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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 21, 2005)
Greek system raises $6,000 at Derby Days I 5 An independent newspaper wurw. dailyemerald. com Since 1900 | Volume 106, Issue 84 | Friday, January 21, 2005 University prepares in case of LTD strike BY MEGHANN M. CUNIFF SENIOR NEWS REPORTER A Lane Transit District driver strike is a looming possibility that could become a re ality as soon as February, union officials say. The potential for a strike has left the Universi ty community searching for ways to notify students of carpooling opportunities and looking for parking space to accommodate the influx of cars that could result from no bus service. As part of ongoing negotiations between the Amalgamated Transit Union representatives and LTD officials, the two parties met Wednes day in a mediation session that ATU President A1 Zullo called “worthless” in a press release. LTD and the union, which represents 80 per cent of LTD workers, have been discussing the drivers’ contracts since May. Problems in the mediation session centered on LTD’s proposed health plan and proposed break plan for drivers, LTD Service Planning and Marketing Manager Andy Vobora said. “In the end the union was pretty much stick ing with their desire to maintain a managed care plan,” Vobora said. ATU spokesman Jason Reynolds said he is not certain the union will strike, but “it’s probably going to come to that. ” LTD is encouraging people dependent on the bus system to plan ahead and use the car pool sign-up on the LTD Web site, ltd.org, to coordinate rides with other citizens, Vobora said. University Vice President of Administration Dan Williams said in the case of a strike, park ing will be available at Autzen Stadium free of charge and security will be in place to monitor vehicles and patrol the walking route between the stadium and campus. “We’ll make it as safe and secure as we can,” Williams said. Williams said finding ways to accommodate parking is one of the few things the University can do to mitigate the problems that may arise if a strike does occur. “It’s not our intention to create a University of Oregon bus service to replace LTD,” Williams said. LTD, page 3 Tim Bobosky | Photographer (Top) lana Matthews-Harris, a high school student at Wellsprings Friends School, approaches the Federal Building in Eugene during a march that started in the EMU Amphitheater. (Bottom) University student Samuel Macke, top left, and his brother, Euell Macke, top right, a sophomore biology major, hold the “Campus Fascists For Bush" banner while University sophomores Chelsey DeBois and Christine McMonagle and junior Melissa Tucker, bottom left to right, block some of the Mackes’ sign near the EMU Amphitheater. Inauguration sparks mixed sentiments Members of the community marched in protest of Bush 's second term and the Iraq war BY PARKER HOWELL SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Hundreds of University community members disgruntled with the second inauguration of President Bush and the ongoing war in Iraq marched to the Eugene Federal Building on Thursday evening, following a daylong counter-inauguration celebration in the EMU Amphitheater. The demonstrators chanted anti-war slogans and waved homemade signs, filling sidewalks on both sides of the street for about a block and sometimes clogging traffic as they flowed through downtown. The march culminated at the federal build ing, where the crowd joined members of sever al local activist groups for drumming, speeches and a candlelight vigil. Earlier in the day, demonstrators and campus Bush supporters shared a peaceful but politically charged afternoon outside the EMU. The campus counter-celebration featured political speeches and musical performances advocating for citizens concerned with the recently re-elected administration to rally to gether for change. The event was sponsored by several campus organizations, including Students for Change, the Concerned Faculty for Peace and Justice and the Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation. Many students stopped to listen and make signs to carry later at the rally. Junior Sara R. Taylor of Students for Peace said the 2004 election wasn’t equitable and the United States should not be the model for Iraq’s upcoming elections. “I would say that as unfair ... as our election process is, we should not be the nation to set the example,” she said, saying concerned people need to take action. RALLY, page 6 Programs Finance Committee Emerald hearing results in $ 10,000 budget decrease After an attempt to de-fund the student-run paper, the committee decided on a 6.9 percent funding cut BY JORDAN THIERRY DAILY EMERALD FREELANCE REPORTER The Oregon Daily Emerald faced an attempted de-funding of student incidental fees at its Programs Fi nance Committee budget hearing Thursday night. In a drawn-out debate that lasted more than an hour, PFC member Ma son Quiroz made a motion to de-fund the Emerald completely. Emerald Editor in Chief Jennifer Sudick said she was “appalled as a student, that students are being revoked of their voice. “You all are pretty much saying, ‘We don’t want to hear what students have to say,’” Sudick said. Quiroz dropped stacks of Wednes day’s and primarily Thursday’s copies of the Emerald on the table. “These are the Oregon Daily Emer ald papers that were left in the rack today, and some from yesterday,” Quiroz said. “All of these are just from a few of the racks in the EMU.” Emerald General Manager Judy Reidl said that the ASUO had man dated the number of papers to be printed in its contract with the Emerald. “I think the students deserve more than one paper, and I think the stu dents shouldn’t have to pay $111,000 for a paper that isn’t read,” Quiroz added. “It is the responsibility of the PFC to the students.” PFC member Eden Cortez sup ported the motion to de-fund the Emerald, saying, “the money is not actually benefiting the students and is being read by people who are that contribute to the community, create a marketplace of opportunity and provide a place outside of the classroom to gain experience.” PFC Chair Persis Pohowalla agreed. not students.” However, PFC member Jael Anker-La gos countered Cortez by re minding the PFC, “It is our purpose to fund groups 7 think the students deserve more than one paper, and I think the students shouldn’t have to pay $111,000 fora paper that isn’t read. ” Mason Quiroz | PFC member “If the reason for de-funding them is because of the surplus of papers at the end of the day, it is not validated at all,” Pohowalla said. Quiroz attempted to clarify the purpose of the motion. “Don’t equate de-funding with eliminating a program, because that is not what we are trying to do,” Quiroz said. “Taking away the $111,000 does not mean we will not keep seeing ODE every day, it is just a decrease in their budget.” After hearing support for the Emer ald from numerous student and com munity members, Anker-Lagos made the motion to approve a budget. PFC, page 4
