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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 17, 1985)
editorial Reagan *s callousness is incomprehensible How insensitive is President Ronald Reagan? Reagan plans to lay a wreath next month at a West German cemetery, where members of the SS, Adolf Hitler’s elite Nazi guard, are buried. The wreath-laying ceremony will come during Reagan’s attendance at a conference, in West Ger many, of the leaders of the non-Communist industrial na tions. West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl extended the initial invitation to Reagan, inviting the president to par ticipate in the ceremony. Reagan agreed to take part in the ceremony as a demonstration of American good-will toward the West Ger man people. Yet, through commemorating German soldiers who participated in the torture of millions of Jews, Poles,. Gypsies, Latvians and other European ethnic groups, Reagan has demonstrated a lack of sensitivity that is unusual even for him. Reagan said during a March press conference that he did not plan to visit the site of a German concentra tion camp, during his May visit, because he did not want to rekindle the memories of Nazi terror. But he defends his trip to the Bitburg military cemtery by claiming it is in line with the “theme of reconciliation” that he will advocate during the conference. For a man who was in his early 30s during World War II, Reagan displays a juvenile recollection of the horrors per formed by German soldiers in that war. Six million Jews were liquidated in Hitler’s death camps. Entire regions of Europe and the southern Soviet Union were destroyed as Hitler’s forces extended their reign of terror. The names of Auschwitz, Treblinka, Dachau and Buchenwald are in delibly ethched in the minds of those who survived the hor ror of those camps. But Reagan rationalizes his visit to Bit burg by stating that there are few Germans alive who remember the war, and it is unnecessary to impose a sense of guilt upon them. In his pursuit of a stronger relationship with West Ger many, Reagan has minimized the acts of barbarous murderers, who must never be forgotten for what they truly were. As citizens of the world community we must never fail to remember the crimes of Nazi Germany. The Reagan visit to a Nazi war cemetery trivializes the crimes committed by those who killed for Hitler. The act of an American president planting a wreath at the gravesite of 2,800 men who per formed crimes against humanity, is a moral crime itself. Before he carries through on his wreath-laying plan, Reagan should attempt to understand the implications of his act. Remember to cast a ballot during this week’s election To restate the Emerald’s endorsements for Wednesday and Thursday’s ASUO Primary election, the Emerald en dorses the ticket of Lynn Pinckney and John Dreeszen for president and vice president. In the race for the six Inciden tal Fee Committee positions the Emerald endorses : Kim Fuson, Armando Morales, Bill Odegaard, Cheryl Pellegrini, James Randall and Michael West. The issues that student leaders will deal with during the next year require creative, broad-based leadership that will attract student involvement. Financial-aid cuts, tuition in creases and a potential decrease in University enrollment would all wreak havoc on a University community that is reeling from previous revenue cuts. The Pinckney-Dreeszen ticket along with an IFC of Fuson, Morales, Odegaard, Pellegrini, Randall and West, would provide strong leader ship in resolving these and other problems. fiU/Rg & 'Vf GLUKB NEW FftNflEK IN SftCl EXPUKtflON' M/WON CONTROL U&SNS ft A B*f*I>CAV PUS fib* JA*iF 6*JW'S Vt&Wrf TftACf. letters For a change I urge ' concerned students who want our student govern ment to be more than a plaything for young bureaucrats to vote for the activist slate of Students for a Progressive Agenda in the coming election. SPA’s presidential/VP can didates are worthy of special at tention. Lynn Pinckney began her political activism as a high school Young Democrat; now 29, she is the co-director of GALA, a member of the ASUO Women’s Task Force and a second-year law student. John Dreeszen is currently an MBA student and serves as the ASUO’s Finance Coordinator. As graduate students who both attended the University as undergraduates, only Lynn and John have the maturity, ex perience, and commitment to activism to make the ASUO ef fective, responsive and respected. SPA has a four-year tradition on the campus of running can didates who don’t just talk about activism, but who have shown they have the skills, energy and determination to make their goals a reality. This year’s candidates have worked with a diverse array of groups like the Asian American Student Union, Amazon Com munity Tenants, MEChA, OSPIRG, Student Bar Associa tion, GALA, Survival