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Wednesday, April 28, 2004
Since 1900 University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon
Volume 105, Issue 143
Wolfe the Watchdog
Ray Wolfe, a professor emeritus of chemistry, decided to join the world of public television at the tender age of 76
By Moriah Balingit
News Reporter
ot many people decide to change careers
when they're in their mid-70s. But University
JL Professor Emeritus of chemistry Ray Wolfe,
who will turn 84 years old on June 1, did just that.
Though Wolfe has always been socially active,
he decided in 1997 to join the Board of Directors
for Community Television of Lane County. Wolfe
wasn't just an average volunteer, however; he at
tended every meeting during his five-year service
with the board.
Tom Cleveland, who cunendy serves on the Board
of Advisors for CILC, said Wolfe played a crucial role
in getting the station off the ground.
"Without Ray, we would not have been able to save
community television," he said.
After joining CILC, Wolfe, who had no previous
experience in television, began producing and direct
ing his own television show for the station. He said
the inspiration for his show "In the Public Interest"
came from the lack of good local programming on
television networks.
"Because of network corporations and the need for
advertising, local programming is almost all lost,"
Wolfe said.
Though Wolfe is no longer the "young" 76-year
old man he was when he got into the business of
community television, he is still very active in the stu
dio. Cleveland said Wolfe "has done everything at the
station that there is to do, and more."
George Beres, the show's host, said Wolfe even per
forms physical tasks around the studio. For example,
when a light falls out of place on the scaffolding, "it's
Ray that will roll out the long ladder to adjust it."
Additionally, Wolfe directs and edits his program,
recruits his volunteer crew and has even served as the
station's programmer.
Wolfe's show covers a variety of topics, including
the environment, political and social problems and
current election-related issues. Recently, the show
hosted Eugene attorney Ed Monks and talk-show
host Dan Carlin to debate the issue of corporate own
ership in radio. Wolfe also broadcasts interesting local
events, such as the Sustainable Business Symposium
and the Medical Ethics Symposium, on his show.
Wolfe said he's the ultimate media watchdog, be
cause he's driven by the desire to keep the public in
formed and the government accountable.
"If anyone observes what's going on in city govern
ment, they'll find controlling influences that may not
be in the public interest," he said.
Beres echoed Wolfe's sentiments.
Turn to WOLFE, page 5
Tim Kupsick Photographer
Ray Wolfe, a University professor emeritus of chemistry, joined the Community Television of Lane County's Board
of Directors in 1997. At the age of 76, Wolfe began his fruitful and prolific career as the producer and director of
his own television show, “In the Public Interest."
Groups raise awareness for sexual assault
Sexual Assault Support Services has
organized the Clothesline Project for
Sexual Violence Prevention Week
By Lisa Catto
News Reporter
Various organizations in Lane County, in
cluding Sexual Assault Support Services, the
ASUO Women's Center and the Men's Center,
are hosting events to raise awareness about sex
ual violence in conjunction with Sexual Vio
lence Prevention Week.
One of the events, the Clothesline Project, aims
to "visually air society's dirty laundry," said SASS
Education Program Coordinator Michelle Ed
wards. The national project encourages sexual as
sault survivors to create T-shirts expressing their ex
periences and thoughts, and shirts decorated by
local sexual assault victims and allies will be on dis
play in the EMU Concourse through Thursday
Edwards said she hopes the project and other
events this week will enable sexual assault survivors
to educate ^ themselves on services and
become involved for the remainder of the year.
She said many people don't realize that a
large percentage of people have experienced
sexual assault.
Erin Dury, sexual violence prevention and edu
cation coordinator for the ASUO Women's Center,
said one in four women will be sexually assaulted
by age 24.
"Violence against women permeates all as
pects of our lives," she said. "The only way we
can make a positive change is through educa
tion and awareness."
Eugene Womenspace Community Outreach Di
rector Margo Schaefer said sexual assault is a severe
Turn to ASSAULT, page 4
Student
numbers
trend low
in voting
A recent national study shows
people aged 18 to 24 have
voted in decreasing numbers
for the past three decades
By Jared Paben
Senior News Reporter
Fewer than one out of every 20 students
voted for Adam Petkun and Mena Ravas
sipour for ASUO president and vice pres
ident last week, a turnout that would
spell certain defeat in many elections.
But for Petkun and Ravassipour, the
numbers spelled victory and ascension
to the most coveted of student govern
PART 1 OF 2
Today: Low voter turnout
worries ASUO
Tomorrow: Causes and
solutions to voter apathy
student campus cast a ballot in this year's
ASUO general election, marking an even
lower rate of voter participation than the
past year's 14.3 percent.
For whatever reason, the vast majority
of students on the University campus
don't vote. Those 10 percent who do vote
are choosing the leaders who will decide
how to handle approximately $8 million
in student money annually.
Everyone, including this year's ASUO
Executive winner, sees that as a serious
problem.
voter
turnout,
only 9.9
percent of
the 20,000
The ugly numbers
The average voter turnout in the last
three ASUO general elections is roughly
one-fourth of what it was nearly 50 years
ago. In 1955, voter turnout on the 5,400
student campus hit 43 percent of the stu
dent body, compared to this year's 9.9
percent turnout in the general election.
Campus general-election voting hit an
all-time low at 5.8 percent in 1993.
It's clear student voters are a dying
breed, but the problem may have noth
ing to do with politics on this campus.
Statistics from the Washington D.C.
based Committee for the Study of the
American Electorate indicate that voter
participation for 18- to 24-year-olds has
been in decline over the past three
decades. Only 28.7 percent of people
within that age group voted in local,
state and federal elections in 2000.
ASUO President Maddy Melton, a
member of the United States Student As
sociation and Oregon Student Associa
tion, agreed that University students are
Turn to VOTING, page 3
WEATHER
LOW
38
HIGH
65
INSIDE
Campus buzz.3
Classifieds.11
Commentary..2
Crossword.11
Pulse.6
Sports.7
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