Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 24, 1978)
Letters Assinating class? Your article, “Women learn radiant happiness," in the Feb. 21 Emerald has given me a whole new outlook on being female. In fact, it made such an impression on me that I would like to propose that the Women's Studies De partment include a similar course to be offered Spring term. I would also like to propose that the course be entitled "Assinating Womanhood." Anne Kolibaba Senior, English Significant step On Monday, Feb. 13, the Eugene City Council passed a re solution condemning the sale of the South African Krugerrand. The statement, which passed 6-1, condemned the racist conditions in South Africa and urged Eugene citizens not to buy, sell or adver tise the gold coin. This was another significant step in the struggle to support self-determination in southern Af rica, and I want to express ap preciation to everyone who worked with People for Southern African Freedom on this issue. Of course, there’s still a lot to do. The Krugerrand is still sold in Eugene, most noticeably by the Eugene Coin Gallery in the Oak way Mall, which distributes it. And the Krugerrand itself is just one manifestation of widespread American economic support for the apartheid regimes. (And by the way, why is it tha when the Eugene City Counci passes a Krugerrand resolution it’s on page one of the “Orego nian” and is an obscure para graph stuck way inside the "Emerald”?) Never mind that. A luta continua — the struggle continues. People for Southern African Freedom meets every Tuesday 8 p.m. at 1414 Kincaid St. Folks with energy, ideas or just curiosity are cordially invited to attend. Bob Guldin 261 Ash St., Eugene Switch affordable? At its meeting this coming Mon day, Feb. 27, the IFC (Incidental Fee Committee) will discuss whether or not to grant Switchboard's request for $2,215.79 to cover costs for the phone service for fiscal 78-79. Eugene Switchboard is the only information referral service of its kind in Lane County. Staffed by 15 Escape and University Stu dent volunteers, Switchboard disseminates information on community and University spon sored classes, workshops and seminars. Switchboard services also benefit University students by providing information on transpor tation, jobs, health care, housing advocacy, etc. Last year Switchboard served 45,690 students, an average of about 1 contact per student per term. The average University client cost was a mere three and one-half cents — compared to 51 cents for an average client contact cost. Thus, Switchboard cost each student only 10.5 cents last year. At this phenomenally low cost, can we students afford to be with I out such a valuable service? Stop in at the IFC office in the EMU sometime this week and let your feelings be known. Dwayne De Vries Junior, Undeclared Beg to differ I beg to differ with Mary Gil more. It is my specific recollection of her statement at the IFC hear ing that she was voting against Gay People's Alliance according to the wishes of her constituency; and the Emerald article in the ODE clearly reflected the situation, “Gilmore rejected all GPA prop osed. goals, saying she had no personal objection to the group but that the people who elected her did not find the GPA a valid program." I commend her for her honesty and her resolve to abstain from voting on a program against which she has such a strongly-fett, evi dent bias. But it scares the hell out of me that she’s majoring in psychology. Carol Queen Director, GPA Confine it to the hole As I was peacefully cycling home Saturday evening around 12:30 a.m., after working six hours, I had the opportunity to ex perience the questionable humor of one of our typical University bedsores. Just as I passed the SAE house, where a party was in progress, one of the brothers, doubtless emboldened by a few beers and encouraged by one or more simpering sorority sisters, took it upon himself to hurl an egg at me as I passed. I congratulate this product of SAE, as beer consumed in large quantities doesn’t affect his aim. I observed Sunday morning that the brothers had been at it the en tire evening, as the bike lane was littered with eggshells in the spot where I was hit. The whole inci dent is just one more reminder of what the Greek system s proud af filiates really are — a collection of over-age adolescents whose mentality, maturity and academic performance is roughly equal to that of the drunken moron who de lights in throwing eggs at mid night. The next time you SAE frat rats decide to celebrate, confine it to the hole. Valerie Wood Senior, German/Russian Letters policy The Emerald will accept and try to print all letters and opinion col umns containing fair comment on ideas and topics of concern or interest to the University commun ity. Letters and opinions must be typewritten, using 65-character margins, and should be triple spaced. Letters and opinions must be signed, with the author's year and field of study (or faculty status) noted. Letters and opin ions will be run on a first-come first-served basis. --.