Defensive win / Page 7 Monday, November 25,2002 Since 1900 University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon Volume 104, Issue 62 Union, stores compromise to avert strike worxers ana employers agree on wages, benefits and hours Roman Gokhman Freelance Reporter Safeway, Albertsons, Fred Meyer and the United Food and Commer cial Workers Local 555 averted a Thanksgiving-week strike by reach ing an agreement over key labor is sues Sunday. The Local 555 announced the pro posed five-year contract to union members at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Sun day, after which union members vot ed to accept the offer. The final vote was 57 to 19 against the strike for meat workers, and 396 to 116 against the strike for grocery workers. Local 555 Secretary-Treasurer Ed Clay told union members to ap prove the deal. “If you turn this offer down, we’re go ing to go on strike tonight,” Clay said. West 18th Avenue Albertsons em ployee and union member Sherri Smith said she was relieved that the employees will not strike. “I’m a little disappointed, but at least the health and welfare (cover age) is good,” she said. Both sides reached a compromise on the main sticking points—health care coverage, pension benefits and wage increases. The employers currently pay 100 percent of union member health care, and they wanted employees to pay a portion of the premium. Now, Turn to Strike, page 6 Dammed in Corvallis The Ducks lose the 106th Civil War in Corvallis, their fifth loss in six games, which puts their fragile postseason hopes in jeopardy d3n||| Oregon 24 ijKriLOregon State 45 Adam Jude Senior Sports Reporter CORVALLIS — It was a fitting end to a tragic season. Ranked as high as No. 6 after a 6-0 start to the season, Oregon made the biggest fall in the history of the program after a 45-24 Civil War loss to Oregon State on Saturday. Losers of five of the last six games, in cluding their final three Pacific-10 Con ference games — the first time they’ve lost three straight in the same season since 1996—the Ducks (7-5 overall, 3-5 Pac-10) finished the regular season in eighth place in the conference’s stand ings. The Ducks’ most likely postseason bid will be to the Dec. 27 Seattle Bowl, although even that may be out of reach. In front of a sold-out Reser Stadium crowd of 37,154, Oregon State quarter back Derek Anderson (370 passing yards, four touchdowns) continued the season-long assault of Oregon’s second ary, and Oregon State tailback Steven Jackson (153 rush yards, three total touchdowns) became the school’s sin gle-season rushing leader with 1,656 yards as the Beavers handed the Ducks their third-straight loss in Corvallis. Oregon State’s 45 points were the most it has ever scored in 106 Civil Wars. “As a senior, it’s something I’m going to have to live with for the rest of my life. It sucks,” Oregon defensive end Seth McEwan said. Oregon’s battered offense, playing without tailback Onterrio Smith, strug gled to find its touch against an Oregon State (8-4,4-4) defense ranked No. 1 in the Pac-10. An Oregon State fan displays his feelings for Oregon on a sign during the Beavers'win in Saturday's Civil War. With the Rose Bowl on the line here two years ago, Oregon quarterback Joey Harrington threw five intercep tions in a 23-13 Oregon State victory. On Saturday, junior Jason Fife fol lowed in his predecessor’s footsteps, completing just 14-of-33 passes for 183 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. “That was a pretty good defense, I give them credit,” Fife said. “But we didn’t show up today... and I take that upon myself. “For us not to be productive and score, it’s hard. Very hard.” In Smith’s place, backup tailback Ryan Shaw went down with a sprained ankle in the first quarter, and freshman Terrence Whitehead had just 20 yards Adam Amato Emerald Turn to Civil War, page 10 David Moretti and the Ducks lost their fifth of six games Saturday. Weather Today: High 52, Low 25, foggy morning, mostly sunny Tuesday: High 55, Low 28, patchy fog, otherwise sunny Looking ahead Tuesday: A University alumnus and local lawyer fights racial references Wednesday: Area food banks are actively collecting for the holidays Foreign students give thanks The Office of International Programs organizes an exchange for international students to celebrate Thanksgiving and learn culture with local families Jennifer Bear Campus/City Culture Reporter A four-day weekend and a home-cooked holiday feast is beckoning many University members to flock homeward Thursday. But for many interna tional students, home is out of reach, and Thanks giving is a foreign concept. Some of these students, however, still celebrate the holiday as a way to try something new. The Office of International Programs organizes a Thanksgiving exchange where international students can join a local family for their celebra tion and holiday dinner. International student ad viser Abe Schafermeyer said many foreign stu dents welcome this opportunity to experience an authentic American holiday and have signed up for the exchange. Two such students from Indonesia, Tjhin Siska Natalia and Meilani Lazuardi, said they enjoy being able to celebrate the customs and traditions of an other country, but they miss being able to visit their families. Summer break is the only time the two can go home to see their loved ones. However, Lazuardi said being separated from her family dur ing the holiday season doesn’t make her sad. As a Christian, she said she feels more able to enjoy the holiday season in America than in Indonesia. “I like Christmas here better than in my country because most people are of the Muslim faith in our Turn to Holiday, page 4 ' Students will get less grant money Oregon Opportunity Grants will be reduced over the next two terms because of legislative budget cuts Paying for college Ken Paulman City/State Politics Reporter The University’s Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships will be contacting Oregon Opportunity Grant recipients via e-mail this week to inform them of reductions in their awards for winter and spring terms. Because of legislative cuts, the antici pated grants of $418 per term will be reduced to $304 per term, a 27 per cent reduction. The affected students will be sent a link to an explanatory letter from Kath leen Hynes, director of grants and schol arships for the Oregon Student Assis tance Commission. The letter can be viewed online at http://www.osac.state. or. us/schools. html. Hynes said the reductions are pri marily the result of cuts in state appro priations and an accompanying loss of federal matching funds. The federal government provides money to states for student assistance, she said, but only if the state maintains a consistent level of funding. “We’re not the only state this is hap pening to,” she said. Student Financial Aid Director Eliza beth Bickford said the cuts are significant for students who are barely scraping by. “That’s a big deal to students,” she said. “It’s a big deal to anyone.” Bickford said the financial aid office wants to notify students as early as pos sible of the reductions so they can find ways to make up for lost funding. Some students may opt to work over winter break, but there are other op tions, including applying for addition al scholarships. The application process for scholarships, she said, can sometime be arduous. Bickford said the financial aid office can help students locate and apply for additional scholarships. A scholarship workshop will be held today from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in B13 Klamath. Bickford emphasized that the deci sion to reduce the grants was beyond the control of the University and the fi nancial aid office, and she said the Uni versity is trying to find ways to help compensate for the loss of funds. “It’s one of those years when things Turn to Grant, page 4