News
City councilors propose higher wages for temporary city employees. Page 4
Bill Bradbury releases 12 new ballot measures. Page 8
Pulse
A campus hot dog vender carries
on a legacy of personable service.
Pages
Tuesday,August 13,2002 Since 1 900 University of Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Volume 103, Issue 14
City to investigate alleged violations at Autzen
An anonymous source claims that
sprinkler systems were not installed in
accordance with building and fire codes
By Brad Schmidt and Jenni Schultz
Oregon Daily Emerald
University and city officials will meet to
day to determine an appropriate course of
action in response to an anonymous letter
received Friday alleging that numerous
building code violations occurred during
r
the renovation of Autzen Stadium.
The meeting, which is scheduled for this
afternoon, will be used to strategize an ap
propriate reaction to claims of improper
sprinkler pipe installation and inappropriate
craftsmanship.
If the source’s claims prove true, the Uni
versity “will correct any deficiencies that are
in violation of code,” Vice President for Ad
ministration Dan Williams said.
A team will eventually be sent to investi
gate the claims, but before the inspection, Eu
gene Fire Marshal Mike Thrapp said he will
also meet with the contractors.
“We want to give the contractors time to
prepare for the inspection,” he said.
If inspectors find that additional work is re
quired, such changes likely would not delay
the Aug. 31 reopening of Autzen Stadium.
Subcontractor Cosco Fire Protection al
legedly installed a fire sprinkler system that
is “defective and will not function,” ac
cording to the anonymous source, who city
officials believe is a disgruntled employee.
Cosco Fire Protection denied the allegations.
In an interview with the Emerald, the
source, who spoke on condition of anonymi
ty, said that the magnitude of the problem is
not yet known.
“Once (inspectors) are out at the site, I
think they will be surprised at the viola
tions,” said the source, who provided the
Emerald with blueprints marked to show the
locations of improperly hung sprinkler pipes.
The source also denied being a disgruntled
Turn to Autzen, page 3
Hungry
for
more
By Brad Schmidt
Oregon Daily Emerald
There’s a big difference between confi
dence and arrogance.
The Ducks are confident.
Regardless of last year’s 11-1 record and
subsequent national attention, the Ducks
know a difficult challenge awaits this season.
Oregon’s conviction, nonetheless, shows no
signs of wavering.
“We have ‘stay hungry’ written on the
wall,” head coach Mike Bellotti said. “It’s
very important to keep this whole thing in
perspective.”
And with the season just weeks away, it
appears the Ducks have a big appetite.
A national championship. An undefeated
record. Personal goals.
They’re all on Oregon’s plate.
“We’ve had a better record every year, so
this year, we might have a chance to improve
it,” receiver Jason Willis said, hinting at a no
loss season.
But he’s not the only one. The Ducks —
who open their season Aug. 31 at home
against Mississippi State — know their gift
ed bunch of athletes could take them to the
promised land.
“We have enough talent on this team to
win every single game that we step out on
the field,” kicker Jared Siegel said.
Despite taking a big hit in the polls — Ore
gon is ranked No. 15 in the ESPN/USA To
day Coaches’ Poll and No. 15 by the Associ
ated Press — Bellotti believes teams will still
be gunning for the Ducks.
“I think our first couple games will tell us a
lot about what kind of team we have and
where we should be ranked,” he said.
What kind of team? How about: good.
“The nice thing about our offensive bal
ance is that, do you load up the line of scrim
mage to stop Onterrio Smith?” Bellotti said.
“Do you double cover Keenan Howry or
Sarnie Parker? And what about our tight
ends?”
True, the quick-strike Ducks have talent at
every position. But at wide out, Oregon may
have its best-ever.
“I think that Keenan will do what Keenan
Adam Jones Emerald
Wide receiver Keenan Howry (No. 15) prepares for a passing drill during Oregon’s first practice Saturday. Redshirt
freshman Kellen Clemens, center, and redshirt junior Jason Fife, right, are both vying to become the Ducks’
starting quarterback.
does,” Bellotti said of his star receiver. “He’ll
make plays, he’ll make great catches, he’ll
catch 50-plus passes a year and, barring in
jury, he’ll end up the leading receiver all
time in Oregon history.”
The major focus during fall practice, how
ever, will be determining who will feed
Smith the ball and throw passes to the talent
ed receivers.
“Down deep I’m looking for one guy,” Bel
lotti said of the quarterback position. “Early
on, I would hope, that certainly both quarter
backs would get a chance to play meaningful
time in order to evaluate them properly.
“But again, I say that as a hope — I don’t
guarantee it,” he added.
While redshirt junior Jason Fife opened
fall practice as the No. 1 quarterback, redshirt
freshman Kellen Clemens hopes to give the
elder a run for his money.
“I’m looking to compete for the job,”
Clemens said. “As far as what happens, I
have no idea.”
One position that needs no rivalry is tail
back, where Oregon’s strongest offensive
weapon lies. Smith ran for more than 1,000
yards as a backup last year, including a 285
yard outburst against Washington State.
With his explosive moves and physical ap
proach to the game, some are already placing
the Duck amid the names of Heisman Trophy
hopefuls.
“Basically,” Smith said, “I’d like to lead
the country in rushing.”
A national championship appearance is
also on Smith’s to-do list. But in order for the
Ducks to meet their lofty goals, Smith knows
he may have to shoulder some of the initial
burden.
Turn to Ducks, page 8
Three local
businesses
get eviction
notification
The stores’ property owner says
Alder Street Market, Les’ Barber
Shop and The Hair Tailors have
until Aug. 31 to relocate
By Jillian Daley
Oregon Daily Emerald
Three local businesses will lose their
leases and must vacate by Aug. 31 after
being served a 30-day eviction notice.
Wheeler Properties, LLC, property
owner of the businesses, has decided to
buy out the establishments, and, as of
yet, has not given a reason why.
The businesses, Alder Street Market,
Les’ Barber Shop and The Hair Tailors,
are located in a row beginning at the
corner of Alder Street and East 11th Av
enue. The business owners said that
they think the property owners are
planning on demolishing the building
because poor upkeep has lead to a
degradation of structure and appear
ance.
The business proprietors have been
using the month’s notice to find a new
place to begin again.
“Everyone down here is highly up
set,” Les’ Barber shop proprietor, Les
Sellars, said. “It just wasn’t ethical.
Thirty days (notice) just is not right, par
ticularly when people have been rent
ing or leasing for so long.”
Sellars has been at his current loca
tion for eight years, and is concerned
about the effect the imposed move will
have on his business.
“This is going to make a tremendous
negative impact on our business on
such short notice because most of our
business is students, and most of them
are gone for the summer,” Sellars said.
Sellars has already found a new loca
tion. He will be moving from 790 East
11th Ave. to East 13th Avenue, next to
Moderne Briggs Studios, which is on
the corner of Oak Street and East 13th
Avenue.
However, after the move, Sellars said
he will not be able to open his new busi
ness until around mid-September,
Turn to Eviction, page 4