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