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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 14, 1985)
editorial Street-widening plan a temporary solution Proponents of the plan to widen Sixth and Seventh Avenues in Eugene have argued consistently that once car ried out, the plan would increase traffic flows and provide the city with a good business image. The plan, however, would also destroy 18 of Eugene’s 44 historic trees. Because of this, the street-widening idea has run into some stiff opposition. Those who stand against the proposal argue that traffic projections do not warrant widening the streets, and that the mature big-leaf maples that would be cut down in the pro cess would be a great loss to the scenic beauty of Eugene. The issue, however, seems to boil down to two key points raised in both arguments: business and scenic beauty. Obviously, wider roads mean more cars, more cars mean more people, more people means better business. Therefore, local businesses tend to see the issue in more of an economic light, failing to really understand how some people can be hung-up on, as one pro-widening advocate said, “trees that are mostly old and dying anyway.” But all across this country, there is example after example of cities and towns which have opted for urban growth at the ex pense of the environment, literally paving the way towards creating miniature concrete jungles. Eugene, however, is different. Few small cities in America have been as cons cientious about scenic, pollution-free development as this city. It would be unfortunate for Eugene to change now and begin to undo what many have worked so hard to protect. While new trees could always be planted, the loss of 26 historic trees is permanent. On Wednesday, the City Council modified its street widening proposal to try and meet the diverse community interests surrounding the issue. Still, improving the traffic flow by making wider roads is, in many ways, a temporary solution to a long-term problem. Promoting wider streets to handle more traffic might be needed, but it is unfortunate that throughout this controversy, city officials have given little attention to alternative possibilities like better public transportation. Such a plan would serve to encourage less reliance on cars for local travel, and decrease the need for ever-expanding roadways and parking lots. While there are no quick or easy solutions to the problems of planning Eugene’s urban growth, we feel that the issue of a better, more efficient public transportation system has been given a backseat, at a time when it should be made a priority. Act now before spray plans become finalized Plans to spray Lane County for gypsy moths may soon be finalized and if confirmed, the spraying is likely to start in early spring. There is a lot local residents should be wor ried about if the spraying is approved. Of greatest concern is the planned use of two pesticides, Orthene and Dimilin. Both have been linked to environmental side effects that in clude possible danger to humans. The plans for spraying cover most of Lane County as well as residential sections of Eugene. Those who wish to express their concern about the spray program should do so as soon as possible by writing (c/o State Capitol, Salem, Or. 97310) or calling (1-800-982-1211) any of the following state legislators: Sen. Ed Fadeley; Sen. Bill Frye; Sen. Margie Hendriksen; Sen. Steve Starkovich; Sen. John Brenneman; Rep. Mary Bur rows: Rep. Peg John; Rep. Larry Campbell: Rep. Ron Eachus; Rep Cedric Hayden; Rep. Larry Hill; Rep. Carl Hosticka; Rep. Max Rijken. Oregon doily 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, Brett Pickman - Intern, David Wood. Production. Kelly Cornyn, Stormi Dykes, Julie Freeman, Kathy Gallagher, Dean Guernsey, Susan Hawkins, Rob Kraft, Ross Martin, Karin McKercher, Lauri Neely, Kelly Neff, Kara Oberst, Curt Penrod, Michele Ross, Alyson Simmons, Peg Solonika, Tim Swillinger, Colleen Tre maine, Hank Trotter. Editor Managing Editor News Editor Editorial Page Editor Photo Editor Sports Editor Sidelines Editor Friday Edition Editor Entertainment Editor Night Editor Associate Editors Administration Higher Education Politics ASUO Student Activities Community Features Michele Matassa Mike Sims Michael Kulaga Costas Christ Michael Clapp Brent De La Paz Sheila Landry Kim Carlson Michael Duncan Michele Matassa Jolayne Houtz Michael Hosmar Paul Ertelt Julie Shippen Diana Elliott Cynthia Whitfield Lori Steinhauer Reporters: Sean Axmaker, Dave Berns, Kirsten Bolin, Michelle Brence, Dave Carlson, Robert Collias, Thomas Henderson, Robin Joannides, Allan Lazo, Capi Lynn, Scott McFetridge, Stasia Scarborough. News and Editorial 686-5511 Display Advertising and Business 686-3712 Classified Advertising 686-4343 Production 686-4381 Circulation 686-5511 letters What next? To the self-proclaimed “patriotic liberal” who was horrified at a recent demonstra