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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (June 2, 2004)
An independent newspaper http://www.dailyemerald.com Women earn NCAA berth Page 7 Wednesday, June 2, 2004 Since 1900 University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon Volume 105, Issue 167 Students fill 12 jobs inASUO Executive ASUO President Adam Petkun also is making many structural changes to the administration By Jared Paben Senior News Reporter ASUO President Adam Petkun hired 12 students to work as staff members in his 2004-2005 ASUO Executive administra tion and reopened the application process for three positions in hopes of attracting a larger pool of applicants. Although many of the newly hired ap plicants are returning ASUO interns or staff members, Petkun said they are experi enced and not just ASUO insiders. They will bring fresh perspectives to next year's Executive and will listen to the needs of the public, he said. "We're really excited that our staff is very experienced, whether they are returning in different roles on staff or from the intern class, which has been a great resource to de velop leaders on this campus," Petkun said. "One thing you'll notice — these aren't peo ple who have been in the same positions year after year after year. These are people who are bringing in new insights to the ASUO, but also have broad experience out side working with different communities." Petkun also introduced some changes to the structure of the Executive staff. First, Petkun created both state and fed eral advocate positions to help reduce the cost of tuition by lobbying for more state and federal funding, which was part of Petkun and ASUO Vice President Mena Ravassipour's election platform. The State Affairs coordinator position will be filled by Amy DuFour, and the Federal Affairs coordinator position will be filled by Ash ley Rees. Both have previous experience in the ASUO. This past year, only a single "legislative Turn to ASUO, page 3 Enabled learning A rollin' success Freshman Eli Ettinger says spina bifida, a debilitating birth defect, doesn't stop him from living a normal life Eli Ettinger exercises at Hayward Field on Sunday morning. Tim Bobosky Photographer PART 2 OF 4 Tuesday: Freshman biology major Meghan Briggs, who is studying to be a genetic counselor, uses various tools to accommodate her blindness. Today: 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 Chelsea Duncan Senior News Reporter niversity freshman Eli Ettinger sits with his hands in his lap, pondering his life experiences. The sunlight reflects off his silver sun glasses, making it difficult to see his eyes. He looks around campus and remains quiet for a while. "It was a struggle overall," he said. "But I just did everything I could to suc ceed." The 19-year-old from Beaverton was born with spina bifida, a permanently debilitating birth defect caused when the spine fails to close properly during the first month of pregnancy. Ettinger said he has no sensation be low his knee caps. For most of his life, he has used a lightweight titanium wheel chair that glides easily along the campus sidewalks. He leaves anyone walking around him in the dust. And Ettinger doesn't just leave walkers behind, he's known to leave his wheel chair-using companions chasing after him as well. Turn to ELI, page 3 High court upholds physician-assisted suicide law Attorney General John Ashcroft challenges assisted suicide, which he says serves no ‘medical purpose’ By Parker Howell News Reporter A federal appeals court upheld Oregon's Death With Dignity Act on May 26, countering efforts by U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft to stop doctors from prescribing lethal doses of medication to terminally ill patients. The 2-1 ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco is the second decision against the "Ashcroft Directive," which declares that physician-assisted suicide violates the Con trolled Substances Act of 1970. The court found that Ashcroft exceeded his authority in issuing the directive. The 2001 directive states that assisted sui cide serves no "legitimate medical purpose" and violates the act's clause prohibiting physi cians from dispensing drugs without a legiti mate purpose. U.S. District Judge Robert Jones of Portland ruled against the directive in April 2002, issuing an injunction against enforcement of the direc tive and allowing assisted suicides to continue. The 9th Circuit Court upheld the injunction, arguing that Ashcroft lacked congressional au thority and that the directive violates the lan guage of the Controlled Substances Act. The Justice Department has 45 days to ap peal the decision before a larger 9th Circuit Court panel or 90 days to petition the U S. Supreme Court. Oregon Attorney General Hardy Myers said the decision is a clear victory for Oregon and other states, ensuring their role as primary me dial policymakers. 'Toda/ s ruling by the 9th Circuit Court of Ap peals affirms my steadfast position that the states have independent authority to determine the scope of legitimate medical practice," Myers said in a press release. Scott Swenson, executive director of the Death With Dignity National Center, a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group, said he was "ecstatic" about the long-awaited ruling. Turn to LAW, page 4 WEATHER INSIDE Campus buzz.12 Horoscope.11 Classifieds.11 Pulse.5 Commentary.2 Sports.7 NEXT ISSUE Emerald chats with writer John Zerzan
