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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 29, 1985)
opinion EMU Board policy is a regressive plan A university should inspire open, robust debate. It should provide a forum for a wide array of religious, political and social ideas. And it should make its facilities available to groups that wish to relay their messages to the University community. For these reasons, a recently adopted EMU Board policy should be vetoed by University President Paul Olum. The policy, which was narrowly adopted by the 15-member board last week, requires that groups comply with EMU affirmative-action policies before they will be eligible to use EMU facilities. Groups that practice discrimination on the basis of race, religion, sex and/or sex ual preference will not be allowed to use EMU facilities. Groups funded by incidental fees will be exempted from the guideline. On the surface, the board’s policy appears to be a positive step. Few members of the University community are willing to support any organization that discriminates against others. Millions of Americans have courageously struggled during the past 40 years to defeat social prejudice embedded in our system. But rather than prohibiting discriminatory groups from using the EMU, the policy ac tually censors political discussion on campus. Recruiters from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines will not be allowed to use the EMU. And FBI and CIA recruiters will also be denied the use of the building: The EMU is the political and social center of the cam pus. It provides a forum through which people can relay their thoughts and beliefs to the University community. The military does discriminate on the basis of sexual gender and preference. But this does not mean it should be denied the use of the EMU. Many students who attend the University plan to enter the military following their graduation. The military’s occa sional presence in the EMU allows these students the oppor tunity to gain information. Students should not be denied this opportunity. The defense budget is the largest line item in the national budget. It plays a major role in our daily lives. Students must not be denied the opportunity to ques tion military recruiters about the military’s role in world events. The EMU Board must ensure that the student union tru ly provides students with a “cultural forum.” To deny students the opportunity to hear presentations from diverse governmental, political and social groups is a violation of this trust. Smoking should be banned in the EMU’s Fishbowl The EMU Board House Committee is investigating whether students wish to prohibit smoking within the EMU Fishbowl. Through the use of a brief questionnaire located near the Fishbowl’s cash register, students are asked to res pond either in support or opposition to a limitation on smoking. Anyone who has ever had to endure a meal that was ruined by another person’s cigarette smoke should heartily endorse the prohibition. Many argue that smoking is a per sonal right. But what about the right of others to breath air that has not been polluted by cigarettes? Many Eugeneans suffer the effects of hay fever during the spring. Cigarette smoke further exacerbates such respiratory problems. All students who use the Fishbowl should support a prohibition against cigarette smoking and make the Fishbowl a more en joyable place for all students. Penalizes In his letter (ODE, April 18). Tom Visoky spoke out against the “phony biblical” arguments some people use to defend homosexuality. What is phony is to rely on biblical quotes as the basis for one’s argument? If a truth is self-evident one need not rely on “authority” to prove a point. I have a growing suspicion that fundamentalists raise these issues soley for the opportunity it gives them to parrot dogma. In a letter (ODE, April 18), condemning homosexuality, Peitra Leo quotes Romans 1:27 ”... and in the same way also, the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another.” Ms. Leo apparently wants us to believe that the “natural function” of a woman is to be a sperm receptacle. Fundamen talists find biblical quotes to “prove” that women are also defined as fetus receptacles or that the “natural” order of things is for a woman to sublet her belief system to the will of her husband. These people even define the “failings” of women in relation to men. The present welfare system under Reagan’s born-again hen chmen penalizes (translate Penile-izes) women who are “unable to get a man and keep him.” I am amazed at the voices of women in this column urging other women to sell their souls into Fundamentalist Christian bondage. Much evil has come into this world as a result of people who believe their own truth to be ab solute and who act as if their blindered universe manifests “God’s Will”. Jack Straton Graduate, Physics Irresponsible It seems like all of the efforts that people are putting into creating and making a non sexist society are going down the drain. In the (ODE, April 17) as I was going through the classified section, I read, “GIRLS” (in bold letters). The next line said, “Want to Win $50, Enter the New Heaven’s Gate ‘Wet T Shirt Contest’.” It was uninformed of the Emerald staff to publish such an ad when