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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 6, 1972)
f Letters Asian studies There are indications that soon the Asian studies are to be placed on the block and that the ax will fall on the Chinese and Japanese Bachelor program. This comes as a shock at a time when there is a need for Asian studies to be broadened, and more incentives to be built up to attract more students into the program. If this decision had been taken a few years back, there would have been enough reasons for doing so. The need tor me expansion oi Asian studies comes from the latest effort of Nixon to launch his peaceful co-existence with China. He, and many others like him, are convinced that China is too important to be ignored, and that no expense is too great to bring China into the world picture. His recent visit to Peking was a good in dication of what he had in mind. This trip had cost the tax payers plenty; but thinking in terms of its ultimate value and achievement which at one time was thought to be impossible, was worth it. The important role played by Japan in international trade is a known fact, and that such importance demands constant contact be maintained between that country and the United States. American businessmen, newsmen, and airline officials are quick to sense the importance of Nixon’s visit to Peking, and are getting ready to “invade” China once again as soon as the green light is given. If these right thinking people are quick enough to respond to Nixon’s “thoughts,” other related organizations should be equally fast enough to react to them. One such organization is the university which holds the key to the understanding of a nation by adopting a good and extensive study program of the nation, so that through a perfect understanding of its literature and historical background, a student is helped to better understand its culture, custom, and behavior. There is a popular feeling that America is increasingly turning her attention to China, and Japan, and that this attention will keep increasing as the years go by. As a result, there will develop a new field in international relationship with job openings for many students of Oriental studies. Out of it comes another im portance and that is prestige to the university for having a good and ex tensive program in Oriental studies. From what I was told, the Department of Oriental Studies is fortunate to have a very efficient and capable teaching staff many of whom I have not yet had the good fortune to associate with. But from my brief association as a student with this department, I can at least name two: Mrs. Palandri and Mrs. Schneidereit. If it is the cost the university is thinking of, then may I say that this cost is but a drop in an ocean when compared to the huge benefit that it will bring. So much money is being spent in perfecting weapons and bombs that will create bigger and greater destruction and misery in human lives and property. It is high time that the same amount of money and at tention be diverted to the creation of a love bomb that would result in world peace and a better understanding of other nations, namely China and Japan. Patrick Leong International Business Senior For Merrill Ben Merrill is a bright second-year law student who presently serves as state chairman of the Oregon Student Public Interest Research Group. In that position he has done an outstanding job on behalf of students throughout our state. It is because of his leadership that 0 S.P I.R.G. has now an excellent executive director and is on its way to solid gains against the corporate despoilers of Oregon's environment. Merrill has my wholehearted support in his race for student body president. If elected. Merrill would, among many other things: 1* Send an A.S.U.O. representative to the Congressional hearings on French Pete in Washington, D.C. on May 25. 2) Donate his entire salary back into the A..S.U.O. for the purpose of hiring four additional assistants. This would very significantly increase the effectiveness of the A.S.U.O. 3) Work hard for federal and foundation supplementary funding for student projects such as SEARCH and ESCAPE, but he would only use such funds if this does not weaken student control over these programs. In addition, Ben is an unequivocable supporter of the Environmental Studies Center, the Survival Center, MITS-OFF, and the Outdoor Program. The great amount of experience Ben has had in working with legislators, state agencies, the Governor, and the State Board of Higher Education has given him a superb preparation for the office of president. We cannot emphasize strongly enough the importance we think is attached to this race by Georgia-Pacific, Ira Keller, Publishers Paper and the many other financial backers of conservative causes in this state who have given more than $40,000 to an anti-O.S.P.I.R.G organization which is preparing its destructive cam paign. If you want an extremely capable, trustworthy and courageous student body president, please vote for Ben Merrill. Thank You. Roger Mellem Independent Studies BSUbudget The ASUO recently passed a budget for the BSU in which that organization was docked $2970. This seems to me a giant rip off. Realistically, we need a University where Women, Black people, Chicanos, Asian Americans, Native Americans and poor Whites control their own programs or departments. We need a school where student fees aren’t used to perpetuate tokenism and where the administration supports adequate funding for the obvious priorities. But we haven’t got that. We have the present system working to reproduce itself. We also have a group of people—faculty, staff, and students— on this campus who purport to be humanitarian. These people feel there is a place in education for Black consciousness, history and culture. I think this is a good chance for those people to prove it by sending contributions to the BSU to make up for the money which the ASUO docked them. There is no justifiable reason for the BSU losing this money in the first place; there is every reason for us to “put our money where our mouth is” and in doing so recognize their right to use their funds as they see fit. I hope faculty members will take this request to heart because of the relative economic freedom their salaries allow them. I make this request and pledge myself to it as an in dividual. I hope others see the necessity of contributing. Mary Coleman, Grad, English Imprisoned Citizens Union Last year a large number of us prisoners formed the IMPRISONED CITIZENS UNION in an effort to change the Coun try’s barbaric prison system Some of these unlawful conditions are: prisoners being viciously beaten and even killed by sadistic guards; the in discriminate use of chemical MACE; lack of proper food, clothing and Medical Treatment; slave work for 15c per day; depraved abuse of the mentally ill and Youthful Offender, The use of torture devices such as the sweat box, wall chains, wrist clamps and underground dungeons where the prisoners are held in communicado from everyone including their Family, Friends and Religious Ministers. These violations are committed by the very same people who have sworn to uphold the law, but who have instead created much tragedies as Attica and the CRIME Factories that they call Correc tional Facilities. Early this year the “I.C.U." filed a Civil Rights Petition in the Federal Court of Philadelphia, Penna. hoping to overhaul the Penal System of Penna. The results of this Civil Rights Action will effect “all” other prisoners, directly or indirectly. Some of the I.C.U.’s objectives are: 1. Enfranchising the prisoners so that we’ll be able to vote. 2. Oustering all sadistic and incompetent prison employees. 