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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (March 11, 1981)
opinion_ Don’t over-regulate innocent fraternities Most of the sanctions imposed Tuesday on the Kappa Sigma fraternity in the wake of its violation of hazing rules were even-handed. The campus-wide stipulation placed on all fraternity initiations, however, exceeds the bounds of fairness. In his investigation report for the University, Dean of Students Bob Bowlin mandated that alumni advisers must oversee all fraternity initia tions and pre-initiation activities, and that the advisers must certify that the fraternities adhere to all anti-hazing guidelines. In the name of fostering better fraternity alumni relations, Bowlin has over-disciplined the majority of fraternities and their leaders, whose innocence must be presumed in the absence of guilt. While there is little doubt that Kappa Sigma violated the no-hazing rules of the fraternity and the University, those violations shouldn’t reflect so unfavorably on the other 13 houses on campus. It’s safe to assume that many pre-initiation activities have at least teetered on the edge of hazing. But it’s equally safe to assume that none of the activities have been malicious, and that fraternity leaders now will voluntarily scale down their questionable pre-initiation activities. The Greek system is as upset about the injury of the two Kappa Sigma pledges as the rest of the campus — probably even more upset. Fraternity leaders know the reputation of the entire system often relies on the individual reputations of every fraternity. More than any group on campus, fraternal organizations must beware of guilt by association. That’s why Bowlin’s move is unneccessary. Aware that they're being watched with scrupulous eyes, fraternities will be extra careful in policing themselves. Whatever fraternity violations occur in the next year, it’s a safe bet that such obvious hazing won’t be one of them. In the meantime, all 14 fraternities must sub mit to the belittling insinuation that they can’t keep their own houses clean. Clearly, only Kappa Sigma deserves that condemnation. On yet another new front, we re reminded how regrettable it is that injuries must occur before safety measures are taken. But cracking down on innocent fraternities doesn’t put the horses back into the barn. And until they give some indication they can’t handle the responsibility, fraternities should be free to keep their own barn doors closed without a legislated overseer. vars ESCAPE cuts The Incidental Fee Committee recently decided to make major cuts in the ESCAPE program budget, and while I did not agree with much of what the com mittee did, I concur wholeheartedly with their decision to stop funding the ESCAPE Volunteer Resource Manuals. These manuals have been a source of controversy for several years, and should have been excised from the budget long ago. Representatives of the ESCAPE program have argued that because of the unusual costs incurred by their volunteers, such as travel to and from placements, the program should not expect volunteers to bear the additional cost of buying the manuals. The estimated $3 cost that each student would have to pay for their manual does not seem excessive Many participants in the CSPA Legislative Internship Program pay up to $12 weekly in travel costs, and over 80 classes in many departments may require a class fee. The program also has defended fund ing the manuals on the grounds that ESCAPE cannot, because of University regulations, charge a class fee for print ed material, or sell material that is printed at their special School of Education rates. These arguments are a technical smokescreen that dissolves on contact with the basic point of contention: why shouldn't ESCAPE students buy their manuals at the Bookstore or at Kinko's, just like students in other for-credit programs? ESCAPE might need front I money for the printing, but if an actual charge were being made for the manuals, the money would come back to the department that provided it. Incidental fees are, according to the rules of the Oregon State Board of Higher Education, intended to provide for the physical and cultural development of students. They should not be misused to subsidize any aca demic program, even a good program like ESCAPE. Alan Contreras Junior, political science Deficiencies? Oregonians read in the Feb 1 Eugene Register-Guard that a Nigerian student was dropped from his doctoral program simply because of “academic defi iencies." If so, please look at these hard facts: • In September 1975 five doctoral students including me were admitted in the political science department. • My overall admission scale was 4 5 out of 5 with three excellent letters. • I was the first doctoral student to complete academic requirements except the dissertation. • I was the first to be advanced to Ph D. candidacy in the summer of 1976. • I was the first to complete a disserta tion which was accepted for defense by the four members of my committee. • After the defense on May 15, 1978 I was not told whether I passed or failed, nor was the result of the defense report ed immediately to the Dean as the regulation enjoins. How could a whole committee allow a candidiate to defend a bad dissertation? How do the above facts indicate "academic deficiencies?" Do Oregon ians know that upon the rejection of the dissertation on March 16, 1979 I appealed to the graduate school, whose appeals committee recommended a review of the dissertation, but that recommendation was overlooked? Why was my program terminated while the other four students are still in it now? Do Oregonians know that my suit was dis missed without my knowledge for 30 days, giving me no opportunity to appeal? Uyoata Oka Ekandem 2372 Patterson St., Eugene Time for change It was a good thing men’s basketball coach Jim Haney acted as cheerleader this season, waving his arms while trying to ignite the crowd. The rally squad showed us they were nothing more than a dance team, and as such, were not interested in leading cheers. There are two options for improving the system next year First, since it is funded by the financially troubled athletic department, the rally squad could be dropped to save a small amount of the department's money. Second, the squad makeup could be changed from guys who can execute gymnastic routines and women who know the latest disco step, to members of - \ \ both sexes who can lead cheers and vocalize the Mac Court crowd. At least then we could be getting our money’s worth. But as long as athletic director John Caine leaves Deanna Koenig in as rally advisor, I don’t expect there will be any improvements. Maybe it’s time for a change, John! Re: Mr. Albrecht’s failure to understand my reasoning (obviously why he considered it loose). Firstly, I compared a fetus with an appendix to demonstrate that human life is not necessarily the same as human being. Mr. Albrecht did not contest this. Secondly, he argued that because all human beings were once fetuses, all fetuses are human beings. Ridiculous. All human beings were once unjoined ovum and sperm. Surely he does not maintain that killing ova and sperm is killing human beings. Thirdly, I did not use the dependence of the fetus to argue my right to kill it. The fetus is dependent on me because it is part of my body. Because it is a part of my body and is not a human being, I have the right to choose to kill it. This argument is not relevant to euthanasia and infan ticide. The elderly and infants are human beings and are not part of my body. Fourthly, I had meant to be un mistakably clear. I believe abortion is a religious issue. Some religions maintain that the fertilized egg is a human being from the moment of conception. Others do not. It cannot be determined scien tifically. Therefore, defining abortion as murder is a religious definition. Finally, Mr. Albrecht’s statement that most religious people oppose abortion shows his inability to distinguish in dividual belief from fact. One may be be deeply religious without sharing Mr Albrecht’s beliefs. Thank Goddess. 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. John Sowell Sophomore, pre-journalism Life or being? Mary Skinner B.A., physics
