‘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.