An independent newspaper http://www.dailyemerald.com Monday, May 17, 2004 Since 1900 University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon Volume 105, Issue 156 Legal^agtes Sen. Ron Wyden says he looks forward —.~. to “passing a torch” of public service Job cuts approved by Higher Ed Board The Board of Higher Education plans to eliminate 18 positions in the Chancellor’s Office By Ayisha Yahya News Editor The State Board of Higher Education approved plans to reorganize the Chancel lor's Office on Friday, which will result in a reduction of 18 staff positions and savings of more than $ 1 million. The reorganization is the first step to ward redefining the role of the office in re lation to the Oregon University System, and comes after a three-month review headed by a special committee. "This reorganization represents a new and more efficient way for the Chancel lor's Office to support higher education in Oregon," Henry Lorenzen, co-chair of the Chancellor's Office Review Committee, said in an OHS press release. Under reorganization, the number of staff will drop from 39 to 21, according to an OlIS handout. As part of the cuts, the Industry Affairs division will now have two staff members instead of four, while staff in the Decision Support department dropped from 13 to nine members. The Academic Affairs unit, which had the highest number of staff, saw a reduction from 19 staff members to just seven. "Nineteen reduced to seven is really in line with this new vision we want to go with for the Chancellor's Office," said Board Vice President Geraldine Richmond, who helped head the review committee There are also three grant-funded posi tions. In addition, the Division of Academic Affairs has been eliminated, while a new Graduate Program Council and a Provost Council have been created, according to the press release. Work previously handled by the academic affairs unit, which was re sponsible in part for new campus pro grams, will now be managed through the new councils, University Vice President for Academic Affairs Lorraine Davis said. New areas of the organization include Enrollment Policy & Community Colleges Liaison; High Schools & Teacher Education Liaison; Strategic Programs and Planning; and Graduate and Research Policy, the re lease states. Individual campuses will take over responsibility for the development and implementation of new or revised ac ademic and grant-funded programs. Gov. Ted Kulongoski thanked Richmond and others who worked on formulating the office's reorganization. "Whenever there is reorganization, and I've been involved in a number of those, it's very destabilizing to the employees," Turn to CUTS, page 4 By Peter Sur Freelance Reporter bout 160 graduates of the School of Law received their diplomas Sun JL V. day amid pomp, circumstance and speeches that reinforced the graduates' re sponsibilities in the years ahead. The class of 2004 entered the Hult Cen ter's Silva Concert Hall in hoods and pur ple and black robes, led by Assistant Pro fessor Michael Moffitt, who served as commencement marshal. In his opening remarks, School of law Dean laird Kirkpatrick noted the class's ac complishments, which included helping es tablish the Oregon Review of International Law journal and setting new records for pro bono hours contributed by law students. "As of today you are joining an alumni family of over 5,500 graduates," Kirk patrick said, noting that previous gradu ates have become members of leading law firms, U.S. senators, governors, state attor neys general and judges. "You'll be given numerous opportunities to serve in leadership roles, and I urge you to accept those opportunities," he said. Student Bar Association President Jeff Eager noted how the class changed since the Sept. 11 terror attacks. "We have studied law in a historic time," he said. "It is cliche to say 9-11 changed everything, but its effect on the class of 2004 in the infancy of our legal education has been profound." Kirkpatrick presented Moffitt with the Orlando J. Hollis Faculty Teaching Award, which is given to a School of Law "out standing teacher." University President Dave Frohnmayer surprised Moffitt by announcing he had won the Ersted Award for Distinguished Teaching, presented annually to two fac ulty members. Kirkpatrick presented the Meritorious Service Award to Judge Stephen Reinhardt of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and to U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden. This award is given to "a person or persons who have made ex traordinary contributions to legal educa tion and the law." "Respect for law, respect for truth and re spect for the individual dignity of hu mankind are essential values if our society as we know it is to survive," Reinhardt said. L3 Erik R. Bishoff Photographer (Right to left) Michael Callier celebrates graduating from the University's School of Law with his aunt Maryetta Callier, cousin Patrick Milton and aunt Gloria Fay Milton on Sunday at the Hult Center. Michael Callier is a former linebacker for the Oregon football team who says he has wanted to attend law school since he was 13. "With respect to those values, 1 be seech you to do a far better job than we our elders have done in the past and are doing today. Lead good lives, do good deeds and always re member that the ultimate objective of law is justice." Wyden said he was looking for ward to "passing a torch" to the new generation of public servants. "A legal education is an extraor dinary honor, and with it is an in creased responsibility to our com munity and to our state and to our world," Wyden said. "Good luck, congratulations, don't wait a day to get involved because we need all of you now more than ever." Keynote speaker Justice Rives Turn to LAW, page 4 Former football player achieves dream of law degree Michael Callier still re members his last game with the Oregon football team. Playing against Texas in the 2000 Holiday Bowl, Callier sacked quarterback Chris Simms and made at least sev en tackles. On Sunday, he tackled an even bigger oppo nent: The University School of Law. Callier graduated with the Class of 2004 in the Hult Center, beginning the first step of his lifelong dream of becoming an attorney. At 6 feet tall and 215 pounds, the former line backer doesn't look like an average law student. "I've been wanting to go to law school since l was 13," he said. In addition, a "few sig nificant events" when he was a teenager further influenced his decision. When he was 18, Callier attended a carnival in Port land. While standing around with his friends, a mounted police officer tried to break up the group. Turn to DREAM, page 4 Panel studies post-Sept. 11 ethnic issues Scholars look at the effects of anti-terror policies on minorities in a symposium Saturday in the EMU By Kera Abraham Freelance Reporter The tone was serious Saturday in the EMU, where about 130 people gathered to attend "After 9/11: The New Militarism and the Question of Belonging," a one-day sympo sium sponsored by the ethnic stud ies department in cooperation with the Multicultural Center and other campus groups. Keynote speakers and panelists discussed immigrants' rights, racism, militarism and re pression in post-Sept. 11 America, focusing on the incarceration and deportation of immigrants. The idea for the symposium came from Nerissa Bake, a visiting professor from University of Cali fornia-Berkeley and a member of the Critical Filipina and Filipino Studies Collective. "9-11 is a critical moment that is being addressed by ethnic studies and feminist studies scholars," Balce said. "The conference came out of my own interest in having a public intellectual conversation about the human cost of the war on terror and the invasion of Iraq." One of Bake's primary concerns is the loss of rights for immigrants and people of color in post-Sept. 11 America. "It is important for people to know that the war affects not just those abroad, but domestic issues as well," Bake said. "People are scared. This culture of surveillance targets immigrants and people of color. Deportations have increased. Incarcerations have increased. 1 wanted to put before the commu nity the work of scholars who have analyzed this." Speakers included University of Califomia-Santa Barbara sociologist Kum-Kum Bhavani, who discussed Turn to PANEL, page 5 WEATHER INSIDE NEXT ISSUE Campus buzz.4 Classifieds.10 Commentary.2 Crossword.11 Pulse.12 Sports.7 Peter Hockaday tackles tasteless radio