Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 10, 1983)
Campus responds to ROTC decision Betrayed After attending the Universi ty Assembly's discussion and subsequent vote on the issue of whether to require the ROTC program to comply with University policy on non discrimination, I came away feeling angry and betrayed. The University Constitution guarantees the student rights of gays and lesbians... I can feel nothing but that gays and lesbians have been dealt an in sulting and outright discriminatory blow by the Assembly. Pres. Olum, whom I have previously respected as a man of principle, led debate against the anti-discrimination proposal on grounds that the University shouldn't “... try to modify the morality of the rest of the world...” I was especially surprised at the stance of Derrick Bell, dean of the law school I had hoped that he, as a black man, might be able to understand the dynamics and politics of discrimination. Apparently he doesn’t, or doesn’t enough, or perhaps now that he’s assimilated into the middle class “mainstream” it doesn’t matter who's left at the bot tom of the discrimination hierarchy. “Start with race first, ” Bell says. The most insulting aspect of the Assembly vote is its classification as a vote to "postpone indefinitely” the anti-discrimination motion. To those that endorsed that stance, I say that this sly, political veil of “postpone ment” does not make you somehow more honorable. You voted against gay and les bian rights and against our University Constitution. You should at least have the courage to admit that and stand by your justification. The University Assembly’s vote reminds me very much of the words of Malcolm X in discussing liberals and con fr servatives in 1965. “Conservation’ means ‘let’s keep the niggers in their place.’ And ’liberalism’ means ‘Let’s keep the knee-grows (sic) in their place — but tell them we’ll treat them a little better; let’s fool them more, with more promises. With these choices . . . the American black man only needed to choose which one to be eaten by, the liberal’ fox or the ‘conservative’ wolf — because both of them would eat him. “... in a wolf’s den, I’d always know exactly where I stood; I’d watch the dangerous wolf closer than I would the smooth, sly fox.” The lessons of time, we never learn. Our University Assembly has proved the fox is still among us. Neill McAuliffe senior, psychology/gerontology Out of mind Discrimination against gays continues to exist on this cam pus because the University Assembly chose to ignore it. In a vote of 176 to 98 the Assembly postponed in definitely Prof. Ryan’s motion that ROTC conform to the University’s equal oppor tunities policy. The assembly did not take a stand; they defeated the motion in a spineless and roundabout way. By indefinite postpone ment they would rather push the issue aside than answer the question of discrimination in ROTC policy. This is typical of recent year’s efforts to make ROTC more compatible with the University. The efforts have included that ROTC drill away from campus and members need only wear uniforms to military science classes. The administration must believe compatability be “out of sight, out of mind,” for their measures only serve to decrease ROTC’ visibility on University Community Action has placement opportunities for you! If you are a junior or senior, GCA offers you: • a nine-month learning/work experience in a challenging position (32 hours per week). • an opportunity to earn academic credit while contributing to the solution of community problems (38 credit hours). • a monthly allowance of $175. • a chance to take your classroom knowledge and put it to use in the community. Positions available in Portland and Eugene include: crisis intervention counselor, youth advocate, public relations specialist, recreation coordinator and commissioner aide. Drop by 109 Hendricks Hall to look at the complete list of placements. For more information call 686-3813 any weekday morning. campus. ROTC was introduc ed to the University with the intention of exposing its par ticipants to a more diverse background of people and cultures. Though it seems that the University is exposed to ROTC, ROTC does not seem to be exposed to the University. Law School Dean Derrick Bell argued that no case ex isted in ROTC where a partici pant had declared homosex uality the issue; therefore no scholarships had been denied or retracted and no discrimina tion had actually taken place. ROTC uses the argument that during participation in the pro gram a recruit is never asked his or her sexual orientation. Neither of these arguments can legitimize the fact that ROTC policy does discriminate against gays... ROTC also has Pres. Olum’s support, though in light of his conservatism as a method to improve the University’s im age this is hardly a surprise. Does Pres. Olum want an im age of “let’s blend in, not change, or move ahead?” If so, I ask, is this the image or a liberal institution? Does a liberal school of higher “education” allow discrimina tion? The students yelled “No!" The educators squeak ed, “Yes.” Rob Williams Sidestepping Bravo, University Assembly, to the faculty and staff for beautifully sidestepping yet another issue. Too learned and dignified to run from your pro blems you do the gentlemanly thing and postpone them indefinitely. Unfortunately, in real life the problem still exists. You have not answered the ques tion whether or not the ROTC should have to comply to the University’s policy on discrimination. Maybe the question would be better stated as to whether or not any University program should have to comply to University policy. The University students gave their answer in the last election, but obviously the faculty and staff are not prepared to do the same. Pres. Olum spoke in favor of this postponement because he said the University is a cor porate body and therefore should not try to modify the morality of the rest of the world. For economic reasons most corporations are not noted for their high moral standards, but if we do not practice these moral stan dards in our educational system what chance do we have for a moral society in the rest of the world? Indefinitely postponing the issue answers no questions and shows the University open support of discrimination by allowing ROTC to function in violaton of standing policy. The students have taken a stand voting nearly two to one to force the ROTC to comply. I urge the faculty and staff to take a stand and I urge all students to take action on the stand we have already taken. Tom Dierker sophomore, fine arts Sense of right Professors Ryan and Vetri make an appeal to our sense of right in calling for shoulder ing of responsibility, living up to principles and leading in issues of morality (Emerald, May 4 and 5). They would have us work to make ROTC admit homosexuals and lesbians to its program. Fine. Let us do so, if we find that it is the best course. But first, project this principle of human freedom without con sequences into the future. What happens after sodomites (homosexuals and lesbians) are permitted to enter ROTC? Is our next “logical” step to support the Man-Boy Love Association? Or is that going too far? Some people ap parently think it is not going too far, since such an organization is now actively lobbying for the “human rights” of its members. That is too far, you say. You say, we will condone sodomy but will not go beyond that. But in the past accepting sodomy was "too far,” and there was even a time when we were so unenlightened as to consider holding hands to be “too far.” So we see that whatever was previously “too far” has become acceptable behavior. If we do not “draw the line” here, at sodomy, we may as well welcome man-boy “love” now, and who knows what later. As for the notion that we have been progressively free ing ourselves of moral stan dards which only repress our true humanity. Nonsense. We have only been catering to our own desires. It is difficult to live up to principles, and this is why we continually lower ours. It is much easier to con done or accept fornication, adultery, sodomy, than to maintain standards of discrimination against such things. We seem to have an aversion to calling actions right or wrong. Perhaps this is because it is much easier and more convenient to say that what’s right for one is wrong for another, and given certain situations, what’s wrong may be right. In this ambiguous web we can hide our own areas of indulgence and believe that no one is the wiser. We believe we can avoid any judgment or conse quences by removing the stan dard of measurement. The only problem with this is that the standard exists out side of ourselves. There is One Who is the wiser, in spite of our cries for the liberation of our “true humanity.’’... N.J. Neidig -\ Component Sale! Experience the Science of Sound. Come in and check our low prices! * Easy Payment Installment Plan available on all purchases over $150.00 BOOKSTORE 13th & Kincaid Mon-Fri 7:30-5:30 Sat 10:00-3:00 Supplies Mfr4331
