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