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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 3, 1973)
Editorial Executive race— Two strong choices Sad but true, amidst the charges and counter-charges swirling around the current ASUO election, the issues and the candidates have taken a backseat to the election itself. It is difficult enough to sort fact from fantasy in ASUO campaigns without the worry that your trip to the polls will be meaningless because of an election invalidation the next week. The Emerald feels that it is to the credit of the Greg Leo-Debbie Barnett and Doug Marshall-Kathy Fitzpatrick tickets and the way they have taken their cam paigns to the individual students that there was a turnout at all for this week’s re-run of the ASUO primaries. After interviews with both tickets, the Emerald feels that students are faced with an interesting choice for next year’s ASUO executive. Either way the election goes next week, we believe that a potential exists for strong executive leadership and constructive new direction for the ASUO. Both tickets seem to have a good grasp on the realities of the existing power structure between the ASUO, the University and the state. We feel that they have a good chance of working within those realities to produce constructive new programs and roles for students. Each ticket offers some realistic programs for making the offices of the ASUO more sensitive to the needs of students. The difference in choice for the executive next year is largely one of personality and approach. Leo-Barnett Leo and Barnett are accused by some of being a vote for the “continuation of the existing Third Floor ineptness and bureaucratic insensitivity’’ because they have worked in ASUO-funded programs this year. Leo is head of the Oregon Student Association, a legislative in formation gathering service. Barnett has been on the Cultural Forum Board and organized the recent Black Explo. It is true that both Leo and Barnett have been active in ASUO programs, but to say that this involvement links them to the frustrations students feel with the general chaos in student government is simplistic and patent political sloganism. Their experience with the ASUO this year has been largely in the unglamorous administrative duties which must be carried out if students are to get their money’s worth out of programs. The ac cusations being leveled at Leo and Barnett have not been attacks on the quality of the programs under their stewardship, but rather a thinly-veiled attack on the fact that they chose to become involved in the ASUO at all. Leo and Barnett are a good working team. Leo is a gregarious individual who we feel would listen eagerly to, and could communicate well with, the average student. Barnett is a direct, outspoken woman and a good diplomat. She has also served as vice-chairperson of the Eugene Black Women’s Society. While Leo could potentially be too eager to please all the people all the time to the point that controversial issues would be hedged, Barnett offers a decisive no nonsense balance. Leo respects her decisiveness and jokes cheerfully about having her prod him. In addition to their plans for co governance, Leo and Barnett identify three specific priorities for the upcoming year: innovative curriculum, a student voice in tenure decisions, and improved undergraduate advising. Their approach to these issues and to co-governance is on the departmental level and orientated towards building up student unions, which are sprouting up around campus. Another program they propose to help students with is a student ombudsman project which would alleviate the red tape of both the administration and the ASUO. Marshall-Fitzpatrick Marshall and Fitzpatrick have been accused of a “high power campaign run by professional politicians.” The charge is based on the fact that Dave Gwyther, a candidate for Ward II City Council last fall and Bill Wooten, a candidate for County Commissioner, are supporters of-or workers in the Marshall-Fitzpatrick campaign. The conclusion seems to be that because people who aspired to positions in the community support this ticket they are “out of touch with the needs of students.” The Emerald feels the validity of this conclusion is debatable. Again, the ticket seems well-balanced and one which could work together for change. Both have experience working with people and organizing outside of the ASUO. Marshall worked with the Migrant Labor Project (VIVA) in Forest Grove and with the Oregon Prisoners Release Committee. He also sat as a Senator winter term on the ASUO Higher Education Committee which worked for the abolition of the Senate. Fitzpatrick has worked with people as a dorm counselor, the Secretary of the Oregon Prisoner’s Release Committee, as secretary of the Black Student Union, on the Oregon’s Poor Peoples’ Council, the Eugene Jail Committee and the African Liberation Movement. A large part of her orientation is toward the problems of the minority programs whose problems and continued existence affect her personally. Both Fitzpatrick and Marshall see themselves as strong advocates for the student view to the University ad ministration and to the community. They are articulate people and would fill the role well. The ticket’s leaning on co-governance is toward a student-faculty legislative body with 50-50 representation. They also propose getting better student input on ASUO Programs and positions through surveys and referenda. The idea of putting pressure on the programs to perform and be viable by asking students their program priorities as part of the budget review has been kicked around since students passed the Winkleman Incidental Fee Check Off Referendum last spring. A honest attempt at implementation would be a welcome change. Marshall and Fitzpatrick are also interested in utilizing Search classes for research on tuition levels, selection of a University president and other concerns. They would like to see their administrative aides conduct the classes. Take heart The Emerald position is based largely on 45 minute endorsement interviews with each ticket by the editor, editorial page editor, editorial assistant and an ASUO reporter. Sorting through the sub issues on the conduct of this election and getting to the candidates is not easy. The Emerald urges students to take heart and not be discouraged by side issues, rumors and slogans. Students have two strong possibilities for an executive next year and the can didates are eager to discuss their ideas. Real issues exist and students should seek out the candidates at home — in the middle of the night if necessary — to familiarize themselves with the differences in their style of politics and their approaches to the coming year. Letters Do you, Joe? (An Open Letter to Joseph Vidall) Joe, have you ever visited the migrant “open housing” around and near Bueno Vista, Oregon? Or anywhere else? It reminded this hairy college bum of graffiti found on a wall he saw in a magazine yesterday: Q. Mr. Gandhi, what do you think of Western Civilization? A. I think it would be a good idea. But, what do I know of the intricate mysterious and absolute Necessary Logic of the Worlds of Marketing and Economics at the Managerial Level? — After all, I only worked alongside these people — of the very finest I’ve ever known. Civilization, yes, I think it would be a good idea too. Yes, you see, Joe, I know there are Brown Berets who not only have picked up the gun, but are ready to use it if the kinda stuff I’ve seen — witnessed, if you will — not just looked at from pictures, or a Safeway Picket line — continues, and most especially is supported by Business as-Use-You-All. I’ve been there, and know how the UFW got its All-American Roots, Joe. And though that Lettuce and those grapes may be fresh and ripe — our Heritage, which I hear I’m to be so proud of, is rotten. Ripe and-or rotten, it looks like with so many find upstanding logicians of the dollar around, it’s going to grow. But then, you don’t have to worry about such things as keeping warm in the winter and caring for a family on such small wages, so much. Do y0l,Joe? frank Morri, Ordinary Mammal See page 13 for election letters. (fettmixu Gone Water Y ONE 6EKJERATIOM L -HEAVY OKI THE oe peace, njapalm! and a aide ' order of colluption i^unds,prea6e)
