opinion
'Who will watch
the press?'
A fraternity member first posed the question a few weeks
ago. Over pot roast and mashed potatoes and following a
discourse on the press' role as a watchdog of the govern
ment, he asked me, ever so earnestly, "Who will watch the
press?"
editor's note
debbie howlett
It was a good question; a question many people have
been asking for some time now, and it stretches far beyond
the realm of the University. But the University provides a de
cent point of reference for the answer to our frat brother's
query.
The key to any responsible press, in this and any com
munity, is a press that isn't responsible to any one. While
that sentiment may read like Winston Smith's least favorite
newspeak, it is a goal for which the press should always
aim.
By looking at the journals drawing an audience from the
the University community, it is a relatively simple task to un
cover what each journal is hoping to accomplish, because
most of the time that goal is admitted. For instance Off the
Record is in the business of publicizing ASUO events and
programs — and they've stated that goal all along.
What has become difficult is discerning to whom these
publications feel a responsibility and an obligation. Just as
difficult, and of more importance to the reader, is determin
ing how far a publication has gone in upholding those
obligations.
In the context of the student newspaper, we at the
Emerald feel our obligation and responsibility is to the stu
dent. To uphold those responsibilites, the Emerald, 13 years
ago, refused to accept money from the University because
that money left the door open for the University to control
the paper's content, up to and including the editorial stance
on some key issues. The change effectively put the burden of
the Emerald's financial stability upon the students and the
Emerald's advertising department.
Winter term we decided that the audience to which we
are obligated — students — did not hold the Emerald's purse
strings. We decided that student government, often the sub
ject of editorial criticism, held the purse strings — often to
the point of choking funds off completely. That is the ra
tionale behind the referendum initiated on the spring ballot.
This year, more than any other, individual students controll
ed the Emerald.
We are now indebted to the student population rather
than student government and/or the University administra
tion. We feel the Emerald is now a truly independent, stu
dent publication.
And rather than using this column solely as an oppor
tunity to explain our actions, it should serve as an illustration
of what objective student publications should try to attain: a
clear representation of the total student body.
But that leaves the original question unanswered. Who is
going to watch the press — or in this specific instance, the
Emerald?
One solution put forth this year has been "alternative''
publications, the Oregon Commentator and Off the Record.
Indeed, there is an amount of self-policing and peer pressure
that journals should put forth, but rather than deaning-up,
direct juxtapositioning of news and opinion is not necessari
ly going to give the students responsible news coverage.
The only real solution to keeping the integrity alive in any
campus newspaper, is the individual reader. For instance,
the letters to the editor section has been a free-for-all this
year. Students have complete access and few restraints on
what is published in the letters column.
More than just a letter to the editor, the individual stu
dent now has a much larger role in keeping at least this
newspaper responsible. We've pushed that role upon
students because we feel that is where it belongs. We hope
also that students take the responsibility seriously and hold
the Emerald accountable, just as they did this year.
We amend that sentiment by asking students to demand
the same responsibility and accountability, while retaining
tolerance for minority viewpoints, from every other "student
publication."
It is important also that students carry their vigilance
beyond academia, to the ineptly described "real world"
where hucksters and con-artists will avail themselves of a
free and protected press, answering only to their audience.
letters
Yeah, probably
...Well, I still haven't receiv
ed my Freedom of Information
Act (60 requests). The presi
dent's probably too busy mak
ing payoffs in the Debategate
scandal.
How much $$$ did this cover
up cost?
Mot
Roll cameras
The following is a scenario for
1984-85:
(1) Pres. Ronald Reagan will be
re-elected in November by a
narrow majority over Mondale.
(2) Before his second term is
finished Reagan will be forced
from office by physical in
capacitation or senility at 74,
whichever comes first. Note:
Reagan forgot to dye his hair
after his recent swim in Hawaii
— a sure sign of memory lapse.
(3) Vice-pres. George Bush will
assume the office, but possibly
not the title — sentimentality for
''the Chief" — and will try to
carry on with an indifferent
Reagan cabinet.
(4) Bush will then attempt to
push through Reagan's defense
budget, the MX, covert aid, laws
on abortion, etc...., but will fail
to garner the support in Con
gress with "Communicator"
and Senate strong man and ally,
Howard Baker on permanent
leave.
(5) The MX won't be funded,
defense spending will be reduc
ed by a democratic majority in
both houses, and Speaker of the
House Tip O'Neil, will get madly
drunk on the floor of the House
in triumph over Reagan before
being severely beaten to retire
ment by a handful of fanatic
Republicans.
(6) Meanwhile an observant
Moscow will watch intently the
pathetic figure of Nancy Reagan
pleading to White House
reporters for Ronnie to have his
job back, while Reagan, by then
completely whiteheaded, push
ed by in a wheelchair waving
the flag, will accidently drop his
favorite Max Brand western. As
the cameras close in all
Supreme Soviet members over
70 will suddenly die laughing,
and Reagan will be wheeled
away yelling "I'm in charge
here. I am in charge, dammit.
I. . . heh, where's my book?"
(7) 53-year-old Borbachev will
become the new First Secretary
and Russia will wear Levis at
last. Conservative Washington
will recede to Detroit in disgust,
and Bush will ultimately be forc
ed to think on his own.
(8) The N-freeze will become
reality, and the population of
the U.S. and Russia will amaz
ingly double 9 months later in
celebration, and China will
secretly land a panda on Mars.
But then Mondale could
win....
Michael Wolf
Tokenism
I am a lover of history and I
have a somewhat unusual hob
by. I collect old tokens used by
stores, barber shops, lumber
companies, saloons, forts, and
other businesses years ago. The
tokens were "good for" $1, 50
cents, 25 cents, M'A cents or
such in trade or merchandise or
"good for" a loaf of bread, one
drink, one shave, one ride or
whatever. They were usually
made of metal, and while having
the general appearance of a
coin, they were made in all
shapes and sizes with some pic
turing elephants, cows, birds
and buildings.
I have reason to believe that
some of these tokens were used
in your area and I would be
most interested in obtaining
some of them for my collection.
I know that this request is
relatively unimportant but I do
get a great deal of enjoyment
from my hobby and I do believe
that these concrete reminders
of our great heritage are worth
preserving.
I would like to hear from
anyone having one or more of
these tokens or from anyone
that might be able to help me.
Any help that you can give me
of any kind is greatly ap
preciated. I now live in Texas
and my address is Travis
Roberts, Box 1168, Bellaire,
Texas 77401.
Thank you in advance and
best wishes.
Travis Roberts
Fact not fiction
Sean Axemaker, reviewing
"When the Mountains Trem
ble," acknowledges that the
producers of the film have
something to say. But the review
says little about the message
and the context of the film ex
cept that it is "an uneasy mix of
fiction, docu-drama and
documentary." Axemaker con
tends that the film "presents
very little factual information"
and implies that the young
Cuatamalan narrator and her
story are ficticious. It should be
pointed out that Rigaberto Men
chu is a real person and her
story, as presented in the film, is
factual. We could only hope, as
we witnessed the torture, op
pression, and genocide of a
people, that what we were see
ing was hyperbole. Sadly, it was
not and is not.
Perhaps the film was "geared
to elicit an emotional
response." Or perhaps its pur
pose was to elicit compassion
towards people in a situation
which continues because of
detached and dispassionate
politics made possible by our
votes, tax dollars, and apathy.
Galen Martin
Oregon daily
emerald
The Oregon Daily Emerald is published Monday through Fri
day e«cept during e»am week and vacations by the Oregon Daily
Emerald Publishing Co at the University of Oregon Euaene OR
97403
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member ot the Associated Press
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