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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.