Experts remain somewhat hopeful about economy
At Wednesday's 10th annual
Economic Forecast symposium,
local economists address a slow
but steady rise for Oregon in 2004
By Caron Alarab
Senior News Reporter
Despite predicted increases in property,
health care and utility costs, industry experts
and economists remain "cautiously opti
mistic" about the future of Oregon's economy
in 2004.
At the Eugene Area Chamber of Com
merce's 10th annual Economic Forecast on
Wednesday, local and state representatives
addressed issues ranging from the importance
of improved investment statewide to the in
creasing economic value of higher education,
especially the University.
"The University is a tremendous force in the
local economy," University Vice President for
Research Rich Linton said.
Speakers at the forum focused in part on
the economic benefits of the technology in
dustry in Oregon.
"Oregon's high-tech companies are doing
big things in small places," Jack Isselmann,
deputy director of the Oregon Economic and
Community Development Department, said
during his keynote speech. Isselmann stressed
the importance of high-technology compa
nies as private manufacturer employers and as
a means of leveraging statewide investment.
After the speech, local industry panelists —
including representatives from markets in real
estate, health care, tourism, utilities and higher
education — gave an uneasy forecast for 2004.
Real estate experts predict more record
high vacancies and record-high prices, while
those in health care expect hospital, physi
cian and pharmacy costs to continue rising.
Utility costs are also expected to increase, lo
cally and regionally, by five to 15 percent
in 2004.
On the other hand, the tourism industry
hopes a new Eugene airline and new Univer
sity buildings will help to bring back visitors.
Linton, representing higher education, had
the most optimistic outlook for 2004 as he re
ferred to a recent multi-million dollar
fundraising campaign, and he predicted an
end to the statewide salary freeze by 2005.
The event also featured an economist pan
el, which included representatives from the
Oregon Employment Department, ECON
Northwest and other organizations. The panel
estimated a four percent growth rate in 2004,
despite major job market challenges and on
going investment issues.
Linton, who called the overall forecast for
2004 "cautiously optimistic," said he was
proud to have represented the University at
the event.
"I felt very gratified that there is growing
appreciation for the University as an econom
ic engine," he said.
Contact the business/science/technology
reporter at caronalarab@dailyemerald.com.
Tim Bobosky Photographer
Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies Rich
Linton discusses the University’s economic contributions
to Eugene at Wednesday's Economic Forecast.
SEMINAR
continued from page 1
"The money was wonderful,"
SMARTs South Valley Area Manager Liz
Degnersaid.
Degner said the money SMART re
ceived paid for 14 children to enter the
program, which works with children in
kindergarten through third grade who
are snuggling with reading.
She said she was impressed with the
students in the class because they took
their responsibilities seriously and re
searched the organizations thoroughly.
Degner said she believes the class
connects students to their community.
Irvin agreed an important aspect of
the class is helping students become
more involved with the community.
'This is a dass that sort of opens peo
ple up to other things that are out
there, "she said.
Lenzser said getting out of the
dassroom and visiting the organiza
tions made the seminar unique to
the University.
NEWS BRIEF
ASUO Student Senate
approves realignment plan,
releases money for events
The ASUO Student Senate approved
a seat realignment plan, sending it to
the ASUO Constitution Court for their
approval, and passed four special re
quests at a one-hour, forty-minute
meeting Wednesday night.
The realignment of senate seats,
long in the works, aims to shift the
seats of academic senators so they rep
resent as equal a number of students
as possible. Senators said that is ex
tremely difficult to do, given that seats
represent certain majors.
"We're making it better than it was
before," Sen. Colin Andries said.
The senate also dealt with special re
quests, releasing $2,075 from the Chi
nese Student Association's accounts to
pay for the group's China Night event
The Multicultural Center also filed a
successful request to release $300 from
the group's account to pay for food dur
ing a guest speaker event and the sen
ate released $70 of the Students of the
Indian Subcontinent's funds for food.
The International Student Associa
tion received a $117 release for Friday
coffee socials during winter term.
There was some debate about
whether to give the group $ 116 or $ 117.
"I think it's a waste of time to argue
over a dollar or two," Ombudsman
Mike Sherman said. "You will proba
bly never hear me say that again."
—Chuck Slothower
Have some great UO stories to share?
Help new students with their transition to the UO by working at IntroDucktion this summer.
•The summer job includes all of
July and the last week of
September.
• Earn 3 upper division credits
and up to $ 1200
• Pick up an application in
465 Oregon Hall.
Applications are due by
January 29th at 5pm.
For more information contact:
Student Orientation Programs
465 Oregon Hall
346-1159
"There are few other classes that give
students such a hands-on experience,"
she said.
Contact the higher education/
student life/student affairs reporter
at chelseaduncan@daityemerald.com.
CAMPUS
BUZZ
Thursday
Public Safety Advisory Group meeting, EMU Walnut
Room, 3:30 p.m.-5 p.m.
Romance Languages lecture featuring Sharon
Kinoshita from the University of CalifomiaSanta Cruz,
Room 221, Friendly Hall, 5 p.m.
Author Nancy Hopps will present a variety of relax
ation methods. Bring pillows and mats. University
Bookstore, 7 p.m.
Honors College lecture featuring Population Institute
President Werner Fomos, EMU Fir Room, 7 p.m.
Faculty ensemble and guest artist concert featuring
jazz violinist Diane Monroe, Beall Concert Hall, 8 p.m.
Complete
‘<yr\j Selection
of:
MP • Skis
jf & • Boots
/ M • Clothing
• Ski Rentals
erg/1 Hi F nop
13th & Lawrence* Eugene • 683-1300
www.bergsskishop.com
Today's crossword solution
Oregon Daily Emerald
P.O. 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 prosecutable 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
Sates representatives: Sav Banerjee, Army Feth, Patrick Gilligan,
Megan Hamlin, Kim Humphries, Alex Hurliman, Tyler Mack, Shannon
Rogers, Dan Sawaya, Katherine Vague Assistants: Thomas Redditt
Special publications and classified manager: Hilary Mosher
Associates: Liz Carson, Liz Conant, Katy Cooney, Sabrina Gowette, 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