Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum met with a group of about a dozen University of Oregon students in the Knight Library on Thursday to discuss gun control and the state’s gun laws.

At the beginning of the discussion, Rosenblum passed out one-page flyers explaining Oregon’s so-called “Red Flag Law.” The law allows a concerned spouse, intimate partner (such as a significant other), parent, sibling or family member to petition a county court to take a firearm from someone who presents a danger to themselves or others. Before any firearm is confiscated, a hearing is held by a court the same day or within 24 hours. If approved by the court, the order is effective for one year.

“Maybe people didn’t know that the law existed and the idea is to get the word out,” Rosenblum said. “We are getting it into the hands of as many people as possible.”

In addition to the Red Flag Law, Oregon recently closed the “boyfriend loophole,” which previously allowed intimate partners convicted of domestic abuse to purchase a firearm.

During the hour-long discussion, which was not heavily publicized, students shared their thoughts and concerns about gun control with Rosenblum. Some students found that the lack of publicity added to the authenticity of the conversation.

“I thought that [the] attorney general was very down-to-earth, and she was definitely herself, and I personally appreciated that because in politics it can be different and people aren’t who they appear to be,” said Jaria Martin, a senior majoring in family and human services. “I’m glad that the space was created in the first place for her to sit down with us and hear from us.”

Lauren Walker, a sophomore psychology major, said that the group could have been more representative of the student body.

“I think it would have been nice if it was more publicized,” Walker said. “However, I felt that she genuinely wanted to listen to students and wasn’t doing it for the publicity.”  

While Rosenblum started the conversation by discussing the new Red Flag Law, students brought up related topics such as mental health and the overlap between gun violence and police brutality.

“I think it was important that the topic of police brutality came up because it’s so prevalent today, and I think the attorney general understands that,” Martin said. “I think she realizes that although we’re a ‘blue state,’ racial violence and gun violence happens in Oregon.”

Members of the College Democrats joined Rosenblum to share their insights, but no members of the College Republicans attended the discussion. Justin Myhre, the College Republicans president, said that the group was not aware of the meeting but would be happy to have a conversation about gun control with Rosenblum.

In an interview with the Daily Emerald, Rosenblum, a Democrat, said that she wants to hear what UO students who identify as Republican have to say.

“I would be delighted to have a conversation with College Republicans,” Rosenblum said. “I’m hopeful that Republican and Democratic students can work together to help solve this scourge. It’s a safety issue — that’s why I call it gun safety and not gun control. No one wants to feel unsafe.”

Rosenblum said that students and young people help to keep public officials such as herself accountable.

“Our students are a great voice and force. At first, I didn’t want to bother them, but I need them and I need the voices of young people,” she said. “They help keep me accountable and make sure I am doing my job.”

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Around 10 a.m. on Friday morning, Allen Hall building coordinator Tom Rozinski alerted students that someone had threatened a faculty member over finals grades.

Sally Garner, an academic advisor in Allen Hall, said no police were in the building as of 10:30 a.m. She said that several staff, including herself, were carrying on with their tasks as usual.

According to a statement made around 12:30 by School of Journalism and Communication Dean Juan Carlos-Molleda, the University of Oregon Police Department did not find the threat to be credible and the threat was referred to the Dean of Students for further action.

The statement encouraged anyone who has information relevant to the incident to contact UOPD (541.346.2919) or the Office of Student Conduct (541.346.1140).

The Emerald will continue reporting on this story if any developments occur.

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The University of Oregon Police Department sent a campus-wide email Monday afternoon saying someone had sent an email about a bomb threat at the UO.

The email from UOPD said that within the same day, police determined the threat was not credible and there was no danger to the campus community. No arrests have been made.

UOPD spokesman Kelly McIver said the situation was still under investigation and information such as who sent the email, when UOPD received it or the length of the investigation would not be available while the case is open.

He said police investigated the threat by conducting interviews with sources and determined there was no actual threat. McIver could not say how UOPD determined there was not a threat.

The email stated that UOPD was investigating the case with the FBI, which is common practice for bomb threats, according to McIver.

This is not the only bomb threat since the beginning of the school year.

