opinion
t
glenn boettcher
even editors get the blues
We loved the music. Jackson was good, Chris
Williamson even better.
But the press conference for the Eugene
anti-nuke benefit — the second of three “Water for
Life” concerts being held in the Northwest — was
far more interesting.
Browne, Williamson and the rest of the con
cert entrourage — including musicians Floyd
Westerman, Jackie Robbins and Bonnie Raitt and
activist John Trudell — wasted no time in advising
that the media change their list of questions.
Don’t ask us where the money goes, they said.
That's always the first question you media people
ask, complained Trudell, a veteran of the occupa
tion of Alcatraz in the late 1960s.
Why don’t you ask us about the issues, like
nuclear power and water for life?
They had a point. So one journalist asked
about the radioactive waste dumped in the San
Francisco Bay, and someone offered a tentative
answer.
Just what does a journalist ask a well-known
musician who’s joined “The Cause?” Whether the
cause is fighting nuclear power, nuclear arms or
repression, it’s a tough choice.
Unless the musician is both articulate and
informed — a combination only Williamson
seemed to have — it’s useless to ask questions
that require technical or verbal expertise.
The journalist settles instead for the mu
sician’s opinion on this or that. The opinion may
be less informed than mine or yours, but the
reputation makes a difference.
What Jackson Browne’s says about “Water
.yours
Burglaries
It has come to our attention that
several social action organizations in the
Eugene-Springfield area have been the
victims of burglaries in the past few
weeks. There is evidence that the
break-ins might be politically motivated,
since valuables were left untouched
while files were rifled
We are writing to warn community
organizations that someone may be col
lecting information. We urge people to
be aware of this activity and to take what
precautions they can to protect them
selves.
Particularly, lists of members and con
tributors should be protected by keeping
them in a locked container. If this isn't
feasible, duplicates of all valuable
documents, including lists, should be
kept in a separate location to prevent
loss.
Don’t be paranoid. Don’t stop your
work. Just be aware. Contact this office if
you have questions.
Susan Buckles
Co-President of National Lawyers Guild
Jenny Stoik
Sweet, considerate, incredibly talent
ed, and happy-go-lucky are qualities
which come to mind when I think of
Jenny Stoik She always had a smile on
her face
In the jazz lab band and in the combos
she played in, her light-hearted spirit and
superb trumpet brought her to the atten
tion of the audience as someone special.
Creative, hard-working and caring of her
friends' problems and needs, Jenny
Stoik was an outstanding musician and
human being.
All of us who knew her were shocked
and grieved with the news of her death
was reported by the Eugene police
Tuesday morning. We will remember
Jenny for the fine person that she was
and we will miss her very much
Michael Martin
Sophomore, music
Feminist issue
Abortion is a feminist issue, and until
men can take equal responsibility in birth
control, it should remian one. A deter
mination of whether it is “right” to abort
a fetus necessitiates an obvious value
judgment regarding that fetus’ humanity
or potential for humanity, a moral deci
sion often dictated by one’s religions
affiliation. In some religious doctrine, it is
“wrong” to abort that potential with the
use of birth control; carried further, as by
many fundamentalist Christian groups, it
is wrong to have sexual intercourse un
less it is to conceive! Men do not carry
the burden of fulfilling such moral ob
ligations.
Abortion is not an alternate form of
birth control. It is a painful process made
more so by moralistic censure. An intel
ligent woman does not rely on men in
birth control. The IUD and the pill are the
methods providing the most control to a
woman and both have serious draw
backs to their health. The diaphragm,
condoms and foam all require some
degree of cooperation from the man, if
only for aesthetic reasons. The only
other really effective means of control
are abstinence, sterilization or sexual
satisfaction exclusive of men.
Abortion will continue to take place,
regardless of its legality. The recent past
seems like the dark ages when con
sidering the suffering and deaths caused
by illegal abortions. Thus, paternalistic
concern might best be expressed by
investment in coat-hanger production.
Rebecca Harris
Secretary, dance
Don’t cut sports
As a fee-paying student, I was shocked
to hear of the Athletic Department’s
decision to drop some “minor’’ sports in
order to make up for a $375,000 deficit
they are suffering. The decision to “cut"
any sport should be the last choice con
sidered to alleviate the problem. Just last
year the Athletic Department cried
“deficit" and managed to persuade the
students to vote in a mandatory $15 per
' hold real still,sam„. hl just knocks ash off his cigar. -
for Life" is worth a press conference to the local
media and worth thousands of dollars to local
environmental and Native American groups.
And it’s worth time. Enough time in the
"Water for Life” benefit concerts to expose a
Jackson Browne-hungry audience to a variety of
music from a variety of musicians, all of whom are
committed to the anti-nuke movement.
Although Browne and his colleagues admit
ted the paradox of having to use their music to tell
people about their cause, their frustration with the
role was obvious — the same frustration the
journalists at the press conference must have felt.
Just what does a journalist ask, if not the
specifics about which groups will receive how
much money? The real questions about nuclear
power and "Water for Life" must be asked of
those who have more to offer than opinions.
term athletic fee. Not only did this fee
provide “free” tickets to all sporting
events, it was also termed to eliminate
the deficit and prevent any “cutting’’ of
any sports in the near future. Almost a
year later, four sports are being “con
sidered” for a drop from any Athletic
Department funding. The sports, both
mens’ and womens’ swimming and gym
nastics programs, represent only
$197,00 in the shadow of the Athletic
Department’s multi-million dollar budget.
To drop these sports does not only
eliminate the athletic and educational
experiences of the athletes involved, but
will destroy the majority of national
recognition the University receives for
these and other outstanding sports pro
grams.
Furthermore, it appears that the Athle
tic Department would rather sacrifice its
coaches and athletes than attempt any
fundraising other than the solicitation of
funds. To my knowledge, the majority of
coaches are opposed to the elimination
of any sports, and have suggested, un
successfully, methods of eliminating the
deficit to Athletic Director John Caine. In
fact, it appears that Caine had already
made the decision earlier in the week
which left the coaches 24 hours in
preparation time to defend their sport
based on criteria set by Caine.
Most importantly is the fact that the
affected athletes have had no input into
their own destiny. Athletics is a part of
their "whole" education and many of
these scholar-athletes may have to end
their college career as a result of these
cuts. Though the athlete may transfer,
most will not be eligible for funding from
the recruiting school for one year.
Though what the coaches have
proposed as an alternative may not be
the solution, it is at least a thoughtful step
in the right direction. It is clear that any
decision to eliminate any sport from the
program should not be made with such
haste and without considering every
alternative available. Finally it seems
ironic that an institution such as the
athletic department which advocates
academic achievement through sports,
can justifiably eliminate this opportunity
from their athlete students.
Craig Marlin
Senior, physical education
fetters policy
The Emerald will accept and try to print all
letters containing fair comment on ideas and
topics of interest to the University community
Letters must be typewritten and no longer than
250 words
Letters must be signed, the author's field of
study or faculty status noted and must include
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