Eugene, Oregon 9740.
Friday, April 14, 1978
Vol. 79, No. 133
Documentary filmmaker Julia Rechert
Photo by Ench Bookethoide
U.S. media traps women
into rigid roles, says Reichert
By BECKY YOUNG
Of the Emerald
The mass media perpetuates
ideas that inhibit social change, mak
ing alternative feminist films vital in
furthering the women’s movement,
filmmaker Julia Reichert said Thurs
day.
Reichert, a nationally known
documentary maker and political ac
tivist, spoke to about 150 people on
media and social change as part of
the Women's Symposium Her best
known film, ‘ Union Maids”, was
nominated for an Academy Award
this year.
“Our interpretation of reality comes
from the mass media,” she said. “It’s
ideology rather than force that makes
us put up with oppression.”
‘‘Women have known for years that
life as a housewife has a lot of bad
aspects, but the media keeps telling
us that a woman’s place is in the
home.”
Those who control the media keep
people from cooperating to create
social movements by furthering the
notions that “everyone is out to get
you,” and that people are basically
competitive.
Also, she said, history is treated as
“a series of events, one after another,
as a process of social forces.”
People are exposed to a simplified
version of life, especially on televi
sion, by the necessity to condense
crises down to an hour or an hour and
a half.
Reichert said her goal is to make
films portraying women as capable
beings, showing people can cooper
ate and depicting the social forces of
history.
Her film, “Union Maids", tells the
story of three women who are leaders
in the battle to organize industrial un
ions against racial and sexual dis
crimination.
Reichert said feminist films have
advanced over the years in both
quantity and quality.
The first films were made by
women concerned with getting out
anger, and who hadn't been able to get
the technical skills. “They made
angry, strong statements and it didn't
matter if the camera was focused,”
Reichert said.
In recent years films have been
better technically and have begun to
deal with more specific issues, such
as rape, abortion, single mothers and
women in prison.
Reichert said women’s films make
an attempt to confront and involve the
audience directly. “The feminist
movement wants to change that
happens personally.’’
Women have begun to demystify'
the filmmaking process, making the
industry seem more accessible. She
said often the filmmakers themselves
appear in the films.
Alternative filmmakers create films
short, that can be shown to organiza
tions and discussed afterwards, and
people are more involved than they
would be had they gone to a theatre,
sat next to someone they didn't know
and left right afterwards.
“There have been questions about
whether we should maintain our al
ternative movement or join the Hol
lywood mainstream,” she said. “I do
believe feminist films have been af
fecting the industry as a whole. Films
like those I make are seen by the
Hollywood filmmakers.”
Stock rule
due early
next week
By RICHARD SEVEN
Of the Emerald
Oregon Attorney General Jim Redden's official
opinion on the legality of divesting state higher edu
cation stocks will be issued “Tuesday or Wednes
day,” according to Mark Nelson, the attorney
general’s assistant.
The four legal representatives invited to argue
Redden’s initial opinion were sent copies of the at
torney general’s draft Thursday.
The meeting will be held at 1 p.m. in Salem.
Both Don Chalmers and ASUO Pres. Gary
Feldman have said if Redden’s decision goes
against the state board and divestment, they will
appeal the decision in court.
The Incidental Fee Committee has allocated
$500 to help with the appeal if it becomes necessary.
The State Board of Higher Education voted al
most five months ago to instruct their investment
managers to sell higher education stocks owned in
corporations doing direct business in South Africa.
Freeman Holmer, vice-chancellor of higher
education, estimates approximately $6 million worth
of stock in about 27 corporations would be sold if the
attorney general rules in favor of divestment.
Shortly after the board's Nov. 18 decision, a
question was raised as to whether the Oregon In
vestment Council (OIC) and not the state board had
the control of the stocks.
OIC consists of the State Teasurer and four
other appointed members. Two members must have
training and experience in the field of investments or
finance.
Redden will have to decide who has ultimate
control over state investments — the board. OIC or
the investment managers.
After the proper body is designated in control,
Redden must interpret whether selling the stock
would violate ORS 293.726 or the "prudent person"
rule, which demands that trustees of state invest
ments must handle the stock or investments as if
they were managing their own affairs.
Connected with the prudent person’’ rule is the
question of whether a decision to sell the stock must
be made only on an economic basis, absent of any
political or moral consideration.
Roger Meier, a member of the OIC, has already
said he has no intention of requesting OIC invest
ment managers to carry out divestment.
Workshop focuses on Alaskan wilderness
By KATHLEEN MONJE
Of the Emerald
Alaska Conservation Day focuses Satur
day on the areas which environmentalists
hope will remain wilderness in the 49th
state.
The workshop, sponsored by five local
environmental groups, includes a legisla
tive update on the Alaskan National Interest
Lands Bill, slide shows and discussions by
members of the Alaska Coalition and an
examination of wildlife issues.
“This will be a community-oriented work
shop. We want to tell people what lands are
in question, how they will be managed and
how a citizen can have input on the bill,”
said Gail Gredler of the University Survival
Center.
The bill, H.R. 39, has just been voted out
of the House Interior Committee with the
support of a large majority.
“It's crucial that everybody get the word
to their representatives in April so Oregon's
delegation can help pave the way for a bal
anced bill to manage Alaska's unique and
fragile lands; while still allowing for
economic potential and accessibility to na
tionally significant and extractable re
sources,’’ said Paul Alaback, Oregon coor
dinator for the Alaska Coalition. He will
speak at the workshop.
According to Gredler, many people are
concerned that the bill will prohibit access to
many of Alaska a resources.
"It's true that some will be locked up, but
the bill povides for the use of minerals and
resources," she said.
Subsistence lifestyle issues will also be
discussed. Most people who now live off the
land will continue to be able to do so under
the bill, Gredler said.
Clay Hardy, chief of resource planning in
the Anchorage office of the U S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, will explain wildlife issues
involved in H.R. 39.
A key winter habitat and migration cor
ridor for caribou was part of the 400,000
acres deleted from the Arctic National Wild
life Refuge in Interior Committee com
promises, according to Alaback.
The Alaska Coalition supports the man
agement of wildlife areas in Alaska by the
Fish and Wildlife Service, rather than the
Forest Service which currently oversees
some lands important to wild fowl and ani
mals.
The workshop will be held at the Central
Presbyterian Church in Eugene, at 15th
Ave. and Patterson Streets, from 9 a m. to
4:30 p.m.
The University Survival Center, the Many
Rivers Group Sierra Club, the Lane
County Audubon Society, the University
Outdoor Program and the Wilderness So
ciety are the co-sponsors of Alaska Con
servation Day. —