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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 14, 2004)
University takes steps to curb stunt skating Citing damage done to low walls and structures, UO has installed pegs at many campus buildings By Lisa Catto News Reporter Skateboarding students who like doing stunts on their boards can expect a speed bump while riding on campus — literally. Several departments at the University have installed pegs on low parts of walls and structures to prevent skateboarders from stunt ing and grinding on already dam aged areas. University Facilities Services Exterior Team Supervisor Tim King, who oversaw most of the installa tions at the academic buildings, said installing the pegs was necessary because skateboard stunting chips away at the fixtures. "I don't think people realize the cost or damage involved," he said. King said Facilities Services noticed a trend of increased dam ages to low exterior structures, much of it caused by skateboard stunts. He added that bicycles with pegs on the tire axles can also cause damage and are even more harmful than skate board stunting. King said stunting on skate boards and bikes has caused approximately $50,000 in damage in the last several years. Most of the pegs around campus were installed by Facilities Services at a number of academic buildings, including Fenton Hall, Condon Hall and the Science Library. The EMU has installed its own pegs at the EMU Amphitheater, and con tractors installed pegs at the new Lillis Business Complex during construction. University freshman David Hendrickson resents the University's decision to install skate pegs. "It sends a message to us that they don't want us here," he said. Hendrickson is used to the pegs, being a native of San Francisco, where the trend of anti-skate boarding products is prevalent. However, he still believes they aren't necessary. "It's way uglier than if it's (ground) up. And it's uncomfort able to sit on," Hendrickson said. "I wish they wouldn't put them in." King disagrees. Facilities Services placed the pegs two feet apart — plenty of room for people to sit, he said. Facilities Services has installed approximately 100 pegs during the past 12 months, something they would not have been able to do if they didn't save so much money by making their own pegs, King said. Each peg costs about $5 to make and install, while many anti-skateboarding devices on the market cost about $7, not including the cost to install them. King added that the peg-making operation has gone so well that Facilities Services was asked to cre ate pegs for Autzen Stadium. It is difficult to gauge how much the University has saved on repairs by installing the pegs, King said, but officials will moni tor trends in money spent on repairs in the future. King said safety is another posi tive outcome of installing skate pegs, adding that stunting can be dangerous both for the skate boarder and for bystanders who could be hit. Department of Public Safety Interim Director Thomas Hicks confirmed the positive impart the pegs are having on campus. "We do receive a lot of com plaints from the campus community (about skateboarding and stunting)," Hicks said. He added that the pegs, along with increased enforcement, have decreased the amount of stunting at prime locations on campus. Hicks said the Knight Law Center used to have many instances of stunting, but preventative measures have lowered the occurrences. Students violating skateboarding rules on campus can expect a fine from DPS. Slating in a building or structure carries a $25 fine and acro batic or stunt skating carries a $30 fine King said the goal with all of these preventative measures is to ensure safety and to prevent damage. "We wish there were more skateboarding parks for them so they didn't feel the need to do that here," King said. Contact the crime/health/ safety reporter at iisacatto@dailyemerald.com. NEWS BRIEF Geopolicy expert to speak in Eugene Neil Smith, professor of anthropol ogy and geography at the City Univer sity of New York Graduate Center, will give a speech entitled "Lost Geogra phies and Failed Globalizations: From Versailles to Iraq" at the Eugene Hilton Conference Center on Thurs day. His visit kicks off the winter term portion of the Wayne Morse Center for Law and Politics "The Changing Geopolitical Order" lecture series. "We are living through a new and dangerous imperialism that Ameri cans have the responsibility to chal lenge," Smith said in promotional materials for the event. Smith's research looks closely at how seemingly distant political cli mates are connected in various ways. "We will explore the origins of this new empire over the last century and especially highlight the largely unac knowledged political geography of its creation," he added. Smith's past research has focused on globalization and homelessness, cyberculture and the flow of goods and materials, and environmental change and the future of nation states. Smith — also a published author of numerous books, his most recent work being "American Empire: Roo sevelt's Geographer and the Prelude to Globalization" — is a leading ex pert on geopolicy. The event is free and open to the public. — Beau Eastes -----1 1 CLASS SUPPLIES ON SALE %&&$•■■ ....... ■■■ <-- .fiJ| % - - . ' 10% DISCOUNT ON ALL Don’t stress out. ,S. ■ . «ii ' . - |PH| -- " . Stop running ail over town. Go to the UO Bookstore today and get everything you’ll need for winter term. www.uobocmstore.com Non-profit bookstore owned by students, faculty and staff of the University of C ;:4 UNIVERSITY OF OREGON BOOKSTORE ..