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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 6, 2001)
Orlean no ‘ordinary’ writer ■ Susan Orlean spoke to an audience of 100 Thursday about making ordinary stories extraordinary By Hank Hager Oregon Daily Emerald Finding what is ordinary in life is not hard, but presenting it in a way that makes readers interested is what is most important, New Yorker magazine staff writer Susan Orlean told more than 100 stu dents, faculty and community members who attended her speech Thursday night. Orlean's speech, “Finding the Extraordinary in the Ordinary: Writing About Everyday Life,” fo cused on her writing life and the misconception that celebrities are the only interesting people in the world. Orlean is the 2001 Johnson Lec turer, a program sponsored by the School of Journalism and Commu nication that funds an annual speech. “I’m particularly interested in the tiny master; the tiny domain where the person is the master,” she said. “Quite often I’m interest ed in writing about people who are well-known, but not in the same parameter as celebrities.” Orlean said she began her writ ing career focusing more on writ ing about celebrities than the “or dinary” people of the world. After interviewing Tom Hanks for a sto ry, she realized that she was not in terested in writing about those who are well-known. “This was my first moment of saying there is something seduc tive and fun in writing about celebrities,” she said. Neverthe less, she said, people who are in the shadows are those who interest Jon House Emerald Magazine writer Susan Orlean takes questions after her guest lecture on Thursday. her the most, and she believes it’s important for her to use her gift to write about the unknown people of the world. “Doing work you care about is an incredible privilege,” she said. “That’s a rare opportunity.” Journalism professor Lauren Kessler said Orlean possesses a cu riosity about the world that lends well to her writing and makes the reader to want to read more. “Susan Orlean is a mistress of the impossible lead,” she said. “You read the first sentence and you have to read on.” Tim Gleason, dean of the school of journalism, said Orlean is an important speaker to the students interested in her field. “She is very much a natural fit for our students in literary nonfic tion and magazine writing,” he said. “It’s a rare opportunity for students and faculty to interact with a writer of her caliber.” Orlean said writing in her field is not easy. “It’s not always easy to convince an editor to run a story about noth ing,” she said. “[And] it’s not al ways easy to people who are not used to being written about.” Orlean spoke of an instance in which She was asked to write about Macaulay Culkin, but in stead chose to write about a 10 year-old boy who was considered ordinary by society’s standards. She had a problem in the end, be cause the child had become so en amored with her that he was upset when she was done with the story. But, she said, writers cannot be come attached to those they write about and should never show their stories to their subjects before they are published, because then peo ple may doubt that the writer is objective. Orlean said she has a passion for her stories and tries to show that to those who read her work. “All I can bring to it is a passion of my own and say this is really an incredible story,” she said. Arson continued from page 1 crimes stemming from the June 2000 Romania fire. The task force’s first duty will be to continue the investigation into the March 30 Romania fire, EPD Capt. Thad Buchanan said. Early Thursday morning, the FBI executed a search warrant for Earth Liberation Front spokesman mig Rosebraugh’s Portland home, busi ness and two automobiles. Buchanan said information from the Romania fire aided in the officers’ being able to obtain the search warrant. While the FBI led the Rose braugh search, Eugene police, Ore gon State Police and ATF officers participated in the execution of the search warrant. FBI spokeswoman Beth Ann Steele said Rosebraugh was detained for a short while dur ing the search, but contrary to earli er media reports, was not arrested. This is the second time in a year agents have searched Rosebraugh’s possessions. The FBI would not identify spe cific items seized in the search, and Steele said the information within the search warrant is still sealed. As of Thursday afternoon, police continued to follow up on more All Ways Travel Book Early for Europe London - $550.00* Paris -$518.00* Frankfurt - $508.00* Copenhagen - $708.00* *tax not incluqed. restrictions may apply. Subject to change without notice. _ Eurail Passes issued On-Site!! siires in the city of Eugene than 100 leads in the Romania fire. No suspects have been identified, and no arrests have been made. A March 19 communique the ELF issued called for an Interna tional Day of Action on Earth Day, April 22. The communique “invites participation from all interested parties — cells of the Animal Liber ation Front, Earth First!, anti genetix campaigners, and any other group or individual willing to stand with us and declare, ‘No compro mise in defense of Mother Earth!’” Buchanan said the task force will also continue the investigation of the March 20 arson attempt at Uni versity men’s basketball coach Ernie Kent’s house. No new information or leads have developed in the case, Buchanan said. The house, at 3335 Park Hill, was unoccupied at the time of the fire and was in the process of being renovated. 0019471 Authentic Chinese Cuisine 947 Franklin Blvd. The ASUO Women's Center Presents: The Second Coming of g* m or Arc Carolyn Gage, a playwright extraordinaire, has written more than forty one-acts, musicals, one woman shows, dramas and comedies. Friday, April 6th Ben Linder Room, EMU 7:30pm • Free admission This event is wheelchair accessible. For any other accommodations, please contact Kristina at the Women’s Center at 346-4095. Childcare scholarships available. Little Caesars Weekend Special! Saturday & Sunday Hot and mu# Lira© 010073 Clot a story idea? live us a call. Emeralc 346-5511
