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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 20, 1985)
editorial Display succeeds in promoting discussion Once again the Women’s Referral and Resource Service is in the midst of controversy. On Tuesday morning, WRRS put up a display in the EMU lobby that was designed to bring attention to the issue of pornography in society and how it is linked, according to WRRS, to sexual violence towards women. Within an hour, students were crowded around the display, which included pornographic magazine cut-outs of women in bondage and a series of interpretive statements written by WRRS. A local TV news crew showed up as well, and by noon WRRS had met with reporters, students and others seeking comment on the display. But the display seems to have raised more questions than there are answers. Age-old issues about the first amend ment were raised and left hanging. For example, is por nography protected by the U.S. Constitution? Would bann ing pornography be a step in the direction of government censorship? Some individuals questioned if the EMU lobby is the appropriate place for the display. Others complained that the display was done in an antagonistic manner (anti male) that will only serve to alienate and discredit WRRS. Still others felt that although shocking, the display is im portant in helping to raise people’s awareness about the issue of violence towards women and how it is promoted through pornography. The display certainly is shocking, but it was designed to be that way, in hopes that it will generate discussion on an important issue. Without a doubt WRRS has achieved this goal and we support them in it. But it is also important that the issue of pornography in society not be reduced to a women vs. men issue. A number of women, including the well-known pornographic film star, Marilyn Chambers, have actively sought to protect their rights to appear in por nographic literature and films. This does not justify por nography, but it shows that it is an industry which is pro moted by both men and women. Any attempt to raise awareness about the violence towards women displayed in pornography must be directed at both men and women, WRRS hasn’t come up with all of the answers to this com plex issue, but their display case in the EMU lobby has played an important role in generating discussion on a topic which a lot of people tend to ignore. Truth catches up with General Westmoreland The recent out-of-court settlement in the $120 libel lawsuit brought by Gen. William Westmoreland against CBS ended Sunday with Westmoreland claiming that his name was finally cleared. W'estmoreland had accused CBS of libel when the network aired a documentary on Vietnam three years ago in which it reported that he had intentionally manipulated enemy numbers downward to make it look like the war effort was going better than it really was. Westmoreland said he withdrew from the libel trial after a joint agreement with CBS in which the network made a public statement that it never believed he was disloyal or un patriotic in carrying out his duties “as he saw them.” But it appears that Westmoreland really withdrew from the libel suit because the truth had caught up with him. This was evi dent when fellow officers Gen. Joseph McChristian and Col. Gains Hawkins took the witness stand and testified that Westmoreland had indeed manipulated intelligence infor mation as CBS had reported. It seemed that with every witness who took the stand, Westmoreland risked further damage to his reputation. Withdrawing from the libel suit seems to have been the best way out of a potentially very em barrassing situation. vHw ms> you \m Mg ro guarantee nobody Pin’s a brick tvirjugm you* w/npow?' letters Logical Haws There you go again. Oregon Commentator. The full-court press you are mounting on the Incidental Fee Committee to fund the Commentator has a few, shall we say, logical flaws to it. 1) When you accuse the IFC of picking on the Commentator last year, you somehow forget to mention that the University’s student body voted down fun ding the Commentator by a 2 to 1 margin in last spring’s election. 2) You know that the IFC is only allowed to fund campus organizations that follow affir mative action guidelines, yet in your November issue you make the following policy statement. “We are not an affirmative ac tion employer.” 3) The Commentator publisher, Doug Green, has ask ed the Oregon Attorney General’s office for a ruling outlawing the use of IFC money to fund groups engaging in “political activities” (such as publishing a right-wing paper)? That was in December. Now, in February, the Commentator wants IFC money. So, there you go again, trying to confuse us, and perhaps yourselves, in your zigzag approach to IFC funding. Was student government ir responsible in carrying out the student mandate on the Com mentator? Are you now sudden ly in favor of affirmative action? Have you suddenly changed your mind about asking the At torney General to de-fund “political activities”? Just what are we supposed to believe? Roscoe Caron Eugene 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 Comyn, 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 Soionika, Tim Swillinger, Colleen Tre maine, Hank Trotter. Pace 2A 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 Michael Kulaga 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 Display Advertising and Business Classified Advertising Production Circulation 686-5511 6863712 686-4343 686-4381 686-5511 Clarification As director of the Interna tional Studies Association. I felt it necessary to address the com mentary of Sundaram Tagore (ODE. Feb. 8) of the Foreign Students Organization. First, to clarify the purpose of our organization and second, to clarify the purpose of the up coming African Relief Week. The primary goal of the ISA is to educate and encourage par ticipation in events of interna tional political, social, and economic importance. We strive to present as many views as possible and in no way do we as an organization take any political stance on these issues. Therefore, the view of Mr. Tagore does not represent that of our organization or its members. As the organizer and primary sponsor of African Relief Week, our goal is to educate the University community about the situation in East Africa, as well as give the entire student body an opportunity to con tribute towards alleviating hunger. We have chosen Oxfam America as the beneficiary of our fundraising efforts because of its excellent reputation as a development agency which funds long-term development projects and also emergency relief aid in times of crisis such as the current situation in Ethiopia. Oxfam America is a non-sectarian, non-profit organization with extremely low administrative costs (6 per cent). In deciding on a beneficiary of African Relief Week proceeds, we found that Oxfam America was an organization which we knew we could count on to get relief to those who need it most. We hope that you will join us in this event. Suzanne Bader, Director International Studies Association Hunger issue The U.S. food aid budgeted for African famine victims will run out by March. 1. If you are concerned about reducing the suffering in Africa, your help is vital to insure the immediate passage by both houses of Con gress of HR 100, the Africa Relief and Recovery Act of 1985. The bill would appropriate $1 billion: $810 million for food. $177 million for inland transportation, and $229 million for medical supplies and blankets. Three months are needed from the time aid is pledged until food actually readies hungry people, hence the need tor immediate passage of HR 100 without delay and without amendments. Con gressman Weaver is a co sponsor of this bill in the House. Concerned citizens should write or call Senators Hatfield and Packwood to co sponsor the Senate bill. Of equal importance is passage of the Food Assistance and Africa Agricultural Act. This bill would (1) shorten and improve the U.S. response in famine situations and (2) establish, with the help of other donor nations, a special Africa account within the Interna tional Fund for Agricultural Development. The U.S. con tribution would be $150 million over a three year period and would assist Africa in recover ing from its agricultural crisis. Addresses: Senator Mark Hat field, Senator Bob Packwood, U.S. Senate. Washington D.C.. 20010; Congressman Jim Weaver, U.S. House, Washington D C.. 20015. For additional information: Bread for the World, 802 Rhode Island Ave. N. E., Washington D.C., 20018. Dorthy Sistrom Coordinator Bread for the World 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. The Emerald reserves the right to edit any letter for length or style. Letters to the editor should be turned into the Emerald office, Suite 300, EMU. v,_i_on iatt4
