Tuesday, February 4,2003
Since 1900
University of Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Volume 104, Issue 91
Frohnmayer speaks on recruited felon
President Frohnmayer responds
to the football recruitment of convicted
felon Rodney Woods Monday
Brad Schmidt
News Editor
University President Dave Frohnmayer met
with Athletic Department personnel Monday
to discuss the recruitment of convicted felon
Rodney Woods, saying later that while he
would have liked to have been included earlier
in the process, he was ultimately pleased with
the department’s efforts.
“Following a searching review of (athletic re
cruiting) policies and procedures ... I am con
fident that administrative review will occur in
future recruiting cases that may affect the rep
utation of the program and the University,”
Frohnmayer said in a statement.
Woods, a two-time All-American junior
cornerback, signed a letter of intent to join
the University’s football program. But be
cause of a felony record stemming from an
assault in 2000, the Athletic Department can
not accept Woods.
Although there is not a written policy pro
hibiting a felon from receiving an athletic
scholarship, Athletic Director Bill Moos inter
vened during Woods’ recruitment, apparently
stating the policy for the first time. For Woods
to be admitted to the University’s athletic pro
gram, the charge would have to be erased.
“They can have a working policy, and quite
frankly, I think it’s an appropriate course of ac
tion to take,” said Vice President for Administra
tion Dan Williams, who oversees the Athletic De
partment. The University itself does not have a
policy from barring felons from attending.
Turn to Woods, page 4
Affirmative re-action
Lawsuits against the University
of Michigan’s admission
standards could possibly affect
universities around the nation
Jennifer Bear
Campus/Federal Politics Reporter
The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent
decision to consider the affirmative
action admissions policies at the Uni
versity of Michigan could seriously
impact many universities’ ability to
consider race when admitting stu
dents. But University of Oregon offi
cials say any decision would probably
have less impact here.
The current debate over the future
of affirmative action stems from the
lawsuits of three white students against
the University of Michigan. The stu
dents claim that less qualified minority
candidates were admitted instead be
cause of the university’s admissions
policy that awards points based on a
number of factors, including race.
President George W. Bush has fur
ther spurred the recent controversy
by taking a firm stance against consid
ering race as the driving force in uni
versity admissions. In a nationally tel
evised address, the president
denounced the University of Michi
gan’s policies and said they A
amounted “to a quota system that
unfairly rewards or penalizes jjjp
prospective students based JUW
solely on their race.”
Nicolas Gentino, director mmm
of the Washington, D.G.- MSg
based Student of Color mfflf
Campus Diversity Pro
ject, said that in the battle
over affirmative action, opponents
have boiled down the controversy to
a race issue. Gentino argued, howev
er, that affirmative action aims to en
sure equal access to all historically
disadvantaged people, and as a result,
Photo Illustration by Adam Amato and Scott Abts Emerald
creates opportunities for women,
Latinos, Asian Americans, people
with disabilities and other groups that
have encountered societal barriers in
receiving a higher education.
Affirmative action policies in college
admissions have come under fire nu
merous times over the years, but they
continue to remain a part of many col
lege admissions programs because of
the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling
Turn to Affirmative, page 12
Oregon adds
lacrosse team
to Duck roster
‘It’s finally here:’ the Athletic Department will add
a women’s lacrosse squad in two short seasons
Peter Hockaday
Sports Editor
The Oregon Athletic Department will add a new sport for the
2004-05 season, Athletic Director Bill Moos announced Monday.
The new program will be women’s lacrosse, meaning those
who had hoped for a new crew, gymnastics or water polo team
will have to wait for their sports to be added. Moos and Senior
Associate Athletic Director Renee Baumgartner said the main
reasons for the addition of the lacrosse team were support from
the current club lacrosse team, low start-up costs and a recent
explosion of the sport in the Northwest.
“Wow, it’s finally here,” said Baumgartner, who has been plan
ning the addition of a new sport for two years. “We’re the first
university that’s added lacrosse north of California, and our hope
is to do it right and be a dominant team on the West Coast.”
Turn to New sport, page 10
‘Recycle Mania’
hits University
UO will be among seven universities and colleges
participating in the 10-week recycling contest
Andrew Black
Environment/Science/Technology Reporter
The University’s “Green Giant,” or Campus Recycling Program
has enlisted the help of more than 3,000 students living in campus
residence halls in a recycling competition that will pit the Univer
sity’s enviro-friendly image against some big names in academia.
Housing Recycling Coordinator Robyn Hathcock said the recy
cling program was asked to take part in the 10-week Recycle Mania
contest against seven other college and university recycling pro
grams, including Ohio State University and Harvard University.
“The University of Oregon has a strong reputation for having
one of the top recycling programs in the nation,” Hathcock
said. “Bragging rights are on the table to be won, and Oregon is
Turn to Recycle, page 12
Weather
Today: High 45,Low 30,
mostly cloudy with areas of fog
Wednesday: High 45, Low 27,
foggy morning, patchy clouds
Looking ahead
Wednesday
Measure 28 cuts — and another
tuition surcharge — take effect
Businesses hope shame can stem shoplifting
Campus-area shops use many tactics
to decrease the impact of theft, and one
owner advocates ‘public embarrassment1
Caron Alarab
Crime/Safety/Transportation Reporter
University students, middle school kids, sen
iors, drunkards and business people do it. Peo
ple do it for profit, for thrills, because of addic
tion or out of habit.
In reality, shoplifting can be committed by
anyone at any time. But the managers of locally
owned businesses say people who think the
crime is “no big deal” and proceed to snatch low
value products don’t always know they are steal
ing from fellow community members. And while
the Eugene Police Department and the munici
pal court encourage the report of every case for
more accurate statistics, some managers say
more effective prevention and sanctioning alter
natives should be explored.
“Due to the scarce resources we are dealing
with, I think we should always be looking at of
fering alternatives to fines for shoplifters,” Eu
gene City Prosecutor Liane Richardson said.
According to EPD preliminary statistics for
2002, shoplifting has decreased from 1,172 in
cidents citywide in 2001 to 1,107 in 2002. But
community service officer Erik Humphrey said
that shoplifting isn’t decreasing, but rather that
larger businesses are absorbing the loss and
aren’t filing reports. And while shoplifters cause
smaller businesses to suffer financially,
Humphrey said they also end up hurting honest
shoppers by causing vendors to raise prices.
To help the businesses hardest hit by shoplift
ing, EPD offers the 3050 program — a partner
ship that allows businesses to apprehend sus
pects and file police reports without officer
assistance. In allowing the business to take on
more responsibility, EPD simplifies and quickens
the procedure for merchants who are more ac
tive in loss prevention, like Hirons Drug Stores.
“Shoplifting is a huge problem,” manager Steve
Hirons said of his family’s 185 East 18th Ave.
store, one of two locations in Eugene. “It’s some
thing that can put businesses out of business.”
Hirons sees between #20 to #100 worth of mer
chandise recovered in each case at the 18th Av
enue location, and said #30,000 dollars is lost each
year to the crime. Although Hirons has caught
people with more than #200 in merchandise, he
Turn to Shoplift, page 8