tion against the FBI agents on campus, the characters you call ed “anarchist hypocrites” were members of the Revolutionary Communist Youth Brigade. Other people more familiar with their organization might call them the Really Confused Young Bourgeoisie. Others may even call them “police in filtrators.” Their actions are outrageous, inciteful, and just plain insane. They try to turn open discussions and political demonstrations into a scream of slogans and a parade of antics. Be it trampling a tom flag in a crowded lobby or burning a yellow rag in a packed auditorium, the RCYB is an ac complished artist at distracting issues and undermining demonstrations. On Feb. 26, agents from the CIA will slip onto campus to recruit selected students into their organization. The internationally-condemned ac tions of the CIA in such places as Nicaragua and Afghanistan have provoked world-wide debate and demonstrations: yet, here in the U.S., the people who pay for the “services” of the CIA know very little of its ac tions. I suppose there will be some people who will want to discuss, debate, and demonstrate the presence of CIA agents on campus. What is the RCYB going to do next? Will its travelling circus make “duck soup” out of another University rally with their rendition of the Marx brothers’ routine? You can bet that whatever they’re going to do, it’ll have the secret bless ings of the FBI and CIA and is sure to horrify a lot more “patriotic liberals.” Tim Ingalsbee A Radical Patriot Police killing Six members of the New York Police Emergency Squad broke down an elderly black woman's door on Oct. 29, 1984. Did they do it to help her? No. she was four months behind in her $96.85 rent. She was emotional ly disturbed. The six policemen tried to hold her back with a restraining bar. but she picked up a knife and slashed at them. What did they do? Did they go get help, like a mental health worker, a relative, or even use something like a stun gun? No, one of them shot her with a shotgun not once, but twice. Yes, this is the same America the “love-it-or leave-it” crowd talk about. I'm sure if Eleanor Bumpers could leave she would, but it’s too late now, because she’s dead. Dan Suire Eugene Cozy cocoon In response to the article en titled “Let’s Forget It” (ODE, Feb. 5): God forbid that you might be jarred out of your cozy little co coon of sheltered unreality by a story about Ethiopia. Don’t forget that we college students are a lucky chosen few in the world and are almost totally in sulated from a world where sur vival is a very real uncertainty each day for uncounted millions. You apparently do not like to keep up on today’s news if an article on a famine stricken country "annoys” you. Believe it or not, stories about war, famine, and disaster are news whether you and I like it or not. These stories are printed so that a fortunate few like you and me might see that some of our fellow human beings need a helping hand and do something about it. It’s not their fault that they weren’t born in the richest nation on earth. It isn’t our fault either, you’re right. However, that hardly gives us the right to turn our backs on them. I don't understand how one person can be so incredibly callous. I suppose the media could just supply us with “hap py news” as you suggest, but then would they really be doing their job the way it was meant to be done? Your casual reference to un fortunate starving people as “resemblances of human be ings” should effectively put every person on this campus in to rage. You imply that because these people are starving to death through no fault of their own, they are something less than human. B.J. Thomsen Pre-Journalism Good seminar This is in response to the Emerald’s Feb. 5 front page news story on the Self Health seminar’s “hidden” registra tion fee. I realize someone distressed about a hidden fee for a seminar makes interesting news, but I think it’s unfair to the sponsors and participants of the seminar to have such an arti cle on the front page rather than on the editorial page. 1 attended the seminar, and was well informed that there would be a $7.50 fee to pur chase a packet. 1 thought the seminar was worth three times that much. I felt it was very well done, and the four sessions 1 at tended were done with reasonable professionalism. They were very enjoyable, in teresting, and very helpful for coping more successfully with college life. I was very pleased with the seminar. 1 talked with many people who attended it with me, and they were very pleased as well. I don’t wish to rant and rave about whether or not the article was in poor taste. I do wish to state, however, that there was no article Monday on how well the seminar went; and on Tue. Feb. 5, a very negative, one sided article was printed. If the article needed to be printed before anything positive was said about the seminar, it should appear on the editorial page rather than the front page.