-opinion-— The South Africa movement: building momentum Submitted by Monica Lozano and Jonathan Draper for the Southern Africa Liberation Support Committee The SALSC urges all who support the people of Southern Africa in their fight against apartheid and white minority rule to join us. SALSC is part of a movement on campuses and in communities across the country whose aim is to tie the hands of the U.S. government, banks and corporations who prop up the racist regimes in order to exploit the Southern African people and their resources for profit. We are fighting on a different front, but with the common goal of the people of Southern Africa. We are united to expose and oppose U.S. im perialism and all other forms of exploitation in Southern Africa. We must show how the State Board of Higher Education investments in corporations there serve the interests of the white minority regime. The Board and the University Development Fund can be forced to dump their stocks through a united student and community effort. The campaign on this campus began a year ago and included educational programs, leaflets, rallies, demon strations, the student referendum and militant confronta tions with administrators and the Board. The Board, dominated by rich bankers and businessmen (like Louis Perry, Pres, of Standard Insurance) was exposed as rep resenting the same class of capitalists who profit from apartheid. How could they be expected to dump the stocks without a fight? Exposing their class stand on the side of apartheid was a major part of the fight. So on Nov. 18, in the face of strong testimony by 35 students, profes sors, clergy and others, and with over 200 people at the meeting, the Board was forced to vote to dump the stock. This reversed over six months of openly expressed opposi tion by the Board to our demands and stalling on their par* But the Board conceded the vote only to begin stalling once again. Seeing this, SALSC continued to organize. On Jan. 25, after a rally which exposed con tinued Board complicity with apartheid, over 60 people marched to the Board’s office chanting “Dump the stock NOW!” The Board refused to make one positive move tc Pin A meet our demands. That they were willing to arrest 23 people in their effort to keep the stock has exposed the lie of the Board's “opposition to apartheid. Since the Board attributed their inaction to a legal question, over authority to divest, our occupation of the Board office has been termed “ inappropriate and mis directed.’’ There is no legal barrier to divestiture. Attorney General Johnson resolved the question in 1976 by ruling that the Board does have authority over investment deci sion. The Board. Oregon Investment Council and the Attorney General are playing a game of keep away with the students. They are not looking for clarification on this issue, but rather for a way to maneuver out of selling the stocks. This is not a game to be played at the whim of the administration! Everyday people in Southern Africa are dying while U.S. corporations continue to profit off the system of apartheid and white minority rule! Here at the University, we must pin down the Board to divest. The action of Jan. 25 showed that students will fight the Board until our demands are met. Some may feel that demonstrations are ineffective unless they are on a “massive” scale. However, all struggles must start with small, well organized campaigns until more momentum is achieved. Obviously the activity on the 25th sparked more people to get involved. Nearly 1,000 students, professors and community members have signed a petition to dump the stock and drop the charges. Letters of support have appeared in the Emerald. The 23 arrested have received encouragement for their actions from employers, professors, fellow work ers, and parents. The size of SALSC has more than tripled, but we still need more participation. The SALSC is not a coalition, but an open organiza tion for all who want to aid the struggle of the people of Southern Africa. Through collective discussion, we have adopted a basis of organizational unity which we feel takes the kind of strong stand needed on key questions about Southern Africa. But, we don't feel our stand is too “radical” to appeal to broad numbers. The following four slogans sum up our stand: "Victory to the people of Southern Africa!” points out our desire for their victory by their own hands through struggle, and not through a puppet government negotiated by the present rulers with U S. backing. Such a government would not change the conditions of enslave ment for the vast majority. "Down with apartheid and white minority rule!" — apartheid means daily murder and near-slavery for the vast majority. It must be abolished. White minority rule must come down so the whole Southern African people can decide their future. "U.S. out of Southern Africa!” — The racist Southern African regimes wouldn't last long without active U.S. support. There is not progressive aspect to U.S. involve ment. U.S. banks still loan money directly to the South African government and to corporations, which continue to profit from slave wages (read the recent Senate Foreign Relations sub-committee report). The U.S. gov ernment is no benevolent negotiator — it negotiates to save what it can for U.S. corporate plunder. It is our particular obligation here in the U.S. to oppose all U.S. involvement. “Fight Imperialism and national oppression from Southern Africa to the U.S.!” — Imperialism uses national oppression everywhere — in South Africa and the U.S. — to make super-profits. The same corporations are in volved. We must not only oppose apartheid, we must also oppose oppression of national minorities in the U.S. Not everyone will agree with these slogans. But a movement with no political un:ty will miss the mark. We must clearly determine who we are fighting and what our goals are in order to determine a successful strategy. Here are ways you can help: 1) meetings at 3:30 Wednesday for education about South Africa and planning events and strategy. 2) Publicity and education, such as leaflets, programs, press coverage, letters to editors. 3) Legal defense: demand the University drop all charges, come to the trial and to rallies and demonstra tions for the 23 arrested. 4) Fund raisers: the court has $2,700 of our bail money, and we need money for lawyers. Contribute to our garage sale, Saturday, Feb. 25 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Amazon Housing (Patterson and 22nd). Help plan a Culture Night for Southern Africa" to be held on April 5. Join us in demanding that the Board dump the stocks! Friday. February 24. 1978
