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Thursday, February 6,2003
Since 1900 University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon
Volume 104, Issue 93
Navajo court to hear Pfizer case
The Navajo Supreme Court meets
in the Knight Law Center today for
a case involving drug company Pfizer,
Navajo Nation members and Zuni Pueblo
Aimee Rudin
Family/Health/Education Reporter
The Navajo Supreme Court will convene in
175 Knight Law Center today at 5 p.m. to hear
oral arguments on a case involving the pharma
ceutical company Pfizer and 16 members of the
Navajo Nation and Zuni Pueblo.
Justices will decide whether the case,
which alleges that one of Pfizer’s diabetes
drugs caused liver damage among some tribal
members, is appropriate for consideration by
tribal courts.
The case will be heard by Acting Chief Jus
tice Lorene Ferguson, Associate Justice Mar
cella King-Ben and Associate Justice by desig
nation Leroy Bedonie. Robert Yazzie, the cur
rent chief justice of the Navajo Nation, will of
fer opening remarks.
Former law school dean and Professor Rennard
Strickland said the court’s proceedings are similar
to the Oregon Supreme Court’s procedures.
Strickland, who is also the editor of the
“Handbook of Federal Indian Law” added that
the Navajo Nation is recognized as a sovereign
nation, and all the same rules that apply to state
supreme courts also apply to a tribal court. A de
cision by the Navajo Supreme Court cannot be
overruled by a state court, but it can be appealed
to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Rosa Chavez, a member of the Native
American Law Student Association, said at
tending a meeting of the Navajo Supreme
Court would be similar to attending a meeting
of the Canadian or European high courts.
“The chance to experience another nation’s
supreme court is a once in a lifetime opportu
nity,” she said. “It is just a tremendous oppor
tunity for cultural enrichment.” The case,
Nelson v. Pfizer, originated in a Navajo Dis
trict Court. It was dismissed before hearings
began because Pfizer questioned the district
court’s ability and authority to rule on a case
involving off-reservation companies. The
plaintiffs then appealed to the Navajo
Supreme Court.
The Navajo Supreme Court must decide
whether the issue can be resolved by a tribal
court. If they rule that the case falls under
tribal jurisdiction, the case will return to the
district court to be heard. Otherwise, the case
will be dismissed entirely.
The plaintiffs in the Nelson v. Pfizer case
claim they sustained injuries from the
Turn to Navajo, page 4
Leading the community
vviin iwu newiy eieaea councilors,
the Eugene City Council has
a full legislative plate for 2003
Jan Montry
City/State Politics Reporter
They may seem like governmental faces in the
crowd to many University students, but the
members of the Eugene City Council have a big
ger effect than students may think.
In fact, the eight council members could de
cide many big issues this year, from a marijuana
fine increase to the location of a new sports arena
The City Council, the legislative part of Eu
gene’s government, develops policies and legisla
tion for the city. Next to the City Council stanch
the city manager, who often oversees policy im
plementation and hires city staff.
This year, the City Council has two new faces
Ward 6 City Councilor Jennifer Solomon anc
Ward 4 City Councilor George Poling. Both
Councilors were sworn in at Mayor Jim Torrey’s
State of the City address in January.
Solomon
Solomon, who represents mostly moderate
and conservative areas of town, said hei
biggest surprise as a new
councilor was adjusting
to the influx of paper
work. Aside from memos
and reports, councilors
receive a thick packet
every Thursday to review
for Monday meetings.
Solomon’s priorities
this year include eco
nomic development and _
voter confidence, but she Solomon
Mark McCambridge Emerald
City councilors meet on Jan. 13th to discuss the marijuana fine increase and to choose several new officers.
said her real passion lies in transportation.
As a member of a citizen committee,
Solomon spent a year studying transportation
in Eugene and helped develop a two-pronged
funding strategy that included a gas tax in
crease and the adoption of a transportation
maintenance fee. Now that the Council has ap
proved the strategy, Solomon said she wants to
help oversee its implementation.
“I really want to make sure it comes togeth
er efficiently and equitably,” she said.
Poling
Poling, who also represents moderate and con
servative areas, said the biggest challenge for him
as a new member was his time commitment,
which includes work on seven committees.
Turn to City council, page 12
PFC gives
increases
in lengthy
meeting
The Program Finance Committee
granted several expanded
budgets in Tuesday’s meeting
Ali Shaughnessy
Freelance Reporter
The ASUO Programs Finance Com
mittee’s Tuesday meeting ran an hour
overtime and had all the elements of a
television drama: laughter, tears and
lots of money.
“Is there any other discussion?” asked
PFC programs appointee Joy Nair toward
the end of the evening. Hearing no reply,
she voiced her own:
“Thank the lord.”
The evening began with the Women’s
Center asking for a 9.75 percent increase
in its budget. While the Women’s Center
pushed for more money to support a les
bian festival, PFC stood firm.
“I don’t feel that I could support any
more than the motion that’s on the
table,” PFC at-large member James Til
ford said. The motion he was referring to
still gave the Women’s Center a substan
tial increase of 8.71 percent.
PFC passed the motion, giving the
Women’s Center $136,097 for the 2003
04 year.
Student Senate presented its proposed
budget with a little extra flair. Senate om
budsman Andy Elliott recited the fund
ing request in poetic form.
“There once was a body called sen
ate- Who had lots of money but spent
it,” he began.
Elliott’s creative efforts received laugh
ter and applause, but PFC made clear to
the senate it would not, in any way, be fa
vored over other groups.
“We hold all groups to the same stan
dards,” PFC Chairwoman Kate Shull said
in response to a question over the possi
bility of a 100 percent increase in office
supplies. PFC members said they would
not grant such a large increase because
it would violate precedent.
The senate walked away with $25,771
— 24.03 percent more than last year.
PFC also heard a budget proposal
from its own Kate Shull, asking for mon
ey for PFC.
Nair lead the proceeding and even sug
gested PFC do some fundraising of its own.
Turn to PFC, page 8
Weather
Today: High 47, Low 23
Morning fog, then sunny
Friday: High 50, Low 25
Sunny, light wind
Looking ahead
Friday
MEChA brings author Victor
Villasenor to speak on campus
Monday
FOOD for Lane County gives us
a look at hunger around the city
Vandalism victims mull likely connection
Following shoplifting incidents at three businesses,
two store managers speculate a link between those
crimes and recent vandalism at the same locations
Caron Alarab
Crime/Safety/Transportation Reporter
Three local businesses were vandalized Wednesday in what two
managers speculate to be a string of related criminal activities. Store
managers say several copies of the Feb. 4 Emerald were left at the lo
cations.
The papers, which contained a story about shoplifting that men
tioned the three businesses, were labeled with derogatory comments.
The Eugene Police Department has not released any information re
garding a possible link among the incidents.
“As of now, we have no suspect information,” EPD spokeswoman
Kerry Delf said.
A criminal mischief report was filed with EPD at 6:19 a.m.
I , Turn to Vandalism, page 8
Bob Seymour
(left) and Tom
Boren from
Lane County
Class repair a
broken
window
at the
University
Bookstore
Wednesday
morning after it
was hit by
vandalism.
Adam Amato
Emerald