opinion
greg wasson
a quorum of one
When opponents of nuclear power scaled the
fences at Trojan, apologists for the established
order universally condemned the confrontational
politics. The argument was that change should
come through voting, not trespassing.
Snatching up the gauntlet, those dedicated to
rational energy decisions delivered a quick one
two.
In 1978, voters approved a measure barring
utilities from charging for plants until they are
actually producing power. The change made it
more difficult to finance nuclear construction.
Two years later, the electorate delivered the
second punch by approving an atomic morator
ium.
Now, it looks like the impact of those victories
has been diminished, if not completely erased.
The Northwest regional power bill allows Oregon
consumers to be charged for construction costs
of new facilities in other states, even if those plants
will be powered by the atom.
So, Oregonians will likely finance nuclear
construction despite two statewide votes saying
no Gov. Vic Atiyeh doesn’t see this as violating
the spirit, much less the letter, of Oregon law.
‘‘The fact that someone else is going to have a
nuclear plant and send that power to the line, I
don’t see as muting Oregon’s intentions.”
If you sincerely believe that governor, you
haven't paid attention. “Oregon’s intentions” are
that our money not be used to bail out the utilities
and pour additional funds down the nuclear rat
hole. The fact that new plants will be located
elsewhere is of little consequence if our money is
used to finance the construction.
According to Assistant Public Utility Commis
sioner Roy Hemmingway, this is how it will hap
pen.
“The regional bill allows the BPA to purchase
power and put all kinds of costs into the sale price
for the rest of the region.”
So, when Oregon utilities buy power from the
feds, ratepayers will be picking up the costs that
the state law bars.
Heads they win; tails they win.
But, don’t give up, advises Sen. John Powell,
D-Halsey.
‘‘From this point forward, Oregonians are
going to have to work on the national level to keep
as much control over our own energy destiny as
possible,” says Powell. “But, obviously, we lost
some of that control with the passage of the
measure.
“Still, questions have to be answered. What
are the total costs? Who’s going to pay them? How
should the money be raised? It’s just a new ball
game on a different field.”
One wonders if this one, too, has goal lines
that keep moving out of reach.
yours
Hazing reply
I would like to refer to the recent ac
cident and investigation of hazing in
volving the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. First
of all, I accept the different opinions
regarding fraternities and sororities on
this liberal campus; the Greek system
does not appeal to everyone, and I re
spect those that choose to avoid the
Greek life, and I do not try to subject
them to any of the aspects of fraternal
living.
However, what I find hard to under
stand is how some people can attack a
group of individuals, and seek pleasure
in seeing that group suffer the con
sequences of an accident. As a live-out
member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity, I
have a deep concern not only for the
future of my house, but more so for the
two injured students. I also accept the
sanctions placed upon us, although what
happened in reality was a good time for
the pledges that turned sour — an ac
cident that should not have happened,
but could have happened to anyone else,
at any place. In regards to the unsigned
letter to the editor in Friday’s Emerald, I
cannot understand how someone in their
right mind could attempt to place any
kind of value upon another’s life. And in
reference to the last line of the letter that
implies that members place no worth in
the life of a pledge in comparison to the
life of the fraternity system, if my thinking
was as ignorant as that author’s, I would
also be too ashamed to sign my name
and be associated with such bigoted
beliefs.
William Christ
Junior, political science
Damaging debt
The focus on federal budget ‘‘cuts’’
obscures the overriding problem in the
proposed new federal budget.
The federal government is entering a
decade of fiscal decadence President
Reagan’s budget is out of balance, in the
red by $45 billion dollars.
This will add to a national debt of
$935.1 billion, making it nearly a trillion
dollars.
The interest paid this year alone, for
each man, woman and child in Oregon
and the rest of the nation will be $626.18
if borrowing rates paid by the federal
government remain around 15 percent.
Even assuming the interest rates on
federal borrowing drop to an average of
8 percent over the ten years, the amount
of interest alone, with nothing added to
the federal debt at all, will be $5,220 for
each man, woman and child for the ten
years.
To gauge the amount of $45 billion,
just think of a stack of $1,000 bills just
over two miles high. That is the amount
by which the proposed federal one-year
budget is in a deficit condition.
This deficit is more important and
damaging to the people of Oregon than
the specific details of programs cut.
Edward Fadeley
Senate Chairman,
Ways and Means Committee
Top-notch rally
In reply to John Sowell’s letter of
March II concerning the University rally, I
would like to point out a few things. First
of all, our rally has been ranked in the top
20 schools nationally, and has won
numerous awards at competition this
year. No other Pac-10 school ranks
higher. They are obviously an asset to
our school.
If Mr. Sowell had taken the time to
notice, college rallies very rarely lead
cheers during games. The game of col
lege basketball is far too fast-paced for
“We’ve got spirit, yes we do . . .’’Please,
Mr. Sowell, let us leave that in high
school. ,'j
As for your suggestion to cut their
budget, I commend you for your feel for
administration. The rally receives only
enough funds to pay for their uniforms.
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They raise all their own travel expenses,
and help in recruiting along with their
long hours of practice.
Our rally does lead the “Go Ducks"
yell. They do not lead chants of “Bull
shit," wave tortillas at referees, or wear
silly clothes and blow duck calls. After
sitting behind you and your front-row
pals for three years, I ask you to let the
rally squad dance, the students cheer,
and the lunatic fringe like yourself kindly
quit embarrassing the rest of us.
Jim Moore
Junior, journalism
Bike story
We would like to thank Harry Esteve for
the article, “A Pedaler’s Paradise,"
which appeared in the Feb. 27 issue of
the Emerald. It is extremely important
that students become aware of the bicy
cle-theft problem on campus and how to
deter thefts.
The article was in error, however,
regarding University bicycle registration.
Mr. Esteve stated, “When a bicycle is
registered, its serial number is fed into a
nationwide computer system.” The serial
number is not entered into the nation
wide computer system until the bicycle
is reported stolen. Since the serial
number is required when registering a
bicycle with the University, a record of
the number will always be on file at OPS
in the event that the bike is ever stolen
and the number needed. Driver’s license
numbers can also be stamped onto the
bicycle, enabling the property to be im
mediately traced to the owner. This can
be done at the West University Neigh
borhood, 1458 Ferry, or at the Office of
Public Safety, on campus, where bicy
cles can also be registered.
Pam Ford
West University Neighborhood
and two co-signers
letters policy
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