Midday walkout calls for Ves’ votes on 28 Students and faculty rallied Monday to highlight the benefits of Ballot Measure 28 Ali Shaughnessy Freelance Reporter A student walkout Monday aimed at gaining support for Measure 28 drew a smaller crowd than anticipat ed, causing democratic organizers to speculate that students are apathetic about voting and politics. The walkout, which drew only about 100 students, was organized by the College Democrats, the Democra tic Party of Lane County and the Yes on 28 Committee. Organizers origi nally anticipated 500 to 1,000 people. “Students don’t realize how much politics affect them,” College De mocrats Co-Chairman Mike Linman said. But, “It was good we still had the turnout we did.” College Republicans Secretary Gabrielle Guiders attributed her or ganization’s lack of participation to busy schedules. “We’ve got a lot of classes,” Guiders said. “We’re too busy to walkout.” Guiders added that the walkout sent a wrong message to the commu nity — saying students value their education so little as to leave class. But Linman disagreed. The rally “showed people how im portant it is that we actually have the classes to walk out of,” he said. Linman pointed out that if Measure Erik Bishoff Emerald A crowd of around 100 applauds one of six speakers during Monday's student walkout at the EMU Amphitheater (left). Oregon Bus Project chairman Jefferson Smith speaks in support of Measure 28 during the walkout (right). 28 fails, 9 percent of classes at the University will be cut. Six speakers stood in the EMU Amphitheater from noon to 12:45 p.m., encouraging students to take a stand and vote yes on Measure 28 — a controversial tax measure with #26.9 million in Oregon University System budget cuts on one side, and a 0.5 percent tax rate increase for Oregonians in the top income tax bracket on the other. “Measure 28 is about preserving a minimum level of standards,” said Jefferson Smith, founder and chair man of the Oregon Bus Project, to an applauding crowd. “It’s about slow ing that mad dash to mediocrity.” The rally also focused on what will happen if the measure fails, and the speakers urged students to not only vote, but to vote yes. “Already $7 million have been cut from this year’s budget here,” College Democrats Co-Chairman Eric Bailey said. “And another $6.5 million is ex pected to be cut from the University’s budget should Measure 28 not pass, coupled with a #4 million increase in tuition to offset part of the cuts.” Senior Beth Juhas, another speak er, said no other cut she was aware of came with the option of paying more to retain current service levels. “Our younger brothers and sisters in Oregon public schools won’t have the option of paying more to avoid shortening the school year by three weeks,” she said. “Ten thousand sen iors won’t have the option of paying more to continue receiving health care assistance.” According to Juhas, those figures are not scare tactics, but numbers identified by the Legislature should Measure 28 fail. Political science Assistant Profes sor Julie Novkov also took a stand at the walkout. “Personally, I think it comes down to short-term individual interests ver sus long-term collective of the state in terests, which is why I’m voting yes,” she said. “If I have to sit down and make a choice between writing a check for $114 and keeping the most financially strapped students at the University—it’s no choice for me.” Ali Shaughnessy is a freelance writer for the Emerald. Vote continued from page 1 for students who need to change their regis tration status or address. “Our main thing is just getting out the stu dent vote,” College Democrats co-Chairman Eric Bailey said. “Of course, we’re betting on most students voting yes — if it doesn’t pass, tuition will increase to help cover $6.5 million in more cuts from the University’s budget.” Measure 28 is a three-year, $724-millon income tax increase the Oregon Legislature referred to voters after failing to balance the state’s budget after five special sessions. If it passes, an average Oregonian will pay an ad ditional $114 in taxes per year. If it fails, many state services would be slashed and University students would pay a $10 sur charge for every credit taken during winter and spring terms, which would slap most stu dents with about $300 in additional tuition and raise roughly $4.1 million. Contact the news editor atbrookreinhard@dailyemerald.com. News brief Health Center earns high standards accreditation The Accreditation Associa tion for Ambulatory Health Care has accredited the University Health Center, according to Anne Mattson, the center’s in terim director. The AAAHC is a non-profit organization that helps walk-in clinics and organizations achieve higher standards for medical care. Although partici pation is voluntary, the process can help bolster the image of health institutions. Groups that achieve accredi tation though the AAAHC must go through self-analysis, peer based review, and consultations with health care professionals. They must also adhere to a se Midwestern University Tomorrow's Health Cari Team... Learning Together Today College of Pharmacy Glendale, Arizona i Our 3-year doctor of pharmacy (Pharm.D.) program is cost effective and time efficient—allowing you to complete your degree and enter the profession in the shortest time possible. Our curriculum provides you with early exposure to clinical experiences, and our faculty are dedicated to your success. Our new 135-acre campus features state-of-the-art facilities and a campus environment designed for health professions students—a true model of the team approach to health care. Application Deadline: February 7, 2003 l.iil: ad mi ssaVid a ii/c u l a. mi d wo t cm. ed .•met: Ihip:/Av\v\v.midworem.cd u , ' ( hike pi Admissions 1A5S3 North 5l)th Avenue t ilendalc. A/ S530S S88/2 i" 92 or 623/5"72-321 5 ries of performance standards set by the AAAHC. “AAAHC accreditation is a benchmark of quality, not only to those involved in health care delivery and management, but to the general public,” Mattson said. “Our students can feel con fident they are receiving excel lent health care services at the University Health Center.” The Health Center offers medical care, dental services, health education, X-ray servic es, urgent care, pharmacy services, physical therapy, and lab work to students and facul ty at the University. Hours of operation are from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Satur day and Sunday. Call 346-2770 for more information or to make an appointment. —Aimee Rudin Tattoo continued from page 5 what I wanted. I almost felt bad for my pickiness, but rescinded when I thought about the fact that this was forever. I didn’t want my “baby” to be anything less than perfect. I cringed when I heard the first whir of the tattoo machine and turned my face away, bracing myself for heart-jarring pain. It didn’t come. Within minutes, I was carrying on a normal conver sation and watching with fascina tion as the tiny needles poked ink below the surface of my skin. The sensation felt exactly as you might expect it to: a slow, vague burn of tiny needles repeatedly piercing my skin, almost like being snapped by a rubber band. It was almost anti-climactic. Afterwards, I sat immobile in the lobby, mourning my once un marred flesh. I had thoroughly thought out my decision, but the tangibility of it brought the perma nence home. Fortunately, that phase was short lived, quickly replaced by indigna tion when a co-worker asked if I knew how much it would cost to get laser removal surgery. Would you ask a newlywed how much a divorce would cost? I think not. But it em phasized the point that I had done this for no one but myself. My tattoo is an expression of my individuality. It is a part of who I am — not just now, butforever. Dear Tattoo, I know they say you’re trashy, and that I’ll never get ahead with you in my life. I can’t promise you there won’t be up and downs; that I won’t get mad or say things I’ll re gret. But we were made for each other, beautiful. I love you, sweet face tattoo baby. Contact the Pulse columnist at nikacarlson@dailyemerald.com. In Partnership with UO Bookstore! The “Executive Duck” AMD Athlon XP™ System $1129.99 • Green Casemaxx Aluminum Midtower Case with Window • AMD Athlon XP 2000+ Processor • 64 MB GeForce 2 MX AGP Video Card • 256 Megabytes DDR 266 MHz SDRAM • 80 IBM 7200 RPM ATA 100 Hard Drive • Color Coordinated Keyboard and Mouse • Netgear 10/100 Network Card • GREEN Cold Cathode Light Support Women’s Basketball Shoot to Win is Back! 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