This summer at the University may have been slow, but it was anything but quiet. The last several months have had their fair share of tragedy, triumph and controversy. Here is a selection of news items from the summer. Complete stories are available at www.dailyemerald.com.
University senior killed University advertising major Phillip Gillins was assaulted outside a bar in the early hours of June 10, the morning before he was to graduate. Though he was initially expected to recover, Gillins soon died of brain injuries sustained during the attack.
While police continued to search for Gillins’ killer, a memorial service was held July 10 in Portland. On July 19, the Eugene Police Department issued a warrant for the arrest of Darrell Sky Walker for charges of manslaughter and assault in connection with Gillins’ death.
A few days later, Walker surrendered to police. He remains in custody, pending trial.
 
Raising the rent
On July 1, the City of Eugene’s rental housing code went into effect.
Various student and community groups had lobbied for the creation of the code, which calls for the
annual assessment of a $10-per-rental fee to fund a group of city
employees who will investigate habitability complaints.
Advocates of the new code claimed it would make it easier for tenants to get problems fixed.
Critics of the new code claimed
it would raise the cost of rents in town without providing any protections that were not already a part of state law.
Let’s make a deal
After a two-year salary freeze,
the service employees union (SEIU) and the Oregon University System management began negotiating new contracts.
As negotiations wore on, the union staged various rallies
and protests. The major sticking points were the amount of the salary increase and OUS’s proposal to have salary levels partially determined by region.
After six months of negotiations, SEIU and OUS reached an agreement. During this time, national leadership of the SEIU, together with the teamsters, broke away from the AFL-CIO to create a new organized labor coalition.
Former University
president dies
Former University President Robert Clark died at the end of June at age 95. Clark, who served as University president from 1969-1975, left a lasting imprint on the University.
Clark nurtured various programs – including the Robert D. Clark Honors College and the Oregon Bach Festival – in their fledgling stages.
He also presided over a University where racial tensions and student outrage because of the war in Vietnam often came very near to erupting in violence.
A memorial service was held for Clark in Beall Hall on July 20.
Miss Oregon
Three University students participated in the annual Miss Oregon pageant. Local title-holders Sharitha McKenzie, Manisha Marberry and Sarah Warner were among the 22 women competing in the pageant, which was held in Seaside, Ore., during the first week of July.
Miss Portland, Lucy Fleck, won the pageant. Along with the title, Fleck won a $10,000 scholarship and the right to compete in the Miss America pageant.
Discrimination suit settled
The University agreed to pay former track coach Sally Harmon $375,000 to settle a $1.1 million gender discrimination suit Harmon filed last year.
Harmon claimed that her job as a women’s throws events coach was unfairly eliminated as part of a systemic gender bias in the University’s athletic program.
Both Harmon and University officials said they were glad for the settlement because it offered everyone a chance to move on. Harmon now works as a real estate broker in Oakridge.
New faces
Emory University’s Don Harris was selected to serve as the new vice provost for information services at the University. He said he planned to make the computer facilities on campus more appropriately configured for the types of projects that students would need them for. Also, he hoped to make them more accessible for groups.
Frances Bronet, professor of Architecture at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York, was selected as the new dean of the University’s School of Architecture and Allied Arts. Bronet said she will bring an interdisciplinary approach to her work at the University.
Both new hires said they were excited about becoming part of the Eugene community and enjoying the natural scenery.
Staying tough on degrees
A law was passed making it
illegal in Oregon to claim a degree from an unaccredited school
without a disclaimer.
This was in response to the result of a lawsuit brought by Wyoming-certified online college Kennedy-Western. Previously, Oregon law prohibited anyone from claiming a degree from an unaccredited school. However, this was found to be an infringement of free speech.
The legislature drafted the emergency bill to rectify the unconstitutional elements of the existing law.
University junior drowns
Business major Stephen Dember drowned in a swimming pool on a military base in Vicenza, Italy. Dember was serving as an athletics counselor for Camp Adventure, a program that provides a summer camp experience for children of military personnel living overseas.
Student dies in surgery
University senior Cody Howell died from surgery complications two years after a paralyzing car accident. Howell, an accomplished athlete, was described by his family as a fun-spirited prankster with a big heart.

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