ARENA
continued from page 1
they cost to fund. The two sports help
fund all other sports at the University.
The reasoning behind the addi
tional costs is diversified. Relocation
costs of moving the softball field,
among other things in the area, is es
timated at $10 to $12 million. Un
derstanding the design more precise
ly and what is wanted has also added
significant amounts.
Williams said the University is not
prepared to re-evaluate the selection
of the new arena site at this time,
adding that Howe Field is still the
least expensive site when compared to
land proposed for the new federal
courthouse and the Autzen Stadium
location. Those sites would have re
quired $20 to $25 million for pur
chasing and land reconstruction.
Campus Planning Committee
Chairwoman Carole Daly said the
Howe Field site does not violate any
of the guidelines set forth by the Long
Range Campus Plan except for density
issues. The committee is vocal in the
arena's development because it over
sees new projects at the University
and ensures certain guidelines are fol
lowed in how the campus will be de
veloped in the future.
"There's not a site anywhere on
campus that you could build this —
whether you built it at Autzen Stadi
um, whether you built it here — that
would not exceed the density and you
would have to do the same thing,"
Daly said.
English Professor James Earl has a
different opinion. Earl has expressed
his concern regarding the new arena
from the beginning, saying he doesn't
see the need for a new facility at all.
"I have a hard time getting comfort
able with the idea that we are going to
be the school that has two arenas,"
Earl said. "That's a level of excess al
ready, even before we even talk about
the nature of the new arena."
Earl also has said that when the Uni
versity originally went public about the
new arena, the cost was $90 million, or
at the low end of the original range.
Now that the cost has doubled, Earl be
lieves the $ 180 million figure is at the
low end of another range.
"What you're watching is the tip of
the iceberg," Earl said. "You're just
watching the arms race at work.
Nothing is surprising in what's hap
pening here. Expansion is the name
of the game."
Earl said he recognizes there is
strong commercial pressure for Ore
gon to have an arena right now, and
he expects there is a 50 percent chance
of the arena being built.
Williams said the opening of the
arena — slated for the start of the
2006-07 basketball season — is in
jeopardy because of delays in dealing
with debt financing.
"1 don't think we're at the point
where we know there is going to be a
delay but we're certainly getting
dose," Williams said. "There's a cer
tain reality setting in here in terms of
revenue and cost that's causing us to
sharpen our pendls."
Contact the sports reporter
at jessethomas@dailyemerald.com.
EDUCATION
continued from page 1
center at the Oregon Hillel and an Is
raeli interest group to suit that pur
pose, he said. Utwer is also on the ex
ecutive board of Alpha Epsilon Pi, a
Jewish fraternity on campus; works
with the American Israel Public Affairs
Committee, an Israel advocacy group;
and helped found a new advocacy
group whose aim is to push for
stronger political ties between the
United States and Israel.
Oregon Hillel Executive Director Hal
Applebaum, who has known Litwer for
more than two years, said he was "instru
mental" in creating and enhancing the Is
rael resource center at Oregon I lillel.
"He returned energized and com
mitted to sharing not only his experi
ence but also the importance of, not
only Jewish students, but all students
connecting with the state of Israel,"
Applebaum said.
Litwer wasn't always so involved in
Israel advocacy, he said. Something
about Israel changed him.
"Like many people, I used to have
some real misconceptions about Is
rael," Litwer said. "When I was there,
there were a couple of things that just
really got under my skin, (especially)
meeting people whose lives have been
severely affected by the war in Israel
that, I believe, is ongoing."
Litwer said he met an Israeli man
who continued to direct a center for
children with broken families even
though the man had recently experi
enced his own personal tragedy.
"While we were there, there was a
dog that was following us around
while we got the tour (of the center)
— a beautiful golden retriever," Litwer
said. "I asked about the dog and it
turned out the dog was his daughter's.
We found out after we left that his
daughter had been shot by a Palestin
ian sniper just 10 months prior.
