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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 18, 1983)
I A quiet death for voluntary fees Perhaps the only good thing about Rep Richard Springer's bill to make student fees voluntary is that it stands a very small chance of passing The bill has no co-sponsors and is laughed at by other members of the Legislature Even Springer admits he is "not confident it will be passed at this point.” That leads us to wonder why he bothered to introduce it in the first place He has indicated that he has something of a personal vendetta against student-funded programs Springer graduated from the University law school in 1977 He didn’t enjoy paying fees to support the EMU, which he rarely used, intercollegiate athletics, which he didn't attend and the Emerald, which he didn’t like He once refused to pay his fees, but was "convinced'' to pay them by the attorney general’s office Springer maintains that one of the reasons he in troduced the bill was to get students, as well as legislators, thinking about the mandatory student fees. Students will be required to pay between $52 and $56 a term in fees alone next year He is convinced that there is a "Proposition 13” men tality among today’s students Many students don’t want their money wasted on frivolous activities they have no part of, Springer says What Springer has in mind is a “user fee” method of supporting student programs. If you are going to use the program, you pay for it If not, you should be able to save the money Among the dozens of programs that probably would lose most of their funding if Springer’s bill were to pass are the athletic department, OSPIRG and the black student union Given the choice, a large percentage of students probably wouldn’t voluntarily pay to support those programs. The question then becomes whether most students would want to attend a university without an intercollegiate athletic program, without a public interest research organ ization, without a center for black students. The answer is no The appeal of a university lies not only in its academic quality, but in the quality of its ethnic, cultural, political and social student programs as well. The best thing that can happen is for Springer’s bill to die a quiet death in the first legislative committee it comes across. ■ I opinion I j letters secianan During the “National Prayer Breakfast" in Washington, D C on Feb 3, Pres Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation desig nating 1983 as the "year of the Bible " This he did, despite a serious legal challenge filed by the Freedom from Religion Foundation (of Madison, Wis consin) On the basis of the separation of church and state principle, it does appear that Reagan's recent action is both unconsti tutional and an unwarranted in fringement on the right of "freedom from religion" to which those of us who are scvuiai aic cmmcu aa American citizens. Our form of government in America is deliberately non theocratic A "theocracy" is a system of governance in which the ruling power elite, usually priests and other religious agents, claim "divine” or Godly sanction — as in Iran today In the United States, public officials are expected to govern without bending toward sectar ian religious themes in the dis charge of their governmental responsibilities Accordingly. Mr Reagan's insensitivity is grossly unsettling! Incidentally, I am indeed pleased that in recent years I letters 'ARISE, SIR DUMP)' University administrators have voluntarily abandoned the im proper practice of including religious "invocations" and "benedictions" in commen cement exercises and other programs of that nature at this public institution As individuals, those who function as leaders in the government sector or at the University may certainly exer cise their personal civil liberties in supporting various sectarian propositions However, to do so in ways which smack of govern mental or institutional espousal is constitutionally illegal Reagan was ill-advised to sign, as President, a sectarian religious declaration Ron Rousseve professor, counseling Disagree Just a short response to Ginger Barnes' letter of Feb 11. Although I disagree with you, Ginger, on the issue of abortion, I believe that I can empathize with you. and I appreciate your concern for the future of un wanted babies and children I also share that concern, and I feel it's inappropriate to criticize abortion, and those who sup port it, unless one is willing to share the responsibility for a child oneself I belong to Orchard Com munity Church, a small inter denominational fellowship that has it's origins in tne University area We will gladly offer our help, without condemnation, to any prospective mother is ho is unable to raise her children alone, or is not sure whether or not to keep her child Our pas tor's number is 344-3800 Mark England Sexual dance My enjoyment of the very ex citing women’s basketball game Sunday evening was marred tremendously by the disgusting way in which the University cheerleaders acted These women were not cheerleading Rather, their ‘’dances’’ were blatantly sexual — degrading to themselves and ultimately to all women They consciously promoted the "woman-as-sex object” syndrome. The sharply rising incidence of rape and other forms of abuse of women and girl-chil dren in our area makes it imper ative that activities which further this mentality are stopped As one person in a crowd of 3,500 attending this game I felt powerless to stop this incredibly obnoxious display However, I feel that within the crowd were many other women and men conscious enough to recognize the damage that kind of behavior was causing Next time, let’s chant our re sistance and/or calmly walk out on the floor as a group, encircle the cheerleaders, and walk them out of Mac Court Wake up cheerleaders — it may be you, your mothers or little sisters who suffer because of your lack of understanding of what you are doing to the image of women Jane Williams Poor taste The display set up by the "Gay and Lesbian Alliance" for the week of Feb 14-20 in the EMU Lobby is truly a fine exam ple of poor taste I think it's safe to say most students would find it more offensive than the Ma ranatha exhibit against abor tion. Remember, money taken from your manditory student fees is allocated to help main tain the homosexual ac tivist group on campus so it can sponsor such displays and other various activities. Whether you like it or not you make a contribution to their group every time you pay your student fees And are you getting your money’s worth? Well, you might be if you enjoy viewing posters of lesbians “making out,” homosexual Valentine's Day cards, and candy with inscrip tions such as "Be gay with me " Sure, other groups such as the Mormon Student Associa tion have put on pro-traditional family displays, but the IFC won’t contribute to them. At least their displays were aimed at the general campus com munity with articles, pictures, and information for the vast majority of students who wish to lead normal, happy family lives Perhaps the homosexuals should be congratulated for ex posing students to the decadence of homosexuality Such exhibits are probably counterproductive for their cause anyway Michael Cross Thoughtful I will take this opportunity to thank the University's French students past and present for their sympathy and thoughtful ness in regards to the death of my husband Henry F Cooper. It has been a great comfort for me Many thanks. Paulette Cooper Eugene Oregon daily m _ emerald Tha Or agon Daily f marald m puOliahad Monday through f nday axcepf during a»am waaii and yaeaftona By fha Oragnn Daily Emerald PuWmfttng Co at fha UAtvaratfy of Oregon Eugane GW 97403 Tha EmeraxI operates independently of m> University with Office* on mo mird floor Of m# ErB M«m«ni Union and m a member of ma Associated Pres* M* Sit 1 *** J7ta MMMl HIOil mini Editor Managing Editor Mown Editor A**mlanl Nears Editor Editorial Pag* Editor Photo Editor Sport* Editor Associate Sport* Editor Cnlertamment Editor Night Editor Associate Editors Higher Education Department* and School* Student Government Feature* Poetic* Student Service* Community Atta rs General *Uh Advertising Manager ClMStited Advertising Production Manager Controller Harry E*teve John Healy Marian Green Cort Fernaid Joan Nytand Boo Baker Mike Ripnngei Paul Panzer Jonathan Sregte DetrOie Hoe tel I Sandy johnnorve Frank Shaw Richard Burr Sean Meyer* Michele Mata**a AletaZak Darlene Gore Salty OSar Victoria Koch Jean Ownbey letters policy The Emerald will attempt to print all letters containing fair comment on topics of interest to the University Community Letters to the editor must be limited to 250 words, typed, signed and the identification of the writer must be verified when the letter is turned into the Emerald office The Emerald reserves the right to edit any letter for length, style or content Your turn is an Emerald opinion feature submitted by members of the University community “Your turn" columns must be limited to 500 words and typed This editorial will not be edited by the staff, but selection will be based on appro priateness Letters to the editor and “Your turn” columns should be turned into the Emerald office, Suite 300 EMU Unsigned editorials apearing in the Eemrald are based upon the majority opinion of the editorial board
