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John Henson shows promise Page 6
lhursday, March 11, 2004
Since 1900 University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon
Volume 105, Issue 118
In perfect harmony
University and high school choir students assembled for a united performance Wednesday
The
University
Concert
Choir and
choirs from
Springfield
and
Thurston
high schools
combined
fora
performance
Wednesday
evening in
the Beall
Concert
Hall. The
event was
the result of
a program
that helps
high school
students
experience
music in
a college
setting.
Tim Kupsick
Freelance
Photographer
By Athanasios Fkiaras
Freelance Reporter
Nearly 300 students gathered to sing in
Beall Concert Hall on Wednesday
evening, the result of two terms of work
by the Springfield and Thurston high
school choirs and the University Concert
Choir. The program, titled "Choral Part
nerships: University and Community,"
helps high school students experience
music in a college setting.
"It's encouraging to be with more ma
ture singers," Thurston senior Aaron
Breckel said. "It's a big step from high
school choirs."
Thurston senior Melissa Chandler said
comparing high school choirs to the con
cert choir allowed her and her peers to
recognize differences and correct them.
Through the partnership, the high
school choirs met with the University
Turn to CHOIR page 16
Candidates vie
for Legislature
spots in Lane
A primary election in May and a November
general election will determine several legislative
seats, including two for the University area
By Nika Carlson
News Reporter
Legislative seats to represent the University area are up for grabs
in both the Oregon House of Representatives and the Oregon
Senate this election year, along with three house seats that repre
sent the Eugene area.
University-area voters have six candidates to choose from in the
primary election for the two open seats that represent the area.
The primary election takes place May 18 this year. They are parti
san races, with candidates competing only for their party's nomi
nation for a position. Voters must be registered with the Democ
ratic or Republican party to vote on this race.
Whoever wins the primary election will be the candidate for
his or her party in the general election on Nov. 2.
Senator, District 4
The major party nominations for the general election are al
ready-set for the-raee-for Senate District 4, barring the remote pos
sibility of a write-in candidate winning a party nomination. Dis
trict 4 encompasses portions of Lane and Douglas counties,
including the University area. Only one candidate for each party is
competing to represent the area.
Lane and Douglas County commissioners appointed Sen.
Floyd Prozanski, D-Eugene, in December 2003 to represent Sen
ate District 4. He was representative for House District 8 prior to
the appointment.
Prozanski said tax reform would be among his top priorities if
he is re-elected in November. Using the example of a tax system as
a three-legged stool, Prozanski said income tax is Oregon's only
solid revenue leg. The state's dependence on the income tax, how
ever, means that its revenue dips when the economy does. To
combat this problem, Prozanski said he would be in favor of a
limited progressive sales tax.
Prozanski also said the state needs to focus on the link between
education and the economy.
"It's very shortsighted for Oregon to think we can maintain jobs
and opportunities and keep young people in schools in Oregon
Turn to CANDIDATES, page 3
Some same-sex couples find situation too precarious
Local couples say they are
waiting to get same-sex marriage
licenses until after the issue’s
constitutionality is resolved
By Chelsea Duncan
News Reporter
As some couples msh to Multnomah County
to legally solidify their relationships, others are
waiting to see how the legal battle of same-sex
marriages will play out in Oregon and across the
nation.
University law school graduate Tiffany Rauch
Dickson and her partner Jessie Rauch-Dickson
already have obtained a civil union certificate
from Vermont and had a traditional wedding
ceremony in a Boston church. The next step is a
formal certificate, which will recognize their re
lationship as a legal piarriage.
But the two aren't sure if they want to risk get
ting a certificate in Oregon in case the marriages
are found unconstitutional.
"I don't want to set myself up to go up there,
wait in line, get a marriage license and then have
somebody say, 'Oh sorry, never mind,'" Jessie
Rauch-Dickson said. "We're waiting to see what
happens because we want to do things legally,
and when we do get a marriage license we want
it to stick."
She said the two also are waiting because they
eventually plan to move to New York.
"It's not like when a straight couple gets mar
ried in one state and moves to another," she
said. "An Oregon marriage license could be
meaningless in New York."
Graduate student Kevin Bourzac said he and
his partner also are unsure of when and where
they will get a license.
"We're really taking the wait-and-see ap
proach, "he said.
Even though Bourzac said the two would have
gone to Multnomah County by now if they'd
had the free time, he feels it is still important to
choose an appropriate state to get the official
document.
He said their decisions will be based on
which state — Oregon, California or Massachu
setts — has most of the kinks worked out in
terms of what is considered legal.
"Unless some very positive sign happens in
Oregon or California, then we'll just get it in
Boston," he said.
Former Lane Community College student
Marshall Collins and his partner — a couple
that also held a wedding ceremony but are not
legally married — said the only reason he and
his partner have not rushed to Multnomah
County for a license is because the two haven't
had the time.
"Getting spur-of-the-moment time off is kind
of hard for us," he said.
He said even if the two get a marriage license
and later have it revoked, it will be just one more
battle to overcome.
"It's very much a reality that it can happen,"
he said. "I don't think it would be permanent."
The couples agree, however, that the most im
portant reason to get a license is for the legal
Turn to COUPLES, page 4
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Divisi and On the
Rocks compete
in California
this weekend