opinion
va irs
Black leaders
I am writing to challenge a statement
attributed to Gemma Grott of the newly
formed "Black Liberation Support Com
mittee" in the story by Stephen Knight on
page 3 of the April 14 Emerald.
It was reported that the BLSC, com
posed of a group of white University
students with a "progressive” outlook,
wishes to help support the struggle of
black Americans for justice and equality
by combating racism "through educat
ing whites about the condition of
blacks."
This is all well and good, except that
Miss Grott and her cohorts should have
their facts straight before beginning their
"educational” venture! I refer specifical
ly to the following statement attributed to
Grott: "Black civil right groups led by
whites have had the tendency to com
promise black goals.”
The two oldest civil rights organizai
tions in the United States are the National
Association for the Advancement of
Colored People and the National Urban
League. The executive directors of these
two organizations are Benjamin Hooks
and Vernon Jordan, respectively — both
of whom are black Americans who have
been actively involved on the front lines
of the struggle for racial justice in Amer
ica for many years. They are articulate,
courageous, and responsibly assertive
men whose characters reflect all that is
honorable and forthright in the quest for
a more inclusive and just American
society
If Grott had these organizations in
mind when she asserted that black civil
rights groups have been "led by whites,”
the record will show that she is grossly
misinformed on this point!
Ronald J. Rousseve
Professor of counselor education
Right-wing tabloid
In reference to Steve Fogelson's ti
rade, "Unprofessional rag,” April 27, I
find myself wondering exactly where he
is coming from. Certainly he has raised a
number of valid criticisms concerning
the Emerald, most of which could have
been summarized under his plea for
objective reporting. The Emerald is sor
ely lacking in objectivity in reporting and
perspective in editorials.
On the other hand, Mr. Fogelson’s
continuous calls for conservatism seem
at odds with his plea for balance.
rnmm
Page 4
msCHLARY! REALLY!!'
Concerning his comment on the
Emerald staff's “drug-crazed liberal view
of the world,’’ this judgement on his part,
besides contradicting his position for
“balance and perspective,” is at least in
part utter bullshit. While I can’t speak
with authority concerning the "drug
crazed” nature of the Emerald staff,
anyone who considers the moderate
Emerald a “liberal” newspaper must be
so reactionary as to verge on facism. It is
one of the more conservative school
papers I have encountered, on either
coast.
As to Mr. Fogelson’s being a member
of your "captive audience,” if he has
been coming back to this University for
seven years, he deserves whatever he
finds here, including its paper.
Hiawatha
Graduate, music & philosophy
Listen to the vet
There was a curious composition to
the conference of Vietnam era veterans
held recently at the University. The emo
1
tion engendered by the powerful film,
"Hearts and Minds,” was in strong con
trast to the rational professional attitude
of certain conference speakers. Their
ceaseless use of the word "problems”
("lifestyle problems," “drinking and drug
problems," "employment problems,"
etc.) in association with the veterans was
misleading.
The vet exhibits symptoms, but he
does not have problems. The problem is
the U S. military: sending young boys to
fight in undeclared and unprovoked
wars; The problem is Corporate America:
eager to exploit the worlds peoples and
resources; the problem is a complacent
society: seduced, taken in, and bought
off by "the good life."
I found it intolerable, therefore, to
listen to employment counselors tell us
that although veterans unemployment is
expected to increase from its present 20
percent to 40 or even 60 percent, "we
must still work within the system." Is it
not ironic that the same vet, fighting in
Vietnam, increasing corporate profit, is
now asked by the "helping professions"
to be "gainfully employed,” increasing
corporate profit? Counselors might listen
to what the vets are saying by their high
unemployment record. As Jack
McClosky, a vet, said, "the frustration we
feel, the alienation we feel, the anger we
feel, these are all signs of sanity."
Some vets don’t want to adjust back
into a society that tolerates genocide in
the name of profit. They are keeping the
rage. We could do well to hear them.
Linda Kanzinger
Senior, general literature
Macho tirade
Tuesday, I was treated to another ma
cho tirade about grinding labor paying
off in the long run, another gutsy, man
against-the-odds, true-life account of
American heroism. Spare me. I'm sure if
there was a contest, the Emerald would
be flooded with similar brags from peo
ple opting for the "toughest guy on
campus” award. Not just the men, either
— I and other women can boast of work
ing long hours for low pay in the most
degrading, pore-clogging, sweat-rolling
work available. Let’s see who’s the most
cruelly exploited — wait’ll after this year,
when most of the middle and lower class
people won't be able either to stay in
school or find a job, not even a filthy one.
Don’t worry, taxes won't go to feed these
sloths, but to build up the military That’s
what democracy is all about, eh?
Mental labor counts for nil in this
society, so the trme we spend gaining
academic achievements is wasted — we
should have spent the time sweating our
butts off for wages, because sure as cuts
in financial aid those who can’t pay
aren’t going to go to school. At this rate,
it’ll take me 15 years to get my BA, but by
that time my taxes invested in nuclear
weapons will have paid off, and I won’t
need it, anyway.
Lonni Sexton
Sophomore, undeclared
Share IFC dollars
When we read that the IFC was cutting
back the subsidies given to the limited
elitist campus centered childcare, and
instead spreading that money around to
other student parents, we were very
unhappy. Even in the dark era of Ronald
Reagan, there are glimmerings of hope.
In responding to Linda Audrain's and
co-signer’s letter to the Emerald, April
28, entitled, “Runaway IFC,” there are
many points to contend.
First, it IS discrimination to give so
much money to a very limited program
when there are many other parent
students who could use a little more
childcare help. In fact, by your own
reckoning, 78 percent of the total
student parent population is being
ignored!
Second, how will the IFC “increase the
cost of childcare"? Unless she means
her own costs at the campus center. I'm
sorry that those parents who have been
the lucky few might have to pay more, but
maybe it’s time that more than a select
few should benefit
Third, the quality of care is and should
be determined by the parents, not over
seen by bureaucratic control as she
suggests. And there are many federal
and state licensed childcare programs in
the Eugene community comparable if
not superior to the campus center, and
some at less cost.
Fourth, those student parent "who
barely scrape by now” are those who
haven’t been blessed as one of the
precious elect to receive the graces of
the campus center program. Now maybe
the financial load will be eased equila
terally among all student parents, and
not just for the 22 percent “already
operating at capacity "
Beth Danforth
Sophomore, health education
Daniel Danforth
Senior, history
Ttiesdav. Mav 5. 1981