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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 27, 1981)
opinion_ Eaton leaves legacy of success When he took over as ASUO president in May of 1980, Dave Eaton wanted to strengthen the image of the ASUO, to lend some credibility to the office and to become an effective manager of the ASUO executive. Eaton, who ended his reign at the ASUO last week, has done all that — and more. On his desk these days is a sign calling him "an ex-important person." But the improvements Eaton has made have forged positive relations with students, faculty and administration that will last. He’s reorganized the ASUO executive, im proved public and press relations, and given to University student government a credibility it lacked when Eaton took over Eaton’s administration from the beginning has been open and honest He hired a good staff, and oversaw an effective lobbying effort under Wilkins. He battled to stop the administration from upping the student athletic fee but maintained a professionalism with University Pres. Paul Olum’s office that survived the struggle. He managed to ride herd on an unbrideled Incidental Fees Committee, vetoing its crazy decisions when necessary and giving the oft-ar bitrary commitee some clear-headed perspective. In the process, incidental fees were trimmed about 9 percent for the coming year, stopping years of rising fees. Above all, Eaton has been an effective ad vocate for students and student issues. The mu tual respect with the University administration and the Legislature has given University students a stronger voice on campus and throughout the state Eaton realized early that his job would be a difficult one. A realist, Eaton saw that making changes is a laborious process that is best completed by working with “the establishment.’’ He opted for the less glamorous but effective route of working quietly with the administration — resisting the temptation to make the ASUO executive a one-man crusade against the admin istration. As a management major, he brought a unique perspecitve to the job. His interest — unlike many of his pie-in-the-sky political science predeces sors — lay less with ideology than reality. It was an effective perspective. Eaton’s adminstration was not without its faults and failures. But those were far outstripped by the open, efficient, professional manner he brought to the job. Eaton is spending his last days at the Univer sity working to make Wilkins’ job easier and the transfer of power smooth. Let's hope the new ASUO executive profits as much from Eaton's example as the University has. Minority reports The governor has recommended a 7-percent increase in general fund expenditures to the state system of higher education for the coming bien nium. This is an actual decrease after being adjusted for inflation. Now the Ways and Means subcommittee on higher education would like to cut an additional 10 percent, and has asked for suggestions from teachers and students. Mr. Larry Pierce (political science) and Mr. John Moore (Oregon Student Lobby) appeared before the committee and suggested cuts (so much for never com promising until the end, at least as education goes) Mr Pierce basically said that only the strong programs should survive, and the weak ones should be cut I agree with that; that seems like good John Wayne/Ronny Reagan American ideology. Then John Moore appeared before the committee a couple of days later, and suggested a wide range of cutbacks and fee in creases About the only one I agreed with was to eliminate the gym suit service; they aren't exactly designer athletic wear. I don’t know Mr. Moore or who the OSL represents, but I’m an Oregon student and they don't represent a majority of my views on current legisla tion. So whoever the OSL is, file this under minority reports. Brian Dunlap Senior, political science Intern, Sen. Groener Draft doctors? For the past few years one of Ame rica’s favorite hobbies has been singing the blues about the alleged deterioration of the all-volunteer force. Everyone from Jerry Falwell to the weekend warriors in the Army Reserve keep saying the same thing: the armed forces need to be more professional Well, it seems like the government is also in agreement In a recently released report the General Accounting Office has recommended that Congress should set up a system for drafting doctors, nurses, and paramedics into the armed forces in case of war. The system — already under study by the Pentagon and the Selective Service System — would probably include registration for medical personnel like that required of 18-year old men I think it’s a marvelous idea. At last America's elite minority, upper income level doctors, would have a chance to display their patriotism. Instead of prac ticing their slice out at the goff course, they could develop their motor skills with a bayonet at basic training. Instead of spending its time lobbying against na nA A 'M" HOLDING HANDS' UMTS THE BEGINNING OF LIFE — NEXT THING WE KNOW SHE'LL WANT AN ABORTION!' tional health care, the AMA could rally to make sure that all its members are elgible to be drafted. My only suggestion is that the government ensure other professionals a chance to participate. Our military should be as professional as possible and therefore we should also include lawyers, bankers, realtors (we re usually fighting over land anyway) and members of fraternities and sororities as they are the breeding grounds of the profession als of tomorrow. David Isenberg Junior, international studies ‘Frightening’ The arming of campus police is a dangerous step now being considered by the University president, campus security and the Legislature. It’s terrify ing for many reasons, but particularly for the possiblity that a mistaken shot could be fired, and an innocent person injured or even killed I view the move as bureaucratic ■'overkill" (if you’ll pardon the expression) and wonder why the propo sal was ever made. In general, American youngsters are a very well-behaved crew. In particular this campus deserves its reputation for being “mellow.” Maybe the administration knows something we don't know; could civil strife be on the way? Of course, there are intruders from the outside world who come on campus and commit crimes. In any case, we already have the protection and cooperation of the Eugene Police, the Lane County Sheriff's Department, the Oregon State Police, the Oregon State National Guard and the U S Army if the need for law enforcement or the bearing of arms should arise. There is no justification for campus security to begin doing so. The proposal is expensive in these times of economic hardship, and inflammatory in its own right Why has the idea of arming campus cops come now? Perhaps with moves afoot to reinstate the draft, the adminis tration looks back at the riotous sixties and says, "If we'd only had guns then. . . ” I find the prospects frightening Eileen Raymund-Wooten Secretary & student Ally alienation The response of the Women’s Sympo sium (May 21 Emerald) to Sergio Antil lano’s suggestion that their flyer was racist raises some issues which should be considered That a person did not participate in the planning of the sympo sium should not prevent him from commenting. Discussion from the public should be welcome and the newspaper is a traditionally appropriate forum for this. To say that he should have "gone to the people in charge" implies bureaucratic authoritarianism on the part of the University and has no place in a democratic society. I do not understand how the comment that no males attended the planning meetings relates to Mr. Antillano's cri ticism. In our struggle for a better society we must be careful not to make enemies of people who are striving for similar goals By being sexist, ourselves, we alienate a large portion of the population that might wish to be our ally. Hannah Sutherland Instructor, American English Institute
