opinion
Time is running out for ERA ratification
There's a cliche among editorial writers —
when faced with that blank page, there's always
the ERA.
That's the Equal Rights Amendment and not
Earned Run Average — although, the ERA of the
ERA has been disappointing
But now the battle to ratify ERA is entering its
final stages, and, we hope, its final ratification by a
majority of states.
That’s been the insurmountable barrier for
the amendment To date 35 states have approved
the amendment, just three shy of the number
needed to have the amendment become part of
the Constitution. The deadline for state legisla
tures to approve the ERA measure is June 30
That's not very far in the future Supporters have
openly admitted time is running out
Support has come from various enclaves as
diverse as the Mormon stronghold of Utah — 30
percent of Mormons canvassed signed a petition
supporting ERA — to a pair of former first ladies
Betty Ford and Lady Bird Johnson And presently,
the National Organization of Women has
launched a multimillion dollar ad campaign and
canvassing tactic that they believe will succeed
“The smart political money is against us.'
NOW President Eleanor Smeal reportedly said
But she added. “I can’t imagine — I literally can’t
imagine — our nation turning its back on progress
for people and for women.’'
Unfortunately. Smeal doesn’t have to imagine
this nation turning its back on the ERA — it has had
its indifferent side to the ERA since 1977
The problem is less than 20 words — only a
few more words than the free-press clause of the
Constitution Yet. it is equally as important as the
free-press clause
"Equality of rights under the law shall not be
denied or abridged by the United States or by any
state on account of sex
The wording has never seemed that am
biguous — nor that revolutionary — nor indicative
of all the upheaval its opponents say we will reap
The latest tactics in the ratification battle
include a campus campaign, expanded door-to
door canvassing project, a letter-writing appeal,
several television spots and a movie
The emphasis of the campus campaign will be
letters
Greek society
In colleges and universities all over the country, the
greek system means different things to different people
Some people look at fraternities and sororities with
contempt and ridicule, while others look at them with
respect and pride In actuality, the greek system is
organized in such a way as to reflect American society
This microcosm of our culture combines the basic
principles of opportunity, friendship, and individual
growth, to create living organizations that influence
college campuses all across the country
The greek system provides limitless opportunities
for an interested individual A fraternity or sorority gives
a person the chance to test their ability at leadership,
whether it means becoming one of the officers, execu
tive council members, or committee chairmen Even
those who are not involved in the administrative aspects
of the system are given the opportunity to learn from the
vast pools of talent and expertise that its various
members have to offer
Of course, the most important opportunity is the
chance to make true and lasting friends Obviously, as
in any living organization, you won't like everyone
you’re living with, but the fact that you're under the
same roof with the same daily interests and obligations
helps to form a common bond between individuals This
bond often is a lasting one that will live on long after we
receive our diplomas and go out into the “real world
And even though not every person in the greek
system appreciates the value of the friendship and
opportunities they are receiving, they still grow from it
By cooperating with one another, and by being re
sponsible a person can find personal growth and self
satisfaction
Needless to say, the greek system is not for ev
erybody It is like any organization in our society, it has
advantages and its drawbacks But like most systems in
in the Northeastern United States Some 25 cam
puses will be the site of organizational rallies in a
six week period
The campaign will extend to the anti-ERA
states, Florida, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Mis
souri, and Illinois, in an effort to mobilize grass
roots support for the ERA This grass-roots sup
port will then put pressure on each state s legis
lature
The nationwide television campaign features
a commercial spot of a smoky room with wheeling
and dealing politicians The voice-over (spoken by
Smeal) says, "a handful of politicians in a handful
of states are blocking the ERA ”
This is a devastatingly accurate statement
Even more evident of the handful of politicians
blocking the ERA is the conservative swing that
swept state legislatures in the last election Pres
Ronald Reagan — the conservative icon — snidely
says he favors "the E and the R but not the A "
Reagan should realize that the E and the R
carry no weight without the A It may be that he
does
Smeal says she can't imagine this nation
turning its back on the ERA — nor can we when
rationally considering the validity of the amend
ment Yet, since when has rational thinking and
validity been a criteria tor state legislatures?
Ratification in those key three states will not
be easily gained There is stubborn opposition
from a motley of odd and not-so-odd right-wing
groups All the might of NOW, and all the truths
about ERA have yet to dislodge the legislators
The big push is now — or never
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the American culture, it is designed for the benefit and
advancement of interest of its members, and that s its
strongest point
Alan W. Wright
PI Kappa Alpha
Hypocrisy?
It was most interesting to read in the Oct 12
Emerald that former University Pres Bill Boyd thought
the Pacific Northwest Resource Center should be
moved off campus because the University is unable to
have sufficient control over its own programs
I’m sure we wouldn't want to make our beloved Bill
Boyd into a hypocrite Using his own standards, if a
program usurps University control in such areas as the
selection of instructors and administrative personnel,
the maintainance of supervisory control over the ac
tions of these personnel, and monetary control over the
program it should be moved off campus
In this regard I must regretfully point out that over at
1679 Agate Street there is a white two story building by
the name of ROTC which has those exact characteris
tics.
For example, with regard to the selection of in
structors and administrative personnel the Army does
the original screening from among its own personnel
The University has the power not to accept any par
ticular candidate but it must ALWAYS choose from
candidates selected by the Army It should be quite
evident this selection procedure insures that no can
didate deemed not acceptable (loyal dedicated, etc )
by the military will ever be an instructor or administrator
in the ROTC program
In the interest of a single standard it is necessary
that ROTC be relocated to a location off campus
Otherwise we'd have to conclude that Boyd has been
indulging in some selective fibbing Of course that
might explain those "lines of nervous tension' which
creased his face during his tenure here
David Isenberg
Senior, international studies
Moslem error
Who is Jesus Christ? I recently read a pamphlet
distributed by the Moslem Students Society which
purports to answer that question
According to the pamphlet. Jesus was ‘ a poor
carpenter of the class of the slaves who raised a cry
equally against the Roman imperial power and the
debauched lackey anti-popular aristocracy repre
sented by the scribes and the Pharisees"
In addition, the pamphlet states that he was "a
voice crying in the wilderness" whose "prophetic
mission" was to call for a "revolt against imperialism”
and to spread the message that "the meek shall inherit
the earth "
The above statements are utter bohunk The author
has obviously never read the Gospels or, if he has, did
not understand what he was reading
First, Jesus was not the "voice of one crying in the
wilderness " That was John the Baptist (Mt.3;1-3)
Second, there is no evidence in the Gospels that
Jesus ever attacked imperial Rome In fact, Jesus
healed the slave of a Roman centurion Jesus did not
denounce the centurion as an "imperialist pig" nor did
he berate him for owning slaves On the contrary, Jesus
praised the Roman for his great faith! (Mt 8:5-13)
Third, Jesus did not come simply to teach the
"Golden Rule” or to proclaim that "the meek shall
inherit the earth."
Jesus, contrary to the claims made about him by
other religions or by modern "spiritual leaders," was
not just another prophet of God He, in fact, claimed to
be nothing less than God — the Creator of the Universe
— in the flesh (Jn.8:57-59; Jn 1;1-4;14)
His mission was not to call for class struggle, but to
call men to repent of their sins and to turn to him for
forgiveness. (Mk 1; 14, Lk,5:22-24)
Finally, the heart of Jesus' message was not the
"meek shall inherit the earth,” rather it was: "I am the
way, and the truth, and the life: no one comes to the
father but by me." (Jn 14:6)
Tom Visoky
Senior, journalism