In October, a bomb threat was made to Agate Hall on UO’s campus and everyone was evacuated from the building. Streets near the building were closed for several hours while police investigated the situation. No bomb was found in this case and UOPD cleared the situation. Eugene police investigated a bomb threat in West Eugene in early January but found nothing suspicious and determined there was no threat. In November 2017, a Eugene teenager was accused of making a bomb threat over the internet to a high school in Bend.

UOPD said to call 9-1-1 in an emergency or contact the department with information about threats to campus safety at 541-346-2919.

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Gabriel Alvarez brought his pocket-sized constitution to a freedom of expression discussion hosted by the University of Oregon so that he could quote the first amendment if needed.

“I came in with the impression that I might be silenced,” Alvarez said. “I see student speech silenced all around campus.”

In the sixth part of a series of freedom-of-expression-related events initiated by the president’s office, journalism professors Todd Milbourn and Lisa Heyamoto led about 15 students through a conversation about what “speaking up” looks like in individual lives at the Many Nations Longhouse on March 9, but by the end, students’ feelings of being disregarded by university administration took center stage.

Journalism student Chayne Thomas said he was disappointed that administrators weren’t there to listen, although journalism dean Juan-Carlos Molleda was present for the first half of the discussion.

“It’s telling that at an event focused on student voices, the president and administration aren’t here,” he said, adding that it may show that higher administration regards corporate investment over students.

Thomas also wrote a letter to the Emerald about President Michael Schill’s response to student protesters who interrupted a speech he planned to give on Oct. 6.

UO spokesman Tobin Klinger said President Michael Schill was the one who suggested that a series of events centered around freedom of expression take place and that that idea came before his speech was interrupted.

Milbourn said that although many administrators weren’t present, a list of talking points will be relayed to the president’s office. Students also wrote down some of their takeaways from the discussion and had their photos taken with those testimonials. Those images will be sent with the list of talking points.

Zack Demars, a political science turned pre-journalism student, said an event around freedom of expression is much needed in light of the recent tuition increase for next year. He said that even though students voiced their concern in Tuition and Fees Advisory Board meetings, the proposed increase seemed to never change and student voices seemed to go unacknowledged.

“It shows that student input really doesn’t have effect,” he said.

Demars suggested that there be more access to student and administrator interaction. Ideas floated around the room about students taking on the roles of administrators for a term or being provided much more information during the decision process of major changes such as tuition increases.

Demars wasn’t certain about what would come from an event involving less than .1 percent of the student population but hoped at least something would come from it.

The next freedom of expression events will be about activism in sports on May 8 in various locations around the university.

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A former Oregon State University student was arrested Tuesday after he had tweeted violent threats including, “Oregon State University campus going to get shot up.”

A report by the Oregonian found that this was one of at least six arrests for threats of violence or shooting in Oregon since the Parkland, Florida incident on Feb. 14, when 17 people were killed.

No threats have been made in Eugene or the University of Oregon, according to local police officials.

Eugene Police spokesman John Hankemeier said there have been no credible gun threats in Eugene recently. He said “credible” because a viral tweet circulated on Feb. 21 of someone saying they would bring a gun to “SHS,” which many families in Eugene thought referred to Sheldon High School, according to Hankemeier. But it was later found to reference a school in Ohio, according to a KEZI news report.

Kelly McIver, a spokesperson for the UO Police Department, wrote in an email that the department has not heard of any threats of shooting at the University of Oregon in the time since the Parkland shooting.

“UOPD is always vigilant about potential threats of violence on campus. It is not something that the department relaxes about between national or international mass-violence incidents,” McIver said.

Oregon State Police originally received a tip about the threats to OSU’s campus from SafeOregon, an online resource where anyone can report possible threats to students in Oregon.

The phone number to call-in or text a tip is 844-472-3367 and a link to the website is here.

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University of Oregon President Michael Schill sent a campus-wide email on Friday describing his hope to reduce the cost of the honors college, add a $20-per-credit fee to undergraduate business classes and to continue with overall tuition increases for next year.

Honors college students currently pay $4,194 more than standard UO tuition. Schill wrote in his email that he is proposing to “allocate resources” to allow students to only pay $2,700 extra per year.

