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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 23, 1963)
Restore The Side Co-op Board Should Represent Constituents And Restore a Sound, Wortlmhile Tradition It took the signatures of 2400 members of the Co-op Bookstore before the Univer sity Co-op Board agreed to grant Vic Sabin a hearing. Tonight the Board will listen to the plea of the bearded crusader who seeks restoration of the Wilcox building, which houses College Side Inn, a traditional stu dent gathering place. Unless the Board takes action to reconsider, the student owned building is doomed to destruction in order to make way for a new sterile con crete bookcase. Vic Sabin’s campaign to save the historic neo-Elizabethian structure, an integral part of student life at the Uni versity since 1923, has served to point up two important facts. Sabin’s crusade has brought forth a ser ious question. Namely, does the Co-op Board really represent its constituents? We fully recognize that the Board is the stu dents’ technical expert who makes decisions on the basis of full research and study. Yet in regard to the College Side Inn question, the Board has shown utter contempt for the views of 2400 members. Sabin’s peti tions represent a sizeable number of Co-op Store members, yet the Board has refused to offer Co-op members a ballot for students to indicate their position on the issue. Co-op Board member Pam Pashkowski introduced a motion at the last meeting to allow stu dents to express their views on the issue. She asked that alternatives be given on a ballot, but the motion died for lack of a second. This is evidence that the board is not even willing to debate the issue of pres ent evidence, which would prove the ‘Save the Side’ proposal not feasible. The Co-op constitution has no provision for referendum. The Board believes it has no obligations to act on petitions. Some members of the Board question the valid ity of the petitions since Sabin is not regis tered as a student at the University this term, yet they would disregard the fact that Sabin has the signatures of 2400 Co-op members in his possession. Members of the Board have expressed the opinion that students are not competent to make this decision, but these same students were com petent to elect the board. It is very clear that the Co-op Board members have not fully investigated the case of the person they would ignore. Student members of the Co-op Board seem to be little more than rubber stamps for the proposals of faculty and staff mem bers. The Board voted to destroy the Will cox building earlier this year without ever considering the possibility of restoring the building for partial use as a bookstore. There have been rumors that the build ing is infested with termites and dry rot and this has added fuel to the argument that the building must go. We do not know who started these rumors, but their valid ity is in question. An architect and a con tractor who have thoroughly looked over the Side structure are convinced that the building is sound. The Side building is con structed of old growth fir, a better material than can be obtained at a feasible cost to day. The building, if properly restored, could stand indefinitely. No one questions the need for repairs. There are leaks and a few isolated spots of dry rot, but these could easily be repaired. The contractor and the architect who we mentioned have estimated that would cost only $150,000 to completely restore the building. This would include adding a full basement, upstairs of fices and air conditioning. We believe that the Willcox building is a worthwhile campus tradition. We believe also that if this building were renovated and restored it would constitute a superior contribution to the townscape. The present restaurant could be maintained while the other business areas, a basement and sec ond floor would serve as a beautiful book store with character. Particularly in the west where our architectural heritage is so limited, we should work to preserve a beau tiful building like the Side which, if re stored, would be serviceable indefinitely. The ASUO Senate will also consider the matter tonight. We urge them to recom mend that action to destroy the Willcox building be reconsidered and that they in struct the Co-op Board members to do their homework. The Side issue will appear on the ASUO ballot as an opinion poll only. The issue belongs on a special Co-op Board ballot, not on the ballot of a body which has no authority in this area. Progress need not mean the destruction of a significant architectural tradition. The building in question is a sound structure. It has many years of future use if properly restored now. We urge the Co-op Board to recon sider their hasty action. Student members of the Co-op Board have an obligation to be informed. We hope the new board meets its obligations better than its predecessors. Development Fund Drive Unrestricted Funds Merit Consideration At tonight’s ASUO Senate meeting, Stu dent Union Director A. L. ‘Si’ Ellingston will tell the Senate that the campsite drive has failed to meet its goal of $20,000. Nine hundred students signed over breakage fees amounting to $8,000, and 100 students signed over their breakage fees to the Ore gon Development Fund. Because of numer ous reasons involving the timing of the drive, organization, and promotion, the campsite drive has failed. There is no ad vantage in complaining about the failure. The camp—a worthy and desirable project —will have to be given up at least for the time being. The