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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 24, 2005)
| Oregon update | OLCC may expand the mles for alcohol purchase in theaters THE ASSOCIATED PRESS PORTLAND — The Oregon Liquor Control Commission is un der pressure from movie theater op erators to develop a universal policy on allowing cinemas to sell beer and wine during films. So-called “theater brewpubs,” like those of the McMenamins chain, are already allowed to do so, and now chains like Regal Cinemas want to be able to follow suit at some of their theaters. The liquor agency’s cur rent policy is to evaluate applications from movie houses on a case-by-case basis. That bothers OLCC director Teresa Kaiser, who told The Oregonian that she is uncomfortable with the lack of specific guidelines governing drinking in theater pubs. “I don’t think kids plus alcohol and darkness is a good idea,” Kaiser said. Agency staff members drafted a proposed rule change that would have allowed movie pubs to sell beer and wine, but only if minors were seated separately from drink ing adults while watching a film. But operators of licensed movie houses, including Brian McMenamin of the McMenamins chain of movie houses, protested, saying the change would unfairly separate children from parents who wished to have a drink. So, Kaiser decided to start over. The agency will convene a round table group in June to study how to regulate the practice. Parents and other opponents of underage drinking say they are alarmed by the possibility that alcohol could be served in mall multi plexes. Young people “don’t ex pect to see beer sold at Kegai cinemas, ana to tne extent they see it, it sort of sanitizes the consumption,” said Mike Roach, father of a 14-year-old girl. McMenamin, who launched his first theater pub in Portland with his brother Mike nearly 20 years ago, said his company’s policy is to ad mit children with their parents or legal guardians for showings before 6 p.rn., which often are geared toward families. Parents do not come to drink, said Pete Boicourt, film buyer for McMenamins theaters, but it’s a nice option to accompany the pizza or pasta they eat whil watching a movie. “(Youngpeople) don’t expect to see beer sold at Regal Cinemas, and to the extent they see it, it sort of sanitizes the consumption. ” Mike Roach | Father of a 14-year old girl IN BRIEF New bill to require proof of citizenship for license SALEM — A bill to bar illegal im migrants from getting Oregon driv ers’ licenses was narrowly approved by a House panel Monday. The measure, which now goes to the House Budget Committee, would require proof of citizenship or legal residence to obtain a license and is meant to comply with a White House-backed bill passed by Congress this month. The federal measure says states must require proof of U.S. citizen ship, such as a Social Security number, or other evidence of legal residence to get a license. States, which have three years to comply, are allowed to give special driving permits to people without proof of legal residence, but the doc uments wouldn’t be accepted as identification by airport authorities or other federal agencies. The bill passed 4-3 by the Oregon House Transportation Committee would prohibit illegal immigrants from obtaining any driving privi leges. Some committee members objected because they wanted to provide special driving cards to people without proof of citizenship. Critics have argued that the feder al law and the House bill would not stop illegal immigrants from driving — it would only make them drive without a license or insurance. Moreover, opponents contend, the rules would hurt the agriculture in dustry, which depends on migrant workers for temporary labor. But supporters of the bill say it will help keep terrorists from obtain ing licenses, which can then be used to obtain other documents and board airplanes. Rep. George Gilman, R-Medford, said he favored the bill because he thought it had a better chance of passing the House and it brought the state into compliance with the federal law early. Terry Beyer, D-Springfield, voted against the bill, saying she feared it would “drive a problem a little deeper underground, as opposed to solving one.” Few businesses willing to support civil unions bill SALEM — So far, very few of Ore gon’s large businesses have staked out a public position on whether the state should allow same-sex couples to form civil unions, a bill that would require employers to extend health insurance, family leave and other benefits to gay couples. Among the state’s larger compa nies, only Powell’s Books Inc. and Norm Thompson Outfitters Inc. have endorsed Senate Bill 1000. But businesses are under heavy pressure from advocates of the bill to support the legislation because of hopes that backing the bill could im prove its chance of passing, espe cially in the House. The bill, sponsored by Gov. Ted Kulongoski and a bipartisan group of state senators, proposes to extend the same benefits to same-sex cou ples that state law offers to married couples. It also would make it illegal to discriminate based on sexual ori entation in employment, housing or public services. Ann Smith, Powell’s chief opera tions officer, said a statewide civil unions and anti-discrimination law is “the right tiling for Oregon and for our employees.” “From our perspective, it’s a ques tion of basic fairness,” she said. Meanwhile, Nike, Intel and Port land General Electric are still evalu ating the bill. “We are very supportive of the anti-discrimination provisions in the bill,” Nike spokesman Vada Manager said. But Nike executives question whether same-sex couples would no longer be taxed differently than mar ried couples, he said. Two major business lobbies, As sociated Oregon Industries and the Oregon Business Council, have not taken a position on SB1000, which had its first hearing May 4 in the Senate Rules Committee. Lisa TVussell, lobbyist for Associ ated Oregon Industries, said businesses will remain quiet unless there are significant changes affecting employers. Several smaller companies and business owners have endorsed the bill, but others are concerned. Steve Scheidler, president and CEO of Sure Power Industries in Tli alatin, testified against the bill dur ing the committee hearing^and later said he’s heard from other leaders of small businesses who also worry about increased benefits costs and becoming the target of lawsuits. Small-business owners privately are pointing out problems with SB 1000, but they “don’t want to be out front on it,” said Tim Nashif, po litical director of the Oregon Family Council, which publishes a Christ ian voters’ guide and is waging an e mail, mail and telephone campaign to kill the bill. On the flip side, Nashif said, he suspects other Oregon companies favor the bill but don’t want “our thousands and thousands of supporters unhappy with them.” — The Associated Press rr ^... Summer Courses in Art History Explore the Arts of Asia, the Pacific, the Americas and Europe 022421 ArH 349, History of Prints (4) June 20-July 15. This course examines prints and printmaking in the Western world from the 15th century to the present. Students will have an opportunity to study and examine original works of art. (Western Area) Joby Patterson. M-H, 14-15:50,241 Lawrence Hall. Weeks 1-4 Arh 392 Art of the Pacific Is. II (4) June 20-July 15. The arts of the Islands of Polynesia and Micronesia will be considered in relation to several factors influencing form and material: environment, ritual use, social power. Students will have an opportunity to study and examine original works of art. (Other Traditions Area) Davis Eisler. M-H, 12-13:50,241 Lawrence Hall. Weeks 1-4 ArH4lO Art of Meso-America (4) June 20-July 15. This course examines art and architecture of ancient civilizations of Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica from the Olmecs to Aztecs. Art is presented in a context that reflects values of the society that produced them. (Other Traditions Area) John Machado. M-H, 10-11:50,16 Pacific Hall. Weeks 1-4 ArH 410/510 Italian Art Architecture of the 14th Century (4) June 20-August 12. This course examines the art and architecture created in Italy during the late Middle Ages, particularly the works of painting, sculpture and architecture made expressly for the religious orders founded by St. Francis of Assisi and St. Dominic of Guzman. (Medieval) Priscilla West, M-H, 16-16:50,241 Lawrence Hall. Weeks 1-8 ArH 410/510 Japanese Art (4) June 20-July 15. This course examines the arts of Asia and Japan. There may be possible involvement with Schnitzer Museum of Art. (Asian) Aurora Testa, M-H, 10-11:50,241 Lawrence Hall. Weeks 1-4 All classes are held Monday - Thursday (M-H).
