Amid protest Scalia shares “originalist” views
 by Erin Haick and Corey Long
Inside Pamplin Sports Center, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia called for a pox on both the houses of Democrats and Republicans who wish to treat the US Constitution as a flexible, organic document. Outside, hundreds of protestors called for “No More Scalias” in reference to the Justice’s perceived outdated conservative voting record.
The gathering on Sunday, February 10, found Lewis & Clark College and the Northwestern School of Law welcoming the controversial Justice as part of the dedication ceremony for the newly constructed Wood Hall.
Joe Keating, of the Northwest Justice Coalition, one of the many activist groups present for the occasion, summed up his position about the activist presence at a building dedication. “We’re very upset with Scalia’s rulings,” he said. “From human justice to social justice to environmental and labor, he has consistently ruled against the wishes of the vast majority of the United States. Additional appointments like Scalia can’t be accepted.”
The close proximity of the protestors was felt to such a degree that each successive speaker commented on their presence. Additional security scattered around campus testified to palpable tension resulting from the Justice’s visit.
Scalia, an engaging speaker, acknowledged the presence of his detractors, and proceeded to present the audience with his approach to interpreting the Constitution. “I’m an originalist,” he said, referring to his interpreting of the Constitution from the mindset of its original framers. “The death penalty. It’s absolutely clear it was constitutional in 1791. It’s constitutional now.” Some people in the audience shouted, “We did that! We did that twice!” in reference to Oregon’s embattled assisted suicide law, which passed by a majority vote in two seperate instances.
“That’s fine,” Scalia responded. “You don’t hear me complaining about Oregon’s law.”
Because of this approach Scalia conceded that he does not go home from work feeling good about himself every day. “I do not like scruffy people who burn the American flag,” he said. “Regrettably, the First Amendment gives them the right to do that.”
Scalia also contended that, instead of “living document” interpretations of the Constitution, citizens should take the civic approach and work together to pass legislation. In his view, issues such as abortion, or Oregon’s assisted suicide law should be left up to the people, and not the Supreme Court.
Keith West, a student at LC, was amongst the protestors and took a turn at the megaphone welcoming visitors to the speech. “I think most of the things he’s done are hideous. Dale vs. the BSA—he’s part of the majority that allowed the Boy Scouts to discriminate against homosexuals,” said West. “Obviously I disagree with his stance on Roe vs. Wade, and Bush vs. Gore is a whole other can of worms.”
Scalia was invited to Lewis & Clark by Professor Bill Funk, who served with Scalia in the executive branch twenty years ago.
Despite the rain, the protest, and the controversial guest, the Wood Hall dedication ceremonies proceeded as planned, with Louise Wood, the major benefactor, attending the reception held at the law school after Scalia’s speech.
Albany prepares for new uses
by Elizabeth Miller
Demolition has begun in the Albany Quandrangle as part of the renovations on campus. The remodeling and expansion of the Albany Quandrangle includes building a new wing expanding toward Miller where the greenhouse and the old wing were, restoring the building exteriors, and altering the inside of the main building.
The Albany Quadrangle is to become a multipurpose building with seminar rooms, a great hall for exhibitions, conferences, and lectures, a café, classrooms, and offices for faculty and the National Council of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial. The second floor in the center of the main building will be removed to create the great hall, and for the next three years that space will be primarily dedicated to the Bicentennial.
Demolition in Albany began in January 2002, and the construction should be completed by December 2002, opening the offices and café for spring semester 2003.
Much of the exterior of the buildings and other aspects of the original architecture considered worth preserving will be restored to original condition.
Though the new facilities will be used for activities for the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial the construction is not solely to serve the purpose of the Bicentennial. According to Campus Planner Lageson, the purpose of project is to make a central focus for the academic headquarters os Planner campus and a center for faculty and student academic support services. When the Bicentennial is over Albany will hold academic administrative offices. Eventually, offices such as the Writing Center, Career Services, Dean’s Office, grants and awards office, and meeting rooms for faculty governances will be located in the Albany Quandrangle. “In the center of the academic part of campus it becomes a symbolic as well as literal focal point,” said Lageson. Permanent residents will be able to move into Albany after the Bicentennial.
Funding for the project comes from fundraising gifts from donors and federal grants. The college obtained at $400,000 grant from the Department of the Interior for the Bicentennial, most of which will go to construction in Albany. The college received $3 million in private donations, $2.1 million in federal funds, for the $26 million Bicentennial Project. Proceeds from a bond sale will also cover a large portion of the construction costs.
