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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 10, 2000)
Support service director hired ■ The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Alliance forms an instant bond with the Florida State grad By Jack Clifford Oregon Daily Emerald The South may not immediate ly conjure up visions of toler ance, but that’s exactly where the University found a new leader to guide its work on lesbian, gay, bi sexual and transgender issues. A search committee has hired Chicora Martin to take over the position of director for LGBT Ed ucation and Support Services, re placing Brooke Lather, the group’s interim director. Martin’s resume includes a stint at Florida State University in Tallahassee as advisor and group facilitator for the LGBT Student Union. She also received her master’s of higher education from FSU and has work experience with the Dean of Students office at Georgia Institute of Technology, in addition to involvement with Bisexuals, Gay, Lesbian and Al lies for Diversity at East Carolina University. .“She’s very passionate about this work [and] she’s very clear that this is the work that she’s about, that she wants to be do ing,” co-chair of the search com mittee Annie Bentz said. “She’s got a ton of energy. Everybody who came in contact with her felt like they connected with her and that she would serve the Univer sity well in her role.” Martin could not be reached for comment. Her job, which starts Aug. 21, falls under the su pervision of the Office of Student Life. “We are just really excited with her being a part of [our] team,” OSL Associate Director Cheryl Eyster said. “Her talents, experi ence and skills are really phe nomenal.” Martin’s other experience and background includes work with the Tallahassee Safe Zone Pro gram, which is an outreach re source for students, faculty and staff at FSU. She also worked with the GLBT Resource Center at the University of Colorado in Boulder. Most of the issues Martin will encounter at the University are universal to all campuses, but Bentz said the new director will also have to jump in right away on an Oregon cause — the Stu dent Protection Act, a measure on November’s ballot that would ban any discussion of homosexu ality in the stata’s public schools. “I think the biggest challenge in the immediate future [for Mar tin] is working with the commu nity around the [Oregon Citizen’s Alliance] measure and providing some leadership around that is sue,’’ Bentz said. Democrats continued from page 1 to get there.” Delegates who have attended past conventions are also looking forward to meeting people and sharing their opinions. “I expect to have a stimulating, exciting time meeting good De mocrats and talking to people who agree with my beliefs and really care about our government,” said Barbara Rose, a Lane County dele gate and a 1996 convention at tendee. “I know I will rub elbows with personal heroes. Last time I sat by Bella Abzug and I walked by Geraldine Ferraro.” Much of the delegates’ excite ment stems from how this year’s convention will be set up, which is described as more of a working at mosphere. “There will be panel discus sions, with real experts, talking about real solutions to problems,” Edmunson said. “I didn’t like the pageantry of the Republican Con vention. It seemed like it was more of a halftime show at the Super Bowl.” I expect to have a stimulating, exciting time meeting good De mocrats.... Barbara Rose Lane County delegate Other delegates agree that this year the Democratic Convention is geared toward focusing on what the party stands for. “It’s not going to be just famous people there speaking, but ex perts,” said Mary Ann Holser, a third time convention attendee and Lane County delegate. As well as differing from the Re publican Convention in the way it is set up, many delegates also say that the Democratic attendees dif fer in terms of diversity. “The Oregon delegation has a phenomenal range of backgrounds being represented,” Edmunson said. “Asian-Americans, African Americans and several Native Americans are represented. We are also gender-balanced and age-bal anced; we have a 20-year-old going as well as a 90-year-old.” Edmunson says diversity is something he sees as lacking in the Republican Party. “The Republican Party is most ly made up of white, rich guys.” The delegates also looked to the Republican gathering in Philadel phia t.o.check qii protester activity. “I think the protesters [in Los Angeles] should be mellower than [in Philadelphia],” Williams said. “After all, we share most values with most of the protesters; we only disagree on how those values should be implemented.” Other delegates say that being from the Eugene area reduces many of the fears of being around protesters. “I know delegates from other states are really worried about pro testers, “ Edmunson said. “But be ing from Lane County we are blessed with familiarity with pro testers and anarchists. I don’t feel threatened at all.” Rose agreed. “I respect their right to be there and I hope they respect mine,” she said. Edmunson did admit that the Oregon delegates might object to at least one aspect of the Los Angeles party. "1 think the Oregon delegates will protest if there is a Lakers ban ner hanging in the Staples Center,” Edmunson said, in a joking man ner. “Because we all know the Blazers deserved to win.” 0035421 We ship your stuff home! Take advantage of our Student Discounts Furniture, computers, stereos, TV's Insured, custom packing — UPS, Ocean Freight, Motor Freight 515 High St Eucene 485-4224 OPEN MON-SAT 10-6 & SUN 12-5 Puma dtife* f Simple*, Efl AIR WALK Kfe 957 Willamette • 687-0898 5 www.Lazar’s.com plasma donations £arn around $165 every month. $15 on 1st donation - $35 on 2nd donation! $$o for the first week $5 extra for first- time donors if you briny in this ad! nuA yt7nr fulv! Oregon Festival of American Music Twin Rivers Traditional Music Festival 2000 American Fiddle Masters Mark O’Connor Michael Doucet avec BeauSoleil Vassar Clements & 1 he Little Big Band The Anger-Marshall Band Saturday, August 26 - 2:30 pm Cuthbert Amphitheater Tickets: 682-5000 Information 687-6526 orwww.ofam.org Bank of America. '(H) Hilton IWEEKLY KM stuff in the ODE Classifieds (Off The Mark, your daily horoscope and of course the crossword.)
