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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 31, 2002)
Feest feet/Page 13 An independent newspaper http://www.dailyemerald.com rolume 104 Thursday, October 31,2002 Tissue 45 Ghosts of Halloween past Some Eugeneans will celebrate Halloween this year with rituals steeped in centuries-old traditions Jillian Daley Family/Health/Education Reporter While some Eugene residents are celebrating All Hallows’ Eve with candy and costumes, others will be observing a traditional Celtic festival from whose roots grew the Hal loween pumpkin. Samhain, with pronunciations that include “Sow-in,” “Sow-ain” or “Sow-een,” means “summer’s end.” It is the holiday when pagans wel come the new year, enjoy deep intro spection, honor ancestors and com municate with the recently deceased. Many believe that the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest during this time. Depending on one’s personal tradi tion or denomination, there are differ ent ways of keeping the holiday. “More of the Wiccan-based side of it is you do gather in a circle,” said Donella-Elizabeth Alston, a member of a women-only religious group called Sophia Sanctuary. “We consecrate the circle with the elements of air, fire, water and earth.” Wicca is an offshoot of paganism, and involves worship of a deity pair rather than a singular pagan goddess. Alston said the group then calls the four directions — north, east, south and west — each of which has differ Turn to Halloween, page 6 Danielle Hickey Emerald Deborah Snavely of Woodhart Ways of Olde shuffles tarot cards in her Wicca store on West 11th and Grant Street. Officials promote partying safely Local legal and law enforcement groups offer tips for responsible, safe partying to students Danielle Gillespie Safety/Crime/Transportation Reporter Bundled in warm coats and huddling together in chilly, autumn weather, about 30 students gathered Wednesday evening to hear speakers talk about students’ rights and responsibilities while partying. The ASUO-hosted event included speakers from ASUO Legal Services, the Eugene Police Department and the De partment of Public Safety, who told stu dents about their legal obligations and what to expect for police patrols on Hal loween and in the future. ASUO Community Outreach Coordi nator Jesse Harding said students should be aware of their surroundings and remove themselves from situations where they could be held accountable for illegal activity. He also said he wanted students to be aware that EPD is cracking down on open containers — this Halloween and for the year. George Schneider, an Oregonian who has been involved with law enforcement for 30 years, offered Turn to Party safety, page 5 INSIDE State ballot measures Measure 26 PAGE 4 Measures 2 3 and 27 PAGE 4 Measure 17 PAGE 5 Students look at affirmative action A workshop and call-in to politicians honors National Take Affirmative Action Day Andrew Shipley Freelance Reporter Students met in the Multicultur al Center’s lounge Wednesday to recognize diversity and spread awareness about affirmative ac tion. The University’s Oregon Stu dents of Color Coalition chapter organized the workshop and phone-in to political candidates to honor National Take Affirmative Action Day. Organized statewide by the OSGG, the day is a chance not only to celebrate diversity but also to help dismantle what the OSGG considers myths surrounding affir mative action. For Oregon students, the issue is of particular concern, as anti affirmative action legislation has already been passed in seven states, including California and Washington, and organizers wor ry that similar legislation could be introduced here. “We want to increase aware ness of the positive benefits of af firmative action, and the very real possibility that it will be tak en away,” said OSGG Board Chair Brenda Sifuentez, who organized the event along with Asian/Pacif ic American Student Union Go Director Mark Padoongpatt. “Affirmative action is a really sketchy subject right now,” Padoongpatt said. “There are a lot of myths about what affirmative action is — a lot of stereotypes and misunderstanding.” According to Padoongpatt, com mon perceptions on affirmative ac tion are that it is a form of reverse racism and it allows the accept ance of under-qualified applicants, and even that it’s not a relevant is sue on the University campus. “Minority students and faculty are intelligent and capable — there Turn to Affirmative, page 5 Perfect seeds cultivate healthy pumpkins Local pumpkin growers use careful consideration when selecting seeds for their farms Jody Burruss Environment/Science/Technology Reporter There is a science to growing huge pumpkins, and it starts with the seeds. But for many local farmers, growing huge pumpkins and breaking records isn’t their slice of pie. Lorie Jensen, president of Lone Pine Farms, said they grow pumpkins weighing up to 300 pounds. The majority of pumpkins range in size from 20 to 40 pounds, however. When Jensen picks her seeds, she doesn’t always order the biggest varieties i ’because many of her customers ianenk* in each Western State pumpkins looking for huge pump kins. Jensen chooses her seeds — which will one day become pies or jack-o’ .. lanterns The largest pumpkins _ from a ewer recorded _ , . catalogue, much the same way one would choose a new sweater. Except Jensen has millions of seeds from which to choose. « Jensen said she >wv»vt.backgartlerTer.comy|Jrt.httnl * ’always » looks for pumpkins with a maturity date of at least Oct. 5 to ensure pumpkin hunters go home happy with their winter squash. The farm fertilizes and waters often to increase growth. Once the pumpkins bloom, the farm does not use any pesticides because there are often children around. In all, the farm grows 30 acres of pumpkins. “We have to grow enough to overcome the rot from not being able to spray,” Jensen said. Shannon Poynter, of Hey Bayles! Farm, said they do not grow any large pumpkins. They grow organically and dedicate less than an acre to pumpkins. Poynter said they prefer to stick with the smaller varieties that are edible. Pam Henderson, owner of Thistledown Farm, said her pumpkins range in weight and go up to 100 pounds. Henderson said they »*•*>> Turn to Pumpkins, page 7 Weather Today: High 50, Low 20, sunny with slight wind Friday: High 53, Low 25, sunny and clear Looking ahead Friday A review of the rally featuring former president Bill Clinton at Mac Court Monday A disabled Vietnam War veteran busted for medicinal marijuana
