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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 11, 2002)
http://www.dailyemerald.com Coming out? / Page 4 Friday, October 11,2002 Since 1900 University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon Volume 104, Issue 31 ASUO motivates new voter registration “Get Out the N/tote’ encourages students to exercise rights and educates about political issues Jan Montry Campus/Federal Politics Reporter “Hi, are you registered to vote at your current address?” Students have probably heard those words on campus recently from a smiling volunteer in a cam paign T-shirt. The catch phrase — as well as the shirts—are all part of the ASUO’s an nual Get Out the Vote campaign. This year, the theme is “Stuff the Duck,” named after the wooden ducks placed around campus that gauge this year’s goal. The ASUO hopes to register 4,000 new voters campuswide. ASUO State Affairs Coordinator Adam Petkun, co-coordinator of the campaign, said getting students to vote is important so higher educa tion funding isn’t cut. “We don’t have money to lobby in Salem, but what we do have is power — 20,000 students,” Petkun said. Student Senator Mena Ravas sipour, a campaign volunteer, said many students she approaches for registration are friendly and happy to take a few minutes to register. But sometimes she gets the cold shoulder. “I think it’s kind of traumatizing when you ask (students) to register and they ignore you,” she said. Petkun stressed the necessity of getting the word out to everyone. “I know students get tired of hearing it,” he said. “We’re not try ing to be rude; we’re trying to reach every last student to give them a chance to vote.” Petkun added, however, that Alaskan students should not register because they will lose the govern ment stipend they receive every year as residents of Alaska. Aside from registering students to vote, ASUO is educating students about political issues. Students will have a chance to meet state legislative candidates Oct. 23 at the EMU, and a ballot measure event will be held Oct. 24 to familiarize students with state bal lot measures. “We want to give students both sides of the coin so they can make an educated decision,” said Stefan Mey ers, ASUO legislative associate and the other co-coordinator of the campaign. Another tentative event is a de bate between Floyd Prozanski and Greg McNeill, Democratic and Re publican candidates for the Oregon House of Representatives, District 8. Myers said the “Stuff the Duck” campaign is only the first step in an active year. “Everything we do stems from voter registration,” he said. ASUO is also planning lobbying trips to Salem and a trip to the Unit ed States Student Association Con vention in Washington, D.G. Contact the senior news reporter at janmontry@dailyemeraId.com. Kicking V awareness More attention is being given to personal safety on campus, and the University offers a variety of self-defense classes Ayisha Yahya Freelance Editor It’s late at night as you drag yourself from a study session at the li brary. You’re walking back to the dorms or maybe to your car, when out of the darkness, unseen arms grab you like a vice. What do you do? Personal safety is a key concern in any environment, even at the Uni versity. The fear of being assaulted probably weighs on the minds of many students, especially at night. Recognizing students’ need to pro tect themselves from possible attacks, the University offers several classes and programs on self-defense. Currently, the physical education department has two classes dedi - cated completely to self-defense, as well as aikido, karate, judo and tae kwon do. Apart from the traditional martial arts, students can also learn techniques in jeet kune do, jiu jitsu, hapkido and Russian sambo, all of which are adapted to street conditions. “We offer classes for several reasons,” physical education Associate Director Peg Rees said. “One reason is the significant student de mand.” She said students not only want to learn self-defense, but also have an interest in martial arts. Sue Doyle teaches two of the self-defense classes. “We study a variety of different techniques,” she said. “Hopefully, out of the class, someone will find a technique that works for them.” Students learn physical techniques like how to block, kick and apply their strength, as well as theoretical skills on awareness. “Not to be melodramatic, but hopefully (the class) will save a few lives and give people tools and skills that help them if something should arise,” Doyle said. University junior Lach Litwer has taken jeet kune do and Brazilian jiu jitsu at the University. He said studying martial arts makes him feel capable of protecting himself. “Anybody who’s taken martial arts, even for a little while, gains some measure of self-confidence,” Litwer said. “I’m confident because I know what I’m capable of.” Turn to Self-defense, page 10A Mark McCambridge Emerald Students can learn the art of self-defense in several martial arts classes offered at the University. Red flag campaign flies high Student groups launch project to raise consciousness about student safety on campus Danielle Gillespie Safety/Crime/Transportation Reporter With a total of 10 campus attacks occurring between February 2001 and March 2002, ranging from at tempted rape to attempted armed robbery — student safety has be come a major concern. For the past two years, the ASUO and the Department of Public Safe ty have been looking for ways to in crease awareness about potential threats to students’ safety. The groups recently decided to display red flags on campus trans portation vehicles when an incident has occurred. The participating pro grams are Designated Driver Shut tle, Project Saferide and Night Ride. ASUO President Rachel Pilliod said she thinks it is important to have an immediate response to any threatening incident, especially on the weekends, when student publi cations are not printing. “I think that safety on campus is a big issue that needs to be addressed,” Turn to Safety, page 10A Mark McCambridge bmerald Randy Buchanan of Hillsboro, Ore., stirs a large vat of kettle corn. Buchanan runs his own stand, Humdinger Kettle Korn. Students can sample sights, sounds at Faire Today is the last day to wander through the ASUO-sponsoned booths along East 13th Avenue Brook Reinhard News Editor Ron Ritnour makes more money sell ing trinkets than most University profes sors make from teaching all year. Ritnour, a jewelry maker, is one of 117 vendors this year at the ASUO Street Faire. The three-day event, which ends today, features food, music and countless booths selling everything from tie-dye shirts to hunting knives. For Ritnour, the fair is a chance to sell his homemade wares to thousands of prospective customers. “I’m one of the only headers I know who makes a full-time business out of this,” he said. “I do it so I don’t have to work construction.” The Springfield man quit a $22 an hour job as an HVAC installer a year and a half ago to make his own jewelry. Rit nour said while his day-to-day sales can Turn to Faire, page 6A Weather Today: High 62, Low 32, Morning fog with sun later Saturday: High 70, Low 37, Sunny and dear Looking ahead Monday Skiers need to rip across town for Willamette Pass discounts Tuesday 'Ask Nat1 is back with more instructions for a better life
