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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (March 30, 1982)
emerald platform Something sinister in the games they play There is more than a passing concern with worldwide nuclear arms proliferation and the game the superpowers are playing to maintain a balance of power. The contest is at stalemate now in what is aptly termed "mutual assured destruc tion", but is best expressed with the acronym MAD. To say “concern" doesn't adequately convey the extent of sentiment rising against nuclear arms. In Europe tens of thousands of demonstra tors have staged protests against the Soviets and Americans stock-piling nuclear weaponry in NA TO and Warsaw Pact countries. Demonstrations calling for a nuclear-freeze have been held across this country. But the demonstrators aren’t the important players in this deadly game. The Reagan administration is continually talking peace and making what appears to be overtures for disarmament to the Soviets. Yet, in spite of the "public" peace-making the arms race continues to escalate. Pres. Reagan's limited disarmament plan of last fall named “Zero option" apparently has been discarded. Now comes a report that seemingly with the blessing of the White House a five-day “mock" nuclear crisis was staged in early March. The report carried in the Wall Street Journal detailed how former Secretary of State William Rogers played "the president” and directed a world-wide nuclear war game. The five-day scenario included the movement of over 1,000 civilian and military players throughout the world. But the “ultimate moment” was reported to have occurred late in day four when the North American Air Defense Command picked up a major incoming Soviet missile strike Hundreds of Soviet missiles hit targets in the U.S., and Rogers, as president, figuratively died in the situation room. Former CIA Director Richard Helms, playing vice-president during the war game, took over the government for the remainder of the game. It seems horrendous for the Reagan adminis tration to be even indirectly participating in mock nuclear war situations. Is this merely a game? Or is it a test of the “first-strike" capability? Reagan was reported to be convinced that the mock nuclear war proved the government has the capacity for a "continuity" of power during a nuclear strike. That is extremely comforting to know that as the fire-storms rake the planet there will be a “continuity" in the U S. government. This is an insane "game" to be playing. What does this mock nuclear war say to the Soviets? It implies the U S. is testing out its "first strike” capabilities and ability to survive a retaliatory strike. It will definitely be read as such by Kremlin analysts. This war game is indicative of the unrespon siveness of the Reagan administration to the concerns of the American people. A broad-based coalition consisting of politicians, clergy, and educators have joined in a call for a nuclear freeze. But will the Reagan administration listen? How many years did it take the government to finally hear the shouts of protest against Viet Nam involvement? Too many years and too many lives were wasted in the waiting for the dawning of peace. We are waiting still. letters Appreciation We would like to express our appreciation for the University theater's production of "Peer Gynt” last term We found the production itself and Jim Con ant's acting amazing, and therefore were especially dis appointed in retrospect about the Emerald's review, which we don’t feel did justice to the am bition, energy, and creativity which obviously went into the play. We hope that the cast and production department know how much we and the University community appreciated the ef fort, and remarkable achieve ment. Barbara and Chriatar Mossberg English and Humanities Congra tula tions Your editorial “Davis’ task, a challenge to the utmost" in the March 15 Emerald was an ac curate and perceptive analysis of the circumstances surround ing the recent appointment of William Davis to the post of Chancellor of the Oregon State System of Higher Education. We believe that the State Board has employed the can didate best suited to the Oregon system. He has the experience, and we believe the personal qualities, to sustain and even improve the system in the dif ficult times that lie ahead Again, congratulations on a fair and perceptive editorial Edward Harms president, Oregon State Board ot Higher Education Fallibility You recently published an editorial article which criticized a test given by the School of Journalism for its apparent over-emphasis on the spelling of obscure words. Since that time, I have noticed in your pages several mis spellings of words that are not at all obscure (e.g.. "principle" for “principal,” “conscious” for “conscience,” "old-fashion" for “old-fashioned,” “alledged" for “alleged"). I hope that these misspellings reflect mere carelessness and not a new editorial policy. Lawrence Crumb Liberal tradition The people bitching out Pres Paul Olum ought to read Ken Metzler's “Confrontation”, the story of University Pres. Charles Johnson’s tenure Just as Johnson did, Olum is speaking out strongly for our liberal traditions He is not fighting battles he cannot win or building conflict that could create even more enemies of the University We lost a fair and honest man in Johnson and ended up with the Nixonian Boyd Herbert Scanlon Alumnus We dare you We dare you to print this let ter Dave Kanner A Dan Clark KZEL 96 radio Faculty salary It was with sorrow that I read the Emerald's editorial of 5 March, in which you urged faculty to take pay cuts in order to solve our current financial crisis, but not to take the proposed educational leaves or to accept being laid off, since those options would mean either larger classes for students or less class time for students or both You also state that tuition has been increased recently to meet the continuing financial problems, whereas faculty salaries have not been decreased What sorrows me is that the Emerald, and perhaps other students, seem to be eager to let these difficult times bring divi siveness, when we should be uniting in a common front You have made a serious er ror in your contrast between tuition and salaries, and that is your failure to adjust for infla tion. When adjusted for infla tion, tuition has hardly risen at all in the last five years, whereas faculty salaries have fallen drastically. Jack T. Sanders AAUP chapter president editor's note: The editorial did not urge University faculty to take a pay cut but to postpone for six months a scheduled salary increase as a means to meet the budget cut. staff rrw Dragon Deny t mar aid la published Monday through Friday except during finals weak and vacation* by tha Oregon DaHy Emerald Publishing Co. Haw* 606-5511 Advertising/Business 666-3712 Classifieds 666-4343 Production 666-4361 Editor Sally Hodgkmson Managing Editor Gabriel Boehmer Nami Editor Harry Esleve Aaalatanl Naan Editor John Healy Photo Editor Bob Baker Graphic* Editor Max DeRungs Editorial Page Editor Con Fernald Sport* Editor Steve Spatz Associate Sport* Editor Jeff Dickerson Entertainment Editor Matt Meyer Night Editor Ann Portal Atuochta Editor* ASUO Dane Claussen Community Marian Green Deportmenta end Schoola Debbie Howletl Ftaluret Caroline Pelrich Higher Education Ann Portal Politic« / Environment Ron Hunt General Staff: Ad wilting Director Darlene Gore detained Advert ting Sally Ol/ar Production manager Ann Paterson Controller Jeen Ownbey
