autzen Stadium LAURA GOSS/Emerald Families walk a lap around Autzen Stadium as part of the Jericho Prayer March Saturday through Thursday evenings before the event. Prayer, spiritual growth are focus of conference Coordinators say the event will be free of the $60 fee in an attempt to attract more men By Amy Goldhammer Oregon Daily Emerald The Grateful Dead isn’t in town and the Duck football team isn’t scheduled for a home game this weekend, yet Autzen Stadium will be filled with 25,000 to 30,000 people this weekend. Eugene is playing host to the Promise Keepers “Live a Legacy” Regional Men’s Conference. Promise Keepers was found ed in 1990 by Bill McCartney, head foot ball coach at the University of Colorado, after he envisioned filling a stadium with 50,000 men who "sought to honor Jesus and be men of integrity.” “The numbers aren’t the key issue,” said Dave Halbert, Promise Keepers prayer coordinator for the Eugene confer ence. “The big picture is men being con cerned with the nation, asking God to turn us around.” Promise Keepers focuses its principles on a five-point statement of faith and sev en Biblically based promises for men. This is the second Promise Keepers con ference in Eugene and the only one in the Pacific Northwest. Unlike previous years, all regional conferences are free. Halbert said one reason the $60 fee was waived is Turn to MEM, Page 4 Women’s studies class to examine movement Students in the course will observe the event and discuss its political implications By Amy Goldhammer Oregon Daily Emerald The Promise Keepers “Live a Legacy” Regional Men’s Conference in Eugene is well in the swing of things, and many controversial issues have surfaced re garding the conference itself and the Promise Keepers’ messages. Some are concerned with issues sur rounding the conservative group ranging from homosexuality and cutting taxes for public schools to racial discrimination and a large range of political controver sies, University sociology professor Mimi Goldman said. Goldman and associate English profes sor Linda Kintz are holding a women’s studies class this weekend to explore the Promise Keepers from an academic per spective. The class will analyze the orga nization and consider it in the context of histories of American religious revivals and political movements, Goldman said. “The class is basically about trying to understand the movement’s message, historical routes and political implica tions,” she said. The Promise Keepers’ stand on women has been a controversial focus in years Turn to COURSE, Page 4 ‘Geek Chic’ girls investigate world of engineering The program is designed to encourage young women to consider careers in science By Stefanie Knowlton Freelance Reporter Several Lane County middle school and high school girls are getting their first taste of university life this week. Twenty-five students, ages 11 through 17, are participating in a program at the Univer sity called “Geek Chic,” which stands for Gaining Electrical Engineering Knowledge through Collaborative, Hands-on Instruc tion and Computing. “The young women will engage in hands on activities, where they build and learn about audio speakers, motors, AM radios and sensing and signaling circuits,” said Molly Johnson, the co-founder of the pro gram and a University adjunct professor of physics. The program was so well received in Port land last summer that it has expanded to Eugene and Corvallis this summer. Currently, the University does not have an engineering program. However, Johnson said she believes it is important just to get girls interested in science. Shelly Steward, a participant in Geek Chic, said she has always been interested in science and electrical engineering. “My dad was an electrical engineer and I used to love going to work with him,” the 11-year-old said. Smiling, Steward explained how she and a classmate got to break a cassette player open by throwing it onto the ground several times in order to see what was inside and how it worked. Geek Chic is designed to give girls posi tive experiences with technology and to es sentially have fun with science. Encouraging girls to consider careers in engineering is another motivating factor of the program, Johnson said. “I want girls to know that engineering is a viable career option for them,” she said. Teresa Garcia, a Greek Chic participant, said making the program open forgirls only Turn to SCIENCE, Page 2 ((I want girls to know that engineering is a viable career option for them. ^ Molly Johnson physics professor