UO spokesperson Tobin Klinger said any student in the honors college next year, new and returning, will see this reduction in cost. He said that funds are not being directly taken from one department of the university to afford this tuition cut. Because budgeting around $1 billion for the university begins on a macro-scale, he said, it would be impossible to tell exactly where the funds for this cost reduction are coming from.

The email also stated that Schill supports an estimated $270 overall tuition increase for residents — 2.84 percent more — and $810 increase for out-of-state students — 2.49 percent more. He wrote that these increases would go toward tenure-track faculty, continued compensation and benefits for faculty and staff, and $2 million in strategic investments that would go toward hiring faculty, according to Klinger.

Tuition for all students will increase by an additional $7 per term to improve health and counseling services for students.

ASUO President Amy Schenk, a member of Tuition and Fees Advisory Board, said the recommended increase numbers will probably stay unchanged when the Board of Trustees votes on the increase. The tuition increase does not have to be presented before the state’s committee, the Higher Education Coordinating Committee because the minimum amount required for the HECC to vote on it is 5 percent.

While Schenk acknowledges that this year’s recommended 2.84 percent increase for in-state tuition is much less, she emphasized that this increase is on top of that 6.6 percent increase.

“That’s unethical. These are actual student lives that are being affected,” she said.

Schill’s proposal also includes a $20-per-credit increase for undergraduate business credits, which he wrote is common among similarly ranked schools in the Pac-12. The extra revenue from this increase is estimated to be $1.4 million, but Schill wants to propose 20 percent of that, $280,000, to be used as need-based financial aid for students paying the extra fee.

Schill wrote that he welcomes input on the proposals for himself and for the Board of Trustees, the group that agrees on tuition increases. Anyone can submit comments until Feb. 28 at 5 p.m. at this link here, the same one found in his email.

The UO Board of Trustees will meet on March 1 and 2, and a live stream will be available here.

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Students were not alerted of a possible armed suspect in a pickup truck within a block of campus early Sunday morning. Although there was determined to be no threat after police arrived at the truck, some students wondered why there was no initial UO Alert text.

UOPD spokesman Kelly McIver said that alerts are not sent if police clear the situation immediately and the threat is subdued or if the credibility of the call is low.

On Sunday morning, around 1:50 a.m., an unknown person called the police to report the truck, UOPD and EPD “quickly stopped and surrounded the vehicle. Officers made contact with the vehicle and occupants, and it was quickly determined that there was no threat to the community,” McIver told The Emerald in an email.

However, The driver was arrested for DUII, according to McIver.

UO student Morgan Vauk was worried about why she didn’t receive an alert. Vauk said the incident has raised questions about the selection process. “This was directly next to campus and involved weapons,” Vauk said.

McIver told The Emerald that as soon as a call to the police is made regarding a threat, someone immediately begins the process of putting together an alert message. The message isn’t sent until the police decide the community should be alerted.

McIver said the level of danger and the validity of the report factor into the decision. Reports of active harm would mean a fast reaction to alert students, but a possible weapon would involve more investigating before an alert is sent. McIver said this is the case because they don’t want to prematurely report threats that don’t exist.

“We don’t want to erode confidence in the system,” he said.

There has not been an active shooter threat at UO in over 30 years according to McIver, but in cases like this, he said an alert can be sent within minutes.

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The Multicultural Center filled with students on Thursday for a release party for “La Jotera,” the Latinx LGBTQIA magazine.

As students enjoyed tamales catered by Mami’s Mexican grill, Veronica Alvarado, the director of “La Jotera,” kicked off the event by describing the history of the magazine and reading a letter from the Jotera staff, located on the front page of this year’s issue.

Alvarado said the magazine is meant to show support to Latinx LGBTQIA students because some feel they have to choose between one identity or the other.

She described how Latinx people and LGBTQIA members both fight for equality, but noted that the fight for Latinx equality can overshadow the intersectional struggle of those who identify as both.

“We want to show the LGBTQIA community that we appreciate them,” Alvarado said.

The cover of this year’s edition features a list of names that the editor’s letter says is “dedicated to members of the LGBTQIA who have been wrongfully murdered since 2016,” specifically noting that some of these people were victims of the shooting in Orlando last year.

