opinion
University Senate errs on two counts
The University Senate met Wednesday and
made recommendations on academic cheating
and changes in punishable drug-related offenses
With either action the University Senate has
created more of a problem instead of a solution
The changes in sanctions for handling in
stances of academic cheating were recommend
ed to discontinue a student s option to withdraw
from a course until any allegations of cheating
were resolved Pending University Assembly ap
proval of the senate s recommendation, a student
can presently withdraw to avoid an F grade if
convicted of cheating
The University Senate's recommendation, if
adopted, seems to put the student in a position of
double jeopardy. If convicted of academic cheat
ing the student not only loses the course but
receives a failing grade. The question occurs:
What if this course is required in the student's
degree area? Academic cheating is a fairly un
common occurrence and usually committed as
desperation rather than design The loss of a
needed course and a failing grade seems exces
sive punishment.
Another question is implied by the University
Senate’s recommendation — is there a procedure
etters
YAF principles
Mike Rumble paints an amusing scenario of Young
Americans for Freedom in a letter; amusing to me since
I know the anomalies that have surrounded Rumble
while in pursuit of his much desired political career
Rumble says YAF is inconsistent in their beliefs That s
pretty strange talk coming from a boy who doesn t even
know which end his head is at Contrary to Rumble's
opinion, YAF is very explicit as to what they believe and
their policies and principles are spelled out in detail
Contrast this with Rumble who claims to be an ardent
admirer of YAF board members Ronald Reagan. David
Stockman and Barry Goldwater, and then turns around
and says he is diametrically opposed to the very princi
ples these men have devoted their lives to Perhaps
Rumble's philosophy comes from the old political
strategy that the middle-of-the-road politician is the one
who gains the most votes This policy of his may have
been derived from his longtime devotion to Richard
Nixon, who was an expert fence-sitter on many diverse
issues
Rumble claims YAF is inconsistent with their views
because some of our local leaders have views
divergent with the national YAF policy YAF is not a
fascist organization They do not impose their will on
the local chapters and leaders The only requirement
for membership in YAF is a belief in the principles of the
Sharon Statement (which Rumble professed to believe
when he asked to join YAF) These principles are
nothing more than the embodiment of the ideals that
America was founded upon, the ideals that made her
"a government of the people, by the people, for the
people ” Other than this, YAF chapters are free to
determine their own policies and issues On the subject
of the draft, which Rumble mentioned I am personally
in favor of it for reasons too numerous to mention here
My feelings are not shared by the majority of our
members, but I respect their opinions and they respect
mine, a quality Rumble has not developed
Even with the altercations I have had with Dave
Isenberg, I at least respect him in the sense that I know
daily emerald
The Oregon Daily Emerald is published Monday through
Friday except during finals week and vacations by the Oregon
Daily Emerald Publishing Co at the University of Oregon
Eugene Oregon 97403
The Oregon Daily Emerald operates independently ot the
University and is a member of the Associated Press Offices are
on the third floor of the Erb Memorial Union
News and Editorial
Display Advertising and Business
Classified Advertising
Production
Editor
Managing Editor
News Editor
686-5511
686-3712
686-4343
686-4381
Sally Hodgkinson
Gabriel Boehmer
Harry Esteve
Page 2
to make reparations for academic cheating7
The second recommendation by the Univer
sity Senate involves changes in what is con
sidered punishable, drug-related offenses
Has the University Senate become an arm of
state law enforcement? Aren't there enough ex
isting codes for the campus, the city, county and
state that amply cover drug violations — why is the
University Senate writing a new version?
The University Senate's revised version
prohibits the illegal creation, processing, cultiva
tion, brokering or possession of controlled sub
stances on University property
This revised version is a masterful piece of
academic jargon — more ambiguous and ex
tralegal than applicable
For instance, what is brokering? Is it sales, or
purchase7 Is the broker the middle-man? If so, is a
person culpable legally in a drug arrest if they
carry dope from one person to another — are they
a broker by definition if they give the name of a
dealer to a third party7
The sharpest criticism of the University Sen
ate's changes came from Psychology Professor
Barbara Gordon who maintained crimes against
the state should be dealt with by civil authorities —
not the University We wholly agree
It would be in the best interests of the Univer
sity Senate to reexamine their recommendations
on academic cheating and punishing drug-related
offenses In either case clarity and conciseness is
desperately needed
j)V W*
• JL.4
-v"
“r
?'V
. - ;’
A
. V
»T <
QmjtGtf.. HESWP
tssastf®
ijusasm
/
where he stands and what he believes His views are
firmly spelled out and he stands by them Rumble is not
deserving of this respect as it is impossible to tell what
he believes from one day to the next I think Rumble had
better learn to grow up before he pursues his politics
more and seeks to defame those who know who they
are and what they believe You may love us or you may
hate us, but you can't say we don't know where we
stand
Jerry L. Peyton
Chairman-University Young
Americans tor Freedom
Don't shun technology
I am amazed at your blindly anti-technology opin
ion", Jan 6, on test tube conception You argued that
because technology has been used to create in
struments for the destruction of life — atomic bombs,
herbicides and agents of biological warfare — that we
should shun any technology that facilitates the creation
of life That is doublespeak
Should we ban caesarian birth because it is
achieved through the technology of the knife or
because it is used unnecessarily by some doctors9 We
Assistant News Editor
Photo Editor
Graphics Editor
Editorial Page Editor
Sports Editor
Associate Sports Editor
Associate Editors
ASUO
Community
Departments and Schools
Higher Education
Features
Politics Environment
Night Editor
General Staff
Classified Advertising
Production Manager
Advertising Director
Ad Services
Controller
John Healy
Bob Baker
Max DeRungs
Cort Ferriald
Steve Spat/
Jell Dickerson
Dane Claussen
Marian Green
Debbie Hewlett
Ann Portal
Caroline Petrich
Ron Hunt
John Healy
Sally Oljar
Arm Peterson
Darlene Gore
Carol McMullen
Jean Ownbey
should carefully monitor a new technique, but not ban it
simply for its newness
Each element of our world was once evolutionarily
new The human mind itself is a natural product of
evolution That evolution continues, within the
development of human consciousness and the natural
byproducts of our minds, should not be surprising or
feared
But the evolution within us is evolution conscious
of itself We have the capacity to foresee the process of
natural selection, to choose those behaviors and
technological creations which facilitate the further
development of life love and higher consciousness and
to set aside those that destroy this development We are
beginning to do so
Although conception facilitated by technological
means could be put to negative ends, clearly helping
couples who cannot conceive a child due to damaged
fallopian tubes, to share in the joy of parenting fulfills
these evolutionary goals Let neither fear nor greed
rather, wisdom be our guide
Jack Straton
Physics
Endorsements
People may legitimately disagree about whether
political parties should make pre-primary en
dorsements, but disagreement with a person s views
should not extend to personal attacks and distortions
like those of John Reed (1/7/82)
There is no way that the Lane County Democratic
party can tell a person how to think or control the
positions that candidates may take However, as a
political party it has a legitimate concern about who is
chosen to carry its banner All it can do, and all I have
suggested that it do, is decide which candidates, if any,
it wants to support in a primary election It shares this
right with all organizations and individuals who decide
how to cast their vote and use their influence in the
electoral process The final choice always has and
always should belong to the voters I would have it no
other way
Carl Hoaticka
Assistant Professor
Public Affairs