SPORTS, PAGE 5
FORUM, PAGE 7
BEAVERS DEFEAT COLORADO IN BLOWOUT VICTORY
Why we have police beat
The Daily Barometer OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY • CORVALLIS, OREGON 97331
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013 • VOLUME CXVI, NUMBER 10
DAILYBAROMETER.COM • 737-2231
16-year-old arrested for threat to campus The Daily Barometer
An arrest has been made in the investigation surrounding a suspicious threat involving the Oregon State University campus. On Friday at 4 p.m., a 16-year-old male was taken into custody as a person of interest in the case. Oregon State Police have not released specific details as it is an ongoing investigation, but the suspect is a confirmed Oregon resident who does not live in the Corvallis area. A timely warning was released Thursday describing a threatening blog post from an Internet site. OSP, the FBI and the Corvallis Police Department led a collaborative effort to apprehend the suspect. “The investigation could be ongoing for a few days or longer,” said Lt. Gregg Hastings, OSP public information officer on Sept. 27. Steve Clark, vice president for university relations and marketing at OSU, said that there would be a higher standard of protection from Sept. 27 to the 29. Investigators do not think there are any other potential threats that relate to this threat. managing@dailybarometer.com
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Strike averted, union to vote n
OUS, SEIU 503 reached a tentative agreement at 2:30 a.m. Thursday at Western Oregon University By Megan Campbell The Daily Barometer
After reaching a tentative agreement, classified staff backed down from a system-wide strike, which was due to take place today. Classified staff include Internet technicians, maintenance workers, secretarial workers and custodial workers. Any staff not on a tenure track and represented by the union are considered classified staff. Both the Service Employees International Union 503 and Oregon University System have agreed to the conditions of the refined contract. This updated contract will be sent to members of SEIU 503 for a vote before it is officially approved. A vote will be tallied through mail or on campus. Since there was “such a rush to reach a tentative agreement,” some aspects of the contract still need to be written down, according to Gloria O’Brien, Oregon State University’s union president. The new language will be passed back and forth between each party before votes are cast. “It’s looking pretty positive,” said O’Brien, an OSU alumna who works as a greenhouse technician for OSU’s Greenhouse Operations. The only way a strike could still happen is if the majority of SEIU 503 vote “no.” O’Brien said that is a remote possibility. Most people O’Brien has interacted with are responding positively to the new contract. “We’ve come a long way,” O’Brien said. The new contract achieves several aspects of
remaining 10 percent. what SEIU 503 staff originally proposed. SEIU negotiated these Contentions with step rates down to what was freezes and cost-of-living offered in the previous adjustments were at the contract. Classified staff heart of the negotiations. are responsible for 5 perTwo full steps for cent of their health care the life of the contract premium. were agreed upon. Step “Overall, I think it was increases are meant as a positive settlement,” a way to reward memO’Brien said. bers’ experience and time There are more than on the job. Workers can 1,400 classified staff at reach their top step after Oregon State University. nine years instead of the University of Oregon and original 18-year proposal Oregon State University from OUS, which repremake up 60 to 65 percent sented seven public uniof the 4,000 OUS workers. versities at negotiations. Oregon State’s classified If OUS receives addiPhoto Illustration by Megan Campbell | THE DAILY BAROMETER staff represent 12 percent tional legislative funding of the university’s total in February 2014, steps headcount, according to could go into effect sooner than the June 2014 and June 2015 guaranteed information published in the June 2013 Oregon State University Employment Report. dates. The possibility of steps going into effect sooner David Blake, assistant vice president in human would require SEIU 503 members to remain resources, said the contract will mostly likely be active and conscious of future developments, approved. O’Brien said. “It’s a great contract,” Blake said. Now, “school The OUS offer also met the union’s minimum demand for cost-of-living increases of 1.5 percent will start uninterrupted.” Administrative officials from OSU and OUS, and 2 percent to take place at the end of 2013 and as well as SEIU 503 representatives, have always 2014, respectively. The contract put an end to furloughs, forced said they would prefer to avoid a strike if possible. days off without pay. “Everybody on both sides is really pleased,” said Originally, OUS proposed a 90/10 percent Diane Saunders, OUS director of communications. health care premium, which meant the univerMegan Campbell, managing and news editor sities would pay 90 percent of union member’s health care premiums and the staff pays the managing@dailybarometer.com
Downpours, heavy winds cut Fall Festival short n
41st annual Fall Festival was wettest on record, Sunday’s festivities canceled despite successful Saturday By Emma-Kate Schaake The Daily Barometer
Emma-Kate Schaake
| THE DAILY BAROMETER
David Egnatz of Hangloose Hammocks demonstrates how his creations work.
festival. Although about 30 vendors canceled due The Fall Festival is a nonprofit event that to weather-sensitive art, like wood furniture, needs volunteers to run smoothly, and this the rest of the artists enjoyed the day and were turning a profit. year was no exception. “It’s a good crowd,” said Brian Age, of Old “People still know we need help, so they See FALL FESTIVAL | page 2 have shown up,” Hackenbruck said.
Heavy rain and strong winds between 40 and 50 miles per hour created safety risks and caused the art, music and food vendors to pack up early for the first time since the festival’s start in 1972. The festival’s 1K, 5K and 10K runs continued as planned Sunday morning. Although the second day was canceled, the rain did nothing to dampen the spirits of Fall Festival participants on Saturday. Attendees squelched through the mud in boot-clad feet to visit all their favorite attractions. They visited the artist booths, snacked on kettle corn, listened to live music and participated in the children’s craft fair. Christine Hackenbruck, executive director of the festival, said the rains were not as heavy as expected early on Saturday and turnout was considerable, which generated success for the artists and a positive atmosphere for all involved . “Corvallis has come out as they always do,” Emma-Kate Schaake | THE DAILY BAROMETER Hackenbruck said. A few of the vendors braving the weather to display their creations. About 30 vendors In its 41st year, the tradition has enjoyed a strong following as the area’s largest art canceled and did not show up due to weather-sensitive art, like wood furniture.