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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 16, 1981)
opinion__ ‘Nuts’ to aggressive squirrel haters Ever watch a campus squirrel, boldly scam pering around campus, aggressivly gathering whatever it is squirrels gather? Only one word comes to mind. Arrogant. Letters continue to arrive from students who have noted once too often the steely, daring glint in the eyes of arrogant University squirrels. Writers deplore the situation, but fail to propose workable suggestions to help stem this worrisome tide of squirrel arrogance. Gordon Brown, a junior econonomics major, was the first to draw attention to the problem in an April 6 letter. Brown warned of the dangers of squirrel arrogance, noting telltale signs of in creasing boldness — squirrels refusing to move from sidewalks, taunting passers-by from trees and, according to one witness, assaulting a coo kie-munching University student. The warning cry was followed by more letters, and the response has surprised Brown, self-ap pointed chairman of the Coalition to Stamp Out Squirrel Arrogance. Since then, more complaints. One writer warned of a planetary squirrel takeover. But no one offers realistic solutions. Brown proposed tossing rocks at the arrogant tree-dwellers. Dean Domino suggested “beating up these atheistic puffballs,” and if that failed, using “BB guns and tactical M-80s.” Others have suggested leg-hold traps, having a “squirrel shoot, and importing squirrei-eanng, iree dwelling pythons. But cooler heads have prevailed. Letters appear today by two writers who analyze the situation unemotionally and note the problem is not the fault of squirrels — but society. Man and civilization have encroached on what was once sole province of the squirrel. It’s easy to jump on the anti-squirrel band wagon. But there’s no need, as a letter says today says, to kick a squirrel when he’s down. To say some have over-reacted is an under statement. The fear that they “will kill our brothers” is nothing if not hyperbole. It’s a matter best left to squirrelly biolgists and zoologists — not to trigger-happy students. Some will say we must take a more agressive stance to combat campus-dominating squirrels. To that we respectfully reply “nuts.” vours Love thy neighbor Since my return to the United States after a three month absence (in New Zealand. South Africa and hong kong), I have grown increasingly disillusioned with what appears to be the American people's ignorance of the outside world. Nestled within our cozy environments, automobiles, hamburgers, local sports and color television, we all too often fail to consider the plight and struggle of other people elsewhere in the world. We claim to be a democracy while our national leaders continually make major decisions on issues that were never brought to our attention. We claim to be a model of freedom and human rights while the "friendly nations" we support kill and harass their own citizens. In its efforts to counter "Soviet expansion ism," the Reagan administration has ignored the course of history where for generations the majority of people have suffered because most of the land in their country is (and has been) owned by a tiny ruling minority. (El Salvador is a perfect example.) When working people organ ize to oppose their intolerable condi tions, they are labeled communists or Soviet-backed agressors. The American people do not hold themselves responsible for the brutality their country indirectly commits abroad. We claim to be informed while our primary news sources are controlled by a privileged few. We claim to be Christians. Didn’t Jesus Christ teach us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves? How can we love our neighbors and ignore them at the same time? Christian Gunther Sophomore, undeclared Not squirrels’ fault Yes squirrels have become a problem. They are no longer just social misfits, but a menace to society here on campus. But these arrogant rodents are suffering, they have been rejected by those who could help them the most. It is sad the symptoms are always the same: rowdy yougsters casually toss rubbish from trees and defiantly sit in the middle of the sidewalk. The prettier squirrels fluff their tails and try to appear as seductive as possible, just to catch the eye of someone who might give them a piece of cracker Squirrel alcoholism and suicide rates are also on the rise: only yesterday I saw a sqirrel staggering, then jumping off the roof of Deady Hall This is not the fault of the squirrel High unemployment rates, the decreasing availability of low cost trees, the price of nuts, these all contribute to rodent de pression Squirrels flock to the Universi ty, but even here they are ridiculed and chased by bikes, dogs and small chil dren. They need our help. Don't kick a squirrel when he’s down. Given some encouragement, a good meal in her stomach, and a goal in life, the squirrel can be an eager and useful character on this campus, and else where. Given training, a squirrel would gladly pick up trash, rake leaves and wash windows. Squirrels are very rea sonable and they just need a... a kind of break. Send your contributions to Squirrel Reform, co Cynthia Johnson, Shopping Cart 7, Somewhere in your neighbor hood. Cynthia Johnson Sophomore, undeclared For the squirrels I must fervently protest Dean Domino's views on the increasing action observed taken by the squirrel population. He has made several accusations against the members of the movement that need proper perspective in their examination. Mr. Domino, you accuse the squirrels of holding alliance with the rat, mouse and hamster populations. There has been no conclusive evidence that such alliances exist. Squirrels generally do not approve of rat tactics and consider rats to have sold out their heritage by living in man-made structures over the centuries. Although mouse alliance is a real pos sibility, hamsters are unlikely candidates because most hamsters are behind bars. Any thought of a military coup to free them should be dismissed as too pre sumptious for squirrel political doctrine. Furthermore, just because squirrels don’t hold employment within our system is no reason to accuse them of laziness. We all know their reputation for dil ligence when gathering nuts. With the exception of the few that are employed at the Willy Wonka Candy Company, squir rel employment is virtually nonexistent. Holding most human jobs is difficult for most squirrels because of educational deprivation. The particular anti-human tactic ob served by Mr. Domino was an isolated incident by independent factions and in no way reflects the policy of the majority of the squirrel population. I can’t deny the influx of squirrels and their relatives into the media. How else c hr Boaon “TIM IS C WHO CANNOT R CM CM BCR TIIC PAST. VRC (XINDCMNCI) T< I RCPC VT IT" are they supposed to get recognition for their cause? Oppression of our rodent friends must stop! The squirrels have silently endured encroachment of cities into their parks long enough. Humans have been mur dering their kind without reason and they’ve had enough. You may think that as a human I shouldn’t defend their cause. But as just one concerned person, I feel I am doing my part to help make this world safe for all of its creatures to share. I can only hope that their plea for equality and dignity will be heard by all humans and that the revolution will not go to violence. It is narrow-minded human thinking to consider BB guns and tactical M-80’s as the solution. I feel that a public education program to inform humans about the long stand ing oppression and violence already endured by these creatures to be a better idea. (Although this might not be the year for new social programs.) Donations to help their cause can be sent in care of your favorite charity. Just tell ’em it’s for the squirrels. Philip Fake Freshman, fine arts Worth defending? In response to an April 8 letter, I ask James Miller to think twice about what he asks we defend. Yes, the United States has produced many wealthy people — and how did these folks attain their status? Why is this country "great”? How did some here come to live better than anyone else in the world? James, I ask also that you look at the repressed of America, and tell me why this government is spending its (our) time, energy, people and money sup porting other repressive governments who are fighting against their own peo ple. Your letter gave me the impression that no one within current U S. borders lacks the access to the resources for self-sufficiency, for example. James, look around you; people are being hung, murdered and starved right here in the good old U S A. And you ask why many choose not to support a government which continually and blatantly rein forces oppression! Before you continue to stand behind this country 100 percent, I suggest you further educate yourself as to how it got to the position it is in today — in relation to other countries in the world. And then take a better look at where it actually stands now, especially in relation to its people. T. L. Eden Junior, psychology
