Friday, January 10, 2003
http://www.dailyemerald.com
Volume 104, Issue 75
EMU budget decision may cut jobs
The EMU Board of Directors
postpones a decision that may
eliminate four student jobs
Aimee Rudin
Family/Health/Education Reporter
The EMU Board of Directors’ first
budget meeting of the year dead
locked Thursday night when the
board couldn’t decide whether to
eliminate four student jobs in favor of
one, full-time position in the EMU
Scheduling Office.
The Scheduling Office was one of
three groups slated for the Board’s
Thursday night budget allocation
meeting. Even' EMU program must
go through a budget appraisal, similar
to the ASUO Programs Finance Com
mittee hearings taking place through
out the month.
The Scheduling Office’s budget pro
posal tor 2003-04 proved difficult for
the board because the office is seeking
to hire a full- or part-time staff mem
ber at the front desk. That employee
would replace four student positions.
University Scheduling Officer Vir
ginia Anderson, who is also the
scheduling and events services unit
director, said she needed to have
non-students to prov ide consistency.
“It’s not students versus outside
staff,” Anderson said. “I could have up
to four (different) people on my desk
during the day. That just doesn’t pro
vide the consistency that we need.”
Anderson added hiring an individ
ual from outside the University would
help the Scheduling Office better
serve the University community.
The Scheduling Office is responsi
ble for reserving University facilities
for purposes outside of normal class
operation. The office works directly
with student groups, University de
partments and off-campus organiza
tions to help plan successful events.
Anderson supervises nine stu
dents, including several on work
study. If the budget is approved with
out amendment, only five students
will have work in the office.
Much of the dissent over hiring a
full-time “outsider” in the
Scheduling Office came from ASUO
Vice President Ben Buzbee.
“The (ASUO Executive) will not
Turn to Budget, page 5
Culture night preparation
asaaj&ssmfm&m&mi
Danielle Hickey Emerald
Students (left to right) Jessica Chen, Julie Bowers, Gabriel Caprav, Daniel Asenlund, and Bjarne Hanssen all rehearse for their play in the
Student Recreation Center on Thursday night for Japan Night on Saturday January 11.
Japan: Modernized
A stage show, ethnic food and
a haunted house are just some
of the activities planned
for Japan Night this Saturday
Ayisha Yahya
Freelance Editor
The office is buzzing with activity as
sophomore Sahara Nakamura puts fi
nal touches to this year’s Japan Night.
After almost three months of prepara
tion, Nakamura and other members of
the Japanese Student Organization are
ready to bring the Land of the Rising
Sun to the University on Saturday in
the EMU Ballroom.
Japan Night starts at 5:30 p.m. and
costs S6 for students and S7 for the gen
eral public. Although the event is steadily
nearing, Nakamura is seemingly calm.
“We like to reach out to people on cam
pus and outside the campus, let them
know wc are here, let them know Japan
ese culture and people,” said Nakamura,
JSO’s co-president.
But this year, the traditional
kimonos will stay in the closet as
JSO paints a picture of modern
Japan. Nakamura, who is from
Yokohama, a large city close to
Tokyo, says Japan is constantly
evolving with new technologies,
fashions and social trends.
“We wanted to show modern Japan,
because it’s a lot different and people
don’t know much about it,” said
Nakamura, who feels her nation still
Turn to Japan, page 5
Fines for pot
possession
may increase
The Eugene City Council will discuss raising the fine
from $ 100 to $2 50 for owning less than an ounce
Drugs and alcohol
Brad Schmidt
News Editor
For spllff smokers and doobte dabblers, the word “potluck”
may take on a new meaning.
The Eugene City Council on Monday will consider raising
the maximum fine for the possession of less than an ounce of
—marijuana from SI00 to $250 in an effort to entice University
students to participate in diversion programs.
After the success of BUSTED, a program that allows Uni
versity students cited for being a minor in possession of alco
hol to take diversion classes instead of paying a $250 fine, sev
eral groups began considering other possibilities.
“What Judge (Wayne) Allen and the University want to do
is put into place a similar program for possession of less than
one ounce of marijuana,” said Ward 3 City Councilor David
Kelly, who represents the University area.
The new fine would be substantially more than the current
$100 fine, for good reason, Kelly said. The costs of a diversion
program would be about $90. With only a $10 difference, Kel
ly speculated some students might not consider the program
because of the 10-hour course load.
But Kelly said the program could keep students out of trou
ble. On some occasions, drug possession can cause students
to lose financial aid. But, as with BUSTED, the new program
would ensure that, upon successful completion of the course,
the citation and fine arc dropped.
And as far as Kelly is concerned, the fine increase and the
diversion program are a joint deal.
“I won’t support this until there is written assurance,”
Kelly said.
1 hose who wish to share their opinions on the issue should
attend the public forum, which will begin Monday at 7:30 p.m.
Contact the news editor at bradschmidt@dailyemerald.com.
Womenspace in need of volunteers
A training session will be held this
weekend; academic credit is available
Caron Alarab
Crime/Safety/Transportation Reporter
In the constant tight to end domestic violence,
a local force of volunteerism has welcomed the
new year with open arms and open positions for
potential trainees.
Womenspace is actively looking for women and
men to volunteer for a variety of programs avail
able to the community, including its crisis hotline.
Starting this weekend, a winter volunteer training
session will be held to provide interested partici
pants w ith a foundation of new skills for working
with clients. The required three-dav session will
run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Jan. 11,18 and 25, and
will, allow' participants to have the option of earning
academic credit tor volunteering.
“Domestic violence is a significant problem in
Eugene, Oregon, on campus and pretty much
everywhere,” Womenspace Volunteer Program
Coordinator Nancy Ilafner said. The volunteer
pool Hows with the dedication and energy of men
and women from age 18 to 75, with most falling
into the 21 to 40 range, she said.
“We couldn't provide even a fraction of the
services we do without the volunteer efforts,”
Hafner said.
The organization needs volunteers to serve as
advocates for women and children, to work at the
Domestic Violence Legal Clinic and to put hours
into Youth and Community Outreach Programs.
But 1 lafner said the crisis line, which needs to be
staffed 24 hours a day, is one of the most impor
tant programs ivhen it comes to volunteers.
“(The crisis line) is the first contact and some
times the only contact a person may have with
Womenspace,” she said. Hafner said one of the
things she loves best is seeing how the compas
sion and understanding of volunteers can trans
late into growth for clients.
But not everyone who benefits from Women
space programs calls for help.
According to Community Outreach Director
Margo Schaefer, the importance of that “first
contact” through the Womenspace programs
goes beyond waiting for the community to make
the first move.
“We really need people to participate in going
into classrooms to teach dating violence preven
tion,” she said, referring to the Youth Outreach
Program. “It’s important that boys hear this
Turn to Womenspace, page 8
Weather
Today: High 40, Low 35,
Morning fog and low clouds
Saturday: High 48, Low 35,
Rain becoming likely
Looking ahead
Monday The Oregon Student
Association takes a vote toward
deciding the fate of Rachel Pilliod
Tuesday If Measure 28 fails,
repercussions for state police
and transportation will be severe