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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 11, 1981)
opinion greg wesson a quorum of one The obvious competition between humans and wildlife is for living space. The thickets that provide optimum homes for quail and pheasants are cleared out when housing developments go in. The presence of two-legged residents usually causes bounding qua drapeds to beat feet out Those who pay the rent by raising livestock view themselves in a more indirect, but no less important, conflict with animals — especially deer and elk. To hear them tell it, grazing wildlife are eating them into poverty. And, they’ve got an ally in most every representative from east of the Cascades In fact, there’s a strong, reoccuring move to change the membership of the Fish and Wildlife Com mission so that the body will OK decimation of Oregon’s deer and elk See, these wild animals like to eat the same things as sheep and cows, and few have learned to respect private property, habitually jumping fences and ignor ing “no trespassing” signs in their quest for dinner The simple solution? Issue more doe and cow permits, effectively closing down the factories that provide more animals. Economic interests are saying the current commission is dominated by urban liberals so concerned with the animals that they can't hear what the people are saying More accurately, the body’s detractors are con vinced the commission isn’t paying enough attention to them. As is common with those complaining about government action, they have defined “the people” only as those who share their concerns. But to their chagrin, not everyone feels Oregon has too many elk and deer. This year’s legislative effort to rid the state of the pesky creatures will likely center on a bill introduced by Sen. Lenn Hannon, R-Medford. The legislation would change the geographic make-up of the commission in an effort, Hannon says, to make it more responsive to what “the people” want. Luckily, this session's efforts will probably prove as successful as last and die an agonizing death. Han non's claims that he’s interested in increasing the democratic representation of the board will fool nobody and there seems to be little sympathy for attempts to allow a few, narrow economic interests to profit at the wildlife’s expense. Coincidence? Coincidence, or is it irony? Neither gets the recognition it deserves. One day department heads are told that to meet the governor’s proposed budget the College of Arts and Sciences must prepare to cut $500,000 each year of the next biennium, and a day later the pend ing vote on faculty unionization is post poned, basically for lack of interest. This brings to mind the Chinese tale of a farmer who is working in his field when he sees a rabbit run into a tree stump killing itself. The farmer then sits down by the stump to wait for other rabbits. It is reinforcing to find literature relived: only now faculty sit in their fields waiting for adequate state support to happen again. Funding levels the University has known in the past will not soon return; disastrous cuts and tuition hikes mean a long period of diminished support. The state board and the chancellor seem shy when it comes to opposing the governor's budget, and they nearly monopolize the representation of higher education in the state. Still, our adminis trators, a few faculty and friends are all working hard for higher education But if anyone draws comfort from this, if any one seriously believes the economy will "turn around" before the closing of this or the next legislative session, they should be approached about investing in ocean-front lots in eastern Oregon. It is evident the faculty must speak clearly for themselves. This must be the time, if there still is time, for all of us to look seriously at collective bargaining. Unions may be no more than a mixed blessing, but the issue should be studied, debated and brought to a vote. The last thing we can afford to do is be passive and hope that our grave demeanor will earn us some crumbs. We should convey the message (and prove it no illusion) that this faculty is a force, not a vacuum. As for the Chinese farmer waiting by the tree stump, he has been there about 2,400 years. Mike Fish Associate professor, East Asian languages Unrealistic Nick Wilson's letter, dated Feb 3, which stated that women who have abortions are “selfish’’ shows a letter full of biased and unrealistic opinion. Nick Wilson has never been a woman and never will be. Therefore, for him to understand the many reasons why women have abortions, he would have to be open to the other side. This is something he obviously is not. Everyone is entitled to choosing the way they sacrifice. Choosing not to have a child is a very big sacrifice for many women. Abortion is not a symptom of anything but a society ridden with many illnesses. We are definitely an overpopulated country, despite the results of the Census Bureau. In order to see this, one simply needs to look at the lack of re sources, unemployment and New York City. Most children are an art that two people create of love, but this is not always the case Many people have chil dren out of selfish reasons as well. And many children live in a world of anguish and fears, perpetuated by their parents and society. America is not a separate entity from the rest of the world, and what affects India, or any other distant foreign land hopefully affects most of us, or should. Perhaps Nick Wilson should take time to understand his own selfishness first. Eliza A. Harper Freshman, humanities Heroes(?) welcome Now we know where our tax dollars go. The 52 American ex-hostages have received a costly “heroes” welcome, courtesy of the United States govern ment. It is unfortuante our tax dollars are being spent on such an unjustifable cause. Tickertape parades in Washington, D C. and New York, dinners, theater visits, and free transportation are just a few of the many activities being support ed by the federal government. All of this is certainly costing a bundle of money, and in a time of high inflation, mandatory tax cuts and promised budget cutbacks, this seems to be an unrestrained and lavish performance on the part of the feds. Granted the hostages' lives have been "shattered" by the experience in Iran. Being held captive for 444 days is a traumatic experience, I don't doubt that. However, what have the hostages done to be heroes? Survived? Compare all of this to the return of the Vietnam veterans. CuPDutfr WUJ&K* !> IK URAl5 'wu.,t PONT CMC Wiriwaw»«... I STILL THINK YOU'RE CUIE AND CUDDLY. They suffered just as much or more than the hostages, but when the vets came back, heroes they weren’t. Analyzing this information, one can’t help but notice a giant inbalance on “our scales of impor tance". Don't get me wrong. . I’m glad my fellow Americans are back on U S. soil. What I do think though, it that the ex hostages have received a profuse wel come for doing nothing. It makes me sick. Dave Lund Freshman, computer science What trickle? Dear Mr. Reagan: During the campaign last year, I remember that you promised an income tax cut. For those of us that don’t make enough to pay income taxes, the "trick le-down” theory is supposed to operate. I won’t be receiving the first paycheck from my new job for over a month, my rent is due, and my bank account is empty. Would you please ask the Postmaster-General whether he’s put my trickle in the mail yet? Thank you. P S. In case it will take longer than a month to arrive, is a trickle interest assignable? Please ask the Attorney General at your very earliest conven ience. Thank you again. Dale Bricker Law student, second year Lousy floors Along with the coming of the inevitable winter colds and flu bugs on campus is yet another rather harsh outbreak — that of the countless twisted, turned, torn, and fractured ankles that are caused by the mismanagment of the so-called bas ketball courts in Esslinger (the Dustbowl) and Gerlinger (the ice rink) gyms. The condition of these floors has been un fortunately predictably lousy throughout the school year. With the wide diversity of classes, it’s no small wonder that the floors are rapidly becoming shadows of their original selves. Now I’m not saying to limit any type of class that engages in the usage of the facilities, but surely some logical form of maintenance can be put into play. Let's face it, leaky roofing, faded lines, dead spots, warped areas and the accumulation of dust, soot and dirt caused by countless feet have turned the courts into simply bothersome hin drances to a person involved in any sporting event. With all the multiple injuries occurring, it’ll be a matter of time (unless of course somthing positive is done) before someone truly pissed off will slap a law suit on the University. And that sort of action, sports fans, should never take place. Doug Stutz Sophomore
