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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 21, 2004)
An independent newspaper http://www.dailyemerald.com Wednesday, January 21,2004 Since 1900 University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon Volume 105, Issue 82 Bush warns of ongoing threat Despite the capture of Saddam Hussein, President Bush says the nation remains vulnerable to a possible terrorist attack By Ron Hutcheson Knight Ridder Newspapers (KRT) WASHINGTON — President Bush de scribed a nation in peril Tuesday in a State of the Union speech that focused on the threat of terrorism, the challenges in Iraq and the need for more economic growth. In a nationally televised address that previewed the themes of his re-election campaign, Bush defended his decision to invade Iraq and warned Americans that the nation remains vulnerable to terrorists. He sought to play to his political strengths by casting himself as a tough-minded leader dealing with big challenges. Borrowing a page from Abraham Lin coln, who urged voters during the Civil War to avoid "changing horses in mid stream," Bush called on Americans to stick with him as he confronts terrorism, Iraq and economic problems. "We have faced serious challenges to gether and now we face a choice. We can go forward with confidence and resolve, or we can turn back to the dangerous illusion that terrorists are not plotting and outlaw regimes are no threat to us," he told a joint session of Congress. "We have not come all this way — through tragedy and trial and war — only to falter and leave our Turn to BUSH, page 3A George Bridges Knight Ridder Newspapers (KRT) During the speech, Bush suggested a constitutional amendment to outlaw same-sex marriages. Bush’s speech draws criticism, praise The State of the Union came just one year and a day before the next presidential inauguration By Chuck Slothower ^ News Reporter Campus reaction to President George W. Bush's State of the Union speech Tues day night split predictably along party lines, with University College Republi cans praising Bush for his strong leader ship and College Democrats attacking his policies. However, both sides agreed that it was quite a night for politics. "I love the State of the Union," said Greg McNeill, University senior and 2002 Republican candidate for Ore gon's 8th House District. "It's like the Super Bowl of politics." More than a dozen College Republicans gathered in the EMU Tuesday night to watch Bush's speech on Fox News, meet ing each highlight with sharp applause. "He's a very strong, focused leader," College Republicans Vice Chairwoman Gabrielle Guidero said, adding that she strongly supported Bush's proposal to encourage more scientists and engineers to teach part time in high schools. The 54-minute speech, delivered one year to the day before the next presiden tial inauguration, began with an overview of the war on terrorism and emphasized the prominent issues of Bush's term, with fierce defenses of his administration's policies on everything from the USA PATRIOT Act to his desire to lend government support to religious charities. McNeill said that watching the State of the Union was different with a Republi can in office. "I was all serious about the State of the Union when Clinton was president," Mc Neill said. But he had no problem relaxing dur ing Bush's speech, cracking jokes about former President Clinton, Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean. College Republicans Chairman Jarrett White praised Bush's leadership. "His outlook on what America can be and should be in the future is his best quality," White said. "I thought it was a pretty good speech." College Democrats Co-Chairwoman Samantha Bouton sharply disagreed, crit icizing Bush's handling of the economy, Medicare, education, Iraq, civil liberties and sex education. "Tell the average Oregonian that the economy is getting better and I don't think that many of them will agree," she said, citing Oregon's high unemployment rate. One proposal Bush made Tuesday night could directly affect the University — larger Pell Grants for students who prepare for college by taking demanding course loads in high school. Bouton criticized the idea. 'This is going to bog down the Depart ment of Education in getting grants and loans to students," Bouton said. Bouton also denounced Bush's pro motion of abstinence-based education as a "nod to the religious right." "Abstinence is the only way to have a classroom full of horny teenagers who don't know how to use a rubber," she said. Bush skirted an issue that will likely emerge during the general election — the absence of weapons of mass de struction found in Iraq — arguing that if Saddam Hussein were allowed to re main in power his "weapons of mass destruction-related program activities" would have continued. This contrasts earlier Bush administration promises before the war in Iraq to find Hussein's weapons of mass destruction. Turn to UNION, page 3A Former pledges seek damages from fraternity A personal injury lawsuit was filed on Dec. 10,2003, over the balcony collapse at the Chi Psi Fraternity By Lisa Catto News Reporter Two former Chi Psi fraternity pledges filed a personal injury lawsuit against the Chi Psi Fraternity and associates regarding injuries caused by a balcony collapse at the Chi Psi house in April 2002. McDaniel Brookman and Nathan Baston, who are suing for more than $1.5 million in damages, were at the house drink ing alcohol with other pledges on April 18, 2002. According to their lawyer, Neil Lathen, they joined a group of 11 other people on the balcony and the stress of the weight caused it to collapse. Baston fractured his left elbow, broke his left wrist and hurt his knees, according to the filed claim. Brookman broke his jaw in five places and dislocated his left shoulder. He also lost five per manent teeth and fractured several others. Lathen — who is with the Salem law firm Swanson, Lathen, Alexander and McCann, P.C. — filed the lawsuit on Dec. 10, 2003. The suit was filed against the local chapter of the Chi Psi Fraternity, including then-President David Waterfall, and the National Chi Psi Association and its associates: the local Chi Psi alumni association and its then-Vice President Bill Stephens. According to the filed claim for relief, Waterfall was in charge of approving construction plans and inspecting house safety, while Stephens was responsible for the construction of the balcony. Brookman and Baston also sued Tandem Property Manage ment, Inc., the company responsible for constructing the balcony on the house. Brookman and Baston assert that the balcony was not kept in proper maintenance and that the defendants failed to advise them of the balcony's weight limit. They also said they were forced to consume alcohol and go onto the balcony, although it Turn to LAWSUIT, page 6A NEWS BRIEF Emerald files grievance against PFC The Emerald filed a grievance Tuesday against the ASIJO Pro grams Finance Committee for allegedly violating Oregon Public Meetings Law. According to the student grievance report, PFC called a meeting into executive session Jan. 13 without prior no tice or just cause. Public bodies must give notice of their intention to enter into an executive session in the meeting agenda and state the reason during open session, according ORS 192.640(2) of Oregon's pub lic meetings law. In addition, public bodies can only adjourn an open meeting into executive session for specific reasons, which are outlined in the Attorney General's Public Records and Meet ings Manual, the Emerald contended. PFC Chairman Adrian Gilmore could not be reached for com ment as of press time. Gilmore said in an e-mail to Emerald Editor in Chief Brad Schmidt on Friday that the session was called due to comments that were getting "personal toward a member of PFC." But Schmidt said that is not a justifiable reason for an execu tive session, adding that PFC did not initially have an executive session listed on its agenda for that day. Based on Gilmore's statements about the meeting, Schmidt said part of the reason for calling the session seemed to be to pre vent the Emerald from reporting on the ongoing discussion. According to state laws, certain persons may be excluded from the deliberations during an executive session, and while Turn to PFC, page 5A WEATHER INSIDE NEXT ISSUE LOW 35 HIGH 45 Campus buzz. Classifieds. Commentary. ..3A Crossword.... 11A Crime Watch ..2A Sports. 11A ..5A ..7A Check out the ‘Big Fish’ review in Pulse
