Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (March 3, 1981)
opinion Renewed buzz of saws—welcome nuisance For a fund-shy bureaucratic institution, the University responded with relative dazzling speed in modifying the EMU Fishbowl for handicapped-student access. It was just less than two months ago that Chester Faller formally complained about the discrimination inherent in steps-only access to the new upper level of the remodeled Fishbowl. After initial hesitation, Acting University Pres. Paul Olum expressed sympathy for the plight of phy sically disabled students, and approved plans to construct a wheelchair-elevation device to the east portion of the upper level. He should be commended for his quick response to the oversight and good faith in overseeing the construction. Even the elevator construction project, which should be completed by the beginning of spring term, only winks at satiating the needs of han dicapped students, however. First, it is regrettable that only half of the Fishbowl’s upper level is being modified. For all of their apologies and hasty construction, University officials still spent remodeling funds in the neigh borhood of $167,000 to make an accessible room partially inaccessible to handicapped students. Wheelchair-confined students still have the jus tifiable gripe that window seats are available only to students who have use of their legs. Second, the incomprehensibility of the whole situation remains. For five months only construction workers gathered in the most popular gathering ground on campus. And when the Fishbowl finally reopened, less than two months passed before the familiar buzz of saws joined the not-so-familiar buzz of purple neon lights. That the University went through two years of planning, three separate planning committees and $167,000 before completing the remodeling project in the EMU is bad enough. That the extraordinary amount of planning and money resulted in a product that lasted only a week before falling to the flaw of discriminatory over sight is almost beyond belief. But nuisance that it is, the current construc tion is correcting the Fishbowl accessibility problem — partially, at least. Now all that remains is to tackle the other 54 accessiblity projects on campus. vours Think twice I bear much grief on the fact that two “fraternity pledges" were seriously in jured on Feb 22 during an initiation stunt It's disheartening that it happened during an event which was “geared to bring the fraternity pledges closer together." I am more disheartened by the fact that this type of “positive interac tion” is occurring within groups of people who will form the economic backbone of our nation’s future. I hope that we can learn from our mistakes, and trust that this and other incidents will speak loud enough to the greek community; and help everyone think twice before we act. Larry Flack Senior, architecture Minority rights The Eugene Commission on the Rights of Minorities is concerned about the state of anti-minority actions, including the most recent incident here in our own community. A key function of the commission is to monitor the ups and downs of our var ious minorities as Eugene continues its growth pattern and to serve as a “relief valve” for any minority citizen who, rightly or wrongly, believes that he or She has been a victim of unlawful discrimin ation. Accordingly, the City Council has seen fit, wisely, to constitute the Minority Commission with a cross section of its various minorities. We do not deny the right of anyone to voice his or her opin ion. The need to maintain free speech, spoken or written, is the bulwark of our society. It is a privilege which only those deprived of it can truly appreciate. But when zealots, of whatever ilk, cause fear, harassment, and jeopardy to whole groups of citizens, it behooves our elected and appointed officials to raise the level of their concern for those groups targeted by the zealots. We heartily support Governor Atiyeh’s proposed legislation to combat racial harassment. We urge our fellow citizens to rise above the vigilante mentality of zealots who abuse our democratic heri tage of free speech and free press. Eugene Commission on the Rights of Minorities Demand apology When Victor Tomseth was at the University Feb 9, an incident occured that needs to be exposed. During the question-and-answer period, where all people were welcome to ask anything of Tomseth, an Iranian student posed a question. Ves, this person was angry, as many of us were that day. The incident that was upsetting was not the question, or the anger, but it was a subsequent attack by an American towards an Iranian student. After the question was asked and answered, this particular bigotted person lunged for ward and punched this student in the back, all the time yelling hostile and racist statements. We the undersigned feel that any at tack, verbal or physical, towards a woman, child or man of any background is intolerable. Without exception, this type of behavior is always unacceptable, but it is even moe appalling when it comes from a recognized educator in the University system. To see a man who is supposedly “setting examples” and teaching others act in this fashion blew our minds. We expect equality and humane treatment from all people, and for this kind of abuse, we demand a public apology for this Iranian student and those persons susequently hurt by similar incidences. You know who you are. Robyn Braverman Junior, sociology and seven co-signers El Salvador The military regime in El Salvador has one of the worst records of human rights violations in the world today and is a totally illegitimate government (one never elected). A recent report by the Council On Hemispheric Affairs estimat ed that of the 10,000 people murdered last year in El Salvador, the vast majority were victims of the government's “security'' forces. I am personally out raged that the U S. government is using our tax money to aid in the torture and murder of the citizens of another nation The opposition is fighting a courag eous revolutionary war to throw off their oppressors with the support of the Sal vadorean people, in a similar way our founding fathers fought a revolution for our freedom in the late 18th century. The opposition is a broad-based coalition Ifi rntw QlJKTlOto BEEN ^ SLIGHT MISCALCULATION IN OUR USB FIGURES, SO Kfc TVlH PURPOSES OF THIS PRESENTATION WE IW ASK '(OuTO THINK IN BILUONS IMSTEAP OF MILLIONS.' called the Democratec Revolutionary Front and is made up of the country’s Democratic, trade union, church, pea sant and farming union, and Marxist leaders. Because it is every nation’s sovereign right to self-determination, it is clear our government must stop interfer ing in El Salvador’s internal affairs — but they won’t stop unless we raise our voices together in the name of compas sion and demand it. The United States government must: 1) Stop sending all military aid to El Salvador; 2) get all our military advisers out; 3) guarantee no military intervention. I urge you to write to President Reagan and your congressmen about your con cerns and questions on this issue. John Jordan Junior, CSPA No subsidies In a column by Greg Wasson, dated Feb. 2, your paper, in part, stated that the Northwest Power Bill contains “contin ued subsidies for the aluminum in dustry.’’ Nothing could be farther from the truth and certainly your paper should know that. It is possible that beginning Oct. 1, the Northwest aluminum industry could be paying as much as 234 percent more for its power than it was a year ago. This huge rate increase comes about because under provisions of the bill, the aluminum companies will exchange less expensive hydro power for more expensive thermal power, and in so do ing, pay the net exchange costs of the transfer. That hydro power will go dir ectly to residential and farm customers of privately-owned utilities. Thus, in Oc tober consumers on such utilities will likely find their rates going down, while aluminum plants’ rates will increase sharply. Instead of subsidies for the aluminum industry, the bill contains subsidies for the consumer; subsidies the aluminum industry is paying for. The Emerald will accept and try to print all letters containing fair comment on ideas and topics of interest to the Univer sity 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 address and phone number for verification. W.E. Campbell Northwest Power Manager Reynolds Aluminum
