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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 31, 2003)
Devil of a An independent newspaper http://www.dailyemerald.com Friday, January 31,2003 Volume 104, Issue 89 Assembly to tackle stance on Iraq war The University Assembly will meet today to discuss campus and community perspectives on U.S. war efforts against Iraq Brook Reinhard News Editor As the U.S. government marches ever closer toward war in Iraq, Uni versity faculty members have steadily gained momentum in their efforts to open a campuswide dia logue on the Middle East. The Uni versity Assembly convenes at 3 p.m. today in 180 PLG for an un usual “town-hall” style meeting to discuss the University’s response to a potential war in Iraq. It’s still unclear what exactly will happen at this special assembly ses sion. The assembly, which is com posed of more than 2,000 members, was disbanded in the mid 1990s in favor of a smaller legislative body, the University Faculty Senate. But after a failed attempt to condemn U.S. war efforts in Iraq at a Decem ber senate meeting, the group voted in January to call a non-binding meeting of the assembly. Today’s meeting will take place under the watchful eye of University President Dave Frohnmayer, who has the power to control the course of the meeting as assembly presi dent. The authority is especially sig nificant because the president has consistently maintained that the University should not take a stance on the war in Iraq. “Each of us has multiple opinions, both within the campus community and elsewhere, to express our views strongly and immediately on the is sues at hand,” Frohnmayer said in a Dec. 1 letter to senators. “I object only to the attempt of anyone for any view on such matters to claim that he or she speaks formally in the name of the University or its govern ing entities.” Regardless of Frohnmayer’s views, assembly members such as Profes sor Emeritus Frank Stahl and Profes sor Julie Novkov have been leading a drive to condemn the war. Stahl, who introduced the failed December legislation to the senate, has been working with the group Concerned Faculty for Peace and Justice to collect 508 faculty signa tures in order to convene an official legislative session of the assembly. Such a meeting would allow the group to speak as the official voice of the University, overruling any other action by the senate or even the president himself. “If educated people at places like this University don’t speak loud enough, there is no hope for this country,” Stahl said. Concerned Faculty for Peace and Justice members plan to present a petition, signed by more than 400 faculty members and administra tors, condemning the war in Iraq. The group tailored their statement after an identical petition approved by Oregon State University’s Faculty Senate in December. Spokesman and Professor Daniel Pope said he hopes the effort, and a Turn to Assembly, page 6 Special collections mm The Special Collections Department at the Knight Library has a wide variety of unique collections, including the sports items: above, a Universityfootball in 1900; and below, an old uniform made out of cloth and wood with a football showing the game results against Washington in 1916. Jeremy Forrest Emerald Goldmine of history The Knight Library’s Special Collections and University Archives department holds millions of artifacts, consisting of rare and personal works and items Craig Coleman Freelance Reporter Walk into the Special Collections and Uni versity Archives reading room on the second floor of Knight Library, and about the only thing that stands out is the dust on the books lining its shelves. Hidden from plain view are many of the de partment’s more intriguing holdings, such as an affidavit written by Abraham Lincoln while he was just another lawyer in Illinois, or the journal entries of Abigail Scott Duniway, which give a firsthand account of her 1852 journey on the Oregon Trail. Because of limited space and concerns about the preservation of these fragile arti facts, most are stored away behind locked doors and vaults. Yet all of them, from rare books to old University sports memorabilia, are accessible to the public. All you have to do is ask. “It would be nice to see more people, espe cially students, use more of these resources,” Turn to Collections, page 8 Legal Services provides citation aid ASUO program offers assistance to students with alcohol-related offenses Caron Alarab Crime/Safety/Transportation Reporter Whether sharing a beer with an underage bud dy or throwing a noisy party with free-flowing booze for all, of-age students who provide alco hol to minors risk hefty fines. ASUO Vice President Ben Buzbee is sched uled to appear in municipal court today to con test a $350 citation for furnishing alcohol to mi nors at a toga party hosted at his home Jan. 18. According to court records, 16 percent of cited individuals contest such citations, and ASUO Legal Services recommends setting up an appointment if police conduct ever comes into question. “Each case is unique,” Legal Services lawyer Laura Fine said. “Any time one generalizes how cases are handled, mistakes are made.” Out of the 53 municipal court cases in 2002 for Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor, nine pleaded not guilty and were set for trial. But some stu dents may not know that the citation’s severity — specified as a violation or a misdemeanor — plays a key role in their ability to contest it. In essence, Eugene Police Department offi cers, and ultimately the city prosecutor, de cide whether to cite furnishing as a violation — a lesser offense involving a fine — or as a misdemeanor — a more serious offense involv ing the possibility of jail time. Despite what is written on the citation, it is the prosecutor who reviews all the police reports and decides how the case will be filed, Court Administrator Marilyn Nelson said. • Located on the top floor of the EMU, ASUO Legal Services offers the assistance of three sep arate attorneys to students who seek immediate council. Although students are welcome to seek legal aid at any time, Fine said all legal questions and concerns regarding police conduct should be brought to their attention immediately. “An increasing number of students are choos ing to challenge the legality of police conduct,” she said of her cases, “and the majority call to come see us right away.” If a person furnishes a place to drink, but doesn’t provide the alcohol, it would likely be Turn to Citations, page 8 Duck Call will close from lack of usage Beginning Feb. 14, Duck Call will no longer be an option for those students who register via phone Andrew Black Environment/Science/Technology Technology has left its newest casual ty: a dead duck. As of Feb. 14, the Office of the Regis trar is disconnecting the Duck Call sys tem because of a decline in use during the past three years and because of in creased maintenance costs. Since 1991, Duck Call allowed stu dents to register for classes over the phone. University Registrar Herb Chereck said Web-based registration, which started three years ago, quickly re placed Duck Call as the most convenient and efficient way to register for classes. “We’re down to the point of less than 3 percent of a quarter of a million registra tion transactions taking place through Duck Call,” Chereck said. “We’re in a po sition where if we wanted to update Duck Call, we would have to make expendi tures that we don’t want to make.” Chereck said students the most affect ed by the change will be seniors who be gan using Duck Call as freshmen. Senior Brynn Searles said she feels more comfortable registering for classes Turn to Duck Call, page 6 Weather Today: High 53, Low 42, rainy with slight wind Saturday: High 50, Low 35, showers likely, breezy Looking ahead Monday A look at athletic scholarships and ethnicity on campus Tuesday Peace of body, peace of mind comes from the art of yoga