This isn’t ‘Animal House’
‘Party House 2001 ’ gave students a crash
course in irresponsible partying. Page 5
Rooms built for two
The University’s residence halls filled up last
week as a reporter watched. Page 12
http://www.dailyemerald.com
Monday, September 24,2001
Since 1 900 University of Oregon Eugen'E, Oregon
Volume 103,Issue 20
Students
hit with
anti-Arab
backlash
■ Middle Eastern students report
increased instances of bias
following recent terrorist attacks
By Diane Huber
Oregon Daily Emerald
Someone wrote the word “die” over
Afghanistan on a map in the Office of
International Programs in Oregon Hall
on Sept. 13, according to Eugene Police
Department spokeswoman Jan Power.
The map was immediately taken down,
and the perpetrator remains unknown.
This is just one example of tire back
lash Muslims and people of Middle
Eastern descent have experienced on
campus following the Sept. 11 terrorist
attacks. Since the event, instances of
bias toward Muslims on campus have
increased, according to Assistant Dean
of Diversity Programs Mark Tracy.
Some students on campus have di
rectly experienced bias while others
have not. But many people agree that
ignorance about Islam has contributed
to the backlash against Muslim stu
dents.
“There’s a difference between radical
religious groups and those who practice
peacefully,” Tracy said. “People need to
recognize that there’s a difference.”
Recent University graduate Sarah
Khalid Samman has personally experi
enced bias in the past week. Her par
ents, who are visiting from Saudi Ara
Turn to Backlash, page 8
Return to sender
Adam Amato Emerald
Senior defensive back Steve Smith returns one of his three interceptions for a touchdown Saturday in the Ducks’ 24-22
come-from-behind victory against Southern California. Freshman Jared Siegel secured the win with a 32-yard field
goal with 12 seconds remaining, propelling Oregon to its 23rd straight win at Autzen Stadium and up a spot to No. 6
in the polls. For complete coverage of the game and the other Oregon sports, turn to page 13.1
Residents rally against U.S. military retaliation
■ Peace groups organize a march
downtown to advocate a thoughtful
response to the Sept. 11 attacks
By Aaron Shakra
for the Emerald
For those who live in Eugene, the
Wayne Morse Plaza is a familiar sight.
Each weekend during the Saturday
Market, people gather and the area
serves as an open forum for free speech
and expression.
On Sept. 22, people arrived for more
intentional purposes. At 3 p.m., a
crowd congregated at the plaza to rally
against America’s potential military re
taliation to the terrorist attacks of Sept.
11. Organized by the Justice Not War
Coalition, the protest began with a
march toward the federal building,
where people gathered peacefully, lis
tening to speakers and music.
As the entourage walked, people held
up signs reading “Let us mourn, not
murder more," and “Please don't let the
media control your thoughts.” One sign
Turn to Peace march, page 10
Thomas Patterson Emerald
Cindy Barlow and 13-month-old Balan Kolee rally for peace at the federal building Saturday.
Classified
workers,
OUS avert
strike
■A strike today could have affected
University department operations
and medical, child care and food
services offered to students
By Eric Martin
Oregon Daily Emerald
The Oregon University System and
unions representing classified workers
of Oregon's public universities agreed
to a tentative contract Friday after
noon, putting the brakes on a threat
ened strike by the workers Sept. 24.
A strike could have forced OUS
schools to rely on management and su
pervisors to perform classified-worker
jobs, causing a slow-down in student
services and the removal of non-essen
tial services. Classified workers at the
University handle food service for the
residence halls, provide nursing care at
the University Health Center and per
form clerical tasks for many academic
departments, among other things.
“If the strike had gone through, it
would have been nothing short of dev
astating,” said Tim Young, University
political science major and student
member of the State Board of Higher
Education. “The classified staff is a vi
tal component of the University. It
would have been tremendously diffi
cult for students, faculty, staff and ad
ministrators.”
Negotiations began informally
Thursday morning when representa
tives for the unions — the Service Em
ployees International Union Local 503
and the Oregon Public Employees
Union — and OUS talked via tele
phone. The talks paved the way for a
smooth dialogue Friday, in Salem,
where both sides met face-to-face and
hammered out a deal.
“Discussion since (the last media
tion session, Sept. 14) proved critical
to finding an agreement,” OUS
spokesman Bob Bruce said.
The two sides have been engrossed
in tense contract negotiations since
April 11 over issues of fair pay and im
proved health benefits for the 3,700
full- and part-time classified workers
of Oregon’s seven public universities.
About 1,230 of those classified staff
work at the University.
Both sides expect to ratify the tenta
tive agreement next month.
“When our people began negotiating
(Friday) morning, they were very opti
mistic that we would reach an agree
ment,” said Kathie Best, statewide
president for SEIU Local 503. “We’re
delighted that we were able to come to
an agreement without a disruption of
services.”
The unions and OUS said Thursday
Turn to OPEU strike, page 11