| 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).