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SPA criminal element freed on technicality
ft seems the incriminations and recrim
inations that filled the air during and
following the April Associated Students of
the University of Oregon (ASUO) elections have
been stilled by the decision Tuesday from the
ASUO Constitution Committee that found the
Students for a Progressive Agenda (SPA) not
guilty on the three charges leveled by the
ASUO Elections Court.
The above paragraph is a longer sentence
than the SPA deserved for its allegedly foul elec
tions deeds. SPA was '‘cleared” of the “crimes”
because Jeffrey Houston, a former ASUO pres
idential candidate, failed to file a respondent's
brief or appear at the hearing. Houston’s lack of
action rendered the entire matter "moot.”
"This ruling of mootness,” the constitution
committee opined, "saves the Student Body from
a poorly reasoned opinion and a dangerous
precedent.”
it is genuinely comforting to know the
"Student Body" was saved from cracking up on
the shoals of dangerous precedent.
Karsten Rasmussen, committee chair, added
his two cents to the pot. “If it's moot, it can have no
precedential value.”
Moot moot moot . . all this mootly mootness
came not a mootment too soon.
What were these nefarious acts that earned
SPA such reprobation?
First, they were found guilty of poster viola
tions. This begs the question: How does one
violate a poster? Please don’t write in and tell us.
Second, they were found guilty of using
ASUO-funded materials SPA “criminals” appar
ently were sitting in the SEARCH offices envision
ing their campaign tactics.
Lastly, SPA “gangsters" were found guilty of
“‘attempted intimidation” of another ASUO
presidential candidate. That, so the grapevine
reveals, was a beery exchange late at night in a
favored campus “watering-hole.” It is more than
apt that drunken banter becomes convoluted into
“attempted intimidation.” Drinking makes
many ah hem activities only attempted
Surely, these were dastardly deeds commit
ted by desperate politically-thirsty candidates But
did they deserve the Elections Court verdict to
remove and bar all SPA candidates from office —
or 25 hours of community service? Naw, we don’t
think so
The Elections Court was criticized for over
looking SPA’s willingness to comply with Elec
tions Director Gus Palmitessas interpretations of
the elections rules. A point in fact the Emerald can
attest to — Palmitessa s conduct was as straight
as a serpent on oiled glass.
The Emerald is disappointed the SPA was
cleared of its heinous crimes — we were just
clearing our throats to chant: Free the SPA
Free the SPA
letters
Vicious propaganda
The article in the Emerald June 2, “Woman Regrets
Abortion" is vicious propaganda by an outfit which the
Emerald, in a previous edition, described as a religious
cult.
The same day this article was printed was the
showing of a video tape in the EMU by Pro-Life organ
ization against abortion
Who is sponsoring this propaganda on campus?
Why isn’t the opposite viewpoint shown and
written about: the human necessity for some
abortions?
The Emerald also devotes considerable space to
meetings of religious groups. Considering the Federal
and State Laws regarding separation of church and
state, this is an imposition on the citizenry. There are
appropriate channels for such propoganda and notices
in the religious section of the local commercial
newspapers.
Most important; the Emerald should not show one
side of a very controversial subject without showing the
other at the same time
Helene Johnston
Greduate student ISIP
Heads will roll
I would like to clarify a typo in my letter printed on
May 28 The line “heads will not roll" originally read
“heads will roll”.
I want it to be clear both that appropriate action has
been taken and that there was not question at any time
that such action would be taken
Jim Rowell
GTF, math
Reviewer reviled
Normally I would hesitate to impugn the credibility
of a film reviewer because I disagree with him In the
case of Matt Meyer and his review of “Conan the
Barbarian,” however, I not only disagree with him but
think he’s incompetent, and the latter suggestion is very
germane indeed
Is it really necessary for me to point out that Meyer
richly deserves to be disappointed if he expects every
adventure movie made since June 81 to be comparable
to "Raiders of the Lost Ark ” The transcendental
foolishness of that approach either to movie-watching
or movie-reviewing speaks for itself
What I really object to is that Meyer a) is obviously
unaware that all movies, even those in ostensibly the
same genre, do not spring from the same mold, and b)
was not paying attention to the film he so ineptly
castigates. 1) “Conan” was conceived and in produc
tion well before "Raiders” was ever released, and it is
based on a cycle of stories which is fifty years old and
has changed little in transition from print to film 2)
Somehow I can't honestly expect much in the way of
scintillating dialogue or poetic declamations when a
film's protagonaist is fighting like hell to kill and keep
from being killed 3) Nick Allder was not uniquely
responsible for all the special effects cited by Meyer
(nor did Meyer detail what was wrong with most of
them); his dislike of them is not enough to warrant
censure. 4) So James Earl Jones played a larger-than
life villain? I do hope you aren't going to tell me that
"Raiders'1 villains were subtle and lifelike That very
larger-than-life quality is what has informed much of the
greatest literature (not that I include "Conan", mind
you) from Homer on down 5)The Hitchcock-esque
scene Meyer mentions, where director John Milius
appears briefly as a lizard-on-a-stick vendor, was filmed
— but never made it to the final print Meyer does not
specify what is wrong with this, either; Milius is not the
first to emulate Hitchcock in this regard But how in the
hell can he carp about a scene that, as far as the
audience is concerned, does not even exist?
I don't deny for a moment that I liked "Conan the
Barbarian” very much Nor do I deny for a moment that
it has many flaws, some of them serious; wonder of
wonders, Meyer even mentioned one or two of them
But I would prefer that you have a film reviewer who has
just a touch of real perception, just a hint of critical and
analytical ability with regard to films (and their intended
audiences — “Conan" was not intended for those who
loved "Ordinary People,” for example) Perhaps she or
he, whoever they are, could use those abilities in print
with some trace of intelligence Meyer's feeble en
deavors in this area are usually irritating and embar
rassing
Michael E. Stamm
Graduata Secretary, Engllah
Twentieth century
Regarding Ron Hunt's article about abortion:
Which century is the Mars Hill Forum in? This is the
twentieth
Mary Flinders
Eugene 97403
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