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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 14, 2005)
Ackerman: Politician strove to see both sides of issues Continued from page 1 served on the Springfield City Council from 1967-69 He decided to run for the State House of Repre sentatives in 2000 after then-District 13 representative and current Eu gene Mayor Kitty Piercy had to leave because of term limits. “I thought carrying on in politics at a different level would be a chal lenge,” Ackerman said. “I had the time. I had the experience. So why not do it?” During his time in the house, Ackerman developed a reputation as a keen-eyed politician who was not afraid to reach out to Re publicans to compromise, colleagues say. “He never asks what political af filiation someone is,” said Chris Matson, Ackerman’s former cam paign manager and legislative assis tant. “I’ve seen Republicans come into his office and hammer out a compromise on an issue that works for both sides.” Ackerman said he tried to keep politics out of the process while working in Salem. “I like problem solving; I don’t like the partisanship,” Ackerman said. “As a lawyer, I’m used to negotiation.” Ackerman’s hard work to avoid partisanship was rewarded this last session when Speaker of the House Karen Minnis, R-Wood Village, ap pointed Ackerman chair of the Ju diciary Subcommittee on Civil Law, a rare appointment for a member of a minority party. “I thought it was a compliment in a way, coming from my adver sary,” Ackerman said. Ackerman has also been praised for his approach to the job. "He’s smart and serious, and he pays attention to the details,” for mer State Senator Tony Corcoran said. “He’s good on budget issues.” Pat Reilly, House District 13 chair for the Democratic Party of Lane County, agrees. While Ackerman was working on the Lane Community College Board, “He knew that budget better than the president of the college,” Reilly said. While in the House Ackerman fought to stabilize public education funding, an issue he sees as impor tant because of the benefits educa tion provides to the community. “Education is an investment in our future,” Ackerman said. “It’s a vital economic tool to have a func tioning education system.” Ackerman said the budget cuts and rising tuition at public institu tions are having a real effect on the community. “I think we are creating de facto private institutions,” Ackerman said. “Middle-income and lower-in come people are being priced out of education. That really bothers me.” Those who work with Ackerman have been impressed by the way he treats the people around him, de spite the workload and job stress. “He’s been the best boss I ever worked for,” Matson said. “He treats everyone like an equal part ner. That’s a rarity in any profes sion.” Contact the city, state politics reporter at chagan@ daily emerald, com Disease: Study to be conducted via telephone Continued from page 1 nurses give advice on how to im prove health. Often this consulting is contracted through an employer or health care provider. A team of behaviorists and psychol ogists develops techniques to make these phone calls more effective, Life Masters executive chairwoman Chris tobel Selecky said. All patients in Hibbard’s study will be administered the PAM by tele phone. The control group and the ex perimental group will each include 1,700 patients from across the coun try. Selecky said the study has al ready started and will likely take a year to complete. The outcome of the study will be based on medical bills and the number of times the patient is hospitalized dur ing the study. Nurses having weekly phone con versations with patients in the control group will not know the test results and will provide standard care. In the experimental group, nurses will know the patients’ level of knowledge and adjust their conversa tions accordingly. "If you’ve got someone who’s high ly activated, you can immediately start working on the changes that need to happen,” Selecky said. For those who score lower on the measurement and thus know less about their disease, Selecky said, ef forts must first be focused on getting the patient to understand why lifestyle changes need to be made. For example, if a patient is 30 pounds overweight, a nurse would discuss with the patient how he or she would be able to walk and breathe better after losing 30 pounds, Selecky said, rather than simply telling the patient to lose 30 pounds. “The only way that you can get people to change behavior ... is to build their self-confidence that they can have an impact on their lives,” Selecky said. Contact the business, science and tech nology reporter at esylwester@ dailye merald.com INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION WEEK A week of speeches, presentations and socializ ing opportunities begins today with the opening ceremony for International Education Week. This year's theme is “Opening Windows on Mid dle East Cultures." All events take place in the In ternational Resource Center in the EMU unless otherwise noted. Tea time takes place today through Thursday from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. Monday 2 p.m.: Opening ceremony with University Pres ident Dave Frohnmayer and Magid Shirzade gan, director of the Office of International Pro grams. Geography professor Shaul Cohen will give a speech titled “The Middle East in Oregon and Oregon in the Middle East." 7 p.m.: Landscape Architecture professor Ken neth Helphand gives a talk and a shows slides of the gardens and landscape of Israel. Tuesday 11:30 a.m.-l:30 p.m.: Free samples of food from five Middle Eastern countries will be avail able in the EMU Fir Room. 3 p.m.: Showing of "Inside Mecca," a National Geographic documentary about Islam’s most famous city. 5:306:30 p.m.: Rug expert Ali Avci discusses the symbolic language of Middle Eastern car pets and local artist Holly Piper discusses a cul tural exchange program that teaches children in the United States about Middle Eastern car pets and gives them an opportunity to make their own. 7 p.m.: A showing of the film "Turtles Can Fly,” made by Kurdish film director Bahman Qubaid. University student Muhammed Oth man, a Kurd from northern Iraq, will lead a discussion afterward. Wednesday 3-4:30 p.m.: University a graduate student Amal Eqeiq, who grew up as a Palestinian, Muslim woman and an Israeli citizen shows slides and tells stories about a day in the life of her hometown of aFTaibeh. 4:30-5:30 p.m.: University journalism student Cory Eldridge talks about his experiences living in Jordan and working for an English-language magazine as well as his travels in the region. 5:30-6:30 p.m.: Iranian musician Pouria Sayrafi discusses Persian music and demonstrates several Persian instruments. 7:30 p.m.: A showing of the film "A Man in the House." Thursday Noon: A showing of the documentary “20 Years Old in the Middle East," which features college students from Jordan, Syria, Iran and Lebanon. 2 p.m.: University student David Eber discuss es the nine months he spent in Israel. 3 p.m. : A showing of the National Geographic documentary "Jerusalem: Within These Walls.” 7 p.m.: A showing of the film "Children of Abra ham” followed by a panel discussion featuring Ibrahim Hamide and Gary Reiss of the Eugene Middle East Peace Group, peace studies gradu ate student Brian Bogart and geography profes sor and Middle East expert Ron Wixman. Friday 3 p.m.: University adjunct professor Astryd deMichele teaches and performs Middle East ern dance. 46 p.m. International Student Association cof fee hour. Live music at 4:30 p.m. 7 p.m.: A showing of the Emmy Award-winning documentary "Promises.” Source: International Resource Center Compiled by Meaghann M. Cuniff University Health Center GREAT AMERICAN SMOKEOUT | Thursday, Nov. 17 Week of Events Health Resource Center in the EMU across from the Fir Room Monday - Thursday, Nov. 14-17 10 am. - 2 p.m. $50 UO Bookstore certificate for winner of tobacco quiz Wednesday, Nov. 16 2 - 4 p.m. Blood pressure check and stress reduction tips with Jude Kehoe Thursday, Nov. 17 10 -11 a m. Dental care information 11 a m. -1 p.m. Free cholesterol screening 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Rec Center personal trainers with fitness testing & exercise tips 12 - 2 p.m. Free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (patch and gum) and quit kits distributed while supplies last
