IMIlllflllllllllfflRIHII
iitiiiiiiniimiitiiiiitiiitiiuiiiHtimnn
St. Helens, Oregon
iiiHiitittimiiiHJifmifliifiiiiiifiiiiti
iiifliiiiiiiiiiiiitiHtiiimiiiimiuilWHiiiiiiiiiifn
Residents of Small Town
View Buchanan Controversy
Editor's Note: The conflict between Emerald
Managing Editor Annette llurhanun and Lane
County District Attorney William Frye has
gained high national interest. The people clos
est to the case, however, are the people of
Oregon. What does small town Oregon—often
characterized as conservative or even reac
tionary—think of the case? Larry Lange, who
is news editor of the Emerald during the
academic year, Interviewed several people in
his home town to find out.
By LARKY LANGE
Summer Contributing Editor
ST. HELENS, Ore. (Special)—St. Helens is a
small, quiet community of about 5,300 people
located 30 miles north of Portland on the Columbia
River. It has one high school, one junior high
school, and three grade schools. Its economic
mainstays are three sawmills, a paper mill, a ply
wood plant, and an insulation board plant.
Going via Interstate 5, St. Helens is 140 miles
from Eugene.
A month ago, most of the general populace of
St. Helens had never heard of Annette Buchanan,
managing editor of the Emerald.
Then came the Emerald's marijuana story on
May 24. And notoriety for Miss Buchanan.
Now, people in St. Helens—140 miles away from
the event—are interested.
Several of them were asked for their opinions
regarding the case Those questioned were familiar
with the case through reports given through the
mass media.
The results showed a general support for Miss
Buchanan's actions, but a disagreement over the
legal implications of the case: Should journalists
be legally forced to reveal their news sources?
Should journalists be protected from divulging
these sources?
The interviewees were asked five questions.
They are listed here, along with some of the
answers received.
DO YOU THINK MISS BUCHANAN IS
DOING THE RIGHT THING?
Robert Geiser, 34, a grocery store owner: “Defi
nitely, She has to. I don’t think she has any
choice but to stand up and not tell them. I don't
think they can force her to tell. I don't think she's
condoning it (the use of marijuana), and she’s
not harboring it (as in harboring a criminal), and
therefore she doesn’t have to tell."
Don Sheldon, (58, a retired jeweler: "If a person
gives something in confidence, that confidence
should be respected. Otherwise, no one would
ever say what needed to be said."
A local housewife, who asked that her name be
withheld: "I really haven’t formed an opinion
about it. I can see her side of it, but this (the use
of marijuana on campus) could be a real bum
thing.’’
Mrs. J. B. Steward, a graduate of Reed College:
“I think she was justified in refusing to divulge
the names, if they were confidential. Ethically,
she shouldn’t. It sounds to me like the whole
thing was started by a politician who lost out.”
Her son, Jim, 23, a graduate student at Portland
Slate College: “I don't think that's right (bringing
her to court). It’s up to the law to find these
people and prosecute them. She’s not an arm of
the law. I thought it was unusual that they would
force a journalist to reveal these names.
“1 think it's a breach of freedom of the press,”
he added.
IF YOU WERE MISS BUCHANAN WOULD
YOU REVEAL THE NAMES?
A local lumber worker, age 47, who also asked
that his name be withheld: “No, I wouldn’t. She’s
in the right, I'd say. After all, those people placed
their trust in her, and 1 think she should uphold
It.”
I)r. J. R. Steward, a physician and surgeon:
”. . . Not if it was understood that was the way
she would get it (the story). It’s the same way if
I get information from a patient. f>et them (legal
authorities) go out and get it.”
The anonymous housewife; “If I felt this was a
bum deal for a lot of kids, yes, I would. Feeling
the way I do about it (marijuana), I would prob
ably sing—and take the consequences."
Jim Grady, 23, a graduate student in literature
at the University now at home working: “If I
had given my word, I definitely would not do it.
If I had not promised, I would still be reluctant
to do it."
Don Sheldon: "I’d serve a stretch in jail for not
telling. I wouldn't be railroaded like that."
DO YOU THINK THAT JOURNALISTS SHOULD
BE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO REVEAL
THEIR SOURCES OF INFORMATION?
Joe Sheldon, 22, recently graduated Magna
Cum Laude in biology from the College of Idaho:
“No, because it would cramp the source of news
greatly. Journalists, I don't feel, would go out (in
search of news) if they felt they would be penal
ized."
Jim Steward: “It’s subject to the seriousness of
the crime. But basically, she shouldn't reveal the
names.
“She s doing the right thing, both on a personal
level and a journalistic level.”
The lumber worker: "No. We have legal au
thorities who are supposed to take care of that.”
Don Sheldon: “She shouldn’t be damned be
cause she had information which brought the
problem out in the open.”