———-—--—--—----i---i Advertise mtke ODE classifieds _Call 3464343 or place your ad online www.dailyemerald.com GRIME WATO H Thefts and recoveries The Department of Public Safety received one report of bike theft from Sheldon Hall in Earl Complex. DPS also received three found prop erty reports and two reports of larce ny: one from Klamath Hall and one from the Knight Library. Disorderly conduct DPS received one report of disor derly conduct, one report of litter ing, one report of an arrest and one report of an assault in progress. DPS also received three reports of a sus picious subject, one report of a sus picious condition and one report of reckless endangerment. Tuesday, Jan. 6, 8:35 p.m.: DPS received a report of two subjects us ing caution signs for sleds and slid ing around on the ice. Thursday, Jan. 8,11:32 p.m.: DPS received a report of a subject light ing fireworks at Earl Complex. Alcohol and drugs DPS received three reports of drug law violations and eight re ports of liquor law violations. DPS also received 12 reports of Eugene Municipal Code infractions: 10 re ports of minors in possession of or consuming alcohol, one report of an open container and one report of a subject in possession of less than one ounce of marijuana. Friday, Jan. 9, 1:05 a m.: DPS re ceived a report of a group of disor derly subjects outside of H.P. Barn hart Hall. Miscellaneous DPS received two emergency call reports, seven alarm reports and one report of a traffic offense. DPS also received four requests to tow from a reserved space: one from the UO Annex parking lot, one from a disabled space in the Student Health Center staff lot, one from the Emerald Street parking lot and one from the Knight Law Center. Eurailpass issued On-The-Spot 1430 S.W. ParkAve. Portland, OR 97201 503-274-2323 800-592-CUTS (2887) portland@travelcuts.com ASK US ABOUT OUR EXCLUSIVE FLEXIBLE FARES ::iravelguis See the world your way www.travelcuts.com PLEASE RECYCLE THIS PAPER. Los Angeles $175 New York $280 Frankfurt $291 London $360 Paris $415 Mexico City $349 Lima $619 Rio de Janeiro $715 Tokyo $547 Hong Kong $489 Bangkok $609 Bali $719 Sydney $984 Delhi $1029 Fares are roundtrip from Portland. Restrictions apply. Taxes not included. Fares subject to change. Oregon Daily Emerald _RO Box 3159, Eugene OR 97403 The Oregon Daily Emerald is pub lished daily Monday through Friday during the school year by the Oregon Daily Emerald Publishing Co. Inc., at the University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon.The Emerald operates inde pendently of the University with of fices in Suite 300 of the Erb Memorial Union. The Emerald is private prop erty. The unlawful removal or use of papers is nrosecutable by law NEWSROOM — (541)346-5511 Editor in chief: Brad Schmidt Managing editor: Jan Tobias Montry Freelance editor: Jennifer Sudick News editors: Jennifer Marie Bear, Ayisha Yahya Senior news re porters: Caron Alarab, Jared Paben News reporters: Nika Carl son, Lisa Catto, Chelsea Duncan, Chuck Slothower Pulse editor: Aaron Shakra Senior Pulse reporter: Ryan Nyburg Pulse reporter: Natasha Chilingerian Pulse columnists: Helen Schumacher, Carl Sundberg Sports editor: Hank Hager Senior sports reporter: Mindi Rice Sports reporters: Jon Roetman, Jesse Thomas Editorial editor: Travis Willse Columnists: Jessica Cole-Hodgkin .«.♦ . . . , son, Peter Hockaday, David Jagernauth, Aimee Rudin Illustrators: Steve Baggs, Eric Layton Design editor: Kimberly Premore Senior designer: Tanyia John son Designers: Mako Miyamoto, Kari Pinkerton Photo editor: Danielle Hickey Senior photographer: Adam Amato Photographer: Lauren Wimer Part-time photographers: Erik Bis hoff, Tim Bobosky Copy chiefs: Kim Chapman, Brandi Smith Copy editors: Tarah Campi, Stefanie Contreras, Sean Hanson, Rebekah Hearn, Ben Pepper Online editor: Erik Bishoff Webmaster: Eric Layton BUSINESS — 346-5512 General manager: Judy Riedl Business manager: Kathy Carbone Receptionist: Sarah Go racke Distribution: Mike Chen, John Long, Matt O’Brien, Ben Turner ADVERTISING — DISPLAY 346-3712 CLASSIFIED 346-4343 Director: Melissa Gust Sales manager: Michelle Chan Special publications and classified manager: Hilary Mosher Sales representatives: Sav Banerjee, Army Feth, Patrick Gilligan, Me gan Hamlin, Kim Humphries, Alex Hurliman, Tyler Mack, Shannon Rogers, Dan Sawaya, Katherine Vague Assistants: Liz Carson, Katy Cooney, Sabrina Gowette, Thomas Redditt, Keri Spangler PRODUCTION — 346-4381 Manager: Michele Ross Production coordinator: Tara Sloan Designers: Jen Cramlett, Kristen Dicharry, Matt Graff, Andy Holland, Marissa Jones, Jonah Schrogin
