editorial
Geneva talks positive
but danger remains
The recent Geneva talks between U.S. Secretary of State
George Shultz and Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko
on future arms control negotiations brought positive results.
The superpowers have set the framework for a new round of
arms control talks, and both nations have declared their
ultimate goals to be nuclear disarmament.
But in this current air of optimism there is a potential for
danger: President Ronald Reagan is still pushing ahead with
plans for a nuclear weapons build-up in the United States.
The publicity surrounding the recent Geneva talks will like
ly be used by the Reagan administration to bolster funding
for the MX missile, the testing of anti-satellite weapons and
strategic defense research. Perhaps most dangerous of all,
however, is Reagan’s plan for the development of the so
called “star wars” weapons system. The Soviets have con
sistently criticized Reagan’s star wars plan for a very good
reason: it is not a defensive system.
Star wars weapons would orbit the earth, passing just
above the airspace of other countries. Star wars weapons
would be able to attack anything in the no-man’s land of
space around the earth, and some would even have the
capability to attack targets within the sovereign territories of
other nations. To the Soviets, this means that the United
States could effectively use star wars weapons to neutralize
Soviet nuclear forces, and launch an offensive nuclear attack
at the same time. In essense, the star wars idea can be seen as
another attempt at nuclear superiority. The result will lead
to an increased risk of a pre-emptive nuclear first strike, and
the increased chance of an all-out nuclear war. With advanc
ed U.S. computer and sensor technologies, the Soviets also
realize that if there is an arms race in space, the U.S. is likely
to win it. But just like we’ve won the race to deploy every
other nuclear weapon, the Soviets will eventually match us,
producing an even more dangerous stalemate.
As plans for a new round of arms control negotiations get
under way, Americans must keep a watchful eye on nuclear
weapons activity along the sidelines. Arms control will
mean nothing if either superpower still entertains the idea of
nuclear superiority. If Reagan is serious about pushing
ahead with a star wars weapons system, than all his talk
about humanity and nuclear disarmament will continue to
be nothing but just talk.
Legislative agenda must
make people the priority
Today is the opening day of the 63rd Oregon legislative
session. As the new legislators arrive at the state capital
building in Salem to be welcomed by Gov. Vic Atiyeh, they
will also find themselves being greeted by 25 different
groups who are calling on the legislators to “put people
first.”
The groups have come together in support of many social
concerns. They are demanding that more attention be paid
to the plight of homeless in Oregon, to issues of workers’
rights, minority rights, fair taxation, job training and welfare
services. We support the efforts of these groups and en
courage legislators to pay more attention to the needs of low
income Oregonians.
We also encourage students at the University to keep an
eye on legislative issues, specifically Atiyeh’s recent budget
recommendation, which goes against the standing tuition
freeze. Will tuition increases be a way to make students
carry the burden of funding for higher education? This and
other issues deserve student attention.
nr&nnn rlnilu
PHitnr
\C& 'YOU'RE
i Oh You* ,
I OWN.jW
<9 V
$■? <~"!
&/«£#
‘SOUWRNOSC!*
letters
Gun control
I am responding to John
Shewey's letter (ODE, Jan. 9)
concerning gun control legisla
tion. Mr. Shewey’s argument
seems to be that if there were
gun control laws, some gun
smugglers would be able to
become rich on the black
market; thus, as the tone and
substance of the letter indicates,
gun control is not worth the
cost.
Seriously though, it is unlike
ly that Mr. Shewey would ad
vocate abolishing laws against
theft, for example, simply
because those laws enable
criminals to operate on the
black market by fencing stolen
goods. The argument therefore
carries little weight in light of
the purpose of gun control
legislation.
Effective gun control laws
would make it difficult for
criminals and mentally unstable
people to obtain guns. The law
would require a waiting period,
a personal background check,
and registration before a person
could obtain a gun. The
toughest legislation would deal
with handguns, since they are
used mostly as a personal
weapon to kill human beings at
close range, and have few
redeeming qualities — except to
criminals.
Mr. Shewey cynically sug
gests that gun legislation would
not have any effect on the
number of crimes committed
with guns, but fails to notice
that by his own argument, guns
would be more expensive and
more difficult to get. This alone
would decrease the number of
1
emerald
The Oregon Daily Emerald is published Monday
through Friday except during exam week and vacations
by the Oregon Daily Emerald Publishing Co., at the
University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, 97403.
The Emerald operates independently of the Universi
ty with offices on the third floor of the Erb Memorial
Union and is a member of the Associated Press.