Ed Grady, 50, local clothing store manager,
answered affirmatively: "Anyone who has actual
knowledge of a crime, should be called before a
court to testify if their testimony is deemed I
necessary.”
“It's generally accepted that the use of dope is !
not beneficial to anyone,” Grady continued. “There
is a law against that sort of thing and I think it's
a good law.”
DO VOU THINK OREGON SHOULD HAVE A
LAW PROTECTING THE JOURNALIST’S
CONFIDENCES?
Jim Steward: "Well, I do and I don’t, because
journalism is sometimes sensational, and some
times people are hurt. The citizens would lose and
the journalists would gain.”
Joe Sheldon: “It seems kind of ridiculous not
to.”
The lumber worker: "Definitely they should. It
hurts the press and it hurts everybody. People will
just shut up—they wouldn’t talk to any reporter.”
Mrs. Steward: “No, if it were somebody who
was printing a lot of propaganda, there shouldn’t
be.” But she added that, for an interview situa
tion, the reporter’s confidences should be re
spected.
Geiser: "Not necessarily. I think your court'll
hand down a common law decision on it, and
that'll be it. A legislative law is not necessary.
We have too many of them now.”
Don Sheldon also answered affirmatively: “We’re
going down the drain into a welfare state fast
enough,” he said, without more legal "snooping.”
Jim Grady: “All free societies should have laws
against subpoenas on reporters. I see her (Miss
Buchanan) as the victim of a lag in responsible
legislation.”
Laurelwood Municipal
Golf Course
Newly Revised
9-Hole Course
AND
NEW DRIVING RANGE
Open 'Til Dusk
Pro Shop and Restaurant
Only 10 Blocks South of Campus
2700 Columbia
Phone 343-1915
Eugene Friends
Meeting (Quaker)
Sunday Worship
11 a.m.
8 Blocks South of S.U.
Call 345-3962
2274 Onyx St.
Orthodox
Presbyterian
Church
(a Reformed church)
Sunday Worship Services
11:00 and 7:00 p.m.
Sunday School—all ages—9:45
For information or transportation
call 345-3638
Reverend Glenn T. Black, pastor
3350 Willamette Street
First Methodist Church
1185 Willamette 345-8764
SUMMER PROGRAM
Service of Worship 10 a.m.
Church School Classes 9 a.m.
Ministers: Norman L. Conard and Everett H. Gardner
WESLEY FOUNDATION
Next to Co-op Bookstore—1236 Kincaid
Robert Kingsbury—University Pastor
Central Luthern Church
(The American Lutheran Church)
18th & Potter
Sunday Worship — 9:30
LUTHER HOUSE
1824 University
Kenneth F. Wieg — Campus Pastor
Eric Ottum
Olaf A. Anderson — Pastor 345-2053 Lay Assistant
First Congregational Church
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
23rd Avenue East and Potter
(5 blocks south of campus)
SUNDAY SERVICES
8:30 and 11:00 a.m.
Ministers, Lloyd Stamp and
Wesley Goodson Nicholson
For Transportation call 345-8741
Grace Luthern Church
(Missouri Synod)
17th and Hilyard Street 344-2361
Sunday Worship Services: 8:30 and 11 a.m.
Bible Class: 9:45 a.m.
Harold J. Gieseke, Pastor Norman Metzler, Vicar
First Baptist Church
Broadway at High
345-0341
1332 Kincaid
9 :45 a.m.
COLLEGE HOUR AND CHAPEL
with Duncan Ferguson & Will Moir
11 a.m. Service
“MAKING MEN WHOLE”
Chaplain Earl Peden, USAF
7 :00 p.m. Service
“Building or Destroying a Nation”
Dr. Vance Webster
8 :30 p.m. College Hour at
Ann Judson House
1332 Kincaid
All College Students Welcome
Annual Church and Sunday School
Picnic, July 4, Harlow Lodge
SUMMER SCHEDULE
8-Week Session
Newman Catholic Student Center
Sunday Masses: 7:30, 9:00, 11:00 evenings at 8:00 p.m.
Confessions—-30-5 minutes before Mass
Daily Mass at 4:30—Confessions 4:00-4:25
Saturday Mass—8:00 a.m.
INQUIRY INTO CATHOLICISM
Wednesday Evenings, Starting June 29th at 7:00-8:30 p.m.
1850 Emerald St. Phone 343-7021
Christian Science Services
FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST
Pearl Street at 14th Avenue Eugene, Oregon
A Branch of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ
Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts
Sunday Services and Sunday School
at 9:30 and 1:00 a.m.
Wednesday Evening Testimonial 8:00 p.m.
READING ROOM 84 EAST 10th AVENUE
Open week days from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and
on Sundays and Holidays from 2 to 5 p.m.