Pageant Fur Not That Prized -- Animal-Rights Activist Has A Good Chance In Oregon Contest

PORTLAND - By her own admission, Lisa Verch is an unlikely pageant contestant.

Miss Lane County 1990 calls herself a ``sweat shirts and jeans kind of gal.'' She rarely wears makeup and is a vegetarian.

The other contestants in the Miss Oregon Pageant list such hobbies as collecting pictures of Elvis, Dad hugging, gourmet cooking, horseback riding and collecting porcelain dolls. On her fact sheet, Verch says her hobby is ``promoting the ethical treatment of animals.''

``I'm committed so much to animal rights that I would do anything rational and legal to support the cause,'' said Verch, a member of Students for the Ethical Treatment of Animals at the University of Oregon.

Verch's uncompromising convictions have put her on a collision course with a sponsor of the pageant, which takes place next weekend in Seaside. For the past 28 years, Schumacher Furs has given the winner a mink jacket.

``Animal rights activists are becoming the biggest terrorists in our country,'' said Bill Schumacher. ``Everyone's entitled to their opinion, but they need to realize synthetic products are more harmful to the environment.

``The pageant contestants are shooting for the fur coat as much as they're shooting for the scholarship,'' Schumacher maintained. ``But if one of them decides to turn down the mink coat, I've got a packet of information that can show them how the synthetics they're using in their tap shoes, evening gowns and swimsuits are also hurting the environment.''

Verch does not consider herself a terrorist nor does she support groups that break into laboratories, free animals and vandalize.

``That's not the way you accomplish something,'' she said. ``The way you accomplish something is to appeal to rational people and appeal to their sense of what is right and wrong.''

``Once you educate those people and tell them what's happening, then they make their own decision. Usually, it's a decision that's morally right,'' she said.

Verch considers the Miss Oregon Pageant a good way to finance a master's degree in journalism. The winner of the pageant will receive a $2,500 scholarship and is guaranteed an additional $3,500 scholarship for representing the state at the Miss America Pageant in September. The winner of that pageant is awarded $42,500 in scholarships and more than $200,000 in appearance fees during her reign.

Each Miss America contestant submits a list of three issues or causes that she would promote during her reign.

Leonard Horn, executive director of the Miss America Pageant, said the winner receives total support from the Atlantic City, N.J.-based organization in promoting her platform.

Debbye Turner, the current Miss America, chose to ``promote excellence in our youth'' and has traveled throughout the country as a motivational speaker.

But an animal-rights activist? ``Miss America will not put any restrictions on a topic the young woman chooses for her platform,'' said Horn.

``There's absolutely no reason why her views should jeopardize her chances of winning,'' said Bob Barker, former host of the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants and a champion for animal rights. ``She'll be admired by thousands for her convictions and is a marvelous example of where America's young people today are heading in their views.''

In 1987, Barker stepped down as host to the annual beauty pageants when officials refused to stop awarding fur coats.

Barker noted that Angela Visser, Miss Universe 1989, only posed in her fur coat because it was specified in her contract with Miss Universe Inc. After photographs were taken, Visser refused to wear the coat, he said.

Miss Oregon pageant officials say Verch's views will not keep her from winning the crown. ``We plan on letting the contestants say what they want to say,'' said Mike Maki, president of the state pageant. ``As for our sponsor, we'll cross that bridge when, and if, we get to it.''

Verch's trainers believe she has an excellent chance. ``Lisa's strong across the board and doesn't have a weak area in the competition,'' said Maude Laisure, director of the Miss Lane County Scholarship Pageant.

Thirty percent of the competition points come from a private interview with the judges in which she will be tested on her knowledge of world, national, and local issues. Verch is an reporting intern at radio station KEZI in Eugene.

Talent accounts for 40 percent. Verch will perform a classical piano medley of Bartok and Bach. The remaining 30 percent is split between the swimsuit and evening gown competitions.

Verch says if she's crowned Miss Oregon, she'll use the position to lobby her cause in Salem as the state's official hostess, a position designated by the Legislature 20 years ago. She said she hopes to get a bill passed that would ban the Draize eye test performed on albino rabbits. The Food and Drug Administration does not require the test, which many cosmetic companies use to test levels of eye irritation.

``I think of the Miss America program as a channel for women to really express themselves because they encourage us to be women of conviction and to be individualists,'' said Verch.

``I don't want to offend Mr. Schumacher and I don't want to appear ungrateful, because I'm not. I want Mr. Schumacher to know the reasons why I won't be accepting his fur coat: It goes against my personal values and beliefs in things that I support every day of my life.''