ROTC aids in play production | 4 Oregon Daily Emerald An independent newspaper at the University of Oregon unvw, dailyemerald. com Since 1900 \ Volume 107, Issue 47 \ Friday, October 28, 2005 Cracks in McKenzie Hall's roof repaired Leaks in the rubber roof caused more than an inch of water to flood the social sciences lab BY KELLY BROWN NEWS REPORTER Roofers have completed repairs to McKen zie Hall’s roof in an effort to stop repeated leaks in the fourth floor Social Science In structional Labs. Three contractors from Umpqua Roofing Company finished patching up new cracks that developed over the summer and caused several inundations, including one that filled the lab with an inch of water. They also re moved the rocks from the roof to inspect all of the seams for possible leaks. “They responded really, really quickly,” said Cathleen Leue, director of the lab. She said the University’s response was wonderful following an Oct. 14 ODE article that discussed the problem (“McKenzie’s roof causes recurring lab floods”). McKenzie Hall received a new roof in 1989, but the rubber roof was attached to the walls in what was later discovered to be an ineffi cient way. Although the same rubber is still used, construction crews no longer secure the large sheets of rubber in the same manner. The rubber covering expands during the summer and contracts during cool weather, forming tiny cracks. MCKENZIE, page 4 Neighbors south of UO perplexed by students South University Neighborhood residents aired concerns about housing code, parties and noise BY CHRIS HAGAN NEWS REPORTER Residents of the South University Neighbor hood expressed concern Wednesday regarding what they see as deteriorating relations with neighborhood students. At the neighborhood association meeting, a panel including Eugene Rental Housing Pro gram representatives, Eugene police officers and ASUO President Adam Walsh took ques tions from residents. The meeting began as a discussion of the new rental housing code, but it quickly turned to questions about whether the code will affect homes where trash and other problems spill out into the neighborhood. The Eugene City Council passed the housing code in November, and it went into effect in July. It is a complaint-driven system, meaning the city will not do inspections; tenants must bring complaints themselves. COMMUNITY, page 6 Coalition hosts affirmative action panel University students gathered Thursday night to share their viewpoints on the controversial issue BY JOE BAILEY NEWS REPORTER A panel of minority students discussed the value of affirmative action last night in an event that drew approximately 30 students. The Oregon Students of Color Coalition held the discussion, which was billed as a workshop to educate students on issues of minority access and advance ment. It was held in the EMU Fir Room in conjunction with National Take Affirmative Action Day. Senior Brenda Sifuentez said that affirmative action is only a small part of the solution to larger problems of racial and gender inequality. “Affirmative action is not go ing to solve anything on its own,” she said, adding that more programs are needed to address “institutional racism” throughout society. Jamilia Taylor, a second-year law student, objected to at tempts in the media to portray affirmative action as an issue that solely affects whites and blacks. She said that ignoring the impact of affirmative action ACTION, page 6 Zach Blank | Freelance photographer Right to Left: Jamila Taylor, Jael Anker-Lagos and Brenda Sifuentez discuss affirma tive action and University policy at a meeting in the EMU Fir Room Thursday night. Jewish hip-hop group performs at Hillel Courtesy Original Jewish Gangsters Jonathan “Doctor J Money” Gutstadt and Judah “Butter” Maceo Ritterman perform their Hip-Hop Shabbat at B'nai Brith Camp. They will be performing at Oregon Hillel tonight at 6 p.m. The Original Jewish Gangsters, a Bay Area-based hip-hop group, blends talent with tradition BY BRITTNI MCCLENAHAN NEWS REPORTER Take a few rap lines from the song, “Bim Bomb”: “Love all men and women, that is my religion, A free will decision to in crease my vision, We’ve risen from the prison of time/space-ism, With Shabbat Shalom as the home of our wisdom, Bim Bomb ...” That’s a taste of what the Original Jewish Gangsters hip hop group is all about. The popular group will be performing today at 6 p.m. at the Oregon Hillel with its Hip Hop Shabbat performance, following Shabbat services at 6 p.m. Hip-Hop Shabbat is a mod ernized version of the Jewish Shabbat service, which com bines the traditional Friday night prayers with rapping and dancing, backed up by pre recorded hip-hop, reggae, electronica and dub beats. “Usually the first time people hear our music, they think it’s kind of funny,” said performer Judah “Butter” Maceo Ritter man, 25. “Then people listen to our lyrics and are like, ‘Wow, this is really good.’” All born and raised in Oak land, Calif., OJG’s members — Ritterman, Jonathan “Doctor J Money” Gudstadt and Elana Jagoda — created the group after combining their talents and love for hip-hop with their traditions. “What we’re really about, at our core as a group and in our own lives, is to connect people with spirituality and build communities,” Ritterman said. “Our music is an opportunity for people to connect with Shabbat and to connect with Judaism.” Gutstadt, 26, founded the Bay Area group during spring break 2003, when the University grad HIP-HOP, page 8 Eugene police prepare for Halloween weekend Teams of officers will increase patrols in campus neighborhoods to ensure the safety of students and others during the holiday BY KATY GAGNON NEWS REPORTER In an effort to prevent Halloween riots that have plagued campus-area neighborhoods in the past, Eugene police will strengthen pa trols near campus this weekend. Multiple police teams will concentrate on the west and south campus neighborhoods and other problem areas, Kerry Delf, Eugene Police Department spokeswomansaid.Con centrated patrols of campus neighborhoods are a response to past riots in the West Uni versity Neighborhood, including one on Hal loween in 1998. Because Eugene has not seen a riot in a while, authorities are preparing for the worst, said Eugene police officer Randy Ellis. Involvement in a riot may seem like a “rite of passage” for some University students, he said. “If you haven’t been involved in a riot in your four to five years at the UO, then it’s like you’re not completing your college educa tion,” he said. Officers will have no tolerance for alcohol and party-related violations this weekend, Delf said, and party hosts and others caught breaking the law will be arrested or ticketed. “They will not get off with a warning,” she said. “If you’re a minor, you are not supposed to be drinking,” she said. “A lot of young people don’t take this to heart, violate the law and don’t think they will get caught.” Party Patrols in the campus area occur nearly every weekend and usually consist of eight officers and a sergeant, said Ellis, who has patrolled campus neighborhoods for several years. For Halloween weekend, staffing will be significantly increased, Delf said. Officers can volunteer for Party Patrols and are usually paid overtime, Ellis said. If a party gets out of control, the host is encouraged to call the police, Delf said. The police will shut the party down and may cite offenders. Ellis said police generally won’t cite of fenders when someone calls on themselves. “People don’t realize how quickly they can lose control of a party,” he said. Police can enter a private home if they see criminal activity occurring inside, he said. Increased patrols will begin tonight and continue until Halloween. Police will be on foot, bicycles and in cars, Delf said. Contact the crime, health and safety reporter at kgagnon@dailyemerald.com