3. Eliminating all torture devices. 4. Proper food, clothing, medical treatment and Religious Rights. 5. The elimination of fascist type censorship of our mail and literature. 6. The right to pursue our political beliefs without harassment. 7. Time off for good behavior. 8. Unobstructed access to the News Media and the Courts. 9. To set up a practical rehabilitation program, especially for Juvenile Of fenders. 10. To support any legislation or movement that we feel will guarantee to all citizens a decent wage so that they can live in dignity and that their kids can go to bed with a full stomach. 11. To assist, in our capacity, those who are trying to bring a speedy and peaceful end to the Vietnam War. We of the Imprisoned Citizens Union do not kid ourselves. We fully realize that our opponents in this battle are powerful, wealthy, influential and possess that “Holier Than Thou” image. However, with the help of conscientious citizens we are hopeful that our goals will be reached. If you wish to help in our campaign then will you kindly fill out the coupon below. Thank You. Richard J. Mayberry Director (editor's note: Anyone interested in helping the Imprisoned citizens Union may contact their headquarters at PO box 47:11 Philadelphia, Penn., 19134.) A reply Yesterday, April 5, you printed a report of the Affirmative Action Task Force meeting. The report distorted my statements at that meeting to the point of falsehood. Your description of the sequence of events was incorrect, your paraphrase of my remarks was incorrect and completely out of context. The implication (not based on quotations, since I said nothing even remotely similar) was that I asked for a white woman to be appointed director of the affirmative action office, because women’s needs were more important than minorities. I did not say anything like this, and I do not believe anthing like this. More important than the fact that you misrepresented me is the fact that I at tended the meeting as a temporary representative of the Status of Faculty Women Committee, and you are thus misrepresenting that committee as well. The Status of Faculty Women Committee is a group of people committed to eliminating all kinds of discrimination on this campus. The facts: 1. After Barbara Aldave noted that it would be difficult to find a qualified minority woman in the community, for the interim director, I said I believed there were several. Then the committee members, including myseif, suggested the names of several minority women and men, who will be contacted for ap plications. 2. I did not reply to Ed Coleman's statement about his possible resignation by saying a minority woman could not “understand” the needs of both minorities and women. The remarks which you misparaphrased came earlier in the meeting and were in an entirely different context: 1 was asking the committee to seriously consider the possibility of 2 or more co-directors. 1 pointed out that af firmative action offices at other univer sities commonly have one person to handle each of the affected groups. I did say that all the constitutent groups on campus are likely to be worried that their interests would not be represented by the ap pointment of one director, who cannot possibly be a member of all groups at once. 1 did say that I felt only a woman would have the depth of commitment necessary to address women’s problems. I did say I felt the problems of sex and race discrimination on this campus are too large for one person to handle. This piece of misreporting is one of a series of misreports or non-reports of events relevant to women by the Emerald. In this case, as some others, the Emerald reporting has been not only incompetent, but divisive and detrimental to the needs of both women and minorities on this campus. The effect is to create un necessary suspicion and drive a wedge between oppressed groups. Divide and conquer is the name of that game. Jeanette Sllveira Asian studies It is ironic that just as universities across the nation plan expansion in their East Asian course offerings (see ‘‘China visit spurs interest on campuses,” Register-Guard, March 30, p. 14-A), the University of Oregon’s HPUP has recommended severe cut backs in two East Asian programs. For a savings of $5,038, which is being used this year to provide minimal sub sistence for six Asian Studies teaching assistants, the panel has recommended the elimination of the Asian Studies graduate program. For an additional savings of $9,601, HPUP suggests suspending the majors in Chinese and Japanese and all courses taught in those languages beyond the third-year level. The times in which we live suggest that, if anything, such programs should be expanded. In fact, in the last two years, the Asian Studies program has been greatly strengthened by the addition of three exceptionally able faculty members—one in history, one in the Chinese language and one in economics. They—along with a geographer who will arrive in the fall, and the many other dedicated and able faculty members already here—form a strong nucleus which should be built upon, rather than jettisoned. Interest in the language program has been growing and one could only expect— in view of recent international develop ments-that it would continue to grow, Panel members may well be unaware that, while three years of either language gives a student a solid foundation, it does not give a student a working knowledge of them. To speak only of the language I know—Chinese—without the courses in literary (classical) Chinese, it is im possible to pursue serious study in the language. Colloquial Chinese has been the written language for only the last sixty years and is still heavily infused with the classical language ... to the extent that even reading newspapers requires a knowledge of classical Chinese I hope that HPUP will seriously re consider its recommendations For less than $15,000, both the graduate program in Asian Studies and the majors in Chinese and Japanese can be retained. Cutting them means a small savings to the university; preserving them costs little and represents an invaluable savings in cross-cultural and international un derstanding. Karen Gernant. Graduate Student Department of History