Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 26, 1982)
emerald platform Conference gives students national view “The window of vulnerability" — what a clas sic non sequitur. This latest phrase-mongering by NATO politicians and media mucky-mucks is supposed to demonstrate the perilous position of western nations in their vigilant stand against “The Red Menace” and the “Yellow Peril.” The implication is that — according to Pres Ronald Reagan — ‘We must close the window of vulner ability. " To achieve this Reagan has proposed spending $1.5 trillion on military weapons, re search and personnel by 1985. How that money will be spent is almost as incomprehensible as the enormity of the sum. It is difficult to conceive of defense budgets that run into the hundreds of billions of dollars, let alone a budget escalating to one-and-a-half-trillion dollars. The National Security Conference, which began last night, may help to explain some of Reagan’s motives in spending $1.5 trillion on defense. And with both sides of the defense question being addressed by speakers, that “win dow” may be opened to let in some light and fresh air. The Associated Students of the University of Oregon, along with the University Veterans As sociation and the Incidental Fee Committee were the prime movers in setting-up the National Security Conference As far back as October, 1981 the Incidental Fee Committee allocated more than $7,000 and extended a loan of $3,000 to fund the conference. This is money well-spent. The conference extends through Saturday and will feature speakers and topics that may prove more than just a little informative to students concerned with the draft and neo-militarism Today at noon the subject of military man power will be discussed by Major General Cocklin, Charles Moskos, and Barry Lynn. They will be exploring the alleged deficiencies in the military force structure with regard to an all-volunteer force. The draft, and draft registration, areas of personal concern for students, will be discussed at this session. That phenomenal $1.5 trillion Reagan wants for defense will no doubt be the central argument in a discussion of the economics of military spending The effects of defense spending on the economy, and whether such proposed increases wifi enhance or endanger national security will be discussed. A forum that assesses the Soviet threat, as to the global geo-political intentions of the CCCP and whether the Reagan administration's re sponse is appropriate, will also be held today. The conference will run all Saturday with programs on the impact of strategic technology on defense decision-making, international securi ty asistance, and nuclear war deterrence and world response to U.S.-U.S S.R strategic policies The world is again tense with the military moves of the superpowers Peace marchers are filling the streets in Europe It's as if history has gone through a cycle. Reagan s “window of vul nerability'' is a posture that doesn't sit well with many people. The National Security Conference will provide students not so much with answers, but with the opportunity to understand the im plications of Reagan's defense proposals and the positions of those opposing this neo-militarism There is much fog on the window of credibility Time waste We have always assumed that the purpose of an IFC budget hearing is to exchange informa tion and serve as a give and take between the IFC and the organ ization seeking funds. On Monday, Feb 15 at 5:20 (make that 5:45), the Forensic program learned not to assume The forensic budget hearing was not a process of exchange or a give and take, however, it was a waste of time It was a waste because one of the oldest, most respected pro grams on campus was disman tled beyond repair. It was a waste of time since the IFC (Karsten Rasmussen) had al ready reached a decision before the hearing and once in that room, no hearing was done This predisposition allowed for the true attainment of due process for which we are eter nally grateful. Forensics requested $9,700, and increase of 19 percent over last years budget of $8,177, and received $5,344 This 40 per cent cut, even lower than the ASUO recommendation, is akin to having five kids and telling two of them that they won't be eating next year Are we asking for sympathy? You bet damn well we are How the IFC could so reck lessly cripple a program estab lished before the turn of the century and currently ranked in the nation's top 2 percent is incomprehensible The reason for our disbelief is that we expected a cut, not a mortal wound based on previous biases and miscon ceptions. It was apparent, observing the lack of questioning and discus sion by the committee, that they had already reached a funding decision Rasmussen even remarked, "You all know where I stand," which we hope is not on the IFC next year The lack of consideration, re spect and funding that forensics received appalls and frightens us, as it should the University as a whole Rick Poulin rhetoric and communication Lori Lieberman pre-journalism Disturbed David Thomas' letter Feb 5 should hit home to every student on this campus I'm in different about the misman agement of the post office, but I am seriously disturbed that my tuition is being used to fund the gay people's group here on campus Let’s cut the niceties I like to call a fag a fag I am disgusted that my hard-earned money is spent to keep some fag in Va seline I find homosexuality repugnant, and it really burns me to be forced to support that which I am morally opposed On a similiar line, the ASUO has actually published where the money goes' in the Emerald Again, I am sickened by what I see There is a special interest group for everyone except white heterosexual males Now that’s inequity I have to pay so that minorities can get together and call attention to their differ ences, and whine and moan about how rough they have it Special interest groups based rf’5 KEt *>.v£ C & .^Revere feSSSSR tCONOfKVCS on race, such as the Black Student Union, the Chinese Student Association and the Native American Student Union, serve no purpose other than to demonstrate how really differ ent these people are from the rest of the student population Black women must be excep tionally hardcore cases since they have both the Black Student Union and the Ethnic Women's Alliance, not to men tion the multitude of women women's groups to help them out I guess I wouldn't be com plaining so much if there was a White Male's Student Union Then the rest of you could know that I am really different and truly a member of an oppressed group of people If any of you white males out there have ever tried to get a job with the U S government, you'll know what I mean And what is the Muslim Student Association? Aren't there laws against the state paying for religion? And if not. why isn't there a catholic or protestant student association funded by the ASUO? There is really no need to go further The point is this: the students at the University are supporting special interest groups which may serve a useful purpose But, should we be funding those groups which detract from our campus and which serve no useful purpose9 I think not Michael Patrick Lysne business student Bottleneck The computer and informa tion science students are ex periencing a bottleneck of their own doing A programmer can not rely on having computer time available at the last minute any more than they can rely on their program to work the first time I can imagine the scene at the computer center as students hurriedly write programs as they enter them at a terminal And then spend hours debugging a sloppily written program at a terminal The organized students; who started designing the program when it was as signed; who wrote the program on paper and walked through its logic before entering it on the computer; who entered and debugged their program weeks ago, are the ones who complet ed their lab on time Increasing the computer center's capacity to handle peak loads (for last minute students) will only encourage poor programming habits I don't feel sorry for them at all. Jack Debrick senior, computer science The Oregon Deity Emerald It published Monday through Friday except during ttnaH meek and vacations by the Oregon Deity Emerald Publtahlng Co. Newt MS-5511 Advertising/Bualnesa 6SS-3712 ClaasMadt MS-4343 Production 6SS-I3S1 Editor Sally Hodgkinaon managing Editor Gabriel Boehmer New Editor Harry Esteve Assistant Maw Editor John Healy Photo Editor Bob Baker Graphic* Editor Max DeRungr Editorial Papa Editor Cort Female! Sport* Editor Steve Spatz Associate Sports Editor Jeff Dickerson Entertainment Editor Matt Meyer Night Editor John Healy At toe lata Editor*. ASUO Dane Claussen Community Marian Green Departmentt end School* Debbie Howlett Feature* Caroline Petrich Higher education Ann Portal PoHUca / Environment Ron Hunt G *Mf»l Staff AdvwfUttng Dlrectc Darlene Gore ClaeaMled Adearttaing Sally Ol/ar Production Mmneger Ann Peterson ControUer Jeen Ownbey
