An independent newspaper http://www.dailyemerald.com Ducks, Joseph have six games left Page 5 Wednesday, February 18, 2004 Since 1900 University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon Volume 105, Issue 102 Against the odds Jodette Heider’s living sittiation has improved drastically since being homeless By Jared Paben Senior News Reporter Iodene Heider was building a snowman in the yard of her acquaintance's house. It was January 2003 in Bend, and Hei ■ was living with the woman, a therapist and self-proclaimed shaman, after leaving the hospital for surgery on her back. In her quest to build the snowman, she went looking for a stick to prop him up. She wandered into the woman's util ity shed, but she didn't find a stick. Instead, she found a stack of road-kill carcass es, Heider said. Frightened by the discovery, Heider moved out and was again without a place to stay. Heider des perately tried to find a place to sleep, driving around town in her car. She said sne wasn t scared, Dut sne was sad. She kept thinking how most people her age were married, with a stable source of in come and stable lives. Instead of those things, she drove around just looking for a place to sleep. Turn to TUMOR, page 3 PART 3 OF 4 Editor's note: The story of University student Jodene Heider is a four-part series examining the hardships of living with a tumor. For Tuesday’s story, see www.dailyemerald.com. Monday: The sickness appears Tuesday: Kicking off a friendship Today: Finding a home Thursday: School and life struggles Tim Kupsick Freelance Photographer University student Jodene Heider studies psychology in The Buzz Saturday evening. Because of her brain tumor, Heider suffers from blurry vision despite wearing bifocal glasses and bifocal contacts. Community reactions to arena plans vary The announced postponement of the planned basketball arena has drawn praise and criticism By Ayisha Yahya News Editor The University administration's deci sion to shelve plans to build a new bas ketball arena is drawing different reac tions on campus and in the wider community. University President Dave Frohnmay er announced Feb. 11 that the new bas ketball arena project had been post poned indefinitely. Frohnmayer said a review of the scope, complexity and fi nancing of the project revealed the Uni versity could not move ahead with its plans, according to an Emerald article published Feb. 12. The new arena was set to be built on Howe Field, next to McArthur Court. However, plans hit a snag earlier this year when projected costs of the complex rose to $180 million from the original $90 to $130 million estimate. Private donor funds would have covered the are na's initial price tag, but the excess cost meant the University had to find Turn to ARENA, page 4 Smith stresses Bush’s strengths In a speech at the Lane County Republican's Lincoln Day Dinner, U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith discussed President Bush’s upcoming election By Chelsea Duncan News Reporter U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., spoke Tuesday night in sup port of President Bush's re-election at the annual Lane County Re publican's Lincoln Day Dinner. Smith told an audience of about 300 people that although every election is important, this year's presidential election is critical. "I can't think of one that is more critical than the one that's coming up and why it's so important for you to turn Lane County into Bush country," he told the crowd. "George Bush understands what creates opportunity in Ameri ca," he said. "It's entrepreneurs, it's free men and women investing their capital and employing people, our fellow citizens," he said. He also spoke of Bush's determination to preserve "American leadership" on an international level. 'This is a better world because of the United States of America," he said. "George Bush understands that American leadership allows democracy to spread in this earth." Smith said that Bush also understands the dynamics of rural Turn to SMITH, page 4 Tim Bobosky Photographer U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., accused Sen. John Kerry of having “two faces” at the Lane County Republican’s Lincoln Day Dinner Tuesday night. Kerry victorious in Wisconsin John Kerry managed to beat John Edwards in the pivotal and surprisingly close primary By G. Robert Hillman The Dallas Morning News (KRT) MILWAUKEE — Front-runner John Kerry fought off a sur prisingly strong challenge by John Edwards on Tuesday in a primary election that offered Edwards an opening for a two man race for the Democratic presidential nomination. Again, Howard Dean stumbled, finishing a distant third. He returned home to Vermont to reassess his campaign. Kerry, who had held a commanding lead in public opin ion polls over the weekend, won narrowly. But a "win is a win," the Massachusetts senator told re porters as prospects for a tight race built through the day. In accepting victory, he thanked the voters of Wisconsin "for moving this cause and this campaign forward." It was his 15th victory in 17 states. For Edwards, the first-term senator from North Carolina, his strong second-place finish breathed new life into his campaign. "Today, the voters of Wisconsin sent a clear message," Ed wards told a small but enthusiastic crowd in Milwaukee's American Serb Hall. Turn to KERRY, page 4 WEATHER LOW 38 HIGH 53 INSIDE Campus buzz.4 Classifieds.7 Commentary..2 Crossword.7 Crime watch.3 Sports.5 NEXT ISSUE 1 The University’s Queer Film Festival opens Friday