An independent newspaper
http://www.dailyemerald.com
Ducks earn NCAA bids Page 7
Tuesday, June 1,2004
Since 1900 University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon
Volume 105, Issue 166
Enabled learning
With sights set high
Communication and technology help freshman Meghan Briggs overcome her visual impairment
Danielle Hickey Photo Editor
Freshman Meghan Briggs, who was born without pigment in her eyes and
is legally blind, uses a video camera in calculus class to give her an
enlarged view of the chalkboard in Deady Hall Friday afternoon.
PART 1 OF 4
Today: Freshman biology major Meghan Briggs, who is studying to
be a genetic counselor, uses various tools to accommodate her
blindness.
Wednesday: Living with spina bifida doesn't keep freshman Eli
Ettinger from competing in wheelchair racing.
Thursday: Psychology major Rick King, 47, is legally deaf but
returned to college last year after more than 20 years.
Friday: Jessica Wyant, a student with attention-deficit disorder,
dyslexia and auditory discrimination, receives tutoring from other
University students.
By Parker Howell
News Reporter
Imagine trying to take a test without being able to see the
answer sheet. Or trying to follow a calculus lecture without
the ability to see functions written on the chalkboard.
This is a daily reality for freshman biology major Meghan
Briggs, one of about 10 legally blind students at the University,
Disability Services Counselor Molly Sirois said.
Briggs was born without pigment in her eyes — called par
tial albinism — and the nerves at the back of her eyes do not
perceive light normally, affecting her vision. Although Briggs
has some sight, her visual acuity is 20/200 with contacts,
meaning she can see at a distance of 20 feet, while a person
with perfect vision can see at 200 feet.
"The difference between (my vision) and most people's is
that most people's can be corrected ... but mine, because it's in
the back of the eye, they're not able to fix it enough," she said.
Yet Briggs said many people don't realize her vision is im
paired because she wears contacts.
"Most people can't even tell that I have a vision problem,
which sometimes causes problems," she said.
Briggs' condition has caused her to face obstacles many stu
dents do not encounter. Because 20/40 or better vision is re
quired to drive without restrictions, she has to rely on others to
get around.
"Transportation is a big issue," she said. "I can ride bikes,
but I don't really when there's a lot of people."
Briggs said she also needs to interact with professors more
than other students, which can be challenging.
"Communication with professors is really important," she
said. "A lot of students can get through a 200-person lecture
class without talking to the professor at all ... but I usually
have to go to their office hours and be like, This is what I
have,'" she said.
Briggs said she also often needs larger test forms and larger
versions of texts.
Like many students, Briggs said she experienced a big tran
sition when she came to college, although she's found that
University students are more timid about her condition than
high school students.
"It's been quite a dynamic change in the chemistry of the
students," she said. "When I was in high school, my high
school was reasonably large and people didn't always know
me, but people were always very blunt about, 'Oh, what's
wrong with you?' and sometimes a little bit rude.
"I'd much rather talk about it than have people be like,
Timm, I wonder what's wrong with that girl.'"
Turn to ENABLED, page 6
Jared Paben Senior News Reporter
University freshman Ashlie Bernhisel (right) combs through the grass
of a wildland area in eastern Corvallis Saturday, looking for missing
19-year-old Veneta native Brooke Wilberger.
Hunt continues
for abducted
BYU student
About 1,200 volunteers have joined the search
for Brooke Wilberger, missing since May 24
By Jared Paben
Senior News Reporter
CORVALLIS — With broom handles, hockey sticks, tree limbs,
ski poles and golf clubs in hand, the 13 members of Team Romeo
stand at attention just after 3 p.m. on Saturday, shoulder to shoul
der like a line of soldiers ready to charge into battle.
Team leader Scott Geiszler, a 275-pound logger from Albany
who volunteered for the job, moves up and down the team's
ranks, surveying the members. I le orders them to spread out one
arm's length apart, then points behind him to a boggy mass of
shoulder-high grass and head-high tree limbs. In this patch of
western Corvallis wild land, the team will search for Brooke
Wilberger, a 19-year-old Brigham Young University student who
police say fell victim to a brazen daytime abduction in a south
Corvallis neighborhood on May 24.
Ashlie Bernhisel, a blue-eyed, freckled University of Oregon
freshman wearing a spotless American Eagle sweatshirt and white
tennis shoes, is one of those staring down a difficult mass of grass,
Turn to SEARCH, page 5
Tim Kupsick Photographer
Career Center Director Larry Smith (left) greets journalism majors Corinne
Dorzweiler (center) and Katherine Stover at his retirement party at the
Gerlinger Lounge May 26. Smith has been at the center for 24 years.
Career Center leader says goodbye
Larry Smith retires after 24 years
of helping students find jobs
By Chelsea Duncan
Senior News Reporter
Larry Smith has been called "forward
thinking," a friend and a mentor. And if
he doesn't like your handshake, he'll let
you know, and then he'll show you how
to do it right.
As the University Career Center direc
tor, Smith has been instrumental in help
ing students choose their future paths for
the past 24 years, but now he is bidding
farewell.
"I believe I'm leaving the Career Cen
ter with a very strong foundation and a
high level of regard to developing more
opportunities," he said, adding that he
decided to retire to spend more time
with family, to travel and to pursue other
opportunities.
University friends and colleagues gath
ered to say goodbye to Smith at his re
tirement party Wednesday evening The
event was full of toasts and cheers as
staff, faculty, students and administrators
shared their memories of the Career
Center's leader.
University Vice President for Student
Affairs Anne Leavitt said she feels fortunate
to have worked with Smith.
"He's taught me a lot about how to
work with students, how to build re
sources and how to work with a team," she
said.
Smith received a standing ovation as he
took the podium, and tears welled up in
his eyes as he recalled his time working
with students.
"It's been a wonderful ride," he told the
crowd.
As he sat in his office stacked with manila
folders after the emotional night, Smith said
Turn to RETIREE, page 4
WEATHER
LOW
48
HIGH
68
INSIDE
Campus buzz.4
Classifieds..*.10
Commentary..2
Crossword.11
Nation & World.10
Sports.7
NEXT ISSUE
Is it hot in here,
or is it just
Chuck Slothower?