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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 1973)
— Editorial ■ The lights go out all over Oregon The recently concluded Western Governors' Conference has been touted in statements both in the press and from participants as the most work-filled in memory. That may be, although we'd hate to see one of the less-productive ones. At any rate, it does no harm for governors of neighboring states to be on friendly terms. With the forever-announced and around-the-corner energy crisis im pending, it certainly helps to know that all of the western states governors have had the experience of discussing energy problems, not only with their neighbors, but with experts and critics alike. Probably the most outspoken state leader at the Conference was Gov. Tom McCall. He has repeatedly warned that if Oregon does not achieve a ten per cent reduction in power consumption by this spring, then the state will face "drastic action." Just what this "drastic action" amounts to is unclear at this point, but we may assume that it will be something that goes beyond turning the lights down at automobile lots and motels. McCall is serious when he says that the energy shortage is real. And one motive behind his order to turn the lights out all over Oregon is the belief on the Governor's part that Oregonians must be prepared psychologically for the worst that may still come. COOPERATION: The Governors of four Pacific Northwest states — Thomas Judge of Montana, Cecil Andrus of Idaho, Tom McCall of Oregon and Dan Evans of Washington — sign a "memo of un derstanding" on the energy crisis. Steps are being taken, of course, by both state and federal government to boost the energy output of the Northwest. Ad ditions to Grand Coulee Dam, more dams on the Snake and tributories, and the green light for nuclear plants are all counted upon to raise the energy level. But these projects take time as well as money, and for the immediate future, only our own self-restraint stands between us and the severe brownouts which have been projected for spring. Besides individual and collective conservation of power, regional cooperation in both utilization and development of energy is the most logical step in meeting any crisis, real or threatened, that faces us. This cooperation has already been initiated at the Western Governors' Conference. The creation of a staff advisory committee, made up of senior aides to all the western governors, will meet next month to plot regional policy, and the "memo of understanding" signed between Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana pledges cooperation among the energy interconnected states to work together in developing new resources. These signs of regional cooperation are hopeful. And we hope that in the coming months they will be extended, and that coordinated plans and policies bet ween the states be fully developed and implemented. -Commentary Editorial Nader in Oregon Work for the public interest By PETER SORENSON Note: Peter Sorenson is a graduate student in geography and member of the state board of directors of the Oregon Student Public Interest Research Group. It's been a long time since Ralph Nader came to Oregon. The last time was in Oc tober of 1970, when he went on a whirlwind lour of the state’s colleges and universities to promote a group known as the Oregon Students Public Interest Research Group, and now the “s” has been dropped from the end of “student” and OSPIRG is a going concern, employing a professional staff under the direction of a student elected board. Nader’s visit to Oregon last week involved a talk to the Western Governor’s Conference, the staff and students cf OSPIRG, and a public speech at Pacific University. Of course, Nader was hard-hitting at Salishan-concentrating on the topic of energy, particularly nuclear energy. His speech at Pacific University near Portland was a stock one, taking shots at corportate and governmental corruption, unsafe toys, unhealthy meat and products, and his favorite, automobiles. His dialog with the staff and students of OSPIRG was a bit different. One is impressed with this man, humble and mild mannered, yet the leader in numerous fields. While newspaper reporters still refer to him as ‘‘consumer advocate Ralph Nader,” actually Nader and his various organizations are working on public interest matters in hundreds of areas. Seventeen student public interest research groups are organized nationally, he stated, and Oregon is the oldest and the best organized. He promised that the Citizens Action Group (of Washington, D.C.) would seek to inform all of these groups about what the other is doing. Nader commented on the questions of various students in the meeting and made remarks about the progress which has been made. He urged us to involve poor and old people in OSPIRG, people most victimized by environmental and consumer problems. When asked about whether or not OSPIRG should begin endorsing candidates, Nader did not hesitate: no. He urged mass in volvement of students, saying that this is the way to develop the organization to its fullest. Commenting upon the future of the OSPIRG movement, Nader stated that not since the founding days of the nation had there existed an organization for a purpose other than a special interest. With this is mind, he suggested that when the students in OSPIRG now are outside the university community, they continue to support OSPIRG. As he was leaving, he recalled the lunch at Arlene’s Cafe in Elkton three years ago with me and two other people, saying it was the best place he has eaten for the money in five years. And, his pronunciation of the state’s name approaches “Orygun” more than in the past. The time between those two visits to Oregon has seen an organization of students and professionals, formed to work on cor porate and governmental responsibility, and consumer and environmental protec tion, blossom from an idea to a reality. OSPIRG can use your help. We are in M 111 EMU, telephone 686-4073 Basketball anyone? One of the truly exciting prospects for Oregon sports this year is the anticipated success of the basketball team. Harter's squad doesn't stand much of a chance to knock off UCLA, but they should give USC a run for the money to second place. The excitement swirling around basketball has produced the first sell-out of tickets in years. Unless you have a $23 season ticket for both football and basketball (regardless of whether you even LIKE football), there'll be no seats for you at Mac Court. The larger seating capacity of Autzen Stadium still makes it possible to catch a single football game or a football season ticket for ten dollars. The coming of a strong basketball team at Oregon evidently spells the end for the unhurried days of walking down the street and suddenly deciding, "Well, I think I'll go see the Ducks tonight." No doubt the Athletic Depart ment has a right to seek financial security in season ticket sales. And likely, they would point out to you that until recently, the idea of reserving tickets for same-day sale would have been un necessary. Now, however, all the the thousands of Mac Court sests have been snapped up by eager season ticket-holders willing to put cut the money. Nothing can be done for this year, but in the future, why not hold a bloc of, say, one or two thousand seats for sale the day of the game? Well, perhaps the Emerald is romantic and we'd just like to think that we could procrastinate in our ticket buying, or perhaps we don't have the free time on weekends and evenings to see most of the season games. Maybe we plain don't have twenty-three dol lars to spend on a ful I season of athletics, most of which we don't plan on seeing. But wouldn't it be nice to be able to wait till the last minute and still catch the big game with UCLA or whoever? And wouldn't it be nice if the Athletic Department would give us all a chance to do so next year? Letters Policy The Emerald invites letters and commentaries. In order to prov ide a for um for open discussion of issues end ideas all letters which are 300 words or less and are double space typed and signed m ink will be printed regardless of the viewpoint expressed Letters intended tor publication must be accompanied by an addrasa, phone number and class status at the University. Longer pieces will be considered for Commentary, but because ot space limitations not all those submitted can be printed Pieces will be selected by the editors on tpe basis ot quality and relevance. The maximum length far commentary is 1500 words.
