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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (July 16, 2002)
Watch the progress of the Lillis Business Complex The Emerald is now posting updated pictures weekly of five different views of the ongoing construction. Click on “Construction” at www.dailyemerald.com An independent newspaper http^Avww.dailyemerald.com Tuesday, July 16,2002 Since 1900 University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon Volume 104, Issue 6 University studies possibility of new Mac Court City councilors will soon examine one of the proposed sites for a new indoor sports facility, which would place the new arena in the vicinity of the city’s new federal courthouse By Brad Schmidt Oregon Daily Emerald The ball is now rolling on plans for a new, $100 million basketball facility to replace what Univer sity officials call an aging and undersized McArthur Court. One potential location has been identified within close proximity to the new feder al courthouse, a move some think could potentially better link the University and downtown Eugene. The University hopes to reach an agreement this month with a contractor and begin work on a feasi bility study that would, among other things, deter mine whether the development of land from Eighth Avenue to Broadway and Ferry to Hilyard streets is possible. Assistant Athletic Director Steve McBride called the site “intriguing” and said he hopes to see the study begin in early August. Conclusions could be reached by the University as early as this fall, Vice President for Administration Dan Williams said. “We have known for a long time that the days of McArthur Court are numbered,” Williams said. Even with University interest, however, city councilors will make the final decision about the eventual development of the land. More than likely, Turn to Development, page 3 i Sixth Ave. Seventh Ave. Eighth Ave. r East Broadway 10th Ave Scott Abts Emerald t Now in its final stages of construction, the new Autzen Stadium will host an estimated crowd of more than 54,000 spectators. Home field advantage Autzen Stadium’s renovation will have an effect on game attendance, crowd noise, and the availability of student tickets By Brad Schmidt Oregon Daily Emerald Two days into his newly-found employment, electrical worker Paul Clemmer’s sturdy, 6-foot 3-inch frame shows signs of wear and tear. His green T-shirt is faded, most likely a result of the blaring-hot sun that looms overhead. Tears and rips litter the front side of his baggy shirt. His blue jeans are dusty and the knees are wearing thin, showing a washed-out white fabric that will soon give way to holes. Sweat rolls off his tanned forehead in the after noon heat as he stands outside of his black and gray 1978 Chevrolet El Camino, recalling the day. Beginning at 6 a.m. each day, Clemmer arrives at Autzen Stadium to begin his work running con duit. Ten-hour days are nothing new to Clemmer, who has worked construction for more than 20 Turn to Autzen, page 8 Farmworker coalition marches for unionization The group, which participates in the annual Walk for Farmworker Justice, seeks solidarity of workers and the right to collectively bargain with employers By Jillian Daley Oregon Daily Emerald For the second year in a row, farmworkers and supporters marched in the Walk for Farmworker Justice. Saturday morning, the Farmworker Justice Coalition traveled to local fields and per formed skits to show solidarity with farm workers, supporting their interest in unioniz ing. Unionization would give the workers the right to collectively bargain with the growers who employ them and the corporations to whom the growers sell. In the afternoon, the group went to a housing development for farmworkers called New Dawn. “Whatever problems (farmworkers) face are best solved when they are empowered,” Farmworker Justice Coalition Chairman Rev. Dan Bryant said. “And that is best achieved by open bargaining.” Other groups like La Causa, Inc., Oregon AFL-CIO, and Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (Northwest Treeplanters and Farmworkers United) also helped organize the walk and are members of the Farmworker Justice Coalition. Founded in 1985, PCUN fights for farm worker rights and is the largest Latino organi zation in Oregon. PCUN seeks to raise aware ness among workers and to establish a union. The group plans to hold a vote for the farm workers to decide whether the workers want to be represented by a union. “If the majority decide, then the growers will have to negotiate in good faith with the workers,” said Erik Nicholson, PCUN coordi nator for the collective bargaining committee. In addition to rallying farmworkers, PCUN TumtoM^rch,page3 Federal loan interest rates see lowest levels ever The interest rates on Stafford and PLUS loans fell to record lows July 8, which will affect both current and former students By Jan Montry Oregon Daily Emerald Current and former students who have put off consolidating their federal student loans may be glad to hear there is still hope for a low interest rate. Interest rates on Stafford and PLUS loans fell to record lows July 8, benefit ing students who still have variable-rate loans and leaving those with consoli dated loans paying a higher rate than new consolidators. Rates for Stafford loans taken out af ter July 1, 1998, are now the lowest, dropping to 3.46 percent from 5.39 per cent. Loans disbursed between July 1, 1995, and June 30, 1998, dropped to 4.26 percent from 6.19 percent. PLUS loan rates on money borrowed on or after July 1,1998, dropped to 4.86 percent from 6.79 percent. Loans dis bursed between July 1, 1994, and June 30, 1998, dropped to 5.23 percent from 6.56 percent. Financial aid director Elizabeth Bickford said she was very happy that the interest rates are lowering for fed eral loans. “It will definitely help students and certainly help parents (with loans),” she said. Unfortunately, the new rates will only affect students who are still in school and haven’t started repay ment. Also, new rates won’t affect students who have already consoli dated their loans. According to University Direct Loan Coordinator Kyna Burgett, there are a few downsides to consolidation. For in stance, those who already have consoli dated loans will not be able to take ad Turn to Loans, page 3