When Albany is complete, abatement and demolition for a new social science building, John Howard Hall, will begin. Proposed dates for the work begin with the demolition of classroom buildings in Jan. and Feb. 2003, and construction from March 2003 to July 2004. “The main thrust of Howard Hall is to provide a modern home for the social science faculty offices and departments together and provide new and improved general purpose classrooms for everybody,” said Lageson. Eventually Bodine and the Biology-Psychology building will be taken down and Howard Hall should replace the classrooms and offices lost with the destruction of those buildings. Complete replacement of those buildings will not occur until a new science building can be constructed, a project that will probably take six and a half to seven years to complete even if funds were available.
SAAB Scoop
by Buzzy Nielsen
Congratulations go out this week to Senior Grant Aaker and Junior Emma Miller who were awarded $830 to attend the Midsouth Undergraduate Philosophy Conference in Memphis, TN to present papers. Grant’s paper discusses the history and changes in the concept of sense data and how it applies to perception, and Emma’s paper examines skepticism in Descartes’ Meditations and how it applies to Descartes’ theories. In addition to presenting their papers, Grant and Emma will also be able to hear a number of other student and professional presentations and attend sessions in a wide variety of areas in philosophy.
Last week, SAAB decided to take up the issue of Inventing America. We are reviewing whether IA is the most effective CORE course we could have. We are asking whether LC should have a CORE course, whether it should be common syllabus, whether it should be two semesters, what its goals should be, and who should teach it. We would greatly appreciate any comments you might have, so feel free to tell me any ideas.
Arts Expression grants are due on Friday, March 1. Arts Expression grants are for students who are performing and/or displaying work to the LC community. This work must be related to academic endeavors, i.e., independent projects, recitals, art shows, and senior capstone projects. Costs may include materials, equipment, labor services, and other costs related to performances/displays. Please refer to the application process/funding guidelines (found on the wall near the SAAB office) for specifics.
And remember that the ASLC elections are coming up. If you’re interested in running, feel free to pick up a petition form. If you’re specifically interested in running for this position, feel free to drop in and talk to me. My office hours are posted on my door.
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ASLC Update
by Shanon Chaney
Well not much this past week. We did some stuff dealing with Scalia, some stuff with the Kyoto Protocol. SAAB rejected the idea of having a community service requirement again. Next year Dubach lounge will most likely become a replacement computer lounge for Throckmorton, and the Thayer rooms will become the Templeton student lounge area.
Since I started writing this article last semester I have been encouraging the student body to voice their opinions so they can be heard. We have yet to hear anyone, but now is your real chance! Elections for ASLC positions will take place on March 12-14, and the deadline for applying for a position is February 26th. Now is your chance to not only be heard, but to take over! If you have a will and voter support, you cannot only be a member of ASLC council, but the president!
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Crime Beat
by Julie Layton Couch
February 5th
A theft of a Papa Johns Pizza sign occured on campus. The driver made a pizza delivery to Copeland and Hartzfeld and the sign from on top of his vehicle was stolen.
February 7th
Campus Safety received a report from DPR construction that vandalism had occured in the construction site in one of the new resident hall buildings.
Campus Safety officers responded to a medical call in Fir Acres Theater. The person was transported to Oregon Health Science University for further medical attention.
A student reported that someone had tried to steal her car in the Griswold lot. Officers found her driver side door handle broken and the vehicle ignition switch damaged.
February 9th
Unknown person(s) discharged two fire extinguishers in the hallway of 2nd and 3rd floor of Howard Hall.
February 10th
Officers responded to a marijuana complaint in Manzanita Hall.
Officers responded to a marijuana complaint in Howard Hall
Officers responded to a marijuana complaint in Platt Hall. A glass pipe and bong were confiscated and a report was forwarded to Residence Life. Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commemoration comes to LC
by Liz Hummer
Lewis & Clark College is preparing for one the biggest events in its history: the Bicentennial Commemoration of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Events at LC will coincide with and complement events that are happening across the country, from Thomas Jefferson’s home in Monticello, Virginia, where he proposed the Expedition in 1803, to the trail Lewis and Clark journeyed.
That LC is now the home of the National Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Council ensures that the College is connected to what will be happening around the country. The Council was commissioned by Congress to coordinate the efforts of federal agencies in the Bicentennial programs.
LC will be one of the last venues for the Commemoration in 2006, though it will host lectures, conferences, symposiums, and programs throughout the three-year celebration.
“We, as an academic institution, will offer something relatively distinctive, and that’s the intellectual legacy of the expedition itself,” said Scott Staff, Vice President for College Relations.
Most of the lectures and events during the Commemoration will focus on the expedition from the perspectives of the various disciplines of the liberal arts.
A college-wide committee composed of faculty members from all three schools have been developing the plans for the programs and activities the College will sponsor over the three years of the Bicentennial Commemoration.
The renovation of Albany Hall to provide the physical capacity for all these events will be completed in 2003, and the College will begin commemoration events the following summer.
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