opinion
University committed
to removing asbestos
Finally something is being done about the exposed
asbestos insulation in the cross beams in Science I.
This summer the University will undertake a complete
removal of the hazardous asbestos insulation on Science I at
an estimated cost of $100,000. Some people have balked at
the price of the clean up, but weighing the persistent health
hazard to students, faculty and anyone who may breath the
airborne asbestos fibers, the cost is reasonable.
University Pres. Paul Olum may have to go to the State
Board of Higher Education for the money to pay for the
asbestos clean up. We can't imagine the State Board refusing
Olum's request. To do so would demonstrate callousness of
an unusual sort. We believe the State Board will understand
the necessity of the asbestos clean up at the University and
show proper concern by funding the project.
It's more than a little ironic that the exposed asbestos is
on Science I. Many members of the biology department have
been spearheading the campaign to remove the asbestos.
Howard Bonnet, biology professor, asked to move his office
and laboratory facilities saying asbestos dust settling outside
his office window aggravated a respiratory condition. And
Walter Dodds, a graduate teaching fellow in biology, col
lected 250 signatures in April from concerned faculty and
students on a petition calling for the removal of the asbestos.'
Dodd's petition apparently served as the impetus to the
University administration for the clean up.
We can't criticize the University administration tor the
presence of asbestos, nor is it necessary to rap them for the
time it has taken to begin a clean up. We commend the ad
ministration for realizing that the earlier stopgap measures
are inadequate.
The administration has always understood the gravity of
the asbestos threat and taken steps to minimize the health
risk. This knowledge of the seriousness of the hazard is
evidenced by University health officials creating an asbestos
awareness and instant repair program two years ago.
Physical plant inspectors have not just confined this repair
program to Science I. They have been searching other cam
pus buildings for exposed asbestos insulation.
Asbestos was a common insulation ingredient through
the 1960s and many buildings on campus may have pipes,
beams or ceilings insulated with asbestos. One University
health official is reported to have said the asbestos problem
at Science I “is just the tip of the iceberg."
But the University appears to be committed to removing
the dangerous asbestos from this campus and that is
something everyone should favor.
How about a truce
in Suite 1 warfare?
It's unfortunate that EMU's Suite 1 resembles a bat
tlefield. A truce is needed, or at least the declaration of the
office as a demilitarized zone.
Suite 1 houses a number of important student groups
such as OSPIRG, SORD, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship
and the College Republicans. At times the politics of these
various groups mix like gasoline and water.
All of the groups have made a determined effort to co
exist with a modicum of success. Still vandalism has occur
red — from all sides.
Office space for student groups in the EMU is limited.
The necessity of as many diverse groups getting office space
is important. Members of these groups must remember
Grandma's basic rule of etiquette: treat others as they
themselves wish to be treated.
Oregon doily
emerald
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letters
Tragic
Being an outdoor adventure
enthusiast, I found the death of
Kenneth Kromer a tragic misfor
tune. Particularly so, since I had
met him on one occasion that
would have slipped from
memory had his death not
cemented his face in my mind.
Two Saturdays ago, while
rockclimbing at Skinner's Butte
(a popular practice area a cou
ple of miles northwest of the
University), Kromer approached
me and politely asked if he
could join our climbing party.
He explained that he enjoyed
rockclimbing, was new to the
area and did not have a climbing
rope of his own. I told him he
was certainly welcome to join us
if he did not mind waiting until
my roommate and I climbed
once more. He patiently waited
until his turn, passing the time
with friendly conversation
about his interests in rafting,
photography and sky diving.
When his turn came to climb,
lie asked me to check his
harness and tie-in knots, as it
had been "a long time” since he
last climbed. Kromer then pro
ceeded to attack one of the
most difficult "jam cracks" at
the area. On one particularly dif
ficult spot, he "peeled off" of
the rock four or five times, but
kept at the task. He completed
the climb, came back down and
shared his exuberance with a
big smile and lots of thanks. He
asked if we would be back the
next day so he could join us
again. Since we were not plann
ing on returning until the next
week, he told us he would have
to catch us another time
because he would be ratting on
the Owyhee.
Ironically, as I drove away
from the columns on that day, I
wondered if we would indeed
meet again to climb. The next
lime I saw Kromer was on the
front page of the paper which
was announcing his death; his
smiling face the same as the day
at the columns. Keep climbin'
buddy.
Mark Wolfe
graduate
Punk???
Frankly, I expected more from
the Emerald than the name
calling and mud-slinging
directed at the Commentator in
your April 23 editorial. I thought
that you would welcome the
new kid on the block as a
chance to prove your superiori
ty in news coverage, editorials
and features, not in name
calling. You have proven suc
cessful only in the latter, so far.
Before you brush off the Com
mentator as "the scheme of a
group of people who couldn't
cut it at the Emerald," I suggest
you take a good look at your
own house. It's so easy to
become complacent and smug
when you're the only daily
newspaper in the area. You see
that in many cities ("Guard" for
bid I should mention any
names). However, that situation
has changed. The Commentator
is now hitting the stands week
ly. I think it's worth 27 cents a
term to ensure that the Com
mentator continues to come out
weekly. The scenario is intrigu
ing. The competition will do you
good.
You may deny that the Com
mentator is your competitor,
but by taking shots at it in your
editorial, writing a letter to the
Commentator (April 23) to shoot
some more, and featuring a lead
story on activism (as the Com
mentator did, also on April 23),
you implicitly affirm the Com
mentator's importance. Now,
will you respond with action or
with more cheap shots? There
are lots of important stories out
there that you have ignored in
favor of relatively trivial
subjects.
The Commentator, on the
other hand, is doing a good job
of presenting some important
topics. It is not afraid of using a
variety of writers, and they don't
have to be conservatives. I think
the Commentator is improving
and maturing with each issue.
It's editorial style is a raw blend
of advocacy and punk jour
nalism. Dammit, that's what this
campus needs. You may think
its parody issue was “vicious,"
but I think it was funny. You, of
all entities, should know that
nothing in government (any
government) is sacred to jour
nalists. To quote some
unknown sage, "Fuck 'em it
they can't take a joke."
Steve Hooks
senior, journalism
Com(men)tator
I refer to the April 23 editorial
on the ASUO election ballot
measures that mentioned the
Oregon Commentator. My cof
fee cup trembled that morning
as I read each sentence, the fear
growing with every adjective.
Conservative student pup
pets, who previously were purg
ed from the Emerald staff for
sanitary reasons, are part of a
conservative conspiracy being
manipulated by the Eastern
establishment. And because
they are scurrying around cam
pus unescorted, it looks like
some of them will get out of
town before the posse arrives.
Suddenly I realized I unwit
tingly had been converted by
the hypnotizing trance of the
Commentator's gray mass,
swaying to and fro to the
publication's chants in a man
ner much like a Dead Head at a
Jerry Garcia concert. Now that's
frightening.
But my fright turned to anger,
anger at your sexisl language.
I he Commentator has hench
people, not "hencnmen." A
cursory glance through their
staff list reveals that women
work there, some in positions of
authority.
I thought such sexism died
with the 1970's, but it looks like
us language purifiers need to do
some housecleaning at your
citadel of unenlightened
thinking.
So thanks for the warning,
but, please, no more. I need to
get some more sleep before I
graduate.
Richard Burr
senior, political science