Marcus Kent is determined to stay on the ball | 5
An independent newspaper
mow. dailyemerald. com
Since 1900 \ Volume 107, Issue 005 \ Tuesday, July 5, 2005
Tim Bobosky | Photo editor
University of Oregon SEIU Local 503 President Lois Yoshishige hands a petition to Connie Lange.
SEIU members rally
for increased wages
University classified employees are also requesting that support in
health care to he part of the current contract renegotiations
NICHOLAS WILBUR
NEWS REPORTER
Approximately 65 of the University’s classified
employees held a labor rally in the EMU am
phitheater Thursday afternoon to begin the rene
gotiation process for new wage and health care
contracts. The Service Employees International
Union represents the majority of service workers
and higher education employees in Oregon and
all of the University's service employees.
Classified workers include custodians, food
service workers, maintenance workers, admin
istration assistants, public safety officers, de
partment staffers, filers, secretaries, people in
charge of class scheduling and many more of
-----
the behind-the-scene jobs that help the
University function.
Purple balloons with SEIU written on them
decorated the amphitheater, and a large banner
that read, “THE UNIVERSITY WORKS BECAUSE
WE DO,” covered the EMU stairs. Music played
as workers mingled in small groups and walked
through the crowd handing out information
about die renegotiation process and goals.
SEIU staff director Wayne Moore said that the
University's local 085 union came together to
show that the union workers were serious about
reaching a deal with Gov. Ted Kulongoski on new
contracts. The old contracts officially expired on
CONTRACTS, page 3
The! FtfiAfY
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LIVES ON
Former University President Robert Clark's influence
on the campus will continue far past his lifetime
BYGABE BRADLEY
NEWS EDITOR
Summer of 1975. The University
was getting ready to celebrate
its 100th anniversary. Dave Frohn
mayer was serving his first term
in the state house of representatives.
The Bowerman Classic track
meet was renamed the Prefontaine
Classic. And the fledging Oregon
Summer Festival of Music made
the watershed decision to focus
that year’s festival on the music
of Bach.
It was 30 years ago when Robert
Clark stepped down as president of
the University. He left behind a
legacy that has endured to this day —
a legacy that continues to impact the
daily functioning of the University.
In the face of Robert Clark’s death
last week at the age of 95, we look
back at the accomplishments and
controversies that surrounded this
pivotal figure in University history.
The up-and-comer
Clark was bom in Nebraska and ed
ucated in California. In college, he
was a pole vaulter.
“He loved athletics — particular
ly track and field — because he
was an athlete in his youth and
quite good at it,” granddaughter
Catherine Clark said.
He also participated in theater
and debate, which helped shape
his career.
“His main focus all
throughout his career
was speech and de
bate. In fact, he
whooped Nixon’s arse
in debate,” said Cather
ine Clark, referring to a
1934 debate competition
in which Clark’s team de
feated Richard Nixon and
CLARK, page 4
University students compete for crown
From
left:
University
students
Manisha
Marberry,
Sharitha
McKenzie
and Sarah
Warner
compete in
the Miss
Oregon
Scholarship
Program
held at the
Seaside
Convention
Center
June 27
through
July 2.
_iiu.
Tim Bobosky | Photo editor
Women from all over the state
competed in the Miss Oregon
pageant this weekend in Seaside
BYGABE BRADLEY
NEWS EDITOR
Three University students were among the
22 women competing in the Miss Oregon
pageant this weekend.
The competition, held in Seaside, Ore.,
brought local titleholders from across the
state together to compete for the right to rep
resent Oregon in the Miss America pageant
later this year.
University students Sharitha McKenzie,
Manisha Marberry and Sarah Warner were
among the contestants.
University of Portland student Lucy Fleck,
Miss Portland, won the competition.
McKenzie, Miss Cascade, has been com
peting in pageants since high school, accord
ing to her father, Leon McKenzie.
MISS OREGON, page 8
IN BRIEF
Gender discrimination lawsuit
against University settled
Former University track coach Sally Harmon
received $375,000 from the University in a settle
ment of her gender discrimination lawsuit filed
late last year, the Register-Guard reported Friday.
Harmon, a University graduate, had been an
assistant track and field coach for 18 years before
she was dismissed in 2003.
In 2003, the men’s and women’s track pro
grams were combined. Harmon says she was re
placed by a man with little coaching experience.
In her $1.1 million lawsuit, Harmon alleged that
the University “engaged in a pattern and practice
of discrimination against women student athletes
and employees witiiin the athletic department, in
cluding discriminating in pay and benefits. ”
This settlement involves no admission of
wrongdoing by the University. Both Harmon and
University General Counsel Melinda Grier have
expressed a desire to keep the settlement low-key.
Harmon is now living in Oakridge, working as
a real estate agent and operating a bed-and-break
fast, according to the Register-Guard.
— Gabe Bradley