An independent newspaper
Peanuts/Page 13
Thursday, October 3,2002
Since 1900 University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon
Volume 104, Issue 25
River of advocacy
OSPIRG hopes to raise
awareness of pollution in the
Willamette through student
and government activism
Jody Burruss
Environment/Science/Technology Reporter
The Willamette River is the most
polluted river west of the Mississip
pi, with chemicals like lead, arsenic
and dioxin being dumped into it
every year, which is why OSPIRG
(Oregon Student Public Interest
Research Group) has made clean
ing up the Willamette its top priori
ty this fall.
OSPIRG is an organization that
teaches students how to investigate
problems and come up with practi
cal solutions. The campus branch
has several issues that it tackles
every year.
This year, some of OSPIRG’s
main concerns will include getting
young people to vote, increasing
awareness about homelessness and
hunger in the community, and in
creasing awareness and protection
for and about wilderness areas.
Their main focus this year is the
Willamette River.
“If people were aware of how tox
ic it is, I think they would be out
raged,” OSPIRG board Chair
woman Vivian Vassall said.
Department of Environmental
Quality environmental toxicologist
Gene Foster said the group has col
lected data showing that in some
areas of the river, more than half of
the fish have skeletal deformities.
He said this seems like a high inci
dence, and further studies are still
being conducted.
About 75 percent of Oregon’s
Jeremy Forrest Emerald
The Willamette River, the most polluted river west of the Mississippi, runs near 75 percent of Eugene homes.
population lives on or near the
Willamette River, yet some parts of
the river are so dangerously pollut
ed that warning signs are required
to be posted to let people know
they should stay away, Vassall said.
There is a five and a half mile
stretch of river in the Portland Har
bor that has recently been declared
a federal Superfund site by the En
vironmental Protection Agency.
EPA spokesman Bill Dunbar said
that a Superfund area can be a con
taminated site that has been aban
doned or an operable site that poses
enough threat to require immediate
help from EPA.
By declaring a Superfund site,
EPA can use political leverage to tell
companies that played a part in the
pollution to go in and clean it up,
Dunbar said.
If the company refuses, EPA can
charge them fees for EPA to go in
and clean it up itself.
Because many people are un
aware of the degree of pollution in
the Willamette River, one of OS
PIRG’s major efforts involved in the
Willamette River campaign is to
raise public awareness on campus.
One way is by getting students
to sign an unofficial petition if
they are concerned about the riv
er that says they will keep this in
mind when they vote for a guber
natorial candidate.
Vassall said she is surprised this is
not a bigger issue for University stu
dents or gubernatorial candidates.
She says the issue is important
Turn to OSPIRG, page 6
SWAT
interns
educate
on abuse
The Sexual Wellness Advocacy
Team offers interns the opportunity
to teach others about sexual assault
and dating violence through
multimedia projects
Jillian Daley
Family/Health/Education Reporter
Last fall, Erin Dury got a chance to work
on a cause she has always supported.
“Back at home, my mom’s always
been on the board of the YWCA, so I’ve
always been involved in women’s rights,”
the sophomore said.
Her chance was to work for the Sexual
Wellness Advocacy Team, a yearlong in
ternship course offered through the Uni
versity’s educational leadership depart
ment. SWAT’s mission is to educate the
campus community on issues surround
ing dating violence and sexual assault,
and to present the information to the
broadest audience possible.
Dury applied for the internship last
year at IntroDUCKtion, not knowing
quite what to expect, but hoping to learn
more about a cause she cared about.
“It was crazy,” she said. “We created a
presentation — PowerPoint. The first
term we did a lot of training.”
The training teaches interns how to
support a survivor of rape or domes
tic/partner violence.
Multiple groups provide training for
the interns, featuring volunteers from
Turn to SWAT, page 12
DPS offers tips for protecting yourself from theft
With bike thefts up last year,
safety is as important as ever,
DPS gives advice for returning
and new students alike
Danielle Gillespie
Safety/Crime/Transportation Reporter
From burglaries of residences to
theft of bicycles, stolen property is
a common complaint among Univer
sity students.
Tom Hicks, Department of Public
Safety associate director, said theft is
a concern on and around campus
throughout the academic year and
particularly in the residence halls.
“Residence hall theft occurs be
cause other students are given the
opportunity to commit a crime,”
Hicks said. “A lot of crime could be
reduced if rooms were kept secure.”
Students living off campus may also
find it beneficial to keep their apart
ments and houses secure.
University junior Matt Hensel
said during winter break last year,
intruders stole a laptop, cameras
and money.
“I know several houses in my area
got broken into over break,” he said.
“I think that the Eugene Police De
partment could decrease theft if they
increased patrol in student areas, es
pecially over breaks, when many
students are gone.”
The most common areas for theft
are the EMU and the libraries. Most
items stolen on campus are back
packs, wallets, purses, bicycles and
laptops Hicks said.
Hicks said many students have
fpEATHER
Today: High 60, Low 45, occasional light rain
Friday: High 63, Low 42, chance of drizzle, then sun
Looking ahead
Friday Monday
University and Eugene Where's all the
officials look to prevent riots Coke on campus?
their laptops stolen while studying in
the libraries because they leave
them unattended.
“It happens because it’s late at
night and people are distracted and
not paying attention,” Hicks said.
“Plus, it’s open to the public and any
one can come inside.”
Students can protect their laptops
by purchasing a STOP plate at DPS,
which leaves a permanent tattoo on
the equipment if the plate is re
moved. The tattoo provides unmis
takable proof that the equipment
has been stolen, making it traceable
by authorities.
Hicks said that items often are
stolen out of vehicles, as well.
“Keep the vehicle locked and take
expensive items out of the vehicle,”
he said. “Stay away from putting
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Vehicle break-ins
Theft from buildings
Bicycle theft
Stolen vehicles
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valuables in the trunk because many
cars have back seats that fold down
and give access to the trunk.”
He also said it’s important to park
vehicles and leave bikes on campus
in well-lighted areas.
“The number of bikes stolen every
year varies depending on how many
criminals are working in the area,”
Hicks said. “Last year, we had a
fairly high number of bikes stolen
Turn to Theft, page 12
Student directory deadline nears
The student directory will be
released soon. The deadline is Fri
day for submitting a form to restrict
what information is made public.
If students do not wish to be
listed in the directory, they may file
a restriction of directory informa
tion with the Registrar’s office.
Once the student files the form,
however, no information about
them can be released to anyone,
including the student.
That means that no information
linking that student to the Universi
ty can ever be released, even after
graduation, unless the Registrar’s
office is notified in writing.
For example, if a resume says a
person is or was a University stu
dent and a potential employer calls,
information cannot be verified, As
sistant to the EMU Director Donna
Winitzky said.
Many people turn in the form
before the directory comes
out and then submit a letter
releasing the information once
the directory has been printed,
Winitzky said.
— Jenni Schultz