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Eugene's Yeltsin plays WOW Hall Page 5
Friday, February 20, 2004
Since 1900 University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon
Volume 105, Issue 104
Undercover officers bust weekend party
Eugene Police officials say
using undercover officers will
help prevent out-of-control
parties from turning into riots
By Lisa Catto
News Reporter
Undercover police officers are being
used by the Eugene Police Department
for the first time to covertly investigate
parties where underage drinking or al
cohol sales are suspected. Police also
may also use undercover officers at lo
cations where kegs are registered or at
parties that receive complaints.
A large party Saturday served as the
first test of the new policy. Undercover
EPD officers disguised as civilians in
filtrated the party, which was at 1591
Mill St., at about 11:30 p.m.
"We've never used undercover cops
at parties in the past," EPD Sgt. Terry
Fitzpatrick said. "We'll use it again
when appropriate."
The idea of using undercover officers
to enter parties is part of EPD's plan to
"pro-actively" prevent riots, he said,
adding that using undercover officers
in those situations is perfectly legal.
"These are the parties that cause
riots," he said. "The whole idea is to try
to prevent riots."
The undercover officers were given
marked money to purchase alcohol
at the party. After the purchases, the
officers immediately called Fitz
patrick, who arrived at the party with
other officers. The person at the front
door let them in and they proceeded
to investigate.
EPD cited 17 minors for intoxica
tion, seized two kegs and confiscat
ed between $65 and $75 in alleged
beer sales. They also cited five peo
ple who live at that address, includ
ing four University students, for
furnishing alcohol to minors and il
legal alcohol sales.
The officers at the scene also called
the Oregon Liquor Control Commis
sion to investigate.
OLCC Investigator Mark Jaehnig
said OLCC seized band equipment,
including drums and speakers, and a
laptop. His preliminary estimation is
the items are valued between about
$13,000 and $15,000. Jaehnig said
the band equipment and laptop were
"alcohol related."
But student Jeremy 11 ill said alcohol
was not being sold at the party.
"There was no money involved in
any of it. They weren't selling cups;
they weren't selling alcohol at all,"
1 fill said. "I found that really confus
ing because there were no sales. No
money was involved at all through
out that party."
1 le added that the hosts of the party,
including himself, were checking
identification. Being a minor, he was
n't able to drink, and he said he
passed a sobriety test police gave him.
"When there's a lot of people and
only one person carding, it's hard to
keep everything under control," he
Turn to UNDERCOVER, page 12
Wildcats fend off Oregon’s charge
The Ducks got close late,
but couldn’t pull off an upset
of No. 14 Arizona on Thursday
By Hank Hager
Sports Editor
Through all the bustle and all the com
motion, it's hard to remember Thursday's
game was a Pacific-10 Conference regular
season contest.
But it was, and a game the Ducks des
perately needed to win to remain alive in
the hunt for the NCAA Tournament.
Fourteenth-ranked Arizona came with
guns ablazin' and defeated Oregon, 100
87, in front of a sold-out 9,087 at
McArthur Court.
"You have to give Arizona credit," Ore
gon forward Luke Jackson said. "They are
a dangerous offensive team. Every guy
has a weapon."
inose weapons gave me uucks nts. ^ai
im Stoudamire finished with a career-high
37 points and Hassan Adams had 26.
Combined, the duo made seven three
pointers and connected on 19 of 30 shots
attempted from the floor.
That overshadowed an incredible offen
sive night from Jackson, who posted 27
points in the second half for a career-high
42. He had 10 rebounds to go with the 42
and was 6 of 9 from beyond the three
point line.
"I did not want to lose this game with
out the ball in my hands," he said. "I only
have so many games left here. I want the
ball in my hands in situations like that."
The emotion of the game got to the
coaches and benches of both teams. Ore
gon head coach Ernie Kent was slapped
with a technical in the first half, and Ari
zona head coach Lute Olson was charged
with one midway through the second.
That's when things began to boil over.
Olson had been arguing a foul call on
Adams and was charged in the technical.
In a mini melee, Olson began moving to
the center of the court and even got close
to Kent.
Jackson, who had been fouled on the play,
sank all four free throws awarded to him.
Turn to CHARGE, page 9
Professor
justifies
education
program
Professor Rennard Strickland
says the University’s Sapsik'wala
program does not violate
the U.S. Constitution
By Chelsea Duncan
News Reporter
Supporters of the College of Education's
Sapsik'wala (Teacher) Education Program
say recent accusations that the program is
unconstitutional are unfounded.
The Mountain States Legal Foundation,
a public interest legal center, sent a press
release on Feb. 11 to University General
Counsel Melinda Grier, which stated the
program "violates both the U.S. Constitu
tion and the Civil Rights Act of 1964" be
cause the program limits financial assis
tance on the basis of race.
But law Professor Rennard Strickland,
who specializes in American Indian law,
said the allegations are false.
"It's just an ill-founded assertion," he
said. "It rises almost to the point of sug
gesting that the people who have suggest
ed it have never read any law related to
Indians."
The program, which is part of the Uni
versity Native American Initiative, is in
tended to prepare American Indian stu
dents to teach at schools that serve
American Indian youth, according to the
College of Education Web site. Students
who are accepted into the master's pro
gram must meet federal stipulations defin
ing American Indians.
Sapsik'wala Program Director Pat
Rounds said 16 students are currently
enrolled in the program, which began
Turn to SAPSIK'WALA, page 4
Adam Amato Senior Photographer
In the first half, Oregon head coach Ernie Kent earned the second technical foul of his coaching career.
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