Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 30, 2000)
Committee envisions a center for diversity ■A plan for the Center for the Study of Social Change will be released early next year By Kristy Hessman Oregon Daily Emerald Although no blueprint or mis sion statement has been drafted yet, plans for a University research center focused an diversity has be gun and is being fueled by the vi sion and energy of University members. Increasing campus diversity has been the motivation behind a number of University programs, staff positions and scholarships in the past few years. But the idea to create a center to provide facilita tion services, training on diversity issues and a research component is new not only to the University, but to the nation. President Frohnmayer an-' nounced the creation of the Center for the Study of Social Change, the Center’s tentative name, in his State of the University Address Oct. 18. Since that time, an 18 member committee has been formed to create the vision for the Center. The committee will release a de tailed plan for the Center by the end of winter term. “The basic concept [of the Cen ter] is a strong research and service component,” Frohnmayer said. According to Mia Tuane, a Uni versity sociology professor and the Center’s committee chair, the push for the Center came after students concerned with intolerance and racism participated in a sit-in at Johnson Hall in the spring of 1999. The sit-in was sparked by a sexist comment in a class e-mail discus sion group. She said the Center will take steps to train students in facilitat ing the many aspects of the Cen ter’s work. “I am very excited,” said David Frank, tlfe committee assistant chair. “This is the first attempt to try to examine the issues of diver sity from multiple perspectives, while at the same time healing wounds from racism and other ‘isms’ that were expressive on campus.” While the committee is still dis cussing what the objectives of the Center are going to be, the hope for its future is already known. We would eventually like to see ourselves as a model for the Pacific Northwest. The scope for the Center has an outward facing vision, not just at theilofO. We would like the Center to be a resource to communities outside campus as well. Mia Tuane committee chair, Center for the Study of Social Change “We would eventually like to see ourselves as a model for the Pacific Northwest,” Tuane said. “The scope for the Center has an outward facing vision, not just at the U of O. We would like the Cen ter to be a resource to communities outside campus as well.” In the past few years, universi ties across the state have increased their efforts to address diversity. “We have a number of depart ments, offices and people that re spond to diversity issues,” said Phyllis Lee, Oregon State Univer sity’s director of multicultural af fairs. “But we don’t have one place we call a research center.” Portland State University is also making strides to address diversi ty, according to David Martinez, student advisor to the multicultur al Center at PSU. He said the uni versity has organized a Diversity Action Council, whose members seek to improve diversity in the ar eas of student life, curriculum and the retention and recruitment of minorities. How the Center will affect Uni versity of Oregon diversity issues remains uncertain. “I don’t know if [the Center] will increase the physical number of minorities on campus,” said Mark Tracy, the assistant dean for diver sity programs and a Center com mittee member. “But I do think it will do an excellent job educating all members of the campus com munity, and provide increased awareness.” Much of the Center’s prospects depend on how well the commit tee, which met for the first time earlier this month, can work to gether. During the committee’s six-hour retreat, members discussed their ambitions and goals. “We talked about how we might achieve the goal and tried to achieve a sense of sharing the same vision, one that invites dif ferent interpretations,” Frank said. While plans for the Center are still in the early stages, two re search associates have been hired to look into how various universi ties across the country have suc cessfully handled diversity is sues. Wyden holds up Senate tax bill again for suicide proposal By John Hughes The Associated Press WASHINGTON — Sen. Ron Wyden on Sunday prevented the Senate from moving forward with a $240 billion tax bill that also would make Oregon’s assisted suicide law difficult—if not impossible—to use. Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., sought unanimous consent on the Senate floor to have 10 hours of debate on the tax bill — including two hours for Wyden to speak—fol lowed by a vote on the proposal. Wyden refused to agree to the time limit. The move marked the second time in three days the Oregon Demo crat thwarted Lott’s plans to move forward with the bill. Wyden began a filibuster Friday and refused then to agree to a debate time limit. “The only thing certain in life is that Congress will find a way to foul up both death and taxes,” Wyden said in a statement. Wyden is making good on a threat to filibuster any bill that could hurt Oregon’s law allowing physician assisted suicide. This state is the only one with such a law. The House last week approved the tax bill that includes barring doc tors from using federally controlled substances, such as barbiturates, to deliberately cause a patient’s death. All 43 people who died under Oregon’s Death With Dignity Act since the law took effect in late 1997 used controlled substances to end their lives. Sen. Don Nickles, R-Okla., the au thor of the anti-assisted suicide pro posal, had the measure inserted in the tax bill with the hope of avoid ing a Wyden roadblock. Clinton has threatened to veto the tax bill for reasons unrelated to as sisted suicide. The president has not said whether he would sign or veto a suicide measure sent to his desk on its own. Meanwhile, GOP leaders are con tinuing to negotiate with the White House on the tax bill and several other issues both sides are trying to resolve before the Nov. 7 election. The fate of the suicide proposal could be tied to the success or fail ure of those talks. Party Starts at 8pm • Costume contest starts at 11 p least Costume’ll Costume Contest Prizes Given Every Hour $2 at Door SPECIALS! 2222 Centennial Blvd. fNext to Autzen StadiumJ • 343-4734 u dti i % I. A , jiL J* ... 3tJ Jrrf. /J/£/