Center, Women’s Referral, Women in Transition and Student Cam paign for Disarmament. What they all share is a common com mitment to progressive goals Oregon daily , . emerald The Oregon Daily Emerald is published Monday through Friday except during exam week and vacations by the Oregon Dally 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 Own bey Advertising Sales: Laura Buckley, Tim Clevenger, Jen nifer Fox, Marcia Leonard, Rick Martz, Nancy Nielsen, Brett Pickman, Tim Swillinger, David Wood. Production Kelly Cornyn, Stormi Dykes, Manuel Flores, Kathy Gallagher, Dean Guernsey, Susan Hawkins, Grant Keltner, Rob Kraft, Ross Martin, Karin McKercher, Lauri Neely, Kelly Neff, Kara Oberst, Curt Penrod, Michele Ross, Alyson Simmons, Peg Solonika, Karen Stallwood, Tim Swillinger, Colleen Tremaine, 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, Dave Berns Brian Erb Brent De La Paz Sheila Landry Kim Carlson Michael Duncan Michael Kulaga Jolayne Houtz Scott McFetridge Paul Ertelt Julie Shippen Diana Elliott Cynthia Whitfield Lori Steinhauer Reporters: Sean Axmaker, Kirsten Bolin, Michelle Brence, Dave Carlson, Robert Coilias, Thomas Henderson, Robin Joannides, Allan Lazo, Capi Lynn. Photographers: Dean Guernsey, Kirk Hirota, Jim Marks, Ross Martin, Karen Stallwood, Hank Trotter. News and Editorial Display Advertising and Business Classified Advertising Production Circulation 686-5511 686-3712 686-4343 686-4381 686-5511 J and ensuring strong student in put in decisions that concern our lives. » SPA’s candidates have writ ten a platform sketching some of their many ideas for change and improvement. It’s available with the SPA slate from SPA tables at the EMU, or the SPA mailbox in SUITE 4 EMU. On April 17-18 1 encourage concerned students to vote for a team that will make student government work for a change. Sherri Schultz Senior, Political Science Made a mistake Yes Donna, it was outrageous. And because it was an unintentional mistake, I offer you my unconditional apology for the actions of my campaign staff. One of the members of my staff forwarded false informa tion about you, which I then us ed to write my incorrect letter based on false identity. It is true that 1 do not know what you look like. If we have had classes together before, you were never introduced to me by name. When you have over 60 students in one class, you can’t be expected to know the names of all of them. I’m pleased to hear that you support alternative life-styles. But does that include the Marine and CIA recruiter’s right to freedom of speech here at the University0 And does your sup port extend not only to GALA, but does it also include the teaching of ROTC0 Donna I’m not the type of per son that would knowingly distribute false information. I own up to my mistakes. I hope that these problems can now be put to rest. I look forward to an exciting cam paign where all issues in cluding freedom of speech can be discussed. Ron Munion Candidate for SUAB position 4 For Siebens This is a letter in support of Christie Siebens as a candidate for EMU Board. I have known Christie for two years, and I think I have a good idea of what her capabilities are. Chrisite has previously been a member of SUAB, and has serv ed as a student representative on various student-faculty com mittees as well. In addition to her experience. 1 think her best quality is her concern for other students' needs. f have known Christie to be a very fair person. She will work to represent all groups on cam pus, not just a select few. She has a solid working knowledge of the EMU Board, and the ASUO. She has also been endorsed by the Progressive Party, and I think they were correct in doing so. As a potential board member, she can work for you. Joyce Aquirre Finance Fine candidates The Amazon Community Tenants (ACT) have, endorsed Lynn Pinckney for ASUO Presi dent and John Dreeszen for ASUO Vice President. We have carefully considered the issues and are supporting the Students for a Progressive Agenda’s (SPA) platform. The issues raised are pertinent to both traditional and non traditional students. ACT has witnessed and sup ported the efforts of SPA in their endeavor for diversity in stu dent government. We are sup portive not only in that SPA represents many ACT beliefs but that SPA represents the common needs of all students. We are further pleased to an nounce our endorsement of the following Incidental Fee Com mittee (IFC) candidates: James T. Randall, Cindi Kim, Arman do Morales, Cheryle Pellegrini, Ka-Yin Siew, and Anne Wyatt. Collectively they have the ex perience and diversified background needed for this very important committee. ACT asks for your support of these fine candidates on elec tion day. A reminder that your student ID card and your green fee card are needed to be able to vote. James Randall Co-director Amazon Communi ty Tenants
