http://www.dailyemerald.com
Tuesday, January 7,2003
Since 1900
University of Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Volume 104, Issue 72
Stairway to literature
Adam Amato Emerald
The new Eugene Public Library features a grand spiral staircase, similar to that in the Knight Library.
A new page for Eugene's library
With much more space than the
old one, the new Eugene Public
Library sports environmentally
friendly planning and layout
Roman Gokhman
Campus/City Culture Reporter
Four stories of red bricks and tower
ing windows comprise the exterior. Mar
ble floors, a coffee shop at ground level,
rows and rows of books and a grand spi
ral staircase showcase the interior.
But this is not the Knight Library.
The new Eugene Public Library,
which opened Dec. 16 on the comer of
West 10th Avenue and Olive Street,
shares many characteristics with the
Knight Library, right down to the ar
chitects who planned them.
When local design firm Robertson
Sherwood Architects chose to collabo
rate with Boston firm Shepley Bulfinch
INSIDE
Read library
Richardson and
Abbott, one of the
oldest architec
ture firms in the
United States and
a specialist in
building libraries,
they didn’t look
farther than the University.
Robertson-Sherwood Architects ap
proached SBRA because of its renova
tion work on the Knight Library.
“We knew it would be an important
building downtown,” Robertson-Sher
wood Architects’ Senior Associate
Randy Nishimura said.
SBRA architect Geoff Freeman said
the goal of the new building was to create
an open and encouraging environment.
“We wanted something that would
glow, something that spoke to the com
munity,” Freeman said.
The new library is about 130,000
square feet, while the old one was only
38,000 square feet — the new chil
dren’s section alone is larger than the
entire main floor of the old library.
Until the library needs to expand, the
fourth floor will be rented out for city of
fices and will be closed to the public.
Nishimura said as the two firms de
signed the new library, they paid a lot
of attention to energy-efficient and en
vironmentally healthy methods, like
the strategies being used in the new
Lillis Business Complex construction
on campus.
The University’s Energy Studies in
Buildings Laboratory, located in the
Center for Housing Innovation, provid
ed energy consultation by studying
daylighting and ventilation systems in
side the library and using a special
kind of paint glaze on the outside.
“It’s a challenging building,” said
Turn to Library, page 3
Group fights fear of speaking
Students can join Toastmasters
to master the art of communicating
by making speeches in public
Jennifer Bear
Campus/City Culture Reporter
Friday and Saturday nights, senior Josh
Herr works as a DJ at The Annex, some
times appearing in front of as many as 500
people. But the University student doesn’t
get uptight about being the center of atten
tion and having to entertain what could be
an intimidating group of people.
Herr’s four years in the campus chap
ter of Toastmasters International have
helped him control a fear that many peo
ple dread more than death itself: the fear
of public speaking.
Erik Parrish, president of the Universi
ty’s 15-member chapter of Toastmasters,
said the group’s small size creates an ide
al environment for beginners to come
and explore their strengths and weak
nesses as communicators. He added stu
dents who develop good speaking skills
increase their chances of getting a job.
“There aren’t any speech classes at the
University right now, and it’s hard to de
velop these skills — even though they’re
essential for your career,” Parrish said.
Senior Melissa Magaro has been a
member of Toastmasters for two terms,
and she joined the speech club to get
over her fear of public speaking. The
group holds meetings Tuesdays at 7 p.m.
in 128 Chiles and offers members many
opportunities to practice their commu
nication skills. Participants can sign up
to give a speech or simply participate
in a Table Topic, a one- or two-minute
impromptu speech.
While Toastmasters is open to all stu
dents, everyone has to pay a $16 new
member fee and then $18 every six
months for membership dues. Once
they’re a part of the organization, mem
bers progress through the Toastmasters
basic speech manual and must complete
10 required oral presentations in order to
become a Certified Toastmaster. Stu
dents can then pick a specific focus, such
as humorous speaking, public relations
or communicating on television.
Parrish said many people may be re
luctant to join Toastmasters because
they get an extreme case of the jitters
when forced to speak in front of others.
But he added that shouldn’t stop students
from thinking about membership.
“It’s better to make a mistake in Toast
masters and learn from it than to make a
mistake when you’re in class and your
grade is on the line,” Parrish said.
During the weekly Toastmaster meet
ings, members can give speeches and have
their presentations evaluated by the group.
Herr said a lot of things can inhibit com
munication, but some of the most com
mon mistakes beginners make when
speaking in public are using filler words —
such as um, ah, so and like — not making
good eye contact, fidgeting and forgetting
Turn to Toastmasters, page 4
Movement
sums to start
bill of lights
for athletes
The 64-page document includes 10 rights
intended to protea student athlete interests
Brad Schmidt
News Editor
On the court, things are pretty simple. Shoot from behind the
arc, it’s a three pointer. Step on the baseline, out of bounds. Move
a pivot foot, traveling. In black and white — typically outlined in
a handbook and usually officiated by a referee on the hardwood
— rules and regulations are predominant in athletics.
Off the court, however, things occasionally slip into a hazy
shade of gray.
Take, for instance, the recent suspension of former Oregon
point guard Shaquala Williams. The former Pacific-10 Conference
Freshman of the Year and 20(K) Pac-10 Player of the Year was sus
pended by head coach Bev Smith for reasons not made public.
“It is what it is,” Smith told the Emerald on Dec. 4, when she
first suspended the hoops star.
Then, “after considerable thought, reflection and with re
gret,” Smith announced on Dec. 9 that a permanent suspen
sion would be in both Williams’ and Oregon’s best interests.
“Whether I was treated fairly, it’s her program,” Williams told
the press. “She can do whatever she wants.”
And, in essence, Williams’ assessment of the situation was
correct. Student athletes are at the mercy of coaching person
nel; coaches have the ability to determine who plays and who
does not. In this case, Williams would not be playing for Ore
gon — ever again.
To make matters more discouraging, there wasn’t a pi >cess
that allowed for an appeal. That, essentially, was that.
But former University of Kansas track and field head coach
Bob Timmons is trying to change the system. Timmons, a
longtime advocate of student-athlete rights, is pushing for the
Turn to Rights, page 12
! — Opportunity for participation
Would ensure a student’s right to play if he
or she is capable to play at the level desired
by each team and is in compliance with
NCAA rules and regulations
No. 2 — Penalty system
'» Requires student-athletes to comply with
NCAA regulations in a system that protects
ose who do and allows for punishment of
those who do not; also protects school and
other players from actions of a few; is
compatible with the minimum due process of
the Constitution of the United States
No. 3 — Freedom from discrimination
Student-athletes will receive the same
privileges available to students who do not
participate in intercollegiate athletics
Turn to Bill, page 12
Weather
Today: High 48, Low 33, foggy and cloudy
Wednesday: High 48, Low 33, cloudy morning
Looking ahead
Wednesday Thursday
The University's Museum Meet who decides the fate
of Art gets a new director of students' incidental fees