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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 5, 2004)
An independent newspaper www.dailyemerald.com Music in Washburn Park Page 7 ^ Thursday, August 5,2004 Since 1900 University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon Volume 106, Issue 14 Intersection improvement Construction inconveniences aside, the ‘Heart of Campus ’ promises to be an addition ‘we can all be proud of’ OMIE DRAW HORN NEWS REPORTER It's a mass of chewed concrete, noisy bulldozers and equipment, and a sprawling chain-linked fence spanning what used to be one of the busietr intersec tions on campus. Staff and students mak ing their way around the dust and debris at the intersection of East 13th Avenue and University Street this summer are finding themselves forced to walk out of their way to get where they are going. The University is building the 'Heart of Campus' at the intersection, which will in clude a redesigned kiosk, a seating wall in front of Friendly Hall that surrounds a gar den setting, traffic turnarounds, and an ex pansion of the EMU visitor parking lot. "We wanted to create a 'Heart of Campus' that goes with the EMU courtyard," said Rand Stamm, Department of Public Safety parking and transportation manager. He said the goal in designing the 'Heart of Campus' is to create a gathering area for campus. Chris Ramey, Director and Architect for University Planning, said doing the con struction during the summer should de crease the disruption to students, because fewer people are on campus. But, the construction is taking its toll on those who are on campus. Stamm said during construction there is no parking on East 13th Avenue and to walk past the EMU, students and staff are having to find alternate routes, even walk ing all the way around the EMU. French major Leia Pedro said she was trying to deliver something for her job at the Yamada Language Center, but the trip took much longer than usual. "It's not that big of a deal," she said, adding that the detour was slightly frustrating. Please see DETOUR, page 6 ■■I Erik R. Bishoff Online & Photo Editor In preparation for construction on the new 'Heart of Campus’ project, traffic has been blocked as crews work at the intersection of East 13th Avenue and University Street. GTFF mediation with University tackles contracts The GTFF may choose to strike if the University fails to meet negotiations concerning appointments, salaries vndfees BEN BROWN NEWS REPORTER m m In a final show of solidarity before it enters mediation, the Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation held "Empty Cam pus Day" on Wednesday, asking all stu dents, faculty and graduate teaching fel lows to avoid campus for the day. Today's state-sponsored mediation is an llth-hour effort to close contract negotia tions between the union and the Universi- 1-^I ty that have lasted more than nine months. Eric Lindgren Fifty of the 115 classes taught by GTFs GTFF president were held off campus Wednesday. Most classes were held at Koinonia Center on the comer of Kincaid Street and East 14th Avenue or in local parks. GTFF President Eric Lindgren said he was pleased with the Please see GTFF, page 5 Police arrest accused burglar Billy Jess Barnard is accused of stealing merchandise and equipment from Autzen JARED PABEN EDITOR IN CHIEF Eugene police arrested a 19 -year-old man accused of stealing more than $37,000 worth of University and University of Ore gon Bookstore property — including $15,000 worth of Joey Harrington memorabilia — in a string of burglaries at Autzen Stadium this year. Police arrested Billy Jess Barnard after forensic evidence Please see BURGLAR, page 4 Outdoor tennis courts demolished to make room for LLC The Living Learning Center moves in, and a new outdoor tennis facility could be completed for the 2006 season ALEX TAM SPORTS EDITOR University Housing's plan to build the first new res idence hall on campus in nearly 40 years has at least one immediate consequence — the removal of the tennis courts on East 15th Avenue. The Living Learning Center replaces the six outdoor tennis courts on East 15th Avenue that were used by the University men's and women's tennis teams for outdoor matches during the spring season. Associate Athletic Director Steve McBride said there are plans to build a new outdoor tennis facility on campus, but the site has yet to be determined. "This is good for the tennis team and tennis facili ties on campus," McBride said. "But we want to have time to seek a new site for the courts." Possible locations for the outdoor tennis facility in clude a site on East 18th Avenue between Hayward Field and Howe Field, which is currently the venue for the University softball team, and on East 15th PART 2 OF 4 Yesterday: University Housing prepares to break ground on LLC Today: University removes outdoor tennis courts to make room for LLC August 10: Living Learning Center to increase need for parking August 12: Feedback about LLC's combined academics and living Avenue by the Bean Complex and outdoor basketball courts, McBride said. He said the athletic program wants definite plans for the new tennis courts by the end of this year, and would like to see construction complete by fall of 2005 — in time for the spring 2006 tennis season. Funding for the new tennis court will be provided by University Housing, McBride said. "Our goal is to complete construction 14 months from now," McBride said. "It won't be a huge con struction project."However, a Pacific-10 Conference rule requires varsity tennis teams to play as many matches as possible on outdoor courts. With con struction of the LLC already underway and no other outdoor tennis facility on campus, the University's athletic program requested an exemption to the Please see LLC, page 4 Erik R. Bishoff Online & Photo Editor Island Fence Inc. employees Fox Wanaisie (right) and Kris Banton set up cyclone fencing around the tennis courts on East 15th Avenue Monday afternoon in preparation for breaking ground on the new Living Learning Center.
