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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 3, 1978)
editorial November fight must now begin English political essayist Edmund Burke once ob served that all that was necessary for the forces of Evil to prevail was for persons of good will to do nothing. While they may not represent the forces of Evil incar nate, a pair of November general-election-ballot measures — #6, proposing a one and one-half percent property tax limitation, and #7, cutting off state aid to low-income women seeking abortions — would visit an inestimable quantity of evils on many Oregon residents. And persons of good will are needed now to begin the fight against pas sage of these superficially popular, but ultimately harmful measures. The Emerald firmly opposes both proposals, but will reserve for a later date a more extensive editorial comment on their ideological and practical shortcomings. Suffice it to say that the heavy-handed tax "reform” expected by passage of Measure 6 would primarily benefit large property-holding businesses at the expense of politi cally vulnerable social programs, including local and state education, and probably Oregon’s effective homeowner and renter tax-rebate program. As for the latest anti-abortion proposition, passage of Measure 7 would invite a return to the shameful era when poor women with unwanted pregnancies faced possible death at the hands of unqualified, cut-rate abortionists or brought their new-born into a hostile environment. This measure would even prohibit state agencies from provid ing information on abortion procedures and facilities. Meanwhile, women of financial means would still be able to avail themselves of abortions, which have been rendered legally acceptable through a number of U.S. Supreme Court decisions. Although several groups, including the Oregon Edu cational Association, the Oregon League of Women Voters and the state and Lane County Democratic Party have voiced opposition to the property-tax measure, an or ganized campaign by Measure 6 opponents has yet to be initiated. The most likely prospect for local residents willing to work against Measure 6 would be to contact the League of Women Voters of Central Lane County, which, by the way, has been open to male membership for several years. LWV chapters will join a coalition now being formed by state Representative Roger Martin to campaign against die measure. This nascent coalition will be organizing committees in the next few weeks with membership open to interested citizens. Further details will be available through the local LWV office. Would-be working opponents to anti-abortion Meas ure 7 may join the statewide campaign being organized by Oregon Taxpayers for Equal Choice (OTEC), a coalition of several interested groups. Meetings will also be held in the near future to plan local efforts against this ballot measure. Further details may be obtained from OTEC representative Debra Ehrman, a University employee in the Office of Student Affairs. Letters Hear GTFs Tom Ellis and Jeff Edmundson for the Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation In about three weeks, the Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation (GTFF) and the University will hold a hearing in the EMU before a professional fact-finder in an attempt to resolve our present im passe in negotiations. These hearings are generally open to the public. At this hearing, each side will present its case on the disputed articles in the contract — articles including such fundamental issues as salary, health insur ance, working conditions, and child care. This hearing is the latest (and, we hope, the final) step in a negotiating process which has drag ged on since September, due to the University’s consistent refusal to make reasonable offers on these issues affecting all GTFs. For example, after nine months of fruitless negotiating, the University made a final offer which included a salary increase of about 1 percent over the previous budget. Yet our current salary level, after inflation, amounts to roughly half of what GTFs were receiving in 1969. At a ratification meeting in June, the Union membership voted down the University’s proposal by a decisive margin of two to one. We are getting impatient, but not desperate. For this reason, we confidently await the out come of the fact-finding process which this hearing will initiate. During the thirty days which follow the hearing, the fact-finder will research the claims and proposals made by each side, and will draft a com promise contract based on the research and on the precedents set elsewhere. If both sides accept the findings and the result ing compromise, we will have a contract by mid September. But if either side rejects it, we may be forced to take direct action, including a possible strike, to win an equitable contract. We do not want the situation to reach this extremity, and we are con fident that the fact-finder's report will form the basis for a reasonable salarv increase, and a contract ac ceptable to both sides. We therefore hope that the University will act in good faith once the facts are out. In the meantime the GTFF needs, more than ever, the membership and vigorous support of all GTFs. Anyone who wishes to join or wants more information may contact the GTFF at 868 E 13th, above the Red Rooster barber shop, or call 344-0832 Cold walls I am writing this letter in regard to a matter which is very important to me. I am an inmate at the Chil licothe Correctional Institution. I trust that my letter will reach you in good faith. I am seeking correspondence to avoid losing myself behind these cold prison walls. For this is a very lonely and a really sad environment. I most seriously want to do everything possible to improve myself as a man and as a responsible citizen. How ever I realize that there is something wrong — mis sing _ in my pursuit to improve my disposition. That is, a source of encouragement, which only true and sincere friendship can help! By the way, I am a Christian brother — a born again believer of the fellowship of God. So, I am writing this letter to you in hopes that you will be so kind as to publish this warm message, to enable me to reach out, to seek correspondence and a loving friendship. I'd like to take this time out to thank you in advance and your reply will be most appreciated. William Roundtree P.O. Box 5500 Chillicothe, Ohio 45601 Enjoys writing I am currently incarcerated in Oregon State Prison for a couple of years because of some driving situations. The reason I'm writing you is to ask you to place an ad in your newspaper for me for correspon^^ dence. It’s pretty lonely here and I enjoy writing, Here is what I’d like printed: Lonely young man in prison wishes to correspond with anyone! My in terests are ladies, writing, art, music, tennis, poetry, etc. My physical description is 5’11”, 160 pounds, blue eyes and blond hair. If you write I promise an interesting correspondence! Thank you for your time and trouble. Jeffrey L. Hensley 2605 State St. Box 40374 Salem, Oregon 97310 Letters poliey The Emerald will accept and try to print all letters and opinion columns containing fair comment on ideas and topics of concern or interest to the University community. Letters and opinions will be run on a first-come, first served basis. Both letters and opinion columns must be typewritten, using 65 character mar gins, and should be triple-spaced. Letters and opinions must be signed and the author’s field of study (or faculty status) noted. mm, ftxroe! irm$i mm m ceRteei-L-oH. iu mv &x, e^Ler. £MlAOP 6WUPS I/O MVCBHWM, geMWM AUP gesamih \ iio mv coerex, voeTEX AU(7 TO-gX MtAT 5/OVU7 H*?, , poorae/ / twr ra V0OR PROPeerv Patfo A A_._a O 1 (V7U “Mxxxve m 1