(From right to left) The genderqueer, gay pride and agender flags hung in the Multicultural Center throughout the La Jotera release party. (Braedon Kwiecien/Emerald)

Richard Alvarez, an intern for Alvarado who designed the magazine, said the name “La Jotera,” is significant to the publication’s mission. He said the word derives from a derogatory word in Spanish for a gay person, and the use of Jotera symbolizes a community reclaiming the term.

“[The magazine] is for hispanic members of the LGBTQIA and their allies,” he said.

Alvarez’s photography is featured in the final spread of the magazine: images of the rally held in Portland following Trump’s inauguration. Across from the photos are two sentences set on a black background: “Fuck the 45th President. Our Existence is Resistance.”

Alvarado said this is one of her favorite pages.

“La Jotera” is typically produced annually, according to Alvarado, but it was discontinued years ago because no one wanted to start it up the following year.

The funding for this year’s edition was scraped together from fundraising and an original $250 budget. Because of this, only 100 copies were produced and even fewer can be found around campus as many students took them home after the release party.

Alvarado said next year’s edition isn’t certain to be produced because a new director would have to take on the project and fundraise again.

If students are looking for a copy, Alvarado said to look in the Women’s Center, and there may be copies remaining in the Multicultural Center.

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UPDATE 1:36 p.m.: The University notified students that no actual gas leak was present and that Eugene Springfield Fire Department is allowing Klamath Hall to resume operation.

UPDATE 1:29 p.m.: Alarms throughout Klamath Hall have been turned off and students have been let back into classrooms.

An all clear message should come from the University via email shortly.

Firefighters are not yet sure what catalyzed the gas leak but say students had to be evacuated due to the possible danger of an explosion.

No one was injured during the event. And no flames or explosions were witnessed.

At 12:36 p.m., the University of Oregon notified students via email of a gas leak in Klamath Hall.

In the science building located behind Willamette Hall, students evacuated the building as a prerecorded voice rang over the intercom: “Attention please. A fire has been reported in the building. A fire has been reported in the building. Please exit the building immediately. Do not use the elevator.”

The email sent from UO advises students to stay away from the building.

Lance Lightly, battalion chief for Eugene Fire said Klamath, Cascade, Onyx and Willamette Halls were evacuated as of 12:50 p.m.

He too advises students stay away from the area and says an update of the situation will be provided in 10 to 15 minutes.

Will Campbell and Jack Pitcher contributed reporting to this article.

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Readers,

Over the last few months, the word “Black” appeared more frequently in our news coverage than I can ever remember. In part, this is due to a concentrated effort by this year’s staff to better represent the full voice of our community. But it can also be attributed to a series of events in the last year that have had a direct impact on the Black community on campus.

As with many things we write about, the word has sparked a number of debates in the newsroom, primarily regarding its capitalization. Prior to November 2016, we had never capitalized the letter B in Black. This changed during our coverage of the Black Student Union rally immediately following the election of President Donald Trump.

It was at this time that our staff began to recognize the effect a shift key can have.

The Emerald has chosen to capitalize the word “Black” when referencing the race or culture of Black Americans in our writing. We feel the need to explain why this choice was made because it is contrary to the stylistic standards of other publications such as the New York Times and the Associated Press.

Capitalizing the letter B is an effort to support Black Americans by illustrating their significance when the adjective is written next to other capitalized descriptions of race, nationality or ethnicity such as Asian, Native American, Latino, etc.

Historically, Black Americans have been subordinated in the U.S. by way of the enslavement of African “immigrants” and the continual mistreatment and segregation of Black Americans after the ratification of the 13th amendment.

This history prevails in the form of ever-present discrepancies of equality among Black and white Americans, such as higher rates of incarceration and lower rates of college enrollment.

To continue the representation of Black people in news media as has always been done is to continue to consent to a lower standard. Although this may seem like a small change, we feel that it’s an important one. This amendment reflects the feelings of a changing culture at the University of Oregon and nationwide.

In this case, we aren’t choosing to make this change as a political statement so much as to realign our language with a shifting society. As young journalists, we are constantly learning how to reflect the community we represent. By capitalizing the B in Black, we hope to do a small part in better representing the underrepresented.

Cooper Green, Editor in Chief
Braedon Kwiecien, Print Managing Editor

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