just last term the University went through some important issues. For instance, the por nography display, abortion, human rights, and women’s 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, 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 Collias, Thomas Henderson, Robin Joannides, Allan Lazo, Capi Lynn. Photographers: Dean Guernsey, Kirk Hirota, Jim Marks, Ross Martin, Karen Stallwood, Hank Trotter. News and Editorial 686-5511 Display Advertising and Business 686-3712 Classified Advertising 686-4343 Production 686-4381 Circulation 686-5511 issues and rights. It seems like the Emerald is a black board that everybody writes on. I think that the paper should reflect the University’s thoughts not anything that is offensive against some group of people. Women who go to college are not “girls”. They don’t want to be called girls. Such ads should not run in the Emerald even if they bring profit. The Emerald’s staff is mostly composed of students. They should be sensitive to the University issues that effect a lot of students. Let New Heaven’s Gate publish its ads elsewhere. The Emerald should remain at least neutral if not insulting and/or offensive. I hope that concerned students respond with seriousness. Ibraheem Wahab Eugene Bewildered I am utterly bewildered by Dan Goulet’s recent attacks on homosexual activity. He seems to express repugnance at the mere thought that two human beings of the same sex could be sexually at tracted to one another. But what bewilders me is that just last year Goulet was in timately involved with a group that blatantly advocated for nicating with sheep! While I respect Goulet’s right to ‘‘do the dirty deed’’ with sheep, I cannot understand why he is so intolerant of others. I suppose it is easier to point one’s finger in judgment than it is to find one’s own personal identity and manifest love into the world. Steve Richkind Law Say that again Anyone looking for a place to take a sauna? Go to the Computing Center. It’s like going to lift weights at Taco Bell: ‘‘Ya, I’ll have an enchilada, two Bellburgers. four taco’s and a complete set of Nautilus equipment... Just bring it over in the corner, near the bench press.” It’s that bad, really. Jay Dinneen Rhetoric and Communications No benefit While thumbing through the (ODE, April 11), I acquired a terminal case of indigestion when my eyes beheld an article suggesting the date for dropp ing a class be moved up. Being a reasonable soul, I decided to read the rest of the article and find the reason that the change was proposed. Much to my amazement, the only reason that I could find for the proposed change is that there are other colleges in the vicinity that use the two-week deadline. Is this brain storm another case of keeping up with the Joneses or is there some other reason why we should waste the time of the administration in the change-over process? More importantly, is there any tangible reason for the crea tion of a situation that can only result in a restrictive at mosphere for the students, or is their “they all do it, and so should we” attitude they only rationale behind this push? I see no way that this change would benefit the student population. I am graduating this term, so 1 really have no interest in this issue except that I would hate to see the current and future students at the University beholden to a deadline that significantly restricts their academic freedom. If there is some other reason for the moving up of the deadline, 1 would like to hear it. One of the only wise things that our “fearless leader” has ever uttered, (when referring to the governmental breakup of AT&T). wa3 "If it’s not broken, why are we fixing it?” David Johnson Eugene Thanks a lot At long last it appears the Oregon Commentator is here to stay. After two years of funding problems and the inability to find an advertiser within a hun dred mile radius of Eugene, the IFC has finally seen the light and secured the Commentator's existence on this campus well into the future. i nan*, you. Monday another issue of the Commentator hit newsstands all over the campus, and we got to see exactly what we are paying for. 1 must admit I've never been a big fan, but Monday I thought I would take a look. Proponents of the paper claim students at the University are narrow minded and that the Commentator provides a second point of view as well as giving opportunities not presently available through the Emerald. Well by golly last Monday they were right. On the very last page of the paper a plea for money ap peared, which looked identical to those asking us to send money to Ethiopia. This one said, “Send Democracy Around the World...Save The Contras.” For only 53 cents a day you can support oppression and murder in Central America without even leaving your liv ing room. . . what a unique opportunity. I was so excited with my find ings that 1 was compelled to alert everyone. 1 must point out that the OTHER paper never offered us this. Once again my thanks to the 1FC, may you never have a restful night again. John Tapogna University Democrats Letters Policy The Emerald will attempt to print all letters containing 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. Let ters to the editor should be turn ed into the Emerald office, Suite 300 EMU. Mnndav. Anril 29. 1985
