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http://www.dailyemerald.com
Monday, December 8, 2003
Since 1900
University of Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Volume 105, Issue 70
Fire singes
residence
hall room
No one sustains injuries in the fire,
which caused the evacuation of the
entire Hamilton Complex early Sunday
By Jared Paben
News Reporter
Spiller Hall freshmen John Gutman and Andrew
Byrne are safe after a fire broke out in their first-floor
residence hall room at about midnight Sunday,
prompting the evacuation of Hamilton Complex.
The students face possible University sanctions
after a candle on a shelf in their room started a fire
that singed shelves, blackened the ceiling and filled
the first-floor hallway with smoke.
Both men were asleep in 109 Spiller Hall when
the fire broke out, and they said they credit their
friend and across-the-hall neighbor, freshman Col
in Williams, with saving their lives.
"I heard their smoke detector going off, so I got
up to see what it was," Williams said.
Williams said he saw 3-foot-high flames coming
from their top shelf, and Gutman and Byrne were
"passed out" in their beds.
Williams said he pulled the fire alarm and ran to
grab the fire extinguisher. He came into the room
and extinguished the blaze, he said, sending smoke
throughout the room and hallway.
"I was yelling, 'It's a real fire, get out'," Williams
said, adding that he can remember three false
alarms this year.
Williams said he tried to wake Gutman and Byrne
by shaking them and yelling but hey didn't move.
Eventually, he said, they both woke up.
Byrne said he remembers getting up and, with
some help from fellow residents, walking down the
hallway and outside. He stood in the cold in his
underwear, without socks.
"You don't really realize things when you come
out of sleep," he said. "People were shrieking in the
hallways. People were freaking out."
Sophomore Josh Matheny said he ran from the
third floor down to the first to investigate when he
Turn to FIRE, page 6A
Adam Amato Photo Editor
Firefighters enter Spiller Hall in response to a residence hall room fire Sunday morning.
New steps: Freshmen face first finals week
The learning experience of college
culminates for freshmen in the
harrowing schedule of finals week
By Jared Paben
News Reporter
Jennifer French sits in her butterfly chair, rest
ing her head against the edge of the nearby coun
tertop. Her expression is one of discomfort, falling
just short of a grimace. Occasionally she reaches up
and holds her head, which aches.
She reaches up and shuffles some things on iter
desktop, searching with her hands. French says she
has not been able to find her Motrin IB.
It's Wednesday evening of Dead Week, a week
before the end of French's and her roommate,
Michele Taylor's, first term in college.
French has a brutal headache, but she insists it's
not because of her finals. In fact, she says she is not
very stressed at all. Already, she has completed a fi
nal in her Freshman Interest Group chemistry class
and she feels good about it.
Turn to FRESHMEN, page 5A
ONGOING SERIES
The Emerald recognizes the significance of
freshman year and, more importantly, the ad
justments that are made in such a short period
of time. Emerald writers and photographers
chronicled the activities of two freshmen this
term, reporting only what they saw and heard.
If Emerald staff were not present, the scene
was re-created through the recollection of those
who were present at the time. This is the last
installment of the series.
Feminist
bookstore
could face
closure
Long-standing Mother Kali’s
Books is facing financial trouble
and competition from larger
bookstores in Eugene
By Ayisha Yahya
News Editor
For more than 25 years, Mother Kali's
Books has been one of Eugene's most
prominent resources for feminist litera
ture, and many in the community believe
it's more than a bookstore. To them, it's
also a cultural institution.
Recent financial turmoil may force the in
dependent store to close its doors, however.
Mother Kali's Board of Directors mem
ber Daryl Moore said the store will stay
open until at least early spring as the board
works to find ways to keep it in operation.
The store, located at 720 E. 13th Ave.,
has a unique range of books that focus on
national and international women's is
sues, as well as other diverse selections.
"It's a good place for women to come and
find books especially about them," store co
manager Cheryl Rivers I laley said. She said
readers may be able to find titles at the store
that they are unable to find at larger stores.
Moore has similar sentiments.
"Mother Kali's has always been a femi
nist bookstore, and it's about access to
feminist ideas," she said. She added that
Turn to CLOSURE, page 4A
NEWS BRIEF
ASUO Vice President
still awaiting trial date
No trial date has been set for ASUO Vice
President Eduardo Morales, who was
charged in October with assault and crimi
nal mischief in the second degree.
Morales pleaded innocent to both
charges Oct. 22 in municipal court, and he
requested a jury trial.
Municipal court clerk Barbara Keahey
said there are multiple reasons for the lack
of a trial date.
"There is an incredible amount of prep
work," Keahey said. "We do the best we
can, but it's the end of the year and the
docket is full."
The court also must pool a jury, and it
has to wait for the Eugene Police Depart
ment to send a schedule of police officers'
availability.
"We set (trials) as quickly as possible,"
she said. "But it can take a considerable
amount of time."
—Ali Shaughnessy
WEATHER
LOW
36
HIGH
46
INSIDE
Classifieds.10A
Commentary..2A
Holiday supplement....lC
Sports.7 A
NEXT ISSUE
The Emerald will
resume publishing
Jan. 5,2004