University Commons sees crime increase Some tenants are troubled by the dangers of living in an apartment complex that has increasing crime problems By Lisa Catto News Reporter University sophomore and pre-jour nalism major Leanne Miller doesn't feel safe living at the University Commons apartment complex. She keeps a wood en dowel in her window to prevent bur glary, and she plans to install her own lock on the outside door of her apart ment to prevent theft from the porch. And Miller isn't alone in feeling the University Commons has an unusually high crime rate. Several students and University Commons tenants also have expressed concerns. "They are nice buildings, but I have definitely felt safer living in other loca tions," Miller said. "Most people think of Duck's Village apartments as the par ty complex, but I think that maybe that's the safe party complex and (the University Commons) has the parties that turn into violent fights." Eugene Police Department spokes woman Kerry Delf said the apartment complex "has been flagged as having an unusually high number of calls." "We do get significantly more calls from the University Commons than other apart ment complexes in the area," she said. According to EPD reports, the Univer sity Commons has experienced almost as much crime in the past five months as it experienced during a 10-month period of the 2002-03 school year. The report listed all police calls from September 2002 through June 2003 and September 2003 through January 2004. Turn to COMMONS, page 6 Danielle Hickey Photo Editor EPD has flagged the University Commons as having a high number of calls. STOREWIDE Ski Equipment Downhill • Cross Country Snowboards • Clothing On Now! 13th & Lawrence* 683-1300 • www.bergsskishflp.com Advertise in the ODE classifieds. Call 346-4343 or place your ad online at www.dailyemerald.com NEWS BRIEF New vice provost to meet with campus community The University's new Vice Provost for Institutional Equity and Diversity will meet with students, staff and fac ulty to learn more about diversity is sues on campus, according to a Uni versity news release. Gregory Vincent will host the first of four open forums today from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the EMU Gumwood Room where people can talk about general issues regarding equity. On Thursday, Vincent will host a session centered mainly on issues related to students of color, also from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and at the same location. Another session on general issues is 5W5WWW scheduled for next Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., while those with concerns about issues facing faculty and staff of color can have their say on March 31 from 11:30 a.m to 1 p.m.. These meetings will also be in the EMU Gumwood Room. The new vice provost said he was in terested in hearing what faculty, staff and students have to say on issues of equity and diversity, according to the release. "These sessions will be helpful in understanding more deeply the chal lenges and opportunities for our uni versity in these areas, so I'm looking forward to them," Vincent said. Vincent took up the new position in January. The position was created to ad dress the University's goals concerning campus multiculturalism and equality. —Ayisha Yahya WATCH • reDruary ^uu^f inrougn iviarcn 8, 2004 Thefts and recoveries The Department of Public Safety re ceived one report of burglary from Westmoreland Apartments, seven found property reports, one report of a bike impound, five reports of bike theft and seven reports of larceny. Disorderly conduct DPS received seven reports of disor derly conduct, two reports of skate board stunting, two reports of arrests and two reports of reckless burning. DPS also received one report of a dis pute, four reports of suspicious condi tions, 14 reports of suspicious sub jects and five reports of vandalism. Saturday, Feb. 28, 2:41 a.m.: DPS received a report of a loud party in the East Campus Graduate Village. Sunday, Feb. 29, 12:48 a.m.: DPS . received a report of a male subject throwing an object through the rest room window of Boynton Hall in Hamilton Complex. Tuesday, March 2, 11:33 a.m.: DPS received a report of a "peeping tom" at Bean Complex. Sunday, March 7, 1:33 p.m.: DPS received a report of male subjects around Johnson Hall hitting the win dows with flying discs. Monday, March 8, 3:33 a.m.: DPS received a report of an unusual noise coming rrom Deschutes Hall. Alcohol and drugs DPS received four reports of liquor law violations, two reports of public drinking, one report of possession of less than 1 ounce of marijuana and 14 re ports of minors in possession of alcohol. Sunday, Feb. 29,1:20 a.m.: DPS re ceived a report of a subject with an open container urinating in public at the intersection of Onyx Street and East 15th Avenue. Miscellaneous DPS received nine emergency call re ports, six alarm reports, one report of an odor, three miscellaneous reports, nine reports of criminal trespassing and one report of unlawful entry of a motor ve hicle. DPS also received 26 tow re quests: five from the visitor's parking lot, four from the Prince Lucien Camp bell Hall parking lot one from the East 11th Avenue parking lot seven from the Hayward Field parking lot, one from the Quonset parking lot next to the Riverfront Research Park, two from the Klamath Hall parking lot, two from the University Annex parking lot, one from University Street, two from the Ger linger Hall turnaround and one from the Emerald Street parking lot. Thursday, March 6, 11:27 p.m.: DPS received a report of an intoxicated subject who entered 1 Iamilton Com plex uninvited and would not leave. CAMPUS BUZZ Wednesday Listening session with Gregory Vincent, the Univer sity's new vice provost for institutional equity and di versity, Gumwood Room, EMU, 9:30-11 a.m. Officers of Administration Council, Umpqua Room, EMU, 1-2 p.m. Trotter Lecture featuring Clifford Madsen from Florida State University entitled "Establishing In tensity: Rehearsals That Matter,” Room 198, Mu sic Building, 1 p.m. University Senate meeting, Room 100, Willamette Hall, 3-5:30 p.m. Dance Quarterly, an event featuring dance works in progress by students in choreography, dance repertory and improvisation classes, Dougherty Dance Theatre, Gerlinger Annex, 7 p.m. UO Ensemble Concert, Beall Concert Hall, 8 p.m. EUGENE HARDWARE • Hardware • Electrical • Plumbing • Paint • Housewares • Lawn & Garden • Tools 342-5191 2825 Willamette Eugene, Oregon