LTD: Other union members show support
Continued from page 1
son, said she depends on the bus to get
to and from Eugene for errands and
appointments.
“You can’t do that without the
bus,” she said.
John Sannes, an ATU liaison offi
cer representing C-TRAN bus driv
ers in Vancouver, Wash., said the
level of support for the union cause
will only increase as time passes,
especially if a strike happens.
Sannes said if union workers en
counter a picket line, it is the general
practice to avoid crossing it. This pos
es more problems for the city be
cause other union-provided services
could possibly be halted.
“If they actually go out on strike,
the other unions in the area will
honor that picket line,” Sannes said.
John Evans, a member of the Unit
ed Food and Commercial Workers
Union, said he was at the rally out of
support for the union cause and out
of appreciation for the ATU’s help in
his union’s causes.
“They have supported us in other
campaigns we’ve had,” Evans said.
ATU member Shirley Gilmore, a C
TRAN driver in Vancouver, said bus
service is essential for any city and
showing support for the LTD drivers is
necessary to uphold quality service.
“We’re in support of our union
brothers and sisters,” Gilmore said.
Eugene resident Sarah Jacobson
joined union members and other
residents at the rally, saying the bus
is a crucial public service that needs
to be maintained.
“In order for it to be a quality serv
ice, you can’t treat the people who pro
vide it like garbage,” Jacobson said.
Negotiations between ATU and
LTD have been going on since May
and are currently at a standstill. The
union is required to give a 10-day
strike notice, and the earliest that
notice can be given is Jan. 15, mak
ing Jan. 25 the earliest day a bus
strike could happen.
More than 200 LTD drivers have
signed a petition condemning LTD
leadership and declaring “no confi
dence” in LTD General Manager
Ken Hamm, citing his “inability to
lead the transit district.”
LTD Service Planning and Market
ing Manager Andy Vobora said the
union’s concerns with the proposed
health-care plan cannot be quelled by
reverting back to the old plan because
such a plan is too costly.
“We have to present a balanced
budget, and our proposal does
that,” Vobora said.
meghanncuniff@dailyememld.com
Library: Patronage higher than expected
Continued from page 1
fund the service because extended
hours fall outside of its core mis
sion, adding that library staff never
intended to permanently fund the
service from library coffers.
“It was kind of an experiment,”
she said. “We didn’t expect to fund
this ourselves long term.”
She added that students are the
main, if not only, benefactors of
the service.
While student leaders have ac
knowledged the popularity of the
service, several have raised con
cerns about using student money to
fund the extra hours.
ASUO Vice President Mena
Ravassipour said the ASUO Execu
tive will support action by the Sen
ate as a last resort for funding the
extended hours.
“Our incidental fee promotes the
physical and cultural development
of our University; academia is what
our tuition is supposed to pay for,”
she told the Emerald in a written
statement. “If we set a precedent of
spending incidental fee dollars on
essential academia, we risk a slip
pery slope for future allocations.”
Carver said she will look for mon
ey within the budget to maintain
the service for this year.
“I don’t think it’s wise to change
r
course midstream,” she said.
However, Carver said the library,
which has a budget of about $14
million, could pay for future extend
ed hours only at the expense of
other services.
“With a budget of approximately
$14 million, it’s not a question of if
there’s money there,” she said. “We
could do that. It means something
else doesn’t get paid for. ”
She added that the library has
struggled financially for several years
after carrying a deficit prior to 2000.
Cuts have done “serious damage” to
the library’s collection of academic
journals, and the library has lost nine
staff positions since 2000, she said.
Carver said the library’s money,
which comes from the University in
one lump sum, is completely allocated
each year for other essential services.
Some senators questioned
whether Carver had sought alterna
tive sources for funding besides the
Senate. Carver said she has not
looked elsewhere for funding, say
ing a joint venture between the li
brary and students is the best way
to fund the service.
Senator Stephanie Stoll was
among the senators who said it was
the University’s responsibility to
pay for the service, adding that
some other universities have
libraries open 24/7.
“My current feeling on this is that
it’s not students’ obligation to pay
for extra hours,” she said.
Senator Austin Shaw-Phillips said
the library is the best place for stu
dents to study at the end of the
term. But he said he would be em
barrassed to tell someone at another
university that he pays for extra
hours with student money.
“That’s friggin’ ridiculous,” he
said. “I don’t think it’s anappropriate
use of incidental fee money. ”
Ravassipour urged the senators to
wait to make a decision until they
can conduct research on other
libraries’ programs.
“Two weeks is still ample time to
see what other universities are doing,”
she said.
Carver said the service provides a
good cost-to-benefit ratio because
each use costs about $1. Although
the University could provide stu
dents a less expensive place to
study safely, holding study hours in
the library is more valuable for stu
dents because they have access to
library resources, she said.
Senators will hold a public forum
on Tliesday, Jan. 25 from 5 to 6 p.m.
to solicit input on whether they
should fund extra hours. A location
for the meeting has not yet been set.
parkerhoweU@ daily emerald, com
University Commons Apartments
021091
• Uniformed security
7 days a week
• Resident Amenity Cards
• Security alarm system
• Fully furnished
• Monitored alarm system
• Full size washer & dryer
• Sand volleyball court
• Heated pool
• Caged basketball court
• Private balconies
and patios
338-4000
90 Commons Drive, Eugene, OR 97401
universiTY
COMMONS
apartments
Th,S “ fhc p,ac« to live!
1# 2, & 4 Bedroom Apts.
Tango Milonga
Every Friday & ah Ages
Introduction to Tango class at 8pm
Tango social dance from 9pm*lam
Come to the 8pm lesson, for an intro
to Argentine Tango from zero
The Tango Center
194 West Broadway
downtown Eugene
A non-profit community center
dedicated to the music & dance of
Argentine Tango
www.tangocenter.org
Saturday
Night
*
Live music
Tango DJ's *
Performances
$5
No partner
necessary
SHOf-A-HOLIC
Buy 1, Get 2
3 FREE Sale!
* On selected shoes
at our outlet store
957 Willamette St
687-0898
LAZAR’S BAZAR
Closeout Sale
(including store fixtures)
*50-66%
OFF (Res. Price!
57 W. Broadway • 687-0139
Downtown
2 ‘select items only
I www.lazars.com
M\DTO\NN
|n« Soon'. BelW^nSp, -**$&££Drt
European m*cr0D afW fine w»nes
ails, wine, t ^chw, 9°'*met,°°
. Mvie dett sandvrfscne>, y
ventre New ***** Mldtown Eugene
vMiiiamett® «re«t. in the heart ^ 541^6268
1591 VNWe^sserie S4t.48S^’n oWce 54^485.624
| Ian 22 and 23,2005 • lane Events Centei • 796 W. 13th Ave.
Admission $7 ($6 with coupon)
Show hours:
Sat. 10 am-; pm
Sun. ii am-; pm
Fashion Shows:
Sat. n am & 230 pm
Sun 1230 pm S3 pm
* Over ioo local bridal businesses
• Brides register to win a honeymoon
to The Bahamas orlamaica
* Sponsored by.
Springfield News
£hc*coi5tfr-Guarft
Itanao'
Brm^ this coupon tor
$1.00 oft
General Admission
jwygista atiwww^rejonweddin 5sh0ws.com