Tuesday, February 25,2003
Since 1900 University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon
Volume 104, Issue 106
Federal agents raid Eugene glass blowers
Monday’s action comes as part of
nationwide indictments against
distributors of drug paraphernalia
Brook Reinhard and Ali Shaughnessy
Staff Writers
Federal law enforcement agents
served indictments to dozens of glass
blowing manufacturers and headshops
nationwide Monday in a series of raids,
confiscating millions of dollars worth of
drug- and tobacco-related parapherna
lia. At least 55 people were indicted, in
cluding two Eugene businessmen that
own a glass manufacturing company, a
distributorship, a local retail shop and
multiple Web sites.
Attorney General John Ashcroft an
nounced Monday in a press conference
that the Drug Enforcement Agency now
considers glass pipes and other equip
ment “drug paraphernalia” that may be
confiscated and used as grounds for ar
rests under federal law.
Higher Source, located several blocks
west of campus at 135 E. 13th Ave., was
one of six locations in Eugene served
with a search-and-seizure warrant Mon
day morning. Higher Source is co-owned
by Jason Harris and Saeed Mohtadi. Both
were indicted for “knowingly, intention
ally and unlawfully (selling) items for use
with illegal narcotics,” according to a
DEA press release. Harris and Mohtadi
are both in custody and will appear in
federal court this morning, and friends of
Harris say they have not been in contact
with him for the past two days.
U.S. Marshals roped off the area
around the store and started a long
process of “bringing empty boxes in, and
taking full ones out,” said Tim Long, the
owner of Eugene Jeans — a store located
across the street from the bust.
DEA Seattle field division spokesman
Thomas O’Brien said businesses that sell
tobacco-related products such as water
pipes are in danger of breaking federal
law under the DEA’s new interpretation.
“If these bongs are being used to inhale
controlled substances, they’re illegal,”
said O’Brien, whose division encompass
es Oregon, Idaho, Washington and Alas
ka. However, according to federal law,
drug paraphernalia is equipment which
is primarily intended for use with mari
juana or other controlled substances. If a
Turn to Raid, page 12
All fired up
Max Johnson is a third
year multimedia
student and among
otherthings,an
accomplished fire
swinger, chain mail
artist and video
producer.
Mark McCambridge
Emerald
Individuality to the Max
Junior Max Johnson juggles
interests as old as making chainmail
and as new as multimedia design
Ducks in profile
Aimee Rudin
Family/Health/Education Reporter
Many people have relaxing hobbies,
hobbies they perform when they watch
movies and chill out, like building mod
el airplanes or knitting sweaters. But
i Max Johnson knits cold, hard steel into
chainmail — as in what King Arthur’s
Knights of the Round Table wore.
“It’s exactly like knitting, only it’s
manly knitting,” said Johnson, a third
year multimedia student.
Johnson’s hobbies are not limited to
making and designing ehainmail, how
ever. He is also an artist, a video produc
er, a raver, a fire swinger, and a self-pro
claimed and self-acclaimed geek.
“I am in a major that requires me to
sit behind a computer for every class. I
Turn to Johnson, page 8
Jeremy Forrest Emerald
Federal law enforcement raided Higher Source Monday morning as
part of Attorney General John Ashcroft's "Pipe Dreams" operation.
Title IX forum
makes equality
main priority
Despite a low turnout, panelists, including Bev
Smith, discussed the history and future of women
athletes in relation to Title IX j
Caron Alarab
Safety/Crime/Transportation Reporter
The YWCA held an open forum Monday night to discuss
recent developments and challenges in the fight to pre
serve Title IX. Less than a dozen students, YWCA repre
sentatives and community members attended the event,
which ran until 8:45 p.m. and focused on information pre
sented by a panel of three individuals, including Duck
women’s basketball coach Bev Smith.
“We’ve been very lucky here at the University,” Smith
said. “And now they’re trying to cut (Title IX) when it’s just
getting somewhere.”
“They” — the 15-member com
mission of government-appointed re
viewers — were established in 2002
in order to perform a series of evalua
tions of Title IX in response to eight
questions posed by the Department
of Education. Once the commission
has finished answering these ques
tions, the department will assess
whether to minimize Title IX require
ments or leave them as they are.
Panel member Becky Sisley said that
time is soon to come.
“We are at a threshold of knowing what will change and
what will stay the same” she said.
YWCA financial coordinator Krista Trask opened the
meeting with a short introduction, including the YWCA’s
decision to focus their annual women’s sports event on
Tu rn to Title IX, page 4
!
Weather
Today: High 52, Low 25,
mostly sunny, light winds
Wednesday: High 45, Low 35,
mostly cloudy, breezy
Looking ahead
Wednesday
Many fraternity members have
changed behavior in response
to the University's alcohol ban
Thursday
Sin is definitely back!
News briefs
Open forum allows for
West University feedback
The West University Neighborhood Forum is hosting a community
open house at 5 p.m. today and a series of small group discussions
for neighborhood residents at 5:45 p.m. in the Central Presbyterian
Church, located at 1475 Ferry St. Area residents, property owners
and business managers are encouraged to drop in anytime during the
event, which will run until about 7:30 p.m.
“It’s really an informal chance for students to ask questions and
make suggestions so that we can change the neighborhood for the
better,” Ward 3 City Councilor David Kelly said.
The forum will allow residents to learn about pressing local issues
and potential solutions identified by the task force.
Topics of discussion will include neighborhood building, housing
Turn to Forum, page 12
Political clubs wage battle
during debate tonight
Battle lines have been drawn, and tonight the College Democrats
and College Republicans will duel iii a battle of minds from 6 p.m. to
8 p.m. in the EMU Fir Room. It will be the two student groups’ first
joint debate this school year.
College Republicans Co-chairman Jarrett White said the debate
is not going to be a shouting match, but a structured discussion
with opening statements, rebuttals, closing arguments and ques
tion-and-answer sessions.
“It’s not going to be arguing or trying to yell over each other at
all,” White said.
College Democrats Co-chairman Eric Bailey agreed, saying that
the purpose of the debate is to inform students about the different
Turn to Debate, page 8