opinion Refill new policy on alcohol sales Oregon Duck football boosters won't have much to boost their spirits in Autzen Stadium this year if the Ducks make a poor showing — an athletic department policy to permit the sale of alcoholic beverages (specifically beer and wine) was quashed by Pres. Paul Olum. Not that Olum has done anything unjust. In fact Olum, by reversing the temporary alcohol policy allowing sales in Autzen and "other athletic facilities including Mac Court and Hayward Field," has acted responsibly. But the athletic department also acted responsibly. Herein lies the dilemma. In August, the athletic department shrugged off its longstan ding opposition to selling alcoholic beverages in its facilities and rewrote the policy that has been in effect since 1977. At this time the University asked for statements regarding the proposed rules from any interested parties in the community. A protest against the policy change was lodged with Olum by Mothers Against Drunk Drivers. They successfully persuaded Olum to reverse the alcohol policy. They made a valid protest — drunk driving accidents might perhaps increase if alcohol was sold at University athletic events. Does Olum's bowing to the protest of MADD mean the University and athletic department are accepting responsiblity for the actions of individuals? Dan Williams, University vice president for administration, said the reason the alcohol decision was made because "it's next to impossible to keep Autzen Stadium dry." There is no denying the truth of that statement. Anyone who has sat next to a group of fans passing a thermos of what looked to be just orange juice, or fans who smuggled in a six-pack or two, know that prohibi tion works as well in Autzen as it did as a constitutional amend ment in the twenties. While true, Williams' reason doesn't hold water as the sole justifiable reason to insititute the alcohol policy. It's logic is skewed. Saying it's impossible to keep Autzen dry and rewriting the policy because of this impossibility is analogous to making a law permitting breaking and entering because of the prevalence of burglars. The athletic department should really be honest and say the new alcohol policy would be quite lucrative and increased their revenues — much needed revenues. This reason for selling beer and wine in athletic facilities is wholly justifiable. The Emerald is in favor of the athletic department selling beer and wine at Autzen Stadium and other facilities. This does not mean we sanction the abuse of alcohol, nor the driving of a car while intoxicated. We see the alcohol policy as a means to augment the flagging revenues of the athletic department. The department has had its funding cut time and again and the sell ing of a one-day-only alcohol license to a concessioner would smooth out the deep dips in the budget graph. The sale of beer and wine at athletic events may generate as much as $10,000 to $40,000, according to University officials. There are already numerous instances of the University and its departments selling beer and wine at dinners and con ferences. The beer gardens, while they are not run by the University or any department, are permitted by the University administration. The sale of beer and wine is permitted at other Pac-10 schools, and quite commonplace at university and college stadiums across the nation. Rick Bay, athletic director, noted the alcohol policies at these schools also improved the crowd con trol. "The schools where beer is sold in the stadium report they now have better crowd control than when fans brought alcoholic beverages into the stadium," he said. This would likely be the case as the type of liquor smuggled in and consumed by fans is hard liquor by and large. If beer and wine were sold at the stadium the athletic department could control the type of alcohol consumed and, theoretically, control the amount consumed. The same right a tavern has to refuse ser vice to anyone obviously intoxicated would apply. What may ease the conscience of MADD members would be extra police at the scene to detect and arrest drunk drivers before they hit the highways. The new alcohol policy makes good sense — taking into ac count generating revenue and the fact that wholesale smuggling of alcohol already occurs at athletic events. But, the MADD pro test also makes good sense. Still, if wise precautions are taken, the athletic department's alcohol policy will prove an asset and not a liability. Oregon daily emerald The Oregon Daily Emerald i» published Monday through Fri day e*< ept Airing exam week and vacation*, by the Oregon Daily Emerald Publishing Co., at the University of Oregon. Eugene. O*. 97403 The Emerald operate* independently of the University with office* on the third floor of the Erb Memorial Union and t* a member of the Associated Pres*. News and Editorial Ukiflt ni«n|tll i - ,-wl littirtf r r c i y • y ri-Irfirtrttfing ca* 4 >a * *t.Nwvsr svN^wvgg -P^w P Production Mbalil emulation MO-33 If UmwMly Section tdilw Student Swvcn Section Editor Community Section Editor Sport* Sec tion Editor E ntedamment Section Editor Photo Editor Photo tec hmc uni Mike O Advertising Director Adverticing Designer Advertising Sale* Stall Production Manager Production lorepersom Sandy lohmione Cort Eer natal Debbie How leu lohn Heady Angela Allen Morgan Mark Pyrws ey. |im Goodwin. Mark Pynes Darlene Core Michele Christianson Cmdi Blagg. David Kosse, Hubert a Oliver, lerry Upham Victoria Koch Cindy Hanson. Victoria Koch. Dan Men low Typesetters Carrie Greaves, Christy Horning, Kelly Hell Paste up Susan Basham, laune Bee haras. Sharia Cassidy Carrie Greaves, Cindy Hanson. Victoria Koch, tee Ann Lorgren. Dan Aten low. Malta Morse Mark Pynes Cover Photos ClAWS debbie howlett editor's note This is your basic, Hi-Kiddies-Welcome-Back-to the-University editorial column, in which the editor is supposed to open her arms wide and say, "Cosh, we're awfully glad to see you, really." Well, I hate to disappoint anyone, but I'm not "awfully glad" you're back, really. As a matter of fact, I'm not even a tad bit excited, really. I was having a fine summer. I didn't have to work, I didn't have many responsibilities, and we weren't publishing a paper everyday. Then about 10,000 of you people come back and we at the Emerald feel obligated to start putting out a daily paper. Wham! Responsibility, work, classes, everything starts piling up. And I'll bet you registration packets to suntan lo tion that a great deal of you feel the same way about us. Good, it proves you're normal. Enough of the niceties. As long as you're here, there are few things you should know about us. You could say we'd make a nice metaphor for laundry detergent. Here are some "things" about our "new, improved" Emerald we'd like you to memorize. There will be a test in our first regular issue. •Thing one: The Emerald has chosen to use a new "type face" called Omega. Like each person's handwriting, the physical appearance of letters vary according to who is producing the words. One of the reasons we chose to use a new style is that we felt our previous type face wasn't really representative of the Emerald’s personality and style. Omega is a style that we feel lends a more col legiate, less bland personality. The letters, a sort of updated old serif style, mesh well with the Emerald's updated news style. The forward slant of the italiciz ed letters reflects what we feel will be a more ag gressive, more in depth approach to the news that af fects you. •Thing two: We have reduced the actual size of the letters in the body copy. Those letters, measured in "points” were moved down from nine points to 816 points. There are 72 points to an inch for those of you who nee