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Since 1900 \ Volume 106, Issue 152 | TUesday, May 10, 2005
Shuttle's driver screening impeded
An unknown policy has prevented the Assault Prevention Shuttle
from spending its allotted $1,500for employee background checks
BY PARKER HOWELL
SENIOR NEWS REPORTER
The group that shuttles students and staff as
a safer alternative to walking at night was un
able to conduct criminal background checks
on its volunteers this year, although it remains
unclear what University policy prohibited the
organization from doing so.
The Assault Prevention Shuttle received
$1,500 in incidental fees this year to screen its
members for the first time since the service
was formed in October 2003. But APS Educa
tion Coordinator Sarah Wells said a contract is
sued to volunteers at the beginning of the year
was invalid until the organization eliminated
a section concerning criminal background
checks. It is unclear what administrative office
enforced the changes.
Wells said volunteers sign a contact at the be
ginning of the year that defines their duties and
verifies they understand the organization’s mis
sion. The contract, which requested contact in
formation to perform a background check, was
sent to what Wells said was Risk Management
for approval in October.
“That’s kind of where it ended,” she said.
The ASUO Student Senate authorized APS to
spend the $1,500 to help fund two programs that
Wells said fulfilled the group’s mission.
Business Affairs Risk Manager Sheree
Johnson said she was not familiar with the
contract and said the General Counsel’s Of
fice might know about policies relating to
background checks.
University General Counsel Melinda Grier
said she didn’t know what policies would
have specifically prevented the screening, but
said “there are a lot of concerns about doing
background checks.”
She said a "whole variety” can be done, and
federal statutes set limitations on checks. Even
if checks are performed, they’re not always
useful, she said.
Several sources suggested former ASUO
Accounting Coordinator Jennifer Creighton
Neiwert, who previously worked with many
groups, might know why the contract was
rejected. She could not be reached for comment.
EMU Director of Student Activities Gregg
Lobisser said the University does background
checks in certain circumstances, but checks
are not normally conducted when services are
delivered for other students unless there are
special circumstances.
APS, page 5
A tournament of
Kings
r\ an^ °
Queens
Three University students joined
54 other competitors of all ages for
a chess tournament on campus
BY EVA SYLWESTER
NEWS REPORTER
Some of the highest-ranked chess players
in Oregon competed in a tournament
this weekend at the EMU. The Oregon
Chess Federation sponsored the 2005 Oregon
Class Championships in partnership with the
UO Chess Club.
“This is a pretty big thing for U of 0 Chess be
cause we’re trying to break into the bigger chess
scene,” UO Chess Club President and tourna
ment coordinator Sara Hamilton said. Hamilton
said it has been at least a decade since the Uni
versity hosted such a chess tournament.
The 57 players at the tournament ranged in
age from sixth graders to “really old,” Oregon
Chess Federation President Jerry Ramey said.
The tournament was divided into six classes
based on ability.
Eight players in the tournament had ratings
above 2,000, according to the U.S. Chess Federa
tion Rating System, designating them as master
Zane Rut | Photographer
Elden Bums of the UO Chess Club contemplates his next move during the 2005 Oregon Class Championships.
The competition lasted from Saturday to Sunday and attracted players from the Pacific Northwest and California.
expert. The ratings are based on the number of
games won and opponents competed against.
“A lot of these players do play at some of the
bigger venues, like the U.S. Open,” Ramey said.
Three University students competed in the
tournament: Morgan Griffiths, Elden Burns
and Scott Levin. Griffiths placed fourth in the
master-expert class; Oleg Zaikov, a South Eu
gene High School junior who gives chess les
sons for the UO Chess Club every other week,
tied for second.
Levin, a law student, competed in the tourna
ment’s A-B class.
“I had a great experience at the tourna
ment,” he said. “It was good to play against
high-caliber competition.”
According to some chess enthusiasts, the
game combines intellectual endeavor with the
thrill of an athletic contest.
“Chess is a sport,” Hamilton said, adding
that the game is a spectator sport as well. “We
have a lot of people who just want to watch
these great players. ”
“I think chess is an icon,” Ramey said.
CHESS, page 5
Students
at Portland
satellite file
grievances
PSAC members say the ASUO
has neglected their concerns about
compensation for incidental fees
BY PARKER HOWELL
SENIOR NEWS REPORTER
Fifty-eight architecture students from the
University’s Portland Center have filed griev
ances with the ASUO to protest paying inciden
tal fees without receiving services in return and
to ask for their money back.
About 80 students at the Portland satellite
campus pay $184.61 per term in incidental fees
but do not receive bus transportation, access
to recreational facilities and tickets to athletic
events that students in Eugene can access
for free.
The written grievances include requests for
the University to refund more than $37,810 in
fees. Many also recommend the ASUO work
with the Portland Student Action Council to
provide services to Portland students, saying
“students will be encouraged to file grievances
each term” if the problem isn’t addressed.
ASUO Student Senate Ombudsman
Stephanie Erickson said the grievances fall out
side the Senate and Executive’s purviews
because student leaders can allocate money
but cannot determine how much students pay
in fees.
Although Executive officials initially said
they would consider the issue, ASUO Vice
President Mena Ravassipour previously told
the Emerald the matter was beyond the
Executive’s hands.
University administrators have formed a
committee to analyze fees at the request of Vice
President for Academic Affairs Lorraine Davis
and may make a recommendation before
the end of the year, Vice Provost for Academic
Affairs Terri Warpinski previously told
the Emerald.
Members of the committee could not be
reached for comment on Monday.
PSAC Interim President Gary Blackwell said
his group organized the grievances after earlier
attempts to work with ASUO and University of
ficials failed to produce results.
“I felt it was getting to the tipping point and
time to look into the grievance thing a little
closer,” he said.
PSAC, page 4
Lauren Wimer | Senior photographer
Graduation tassels are available for students at the University of Oregon Bookstore.
Each color denotes a different department or school at the University.
Plans and purchases for spring's
University graduates underway
Those who missed the degree-application deadline this term
can still apply to walk in the Universiy's general ceremony
BY ADAM CHERRY
NEWS REPORTER
The University will bid farewell to
much of its senior class this spring.
Thirty-nine individual colleges,
schools and departments will host
graduation ceremonies, the bulk of
which will take place on June 11.
Those events are scheduled around
the University’s general
commencement ceremony at
McArthur Court the same day. Candi
dates for degrees are invited to partic
ipate in both department and general
University ceremonies.
Vice President for Academic Affairs
Lorraine Davis will give the keynote
address at the two-hour general cere
mony, which kicks off at 12:30 p.m.,
according to the Office of Student
Life. Tickets are not required and
gates at the arena will open for spec
tators at 10:30 a.m.; seating is first
come, first served. Degree candidates
should assemble at noon at the south
end of the covered tennis courts and
doctoral degree recipients will be
individually recognized at the event.
Candidates for bachelor’s and mas
ter’s degrees will be individually rec
ognized at college, school and depart
ment ceremonies. Students should
check with individual departments or
the Office of Student Life for times
GRADUATION, page 7