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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (July 13, 2004)
An independent newspaper www.dailyemerald.com Tuesday, July 13, 2004 Since 1900 University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon Volume 106, Issue 7 NEW DUCKS Student Orientation Staff member Missie Barker directs incoming freshman Nate Beilbyfrom Corvallis to his check-in near the EMU Ballroom during IntroDUCKtion Monday. Jared Paben Editor in Chief A vistt to campus Summer IntroDUCKtion sessions provide guidance to parents and new students BEN BROWN NEWS REPORTER IntroDUCKtion began Sunday, and with more than 90 percent of the incoming freshman class signed up for one of eight sessions, this is the best-attended orientation in the last 10 years. This year, 2,850 students are slated to learn about the University through the IntroDUCKtion program. This number is significantly more than last year s 2,600, a fact that Director of Student Orientation Programs Cora Ben nett attributes to the ability to register online. Online registration was avail able for the first time this year. Several two-day IntroDUCKtion sessions, organized by Student Orien tation Programs, will take place during the next month. Bennett said these sessions are designed to familiarize students with the campus and to as sure them that they have made the right choice of college. Bennett said IntroDUCKtion has three goals: to teach students and par ents about programs the University offers; to ensure that students meet Please see GUIDANCE, page 3 Student Orientation staffers help students navigate all aspects of campus life OMIE DRAWHORN NEWS REPORTER It s that time of year again. The EMU is buzzing once again with activity as wide-eyed and curious incoming freshmen and their parents roam the halls, register for classes and attend interest sessions. For some, this transition from high school to college can be difficult. That's where the IntroDlJCKtion Student Orientation Staff comes in. IntroDUCKtion is an intensive two-day experience for freshmen and transfer students, during which students register for classes, become more familiar with the University, ask questions and meet other incoming freshmen. "It's a chance for students to get their feet wet," said Angie Meinig, one of the program's 15 so-called "SOSers." Meinig said going through IntroDUCKtion as a freshman was a positive experience for her. Both of her parents had passed away and she was having a hard time, but during IntroDUCKtion she met many students staying in Please see TRANSITION, page 3 ASUO Student Senate tackles spending Facing last year's deficits, ASUO leadership cites a priority of fiscal responsibility' by Exec MEGHANN CUNIFF FREELANCE REPORTER The ASUO Student Senate approved eight budget transfer requests from the ASUO Execu tive Thursday night to cover deficits left by last year's administration. The Senate also approved ASUO President Adam Petkun's requests for $11,000 in budget transfers. The Student Senate agreed it is impor tant for this year's admi nistration to start off on a clean slate, but also agreed something must be done about the recurring problem of Executive overspending. The deficits the Executive is facing were inherited from the 2003-04 fiscal year, Petkun said. He told the Student Senate it is one of his goals this year to ensure that such irresponsibility does not occur again. "I am very committed to making sure that the ASUO Executive office is fiscally responsible and is an example for the rest of the ASllO," Petkun said. The transfer requests included $1,350 to cov er last year's Executive phone bill and $1,300 to cover a deficit in the office supply fund, spawn ing a barrage of questions from the Senate re garding how the deficits came about. Petkun could not answer the questions be cause he was not in office at the time the deficit spending took place. "I wish we could ask those questions to the past Executives," summer session Senate Presi dent Rodrigo Moreno-Villamar said. While it is unfair to punish the new administration for mis takes from the past, something must be done to ensure this type of fiscal irresponsibility does not continue, Moreno-Villamarsaid. Petkun told the Senate that his administra tion's goals also include promoting fiscal respon sibility at both the campus and state level. "If the most important thing we accomplish this year is making sure the (incidental) fee is more secure from legislative attacks and judicial attacks, I'll be pretty happy," Petkun said. In other business, budget transfer requests to taling $719 from the International Student Asso ciation were unanimously approved. The trans fers were needed to cover unexpected costs resulting from International Night, group lead ers told the Senate. Meghann Cuniff is a freelance reporter for the Emerald. ASUO fills remaining Con Court vacancies The full Senate convenes this fall and will confinn the two appointees and other positions MEGHANN CUNIFF FREELANCE REPORTER I'he ASUO ITxecutive has appointed Uni versity students Adrian Gilmore and Char lotte Nisser to the ASUO Constitution Court, filling all remaining vacant court po sitions for the 2004-05 academic year. The new appointees — who are both awaiting confirma tion by the ASIIO - Student Senate — were tapped because of their experience with ASIIO and the University, ASIIO President Adam Petkun said. The summer Sen ate committee has de- g uucu iu Wctii uiiui uie book isn't clear on whether it can confirm them, Petkun said. Gilmore, who was a senator during the 2003-04 academic year, said that a dormant Constitution Court is not ideal but may be necessary until the full senate can meet. The Executive failed to appoint the justices be fore the 30-day June 25 deadline. Petkun said it's difficult to find qualified applicants for the Constitution Court be cause only law students are eligible. "During the summer there's not a whole lot of them around," he said, adding that the President of the cuuueni nar Associa tion helped the Ex ecutive find candi dates. Last year, ASllO President Maddy Melton was sum moned before the Constitution Court and called "unfit for office" for her failure to appoint a Consti tution Court justice before the deadline. "Adam and (ASUO Vice-Presi dent) Mena (Ravassipour) have done what they need to do by appointing people to their staff; the ball is kind of on the Senate to approve them or not," said Gilmore, who is a third-year law student and former chair of the Programs Finance Committee. Nisser said she is "thrilled" about her nomination and is looking forward to put ting her education and experiences to use as a Constitution Court justice. Nisser is second-year law student and KWVA campus radio general manager. Two other Executive positions, Please see CONCOURT, page 3 a J Charlotte Nisser Constitution Court appointee
