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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
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IfMSIOE
Campus buzz.8A Crossword.11A
Classifieds.11A Nation & World.3A
Commentary..2A Sports.9A
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