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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 24, 2000)
‘Ryan Week’ continued from page 1 To prepare for the event, mem bers of various Christian groups packed 180 PLC Thursday to re ceive their T-shirts and training from youth leaders regarding how to handle the student reaction to “Ryan Week." Alverts said the goal is not to evangelize but to inform the pub lic and allow Christians to be seen together on campus. “Students will articulate what they believe and why God matters to them,” Alverts said. Schmid said Tuesday’s open fo rum in the amphitheater will be an opportunity for him to share why he believes in Jesus. “I expect people to object, but we are not out there to argue with people,” he said. “We are just rais ing the question for people to con sider Jesus.” Alverts said the athlete’s repu tation was not a factor in choosing Ryan to represent this mission. Schmid said the focus is not on him as a person but on his belief in Jesus. “Ryan was willing,” Alverts said, adding that Schmid was chosen because of his character, respect from his peers and his ability to articulate his thoughts effectively. “Ryan Week” involves and is sponsored by Christian groups at the University including: Naviga tors, Chi Alpha Christian Fellow ship, Athletes in Action, InterVar sity Christian Fellowship, Campus Crusade for Christ, Colle giate Christian Fellowship, Asian Christian Fellowship, Baptist Stu dent Union, Onyx House and Young Life. The groups are promoting five statements of faith, which include the concepts that people have a soul, there is right and wrong, God exists, heaven and hell are real and that people need help. “I think it is really wonderful to see Christians from all different denominations coming together as one to show their love for Jesus Christ," said Rose Scrutton, a freshman pre-business major and member of Campus Crusade. The project started last year at Humboldt State University in Cal ifornia. University of Arizona tried a program similar to “Ryan Week” and it was met by a mixed reaction by the campus, Alverts said. The “Do you agree with Ryan?” campaign has been limit ed to the University. Other schools have had similar pro grams, such as Arizona’s “Do you agree with Dave?” campaign. Schmid said the students at Ore gon have taken Arizona’s ideas and adapted the program with the hope that it will be successful. There have been anti-Ryan sen timents, however, answering the question in a variety of negative ways. In response to the “Do you agree with Ryan?” messages chalked up around campus, other slogans, such as “Ryan equals death” have been drawn on streets and sidewalks. “It is just a week for people to question who they are and what they believe, and who and what they agree with,” said Julie Chang, a Campus Crusade mem ber and senior majoring in mar keting and education. Alverts said the week will be a time for students to challenge stereotypes such as a lack of evi dence that Christ performed mir acles and create a platform for a topic that he thinks is not ad dressed enough on campus. The things that really matter... Leadership Scholarship Citizenship Laura Blake Jones Associate Dean of Students and Interim Director of Student Life I celebrate uo students who: ... care about each other, our campus and the global community ... challenge and inspire themselves and others to reach their potential ... believe in their ability to create a better world and l celebrate UO students who drink responsibly or not at all! 11 MACT uo students (80%) have 4 drinks or fewer IVIU3I when they party. 2Q9& Office of Student Life 38977 Data taken from 199(8 UO Health Center Survey.
