opinion_
'Open mike' policy
needs to go farther
This country is unique in that our Constitution provides for
free speech. Of course, there are limitations to this provision —
shouting “theater” at a crowded fire, certain areas of obscenity
and national security — but, in general, citizens of this country
are free to say Pres. Ronald Reagan is a racist, sexist, warmonger
ing Bozo. Or is that Bonzo?
The EMU Board's “open mike" program is one we applaud,
but with reservations about the newly instituted policies regar
ding which groups may use the “open mike" and how much
time they will be allotted.
Originally the EMU Board had no policy to govern the "open
mike." Anyone could use the "open mike" for any length of
time. The only aspect of control during this time was a member
of the EMU Board with a finger on the volume knob. The board
member could adjust the volume down if students in class were
being disturbed.
Because of concern over monopolizing the "open mike,"
Dan Cohen brought a new policy before the EMU Board. The
board accepted Cohen's policy recommendations and instituted
them.
We find Cohen's policy to be a well-intentioned, but mis
placed step in the right direction.
The new policy permits only registered or recognized
groups access to the "open mike."
We understand the intention of this is to prevent
monopolization of the "open mike" by off-campus groups and
to ensure student groups' messages will reach students. But
doesn't this defeat the concept of an "open mike"?
By limiting access to the "open mike" to only registered and
recognized student groups isn't the EMU board limiting what in
formation students will hear?
We would prefer the "open mike" to live up to its title and
truly be open to all — whether they be registered, recognized or
not. The only restriction on who speaks should be "first come —
first served."
The board's new policy limits the amount of time a person
(from a recognized or registered group) may speak and how
often. A person is permitted to speak only two hours a day and a
group may use the "open mike" for one hour per month. The
group must petition the EMU board for permission to use the
"open mike" for more than an hour a month.
We like the idea of imposing a time limit on use of the "open
mike" but don't think it goes far enough. The two hours a day
time limit is too much time. Not that some groups can't fill two
hours with their message. All too many groups can fill two hours
ad nauseum.
A more appropriate amount of time would be 15 minutes
per speaker. Fifteen minutes should prove more than adequate.
The prospect of hearing a speaker (or gang of speakers) for two
hours at a time speaking on the same topic is frightening.
The limitation of one hour a month cannot be upheld by the
ASUO itself. Cohen expects the ASUO to petition right away for
special permission to exceed the one hour per month limita
tion.
Will the ASUO's petition to the EMU Board be denied?
There's more likelihood of its petition being accepted than some
other group getting the opportunity to speak.
While we agree with the need to set a policy to deny
monopolization of the "open mike" we think it should be more
specific in certain respects.
The "open mike" last week was monopolized by two groups
— SEARCH program advocates and Maranatha. In both cases
students outside were treated to endless preaching on the ob
jectivity of SEARCH classes and the usual Christian dogma.
The Maranatha group gave students the dubious honor of
hearing Bill Glass, ex-professional football player turned
evangelist, recount his life for two hours.
Really, 15 minutes would have been ample time to hear of
Glass' fall and rise to grace and the merits of SEARCH program.
We like the concept of a weekly "open mike." The "open
mike" provides an opportunity for students to hear divergent
views — perhaps a necessity at an educational institution.
We would like to see the "open mike” become indeed
"open." To do so the EMU Board must open the microphone to
anyone and only limit the time.
r
letters
Long train
A CIA-backed group has just
successfully bombed Nicaragua's
main oil port, destroying over
three million gallons of precious
fuel and threatening the lives of
an entire city.
In our Declaration of In
dependence we proclaim that
. when a long tram of abuses
and usurpations... evinces a
design to reduce (a people) under
absolute Despotism, it is their
right, it is their duty to throw off
such a government.” Four years
ago, Nicaragua did just that. To
day, against enormous odds, it is
struggling to maintain its
freedom.
It does not matter what one's
politics may be. By the very fact
that all Americans are citizens of a
country born out of a revolution,
we should be the last people to
deny that right to others.
Take a minute to savor your
right to free speech, your right to
the pursuit of happiness, your in
alienable righf to liberty. Then
pick up your pen and write Con
gressmen and the president in
condemnation of U.S. interven
tion in Nicaragua and throughout
Central America.
Robin Kelley
ASUO heads
If there's any contests for
displays of poor taste and stupidi
ty then I hereby nominate the cur
rent ASUO. The graphics for their
draft poster would win them first
place in such an event.
The poster (which promotes a
rally of which ASUO is a sponsor)
features a rather obese, nude in
dividual with little soldiers crawl
ing out of its anus.
It doesn't surprise me that the
ASUO would put its name on such
a poster, nor would it surprise me
if our student funds were used to
help print up this kind of trash.
If any student wants to see the
1
mentality and intellectual caliber
of our student government, then
one look at the graphics of their
poster will show you where their
heads are at.
Thomas Karter
Lender
I would like to comment concer
ning the article in the Oct. 10
Emerald and Mary Shrauger's
complaint to the Constitutional
Court about the Survival Center's
loan for the benefit dance last
Saturday night. As the article
reported, Shrauger's complaint
seems to be twofold:
First, she questions whether two
members of the three-member
Credit Committee can meet and
grant a loan without the third
member. IFC regulation 82.8
states that the Credit Committee
may approve credit to any IFC
funded program by a vote of at
least two of its members.
It was not the Survival Center's
intent to ace a third IFC member
out of the decision-making pro
cess. At the time we requested the
loan, the IFC had not appointed
its member to the Credit Commit
tee. Meanwhile, the Survival
Center needed to get on with the
business at hand.
Secondly, Shrauger questions
whether the Committee can loan
money for a benefit dance where
proceeds go to an outside
organization. The Credit Commit
tee is empowered to loan money
for events where admissions fees
will recover the loan. The purpose
of the event should not be the
Credit Committee's concern.
Their job should be to decide
whether the money will get paid
back.
Administrative regulations state
that proceeds from fundraising
events can go to legitimate
charitable organizations. Oregon
Natural Resources Council (to
which the monies will go) is a
legitimate non-profit non-partisan
charitable organization.
If we are to be successful in at
tempting to solve some of the pro
blems that confront our world to
day, and successful in giving
students the opportunity to be in
volved in these processes, then
open communication and
cooperation is a necessity from all.
Doug Norlen
survival center
Functions
I am responding to Mark
Makler's letter concerning the
Greeks at football games.
Reporter Frank Shaw's column
made one clear point: saving six
rows of seats for friends is not fair
to other fans.
Sure, there are others that save
space for friends, but only a few
seats, not an entire block of the
stadium. Shaw's comments on
public drunkenness were harsh,
but were incidental to the above
point.
Two of the major criticisms of
the Greek system are its ex
clusiveness and the overcon
sumption of alcohol by its
members. Hordes of inebriated
fraternity men saving seats for
their buddies at football games
can only strengthen this
perception.
Alcohol can be enjoyable in
socialv situations, but is not
necessary to have a good time.
This principle can be applied to
football games as well as
"functions."
As a public relations major who
wants to influence campus opi
nion, perhaps Makler could best
serve his interests by encouraging
his fellow Greeks to sometimes sit
in smaller groups, intermingling
with the rest of the student crowd.
Maybe then the Greeks could
meet the rest of the campus
population, and vice-versa. It
would sure help erode prejudices
and misconceptions on both
sides.
lason Ruderman
senior, biology
Oregon daily - -
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