"There's nobody in Israel who has
n't lost a family member. I can't imag
ine what living like that would be like.
You come back here and you see
headlines, like yesterday's in The Reg
ister-Guard, talking about this 'Berlin
Wall' that they're putting up so they
can live safely. I could hardly not do
something, you'd feel the same way.
All I could think to do about it is to
hope to educate some people."
Litwer said during his trip he also
was struck by how similar the Israelis
are to Americans, both socially and
politically. In fact, he said he felt at
home there, which surprised him be
cause he previously thought of the
Middle East as purely "exotic."
He said he felt it important to edu
cate people about the similarities be
tween the two countries — especially
regarding their mutual belief in
democracy and human rights — so
they can see the importance of the
United States supporting Israel.
Litwer must split the grant evenly
between two community charities of
his choice; however, one must be in
Israel and one in Eugene. He has not
yet decided how to spend it, he said.
Litwer said more and more people
are becoming interested in Israel
through the efforts of Jewish advocacy
groups. In fact he said birthright israel
set a record during winter break by send
ing more than 6,000 people to Israel.
"It's starting to hit critical mass," he
said. "People are realizing that the
best way to make general conclusions
about how you feel about Israel as a
Jew is to go. When I came to this cam
pus there were very few people who
would describe themselves as pro-Is
rael advocates ... now there's a whole
club. I think we've done quite well."
Contact the people/culture/
faith reporter
atjaredpaben@dailyemerald.com.
018015
M
Organized by MLK Jr. Committee: Black Studeri
Multicultural Center, and CODAC with the supporf^HferiouS
Programs Support Fund, and the Office of Multicultuffkffairs.-i
Please contact 346-1139 for more information^
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON
The U0 is an equal opportunity affirmative action institution
committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the
Americans with Disabilities Act. Accommodations for people
with disabilities will be provided if requested in advance.
'WUnAtly, fltirmtiry
NAACP MLK Day Annual March <> 9am start
Route starts at the Serbu Center parking lot on 2727 MLK Blvd. and ends at
the EWEB Building for a short program. More info: NAACP 541-431-1119
Springfield Celebration <> 2-4pm * Springfield Middle School
1084 G Street Featuring speaker Ms. Lyllye Parker.
More info: Elaine Hayes 541-485-1755
Eugene Celebration <> 7pm <> Hult Center
Featuring Mr. Ralph Wiley. More info: Greg Hanes 541-868-6050
V^cAncsA^y, ^jtinntiry 2i
{JO MLK Jr. Keynote
Dr. Triad Rose from WC Sdntd Cruz
7pm, Willamette 100
An author, feminist, noted hip-hop scholar and Professor of American Studies,
Dr. Tricia Rose is an authority on politics of Black women's sexuality and issues
of race, love and desire.
TAnrsAsiy, fjunmry 22
A chance to engage Dr. Rose in intimate conversation about her lecture. Noon
@ Knight Library Browsing Room (Please RSVP at 346-3216)
£ tit nr A, ay, dnntiry 2*f
"Feel the Spirit" Cultural Performances
8-9:30pm EMU Ballroom
w/the UO Gospel Choir and the Eugene African Dance Troop
Xr^cAnc&dtly, {January 2g
Unity Celebration and Candlelight Vigil
6 pm Gerlinger Lounge & 7pm Vigil Procession Begins
Cross-cultural presentations by student activists and leaders honoring and
reflecting on the teachings of MLK Jr. and his impact on communities.
m£hnr&Atiy/ {January 2rf
MLK Awards Luncheon
11:30pm Gerlinger Lounge
£gUirAay, {]anngry
Oregon Student of Color Coalition Conference Keynote
Yui-i Kochiydmd, human rights activist
Noon McKenzie Room 129-229
Friend of Malcom X and survivor of WWII Japanese-American Internment,
renowned activist Yuri Kochiyama has championed human rights, protested
radical inequality and supported political prisoners in the US and throughout
the world.
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