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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 3, 2003)
An independent newspaper http://www.dailyemerald.com Monday, November 3,2003 Since 1900 University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon Volume 105, Issue 47 UO enrollment falls as diversity rises The number of students has dropped this year to 20,033; a number that did not surprise admissions officers By Chelsea Duncan News Reporter For the first time in three years, the number of students attending the University has declined, signaling a shift in administrative policy toward capping and balancing enrollment. Admissions projected an enrollment of20,400 students for this year, but 20,033 enrolled, ac cording to fourth-week figures. Director of Ad missions Martha Pitts said the number was not surprising because admissions was attempting to stabilize enrollment to between 20,000 and 21,000. "We have been working to manage enroll ment, * she said, adding that cuts in state support to higher education and the resulting bad press Oregon universities have received, as well as in creases in tuition, may have also caused fewer students to enroll. "We actually came very close to our goal given all that negative publicity," she said. Despite the decrease in enrollment, the Uni versity has one of its most diverse student popu lations this year and has enrolled a freshman class with one of the highest GPA averages in the University's history. The number of students of color is up from 12.6percent last year to 13.01 percent this year. The average GPA for incoming freshmen is at 3.54, up from last year's 3.47 and 3.39 four years ago. "Both of those really enhance the quality of education," Pitts said. She said diversity and freshmen academic strengths benefit all students at the University be cause they will be studying with academically cu rious students, as well as students from different Turn to ADMISSIONS, page 3A Celebrating Ramadan Muslims have begun to celebrate the holy month of Ramadan by fasting and participating in evening group prayers By Jared Paben News Reporter Members of the Muslim Student Association congre gated around a table covered with pizzas, soda, dates and water in the EMU's Skylight Room on Thursday evening. The followers of Islam had fasted all day, but they continued to sit patiently around the food and drink, waiting for sundown. A bowl full of dates was passed around at 5:05 p.m., and people began eating and drinking. A call for prayer called the Adhan followed the snack. The group moved to sit on the large white cloth on the floor. More people arrived and were greeted with "salam," which means "peace" Soon after, the Maghrib prayer began. October 27 was the first day of Ramadan, the holy month for Muslims around the world. Thursday's gath ering was the first of four held by the MSA in which they plan to break their fasts — where they abstain from food and drink from dawn to dusk — and pray together. For Muslims, Ramadan is a time to connect with Allah, the Arabic word for God, explained Ozgur Pala, a native of Turkey who has lived in Eugene for about two months. It is also a time for fasting an important practice for Muslims during the holy month. Not only does fasting help replenish and cleanse the body, but it helps cleanse the soul as well, Pala said. "I become more aware of what 1 put into my mouth," said Theresa Rutgers, who recendy converted to Islam. "But I also become aware of what I put into my eyes and my ears." Fasting can be difficult outside of a Muslim commu nity, MSA council member Kalizya Hutchinson said. In Muslim communities everybody stops working and eat ing and supports the fast she said. Here, it's not so sim ple Others will often offer Muslims food and drink dur ing Ramadan, completely unaware of their fast. "You just have to be patient and know this is your way of communicating your belief," she said. Another important element of the month is giving to those less fortunate. Ghazi Kaddouh, a native of Turkey who now works Turn to RAMADAN, page 8A Tim Bobosky Photographer GTF Talal Al-Rahbi leads a prayer on Thursday at the MSA's evening Ramadan fast breaking. Muslim Student Association members Kalizya Hutchinson and Ghazi Kaddouh discuss the holy month of Ramadan in the EMU Skylight Room on Thursday. Tim Bobosky Photographer DPS forms new policy on pursuit of suspects In the wake of an incident in July, DPS is implementing a more concrete policy on the pursuit of fleeing suspects By Jared Paben News Reporter The Department of Public Safety is devel oping a new policy to tell officers when and how to pursue fleeing suspects, DPS Interim Director Tom Hicks said. The announce ment came just three months after an offi cer hit a bicyclist with his vehicle during an early morning pursuit. The policy will be the first of its kind for the department; currently, DPS has only vague written directives concerning the use of vehicles, but it says nothing about pur suits, Hicks said. Hicks explained that the summer inci dent was only part of the impetus behind Turn to DPS, page 5A Protesters concerned about Tenet visit, secrecy Students are critical of the administration for its failure to disclose the details of CIA Director George Tenet’s visit By Chuck Slothower News Reporter Students rallied on Friday afternoon outside Johnson Hall to protest what they said was the University's lack of openness regarding CIA Director George Tenet's recent visit to campus. Tenet spoke last week at a meeting of the Association of American Universities, which brought together university presi dents from around the nation and Canada. "The administration made a point not to inform students at all," ASUO shared governance director Tim Johnson said. "It's totally inappropriate not to tell peo ple ahead of time about those meetings." AAU spokesman Barry Toiv defended the association's decision to keep the Turn to PROTEST, page 7A WEATHER 31 47 IfMSIOE Campus buzz.8A Crossword.11A Classifieds.11A Nation & World.3A Commentary..2A Sports.9A NEXT ISSUE Columnist Peter Hockaday explains his hatred of TBCs’