General Staff
Advertising Director
Production Manager
Classified Advertising
Controller
Susan Thelen
Russell Steele
Vince Adams
Jean Ownbey
Advertising Sales: Laura Buckley, Tim Clevenger, Jen
nifer Fox, Marcia Leonard, Rick Martz, Nancy Nielsen,
Laurie Nobel, Roberta Oliver, David Wood.
Production: David Bryant, Kelly Cornyn, John Dorsey,
Stormi Dykes, Julie Freeman, Kathy Gallagher, Dean
Guernsey, Susan Hawkins, Ross Martin, Karin McKer
cher, Lauri Neely, Kelly Neff, Curt Penrod, Tamye Riggs,
Michele Ross, Alyson Simmons, Peg Solonika, Tim
Swillinger, Colleen Tremaine, Hank Trotter.
Page 2
Managing Editor
News Editor
Editorial Page Editor
Photo Editor
Sports Editor
Sidelines Editor
Entertainment Editor
Assistant Entertainment Editor
Night Editor
Associate Editors
Administration
Higher Education
Politics
ASUO
Student Activities
Community
Features
Mike Sims
Michael Kulaga
Costas Christ
Michael Clapp
Brent De La Paz
Sheila Landry
Kim Carlson
Mike Duncan
Michael Clapp
Jolayne Houtz
Michael Hosmar
Paul Ertelt
Julie Shippen
Michael Doke
Cynthia Whitfield
Lori Steinhauer
Reporters: Sean Axmaker, Dave Berns, Robert Collias
Diana Elliott, Thomas Henderson, Allan Lazo, Capi Lynn'
Scott McFetridge, Stasia Scarborough.
News and Editorial
Display Advertising and Business
Classified Advertising
Production
Circulation
686-5511
666-3712
686-4343
686-4381
686-5511
guns in the hands of criminals
and crazies. 1 look forward to
the day when this country has
responsible gun control laws.
Ed Butler
Law
Not unnatural
Five points in regard to Brad
Hall’s letter(ODE, Jan. 8.)
1. Brad, have you ever looked
up the word “natural” in the
dictionary? Generally it is used
to denote things that occur in.
or are products of. nature. The
fact that people are products of
nature means that the relation
ships occurring between them
are natural. Homosexuality is
uncommon, but is not un
natural, in the same way that a
cat with six toes is uncommon
but not unnatural.
2. Comparing two forms of sex
between consenting adults with
child molesting is the height of
idiocy.
3. Regarding your claims con
cerning infant mortality and life
expectancy, 1 know of no
children born to homosexual
couples. Nor of any viable, in
dependant study made of the
relationship between sexual
orientation, or religious belief,
and life expectancy. Please read
some facts about the numbers of
cases of AID’S reported.
4. Your letter does document
your own appalling bigotry and
self-righteousness concerning
the private lives of other people.
Who, at least, allow you the
courtesy of living your life as
you see fit, which is volumes
more than can be said for you
and a few other Christians.
5. I really have to admire your
ability to call someone else’s
views warped after writing a let
ter so completely filled with
I
fear, ignorance, misinforma
tion. and theocratic bullshit.
And no, I'm not gay.
David Hixson
Eugene
At it again
There you go again. College
Republicans. Rather than trying
to take money away from
political/educational student
groups, why not be positive
about things? President Reagan
doesn't like grumpiness in his
America, you know.
Why not organize student
groups to advocate the College
Republican view of the best of
all possible worlds? Just think,
you could help organize groups
that oppose affirmative action,
oppose South African divest
ment. oppose consumer ad
vocacy, oppose comparable
worth, oppose Martin Luther
King’s birthday as a national
holiday, oppose minority rights
legislation, and oppose the
ERA.
And just think, you couM
help organize studerP groups
that support more aid lor the
Contras, that support the inva
sion of Nicaragua, that support
James Watt’s approach to the
environment, that support fur
ther cuts in federal aid to educa
tion, that support mandatory
school prayer in college classes,
and that support more money
for the military budget.
So, get with the program, Col
lege Republicans. Don’t try to
destroy political /educational
student groups. Help to show us
clearly what your philosophy is
all about.
Roscoe Caron
Eugene
letters policy
The Emerald will attempt to print all letters con
taining fair comment on topics of interest to the
University community.
Letters to the editor must be limited to 250
words, typed, signed and the; identification of the
writer must be verified when the letter is turned in.
1 he Emerald reserves the right to edit any letter for
length, style or content.
Letters to the editor should be turned into the
Emerald office, Suite 300, EMU.