American Heart Association donates to University research I 3
Oregon Daily Emerald
An independent newspaper at the University of Oregon
www. dailyemerald. com
Since 1900 \ Volume 107, Issue 50 \ Wednesday, November 2, 2005
Disaster preparedness
Evaluating seismic concerns
Cascadia Subduction Zone poses greatest earthquake threat to
Eugene area; some structures are more stable than others
BY KATY GAGNON
NEWS REPORTER
The greatest natural disaster
Eugene or the University may
ever face is brewing just off
the Oregon coast.
Tsunamis, landslides, fires, build
ing damage and significant loss of
life could occur throughout the
Northwest if there is an earthquake in the Cas
cadia Subduction Zone, an 800-mile-long fault
that stretches from British Columbia to north
ern California and poses the largest earth
quake threat to Eugene.
A massive earthquake from the fault would
be devastating.
The ground will shake for several minutes.
Tsunamis of nearly 30 feet in some areas will
PARTI OF 3
Today: How prepared is
Eugene for an earthquake?
Thursday: What is the
city’s flood plan?
Friday: How can people
prepare for disasters?
batter and flood the
coast. Areas with
soft soil will liquefy
and structures will
move. Dams may
fail. Aftershocks will
be shattering and
can last for months.
Roadways will crack
and bridges will collapse. Utili
ties and telephone services will
be lost for at least a day. Thou
sands will be living out of emer
gency shelters. Police ana emer
gency responders will not be able to respond
to everybody in distress.
A Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake
last ravaged the Pacific Northwest in the
evening of Jan. 26, 1700. Geological predic
tions show that subduction
zone earthquakes occur every 300
PREPAREDNESS, page 6
Cascadia Subduction Zone
CHRIS Todd I GRAPHIC ARTIST_Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Key
High chance of damage
Moderate chance of damage
Low chance of damage
Very low chance of damage
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Centra!
Power
Station
UO
Bookstore
McKenzie
Robinson
Theatre
Villard
Lawrence
Fine Art
Studios
Computing Deady
Chiles Lillis Fenton
Peterson Gilbert
Onyx Bridge
Pacific Klamath
Cascade
Streisinger
Deschutes
Friendly
Columbia
Volcanology
Willamette
Huestis
Oregon Hail
Millrace Drive
Condon Johnson Collier
Chapman Hpuse
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Schnitzer
Art Museum
bell
Knight
Library
Education
Susan
Campbell
Gerlinger
Gerlinger
Annex
Hendrick;
Beal
Concert
Hall
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Chris Todd | Graphic artist
E 13th Avenue
Memorial
Union
Carson
Health
Center
Walton
Hamilton
East Campus
Graduate
Village
E 15th Avenue
Bean
Student Bowerman
Recreation Family
Center Building
Knight
Law
Museum of
Natural and
Cultural History
Esslinger
1 Hhur
f
Student
Tpnnis
Courts
Hayward
Field
Moss Street
Children’s
Center
5?
Howe Field
Outdoor Program
Barn
Agate
EARTHQUAKE FACTS
• The Cascadia Subduction Zone, just off the Ore
gon coast, is 800 miles long, stretching from British
Columbia to Northern California.
• Geological predictions show that subduction zone
earthquakes happen every 300 to 500 years.
• The last Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake
hit in January of 1700.
• A recent study by the University’s Oregon Natural
Hazards Workgroup found that in their current
states, Straub Hall, PLC and McArthur Court will ex
perience moderate to extensive damage in a mas
sive earthquake. Hendricks, Deady and Friendly
halls are expected to experience moderate damage.
• A study by the city of Eugene estimated a subduc
tion zone earthquake could cause $1.6 billion to
$1.7 billion in damage in Lane County.
FACILITIES SERVICES
PRINCE LUCIEN CAMPBELL HALL
RIVERFRONT INNOVATION CENTER
MCARTHUR COURT
STRAUB HALL
Con Court
conducts
review of
RRC bylaws
The committee recently created
official documentation stating
its mission and goals
BY NICHOLAS WILBUR
NEWS REPORTER
The student government’s new Recognition
Review Committee, which has already ap
proved the mission, goals and bylaws of al
most 25 student fee-funded programs, went
under review Thesday by the ASUO Constitu
tion Court.
Led by Chief Justice Tony McCown, the
court questioned RRC Chairman and Pro
grams Administrator David Goward about the
committee’s recently created by-laws. Since
the beginning of the term, the ASUO Execu
tive has not required the committee to have
an official mission, goals and bylaws. Instead,
it was governed by one of former ASUO Presi
dent Adam Petkun’s memos.
Goward announced at the beginning of the
hearing that "it is (the Executive’s) opinion
that bylaws are not required for this commit
tee,” and that creating them is merely an at
tempt to be transparent and consistent with
other programs and governing bodies within
student government.
The RRC has passed all 18 of the 24
RRC, page 3
MEChA
celebration
honors the
deceased
The Chicano and Latino student
group will host a fiesta tonight for
the annual Dxa de los Muertos
BY BRITTNIMCCLENAHAN
NEWS REPORTER
MEChA, a student group dedicated to Chi
cano and Latino students, will emphasize the
history and traditions of Dia de los Muertos at
this year’s celebration, which will feature folk
dancers, poetry, traditional music, and the live
band La Catrina.
The two-day celebration of Dfa de los Muer
tos, which means “Day of the Dead," is a time to
remember lost loved ones and celebrate afterlife.
“This year’s event is going to be a little differ
ent than previous years,” event coordinator
Eden Cortez said. "We wanted to incorporate
the history of Dfa de los Muertos and explain a
little bit more how it started and evolved from
the indigenous era to the colonial era to present
time.”
Students will read poetry and serve refresh
ments including traditional “Pan de Muerto,”
which means “Bread of the Dead.” The sweet
bread is baked only for the celebration for the
living and the dead and usually comes in the
CELEBRATION, page 4