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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1972)
Editorial Search for peace begins at home Richard Nixon is slowly making his way home today, after a week long “search for peace” in the Soviet Union. Nixon’s search led to conclusion of a number of treaties between the United States and Russia, in cluding an important arms limitation pact. But the true search for peace must begin at home, and that’s one search Nixon never even began. The several treaties should be applauded for what they represent—marginal agreements between entrenched in ternational politicians with an interest in preventing nuclear war. But the real threat to world peace is not nuclear holocaust. The possibility of such destruction began diminishing years ago. The real threat is conventional warfare—the type of con ventional warfare that has wrought destruction in Southeast Asia and paralyzed the Middle East. The United States and Soviet Union are deeply involved in both areas. But at no time were either the Middle East or Asian wars alluded to in public. The hypocrisy of the ommission was apparent to the world. At no time during the week did Com munist Party chief Leonid Breshnev offer to reduce arms shipments to the North Viet namese. At no time in the week did Nixon promise to curtail the American air war in Asia. While such subjects were surely raised in private, neither country apparently felt its “best interests” would be served by unilateral, public cessation of hostile actions. How blatant, then was Nixon’s hypocrisy when he appeared before a Russian television audience and promised American power will never interfere with a sovereign nation? The United States seeks only peace in the world, Nixon said, at the same time American aircraft were carrying out the biggest raids of the war on targets in North Vietnam. How many civilians were murdered by American aircraft in the few minutes Nixon was speaking? Their deaths are testimony to our President’s sincerity in bringing real peace to the world. With how much more respect would Nixon’s peace message have been received, if prior to leaving Washington he’d called for a permanent bombing halt in Vietnam? How much brighter the promise for peace, if he’d promised Americans the war would end next month with the return of all our air, land and sea forces from Southeast Asia? No, the search for peace must begin at home for President Nixon. And in so far as the President seems reluctant to actually begin the search, it is imperative the American electorate repudiate him in November and elect a man who will begin the task at once. Letters Insane policy I wish to shed light on an insane policy that University dormitory officials are enforcing, causing a lot of needless harm and anguish for those individuals who happen to find themselves in the dor mitories, sleeping in the lounges, and who aren't residents More important than the shortsighted approach of arresting anyone on the spot and asking questions later, is the in credible fear and suspicion by dormitory officials for any strangers It seems that because a few individuals have chosen to cause mischief in the dormitories and freeload, as well as greater abuses, everyone not a resident is assumed to be potentially dangerous or guilty of something and is to be arrested. Such was the case with me on a bright sunny morning in late April when I was found in the lounge of Hawthorn Hall asleep 1 had been escorted in by a good friend of mine, who is a resident of ad jacent McAlister Hall, sometime around 6 in the morning My intention was simply to sit down somewhere and rest until it became warm enough to go outside and walk home 1 fell asleep and the next thing 1 knew it was 9 and 1 was being questioned by police. 1 explained the circumstances and my friend confirmed it Nevertheless, the director of the Walton complex saw fit to have me placed under arrest, feeling that he was protecting the safety of the dorm residents It seems common sense that no one can bo accused of a crime if there is no evidence to suggest it but the view of the dormitory officials l talked with af terwards seemed to be that I had to prove I was not trespassing Oh yes, they realized 1 had no criminal intentions, that 1 was a "nice guy", that it was just a misun derstanding tail nevertheless they had to prosecute me because 1 w as found alone in the lounge which just happened to be part of Hawthorn Hall even though the basement connected to all dorms, men and women’s is in the Walton complex And also w as the repeated emphasis that the University must serve notice to all those who would illegally us** the dor mitones that we w ill prosecute them to the fullest extent 1 resent being used as a symbol, as a whipping boy that the University can show how tough it can be So they insist the case can't be dropped because then the University would loose face The saddest thing about this whole sad affair is that in no way are they making the dormitories any safer by blindly snatching up anyone they see The petiple who are out to cause trouble will not tie found sleeping alone in lounges The University is acting like a frightened child that doesn’t know what to do, with an in sensitivity to the needs and realities of people outside its dominion that is ap palling, an insensitivity which makes a mockery of its “enlightened image”. Hopefully, some pressure can be brought to bear on those officials involved so that this senseless matter will go no further and maybe they will take another look at their policy. As it stands now, I face a municipal court trial in mid-June. I don’t look forward to it. Gary Shapiro 1225 Water Street Springfield Dehumanizing Dorms After living for eight months in a University dormitory, I have found a lack of concern on the part of the designer of these buildings, for the student inhabitants. 1 would like to comment on a few of these aspects and make a suggestion to improve them Hamilton Complex comprises of 10 halls each having A floors These floors tend to be de humanizing because of their lack of lounge combined with the long narrow hall There is no place for residents of the floor to escape the cell, which the students are led to believe are “comfortable living spaces.” Other colleges I have visited provide at least a floor study (or lounge) and some even kitchens. It is too late for these to be incorporated in the Hamilton Complex. But there can be changes. Consider the use of one regular dorm room (per floor) minus closets, bolster, shelves, and desk. Then fill it with table and chairs, and allow students to develop it. Let students of each floor develop the study place to their own interests and capabilities. Security for this study could be provided by a key to each student of the floor to allow entrance to the study. I believe this would create more unity and pride on the floors, and allow the Housing Administration, by offering a much needed aspect of dorm living, to attract more students to the dorms. Samuel D. Combs Freshman, Architecture Polarization As my year at the University draws to a close, there is only one aspect of it which I won’t remember with tenderness. I am incredibly tired of going to movies, concerts, political speeches, classes, and meetings where the speaker happens to make one slight “chauvinistic slip” and the result is a mind-bending, pleasure shattering, day-ruining hiss from the less content and less secure members of the female audience. Although I am in favor of the social advancement of women (seems like everybody has to say that these days), I think that hissing at a movie screen is a little childish, and has the result of polarizing certain people to the extent that they condemn the movement in general. Robert B. Powell Sophomore Praise due Despite the Emerald's general policy of ignoring women and-or not taking us seriously, praise is due the new editor for his recent change in policy. By referring to women in the same way as men, that is, solely by their last names after initial introduction, the Emerald has taken a step in the direction of eliminating overt sexism from the paper. Congratulations to Bill Bucy for this move. Angie King Norine Carey THfJwxXxr 'I HOPE HE MEANT THAT NICELY!'
