Wednesday
I VMVI IVI ■ «? lilllll
Emerald reporter Lisa Toth took a plunge to
explore the world of skydiving. PAGE 3
Play it again Joey
Quarterback Joey Harrington says he’s ready to put
up more big numbers against Arizona. PAGE 7
Weather
today
high 61, low 45
www.dailyemerald.com
An independent newspaper
October 18,2000
Volume 102, Issue 31
Money may materialize for universities
■An investment plan could amass funds
for Oregon engineering programs
By Andrew Adams
Oregon Daily Emerald
The University and several other schools in the Ore
gon University System could receive a substantial
windfall of state and public funds for their engineering
departments if the State Board of Higher Education
approves an investment plan during its regular meet
ing at Southern Oregon University this weekend.
During a teleconference meeting on Monday,
OUS representatives made their recommendation
to the board for an eight-year, $85 million invest
ment package that would draw on state and private
funding in an attempt to make Oregon’s engineer
ing schools top-tier institutions.
The computer and information science department
at the University could stand to acquire approximate
ly $8 million per year in the plan to support its data en
gineering programs, according to an OUS report.
Board members will decide on one of four op
tions submitted by OUS during the morning ses
sion of thei/ Friday meeting. The options differ
mainly in how funds are spread out through a cer
tain amount of time.
During the teleconference, board members and
OUS representatives heard a report from Dan
Leizel, a representative of the consulting firm that
studied how the OUS can bring its institutions into
the top tier of engineering schools.
“There’s a need for a major resource investment,”
he said, citing several technology companies in
Oregon that are in desperate need of skilled data
engineers at all levels.
“They said the state needs to enhance the pres
tige and quality of engineering programs in the
state,” he said.
Leizel said his firm determined OUS needs to in
vest $113 million to add 222 faculty, 45 staff mem
bers and 178 graduate assistants to improve engi
neering programs in the state. The University could
hire nine faculty members, four staff members and
18 graduate assistants. The report did not factor in
the costs of improving or adding facilities, which
prompted a few board members to criticize it.
Board member Geri Richmond said she thinks
Turn to OUS, page 5
Proposed investment (in millions of dollars)
TheOUShas proposed
an 8-year, $85 million
investment plan for
state engineering
education.
Azle Malinao-Alvarez Emerald
Presidential Elections
Ca ri ng ca rava n
cruises to Cuba
■ Human rights activists cross borders to deliver
‘friendshipments’
By Beata Mostafavi
Oregon Daily Emerald
Herb Everett remembered his sec
ond trip to Cuba in 1996 when he
and about 30 other activists for Pas
tors for Peace were stopped at the
San Diego-Mexico border in an ille
gal attempt to take aid to Cuba.
Everett, now 51 years old, re
membered being frightened and
frustrated as border patrol officials
ripped away hundreds of comput
ers from the activists’ arms — com
puters designated for Cuban health
clinics.
The computers finally reached
their rightful destination, but only
after caravan leaders went on a 94
day hunger strike.
This Thursday, the 11th U.S.
Cuba Friendshipment Cara van will
make its stop in Eugene. * he vehi
cle will collect donated Likes and
bicycle parts, which will be distrib
uted in Cuba.
For nearly 10 years, Pastor., for
Peace, a ministry of the Interioli
gious Foundation for Community
Organization (IFCO) has sent thou
sands of participants in caravans
that take aid to Latin America and
the Caribbean. The project is meant
to openly protest the trade embargo
that prohibits U.S. citizens from
distributing humanitarian aid in
Cuba.
The Friendshipment Caravan will
also pick up Susan Silver, a senior
sociology major and volunteer for
the University branch of the Com
mittee in Solidarity with the Central
American People (CISCAP), an ad
Turn to CISCAP, page 5
44 That’s
what the
Friendship
mentisall
about It's
saying to
ourgovern
ment that
‘you need to
end this
blockade1...
Scott Mikseh
CISCAP
coordinator
— n
Dan Brunell Emerald
Students from a range of ASUO organizations watch the final debate between Gov. George Bush and Vice President Al Gore on Tuesday night.
Debating the debate
■Various students and community members
gather to watch George W. Bush and Al Gore battle
By Beata Mostafavi
Oregon Daily Emerald
From the rants and raves, grunts, mild swear words and
frustrated sighs heard from the Break Tuesday night, a by
stander would think the people in the room were watching a
wrestling match.
Close enough. They were watching the third presidential
debate between Texas Gov. George W. Bush and Vice Presi
dent Al Gore.
Turn to Debate, page 6
By Connie Farrow
Associated Press Writer
ST. LOUIS — Ralph Nader sued
the commission organizing the pres
idential debates Tuesday, aiming to
dismantle the system that kept him
out of the 2000 televised debates.
His lawsuit, hied in Boston and
claiming his rights were violated by
his exclusion from the first debate
there, came as Nader protested the
commission’s refusal to let him join
A1 Gore and George W. Bush for the
third and final confrontation in St.
Louis.
Turn to Nader, page 6