question is “what are the remaining alternatives?” A look at the action from the narrow and short-range reasoning of the state legislature provides us with our alter native. The legislature has attempted and is attempting to cut everything out of the higher education budget from high priority additions to our own library to faculty sal ary increases. At the same time, they have raised student tuition and failed to allo cate additional scholarships for the grow ing student population. With the collection of private donations, the Oregon Development Fund attempts to maintain and improve the standards of the University. Its money is used to attract faculty, allow for faculty travel, and provide scholarships for talented and needy stu dents. We should be extremely grateful that such a fund exists, especially during a legislative session like the present one. The 900 students who gave their break age fees for the campsite will be given an opportunity to assign their money for an alternative purpose. We strongly urge these 900 to join the 100 students who gave their breakage fees to the Oregon Development Fund and to join the many alumni and friends of the University throughout the state by signing over their breakage fees to the Development Fund. ItfT "SH-WMl IT'S SttEHNC." Letters to the Editor Vote on Side Emerald Editor: In the belief that each one voice raised, however quietly and with whatever odd inllec tions, will be heard, we would like to urge all Co-op members to take the time and make the effort to VOTE in next week’s election on the Side issue A greater injustice than tearing down the Willcox Building it self, would be for the efforts of one man, Vic Sabin, to go com pletely unrewarded. We re not Angry Young Men crying “Apathy!” at the student body; we simply believe that the principle demonstrated by this series of events must be upheld, namely; that the students can make their voice heard All Co-op members, whether for or against or neutral about saving the Side, should make it a special point to vote next week, to voice their views on the ballot. How else will the Co-op board know in which direction we want them to move? The idea, if not the par ticular project in question, is vitally important. Peter Gonigam Junior in English Bill Craig Junior in Biology Show Concern Emerald Editor: On June 22, Jeannace Free man will be 22 years of age. It is a cruel, but very real, irony of fate that this year may also mark the day of her death This is to invite each student of the University to express genuine humanitarian concern for her fate by sending her a birthday card sometime during the next month. It should be stressed that there is no assurance Jeannace will be allowed to receive such birthday greetings. However, the expression of student senti ment along these lines would be a commendable act in line with University tradition of heartfelt concern for the unfortunate of our society. It is suggested that birthday cards be addressed to Jeannace in care of Warden Clarence T. Gladden of the Oregon State Penitentiary, Salem, Oregon. To those students who parti cipate as suggested above, thank you—on behalf of Jeannace. George F. Neavoll Junior in Political Science * * * Synanon Worthwhile Emerald Editor: In view of the inadequate publicity that nas been afforded the Synanon jazz group, who are performing a special-attraction concert this Friday evening at 8 p m in the SU Ballroom, wc would like to oiler what we feel to be interesting and pertinent information about the group to the students and readers of the Emerald, The Synanon jazz group is a group of professional jazz musi cians who have all been, at one time or another, addicted to nar cotics, and who have since been cured at the Synanon Founda tion, a hospital in Southern Cali fornia geared to cure dope ad diction. All profits from the con cert will be donated to the Foundation The members of the group are also lecturing on the subject of narcotics in the health education classes. We believe that this program is, without a doubt, one of the most worthwhile projects put on by the university. In addition to the enjoyment of a fine jazz concert, we can all have some thing to think about in the mor al example these men are set ting. Barbara Zeller SU Board Representative for Architecture and Allied Art* Rich McAdams SU Jazz Committee Chairman OREGON DAILY EMERALD The Oregon Daily Emruld »* pnbliiheil •even time* in September and bvr day* a week during the school year, except dur ing examination and vacation period* by the Student Publication* Board of the University of Oregon. Entered a* wrtmd class matter at the post office, Eugene, Oregon. Subscription rates: $5 per year; $2 per term. Opinions expressed on thr editorial page are those of Thr Emerald and do not prr tend to represent thr opinion* of the ASUO or the University. EVERETTE DENNIS. Editor LARRY WILLIAMS Business Manager JANET GOETZE, Managing Editor RON COWAN, News Editor DOUG HAGEN, Editorial Page Editor JIM SPEER. Advertising Manager DICK RICHARDSON, Ansociate Editor JIM FRAME, Assistant Managing Editor RAY MAST, Sport* Editor CATHY NEVILLE, Auftistant New* Editor GEORGE HIGH AM, Photo Editor JO GRISWOLD, Women’* Editor CHUCK BEGGS, JOE BERGER, PHYLLIS ELVING, SHERRY LUCAS Asnociate New* Editor* ALENE SHARFF Entertainment Editor NOM! BORENSTEIN, Exchange Editor EDITORIAL HOARD: Everettc Dennis, Ron Cowan, Janet Goetze, Doug Hagen, Dick Richardson Jim Frake, Jerry Utti, Ray Mast, Larry Williams, Pam Pashkowski, Doug Combs, Linda Brown, Cathy Neville, Pat Holt, Simeon Crowther.
