OOps, sorry guys wrong addressee ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Colyn" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 2004 10:49 PM Subject: Re: [VFB] Squirrel Fishing
> You are not going to believe this............... > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Wes Wada" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 2004 12:05 AM > Subject: [VFB] Squirrel Fishing > > > > from those ne'er do wells on the Westfly.com Oregon board... > > > > <http://www.dailyemerald.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/05/03/ > > 40965806021d8> > > > > A nutty pastime: 'Squirrel fishermen' on campus seek Club Sports > > recognition for their pursuit (Univ. of Oregon) > > By Chelsea Duncan > > Senior News Reporter > > May 03, 2004 > > > > The skilled angler cast his fly fishing line into the sea of green > > grass and waited for a nibble. Moments later, the line started to jerk, > > and he began to reel. Instead of a hook, he used a peanut, and he > > didn't catch a fish -- he caught a squirrel. > > > > A group of University students has brought the art of squirrel fishing > > to campus, and now they're trying to make it an official Club sport. > > > > The sport involves using fly fishing rods with peanuts tied to the line > > to attract squirrels. Once the squirrel latches on, the "fisherman" > > tugs on the line until the squirrel lets go or scurries away with the > > peanut. > > > > "The reactions we get around campus are usually really enthusiastic or > > really upset," said Jason McIlhaney, the club's co-president, adding > > that people who get upset don't understand the sport. > > > > "The best analogy really is like playing tug of war with your dog," > > McIlhaney said. > > > > And the sport has definitely raised a few eyebrows around campus. > > > > The University Club Sports executive committee, made up of five > > students, met to determine the club's fate Friday, but the members > > decided they needed to learn more about the sport before making a final > > decision. > > > > Executive committee member Lauren Anas said none of the members were > > familiar with the concept of squirrel fishing. > > > > "I just want to make sure that we're not doing anything offensive to > > squirrels," she said, adding that with any proposed sport, the > > committee members try to familiarize themselves with the activity > > before making a decision. > > > > Students proposing a new sport need at least 10 initial members, and > > they also need to show they can represent the University competitively, > > Anas said. > > > > McIlhaney said there are plenty of ways to make it a competitive sport, > > which generally involves performing skillful fly fishing techniques. > > Members can compete in casting distance and precision, or they can > > compete to catch the same squirrel, he added. > > > > He said about 30 students are currently in the club, but as the word > > spreads, and if the club gets sponsored, he expects about 100 people > > would be interested in joining. He said with the base funding that > > initial sponsorship would provide, the club could make T-shirts to use > > for fundraising. > > > > McIlhaney said the West Coast has a strong history of squirrel fishing, > > and one of the largest clubs currently resides at University of > > California, Berkeley, which has 84 members, including faculty and > > staff. With a number of other clubs competing, including those found at > > University of California, Santa Barbara and the University of Arizona, > > he said there would be plenty of opportunities to compete. > > > > While some students use the sport to practice for traditional fly > > fishing, McIlhaney said that's not his intention for the club. > > > > "I don't do it for that," he said. "I do it to squirrel fish." > > > > The sport has also raised concerns among members of the University's > > Species Equality Through Action group, formally Students for the > > Ethical Treatment of Animals. > > > > "We're not too thrilled about it," SETA member Nate Oester said. > > > > However, Oester said the group has more important issues to deal with, > > such as eliminating animal research testing, or vivisection, on campus. > > He said he does have a problem with people using animals for > > entertainment rather than "valuing them as individuals." > > > > "I'd just be more concerned with the moral aspects," he said. "It seems > > kind of degrading to me." > > > > But others say the sport provides an opportunity to connect with nature. > > > > Architecture Department Head Christine Theodoropoulos said when she > > heard about the sport from McIlhaney, she knew her 9-year-old son would > > want to give it a try. > > > > "I think it's kind of a springtime diversion," she said. "Having a kind > > of connection, a moment, with a wild animal is kind of a special thing." > > > > She said she was initially skeptical of the sport, but after watching > > her son participate, she doesn't see a problem with it. > > > > Club Sports Director Sandy Vaughn said she likes learning about new > > activities she's unfamiliar with. She said the last questionable sport > > that came up for sponsorship was Ultimate Frisbee, which has become > > increasingly popular. > > > > "The majority of people were very skeptical," she said. "Of course, now > > it's one of our largest team sports." > > > > Although she was also initially concerned about the squirrels' welfare, > > she said it's important to consider new ideas. > > > > "It's just important always that our program keeps an open mind to the > > interests of the students," she said. > > > > > ______________________________________________ > > E-mail Disclaimer and Company Information > > http://www.absa.co.za/ABSA/EMail_Disclaimer > ______________________________________________ E-mail Disclaimer and Company Information http://www.absa.co.za/ABSA/EMail_Disclaimer
