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.
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