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Yellow Jackets / Page 5
Thursday, October 17,2002
Since 1900 University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon
Volume 104, Issue 35
Jumping to their debt
High interest rates and deep
debt are among the problems
students face with credit cards
Danielle Gillespie
Safety/Crime/Transportation Reporter
University junior Daniel Schaible has
two credit cards and $4,000 in debt.
“I am in the clutches of credit card
companies,” he said. “I haven’t been able
to rid myself of them.”
Schaible is just one of the many students
who has accumulated a high credit card
debt. Financial aid director Elizabeth Bick
ford said credit card debt is a problem for
many students because they are living on
their own for the first time, and may not
have learned how to manage their money.
Consumer Credit Counseling Service
Executive Director Vickie Kirchoff
agreed, saying college students are at high
risk for accumulating credit card debt.
She said credit companies target stu
dents, changing them higher interest rates
because students are already in debt. Most
students are living off of loans, borrowed
money and do not have set incomes, mak
ing them an “at-risk applicant,” she said.
“Students need to keep in mind that
credit cards are not free money and pay
attention to interest rates,” Kirchoff said.
“They should not use the card unless they
have money to pay it back. ”
Kirchoff said if students want to sign up
for a credit card, they should find a card
with a low-fixed interest rate. She said to
avoid cards that have no interest rate until
a set date because this rate is usually high,
and they should also stay away from cred
it cards with annual fees.
Kirchoff said credit cards are very ac
cessible to college students for two rea
sons: applications are given to students
when they buy their course books, and
credit card booths are set-up around cam
pus throughout the year.
EMU scheduling assistant Jared Evans
said the University allows credit card ven
dors to solicit on campus because it does
not discriminate against any group.
Adam Amato Emerald
Students should read all the fine print of credit card applications to avoid high interest rates
and fees and should avoid using plastic at all unless it is a necessity.
“We make more money from credit
card vendors than other vendors,” he said.
Throughout the year, several credit card
companies set up booths on campus to so
licit applications from students, giving
them a chance to step into the credit world.
But students should be aware of fraud,
Department of Public Safety Associate Di
rector Tom Hicks said.
On Oct. 10, DPS asked a private con
tractor working for Citibank to leave the
campus area. The contractor was taking
pictures of students’ ID cards along with
having them fill out credit applications.
Hicks said according to Citibank, it
does not require copies of students’ pho
tos. He said the private contractor could
have used those photos to acquire infor
mation about the student. In addition,
Hicks said the contractor could use the
photos to make false identification cards.
Hicks said students should be suspi
cious anytime someone wants to hold
onto a piece of their identification or take
pictures or make photocopies of it.
As for students who have already accu
mulated debt, Kirchoff said they should
look at a debt management program, find
out ways to fit a job into their academic ca
reers and possibly change their spending
habits or adjust their living styles.
“Credit cards are not a necessity for
anyone — they are the fastest way of be
coming bankrupt,” Kirchoff said.
Contact the reporter
at daniellegillespie@dailyemerald.com.
Artist draws
attention to
her culture
Nigar Nazar, whose popular cartoon “Gogi” gained
fame in Pakistan and then the world, will host
a workshop tonight at the UO Bookstore
Brad Schmidt
City/State Politics Reporter
Elegantly dressed in soft, earthy colors, Nigar Nazar wears
her culture at sleeve’s length.
Wrapped in a tiger-print shawl, the Pakistani native quietly
speaks of her heritage and, ultimately, what she hopes she has
contributed to it.
Nazar, one of the University’s eight Fulbright scholars and
host of a free workshop at the UO Bookstore from 6 p.m. to 8
p.m. today, is somewhat of a celebrity in her homeland. A
woman cartoonist in a country where only political artists exist,
Nazar’s efforts are numerous.
Her comic strip, “Gogi,” instantly took off after its debuted
in Pakistan in 1970. In years since, “Gogi” has found its way
into countries across the globe.
But strangely enough, it almost never got started.
In the late 1960s, a Pakistani teacher at Viqar-Un-Nisa School
was lecturing to a full class. Seated somewhere in the masses
was Nazar, daydreaming as she did most days.
“I was just drawing all the time, doodling in the margins of
my books,” Nazar said. “And then I just, one day, left my sci
ence class and walked into the fine arts department. Just like
that.... I never looked back.”
Without prominent cartoonists to learn from, Nazar said she
had to teach herself everything. Using her surroundings to
channel ideas, Nazar’s comic was laughable more than anything
else.
“In the beginning, it was just plain innocent humor — it was
nothing deeper than that,” she said.
But in the meantime, Pakistani newspapers began filling up
with American syndicated comics. Suddenly, Nazar realized
she needed to give her people something more.
“I wanted to do something that was based on our culture, on
our people, on our problems,” she said.
Having lived in more than 10 countries, Nazar, 50, has an
undying need to give back to her community. Gall it culture,
Turn to Artist, page 6
Community says riots haven’t tainted University
Local businesses and officials share their
perceptions of the students and the
University’s place in the community
Jennifer Bear
Campus/City Culture Reporter
The recent rioting sparked a flurry of debate
both in the University and in the community,
but people who work and live near campus say
that their impression of the University remains
Part 2 of 3
The Emerald looks at riot aftermath
Wednesday:
Task forces form
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The community voices concerns
Friday:
Responses
from meetings
unaffected.
Face the Music manager Karl Payne said
when events like rioting occur, it’s frightening
for him because the disturbance could escalate
from partygoers burning mattresses to setting
houses on fire.
Although the possibility of people being in
jured in future riots troubles Payne, he said the
recent melee should not reflect negatively on
people’s perceptions of students.
“It’s really too bad that University students
all get lumped into the same category,”
Payne said.
Eric Smith, manager of Starbucks on East
13th Avenue, said September’s riot did not al
ter his view of students because only a small
percentage of the student population was in
volved. Smith said the recent rioting wasn’t too
Turn to Community, page 6
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DeFazio, VanLeeuwen battle for seat
Incumbent Peter DeFazio looks
to keep his House position over
challenger Liz VfemLeeuwen
Oregon votes 2002
Brook Reinhard
News Editor
At first glance, Peter DeFazio and Liz
VanLeeuwen are very similar. They’ve
both been active in politics. They’ve lived
in Oregon longer than most current Uni
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both are running for a seat in the House
of Representatives for Oregon’s Fourth
District.
But the similarities end there. Democ
ratic incumbent candidate DeFazio, a
University graduate, jumped right into
politics and has served as a U.S. Con
gressman since 1986, while Republican
candidate VanLeeuwen, a small-business
owner and teacher, spent years working
on a family farm before serving 18 years
in the Oregon Legislature.
In question and answer sessions with
the Emerald, DeFazio stressed his politi
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ground,” while VanLeeuwen focused on
her integrity and “real-world” experi
ence.
“I represent some of the most progres
sive areas in the state and also the most
conservative areas in the state,” DeFazio
said. “It’s always an interesting challenge
to bridge the gap.”
VanLeeuwen spoke of her personal
character and life experience.
“I’m not going to say something differ
ent here at home than how I vote in Wash
ington, D.C.,” she said. “I understand nat
♦ VYi V. Wn to Congress, page 6