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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (June 30, 2005)
TO THE EDITOR ect was a perfect fit for the fascinating people and business on hand that evening. Businesses that all focus on bringing people into the area who want to tread lightly on the planet while leaving behind revenue to en- hance our economy. Mayor Kitty Piercy was there as was gu- bernatorial candidate Pete Sorenson, along with a host of people representing businesses and attractions that can’t be found anywhere else. The Pacific Tree Climbing Institute and Lost Valley Educational Center to name just two. Sue Gorham from the Convention and Visitors Association of Lane County pro- vided a laundry list of creative, eco-friendly business ideas that had many of us scribbling down notes. I applaud the Helios Network for sponsor- ing such a productive event and urge the citi- zens of this area to look for future FACTS suppers to attend. Regardless of the topic, it will be an enriching experience. Cheryl Crumbley Eugene INFORMED DECISIONS? Your recent article “Incision Decisions” (6/9) was a thought-provoking and well-re- searched piece. I too believe that for women to feel empowered by their birth process, they must be educated about their options. Lennon Clark is quoted as saying, “Women need to take responsibility for their choices in child- birth. They need to make informed deci- sions.” I would argue that that is true not just with birth, but with pregnancy and parenting as well. But where does a woman go get this knowledge? And where can women find a community of other pregnant women and new mamas to share their common experi- ences? I, along with Shea Hardy, Bess Day and a number of other dynamic women, have started a new organization called Trillium Pregnancy and Family Resources. We offer classes such as “I’m Having A Baby, Now What?”, “Doula Discussion: Coping With Pain In Labor,” “New Mamas’ Gathering,” and “Childbirth Education.” Along with classes, we also sponsor walks. On Saturday mornings at 10 am in the Rose Gardens, pregnant women can meet for “Walking with Bellies.” “Walking with Strollers,” where mom’s can come and walk with their babies, meets on Wednesdays at 10 am also in the Rose Gardens. Please join us! For questions regarding times and loca- tion of classes, call 579-0670 or e-mail trilli- umresourcecenter@hotmail.com Thanks EW for making women’s health a front page article. Keep it up! Iris Bicksler Co-founder, Trillium Pregnancy and Family Resources IT MUST BE LARGE I have a proposal for the City Council and city staff. We all know that they will soon be offering a complex spending plan to the people which will include a new police station. We know that the people will reject that plan, leav- ing the police department uncomfortably cramped. So I propose that after that vote, the city take those $30 million in ill-gotten savings and build, for the people, a glorious new Citizen’s Review Board Building downtown. It must be very large, of course, so that the CRB can rent out the basement and the garage to the EPD. It’s the least we can do for them. Benjamin Quady Eugene ACT OF EXCLUSION Why is the Eugene community allowing an organization that discriminates against people with disabilities to use publicly owned facilities at the Hayward Classic June 18 and 19? I hope Eugene is not poised to repeat ex- clusion of those with disabilities as in 2003. Moments before the 2003 National Masters Championship race, a Corvallis run- ner was disqualified on Hayward Field be- cause she runs with a cane. The rationale was that a cane is an “assist device.” The runner, who participated in qualifying heats and re- lies on the cane to walk, challenged the deci- sion via a USA Track and Field (USATF) grievance procedure to prove medical dis- ability. In May 2005, USATF responded, ap- proving the cane as a reasonable accommo- dation. However, the USATF letter then dis- qualified the runner for a new reason, that use of a cane “would pose a direct threat to the health and safety of the other competitors.” The USATF resolution thus makes the sit- uation worse. Runners who use canes must show they do not threaten the health and safety of other runners in order to participate, a task which will likely take much legal ef- fort, if possible at all. We find the USATF decision curious for several reasons: a) that disqualification crite- ria changed, b) that no effort was made to ac- commodate the runner, such as in a separate lane, c) that the disqualification applies only to USATF sanctioned races. In their letter USATF told the runner that, “assuming you meet the eligibility requirements for competi- tion at the Hayward Classic, you are welcome to compete without the use of a cane.” This is like telling wheelchair racers they are wel- come to compete if they get rid of their wheelchairs. We believe that this is a clear case of discrimination and the city of Eugene should not allow it. Patrick Magee Community Alliance for Diversity Board Corvallis S um m er Pr o gr am D is c ou nt . . . F un , F un , Fu n! 40 % OFF Reduced Fee & FREE Uniform H AI K I A IKI C E N T E R Aikido Programs for Men, Women & Children * FREE CLASS * Mind-Body Togetherness • Non-Aggressive Self Defense • Love, Peace, Harmony & Fun 2489 PORTLAND ST. • EUGENE • email: haiki@comcast.net • 541.687.5625 • 541.510.5075 C h i e f I n s t r u c t o r J e r r y G l a s s m a n , S e n s e i • C L A S S E S : M O N • T U E • W E D • T H U • S A T. SHEKLOW’S UNIVERSE Something seemed to be missing in Sally JUNE 30, 2005 5
