Tim Bobosky Photographer
(Left to right in«background): Vietnam veteran Jim Rassmann, “Lord of the Rings” actor Sean Astin, Everclear frontman Art Alexakis and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean support John Kerry
during his rally at Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland on Monday evening. Kerry spoke about his "Service for College” plan and criticized President Bush during the event.
KERRY
continued from page 1
competition with jobs ... It is
jobs."
Vietnam War veteran Jim
Rassmann, a friend of Kerry's
who served with him during
the Vietnam War, was also
present to voice his support.
Rassmann largely silenced the
crowd when he told a story
about how Kerry, who served
on a swift-boat unit, pulled
him out of a river by hauling
him over the bow while being
attacked with rocket-pro
pelled grenades and gunfire.
Rassmann, who used to be
a member of the Republican
Party but recently switched to
the Democratic Party to join
Kerry's campaign, said he
wants somebody with Kerry's
leadership and character to
lead the country.
Kerry took the opportunity
to crack a joke.
"God didn't just give me
the privilege of pulling a life
out of the water," Kerry said.
"I pulled a vote out of the wa
ter, too."
But Kerry was more serious
when it came to criticizing
the Bush administration for
the war in Iraq, blasting the
president for lying to the
American public about the
reasons for war and for pro
ceeding unilaterally.
"Working with other coun
tries instead of going unilater
ally is not a sign of weakness;
it is a sign of strength," Kerry
said. "We don't go to war be
cause we want to, we go to
war because we have to."
Actor Sean Astin, who
played Samwise "Sam"
Gamgee in the "Lord of the
Rings" trilogy, and Portland
resident and Everclear singer
Art Alexakis opened the rally
for Kerry. Alexakis played sev
eral songs and praised Kerry
for braving the Portland rain
in the middle of May.
In the buildings surround
ing the plaza, people crowded
at windows and peered down
on Kerry with binoculars.
During the rally, a woman
holding a "Bush Sucks" sign
yelled from the 13th story of
an adjacent building that
Bush sucks.
She caught Kerry's attention.
"That, ladies and gentle
man, is a very special Oregon
window dressing," Kerry said,
drawing laughter from
audience members.
University College Democrats
members Gabriel Zitrin and
Chris Halverson attended the
rally to show support for Kerry.
Zitrin, a junior majoring in
international studies, said it
was important to him to see
the candidate and hear his
message in person. Zitrin said
he didn't get a chance to speak
with Kerry, but he shook his
hand and thanked him.
"On every issue that I'm
aware of, Kerry has a real solu
tion, and Bush is a real prob
lem," Zitrin said. "Regardless
of what issue you care the
most about, John Kerry has a
way to make it better."
Not everybody present Mon
day was supportive of Kerry. Af
ter a rally, people crowded
along the streets near the plaza
to see Kerry leave. A sizable
crowd of Bush supporters held
signs and exchanged insults
with Kerry supporters across
the street.
Portland State University
student Shahriyar Smith, who
held a sign that read "9 out of
10 terrorists agree John Kerry
for president," said people
need to realize that Kerry is a
weak leader who is not suit
able to protect the welfare of
the country.
Though Smith said a couple
of people "got physical with
him" and screamed in his face,
he wasn't there to rile people,
but to educate and talk some
sense into them.
Contact the campus/
federal politics reporter at
jaredpaben@dailyemerald.com.
PULSE BRIEF
Pulse calls
for student
submissions
The Pulse desk is cur
rently accepting submis
sions for creative works
to be published in the
May 27 issue. All Univer
sity students are welcome
to submit works in any
medium.
Work can be submit
ted via e-mail at
pulse@dailyemerald.co
m or dropped off at the
Emerald office, located in
EMU Suite 300. Label
any submissions "Pulse
creative space" and in
clude detailed contact in
formation.
The Emerald makes no
guarantees regarding
publication or return of
work samples. Students
will retain ownership of
any work chosen for pub
lication in the paper, and
attribution will be given
in print.
— Aaron Shakra
CAMPUS
BUZZ
Tuesday
• Conflict Resolution Brown Bag en
titled "Campus and Community
Restorative Justice Programs,” EMU
Board Room, 12:15-1:30 p.m.
• Human Resources Workshop en
titled "Participatory Processes and
Decision-Making," EMU Alsea/Co
quille rooms, 1-4 p.m. Preregis
tration required.
• Sustainable Business Group
Spring Speaker Series featuring a
talk by Ian Hill; a founding mem
ber of SeQuential Biofuels, LLC;
Lillis 232,6-7:30 p.m.
019124
Full-time,
entry-level
position.
ASSISTANT ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
The Oregon Daily Emerald, the independent student-run
newspaper at the UO, is looking for a person to assist in
the operations of the advertising department and the
marketing and promotion of the Oregon Daily Emerald.
This job requires sales, project management, customer
service and good written and verbal communication
skills. Candidate must be comfortable in a fast-paced,
deadline-oriented office.
Bachelor's degree required. Experience and/or education
in advertising or related fields a plus.
Compensation is a combination of base pay, commission
and benefits.
Call for a complete job description and instructions on
how to apply (541) 346-3712. Deadline to apply is
Friday, May 28.
Oregon Daily Emerald
The Oregon Daily Emerald is an equal opportunity employer committed to cultural diversity.
o
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON
It’s Here Now!
2004 Summer Session
Registration
Register for
Summer Classes
Book Your Summer in Oregon
Summer Session starts June 21. Pick up your free summer catalog today
in the Summer Session office, 333 Oregon Hall, at the UO Bookstore,
or read it online. You can speed your way toward graduation by taking
required courses during summer.
Check Out Our Website!
http://uosummer.uoregon.edu