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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 14, 1985)
Oregon daily _ _ emerald An event to remember: Brathwaite Memorial track meet See Page 5 Tuesday, May 14, 1985 Eugene, Oregon Volume 86, Number 153 Wo more profits off our bodies ’ Protesters picket Playboy approach " pkioto by Rom Martin Leah Juniper (facing camera) leads a march to the New Oregon Best Western Motel & Restaurant, where Playboy photographer David Chan is staying while interviewing University women for the magazine's “Girls of the Pac 10” pictorial. By Paul Ertelt Of the Emerald Some people just don’t appreciate David Chan’s "art.” Twenty-eight people gathered outside the Playboy photographer’s motel room Monday to protest recruitment of female University students to pose for the magazine. After meeting in the EMU Courtyard shortly after noon, the protesters marched to the New Oregon Best Western Motel & Restaurant, where Chan is staying while interviewing University women for the magazine's upcoming pictorial "Girls of the Pac 10." Chan said he has interview ed about two dozen women so far. The protesters, including seven men, march ed in front of the motel for about half an hour, chanting slogans such as “No more profits off our bodies” and "Violence starts with Playboy. Stop it now.” Leah Juniper, a psychology major and a pro test organizer, said that she objects to Playboy’s portraying women as objects, not as human be ings, and that this encourages rape and violence against women. "It is much easier to do harm to an object than to a human,” she said. Juniper said Playboy, although more subtle than some magazines, is the beginning of a por nographic continuum that ends with graphic depiction of violence toward women. Playboy also is partly responsible for society’s unrealistic image of how women should r look, she said, blaming the attempt to live up to that image for many of the eating disorders college-aged women suffer. Juniper rejected Chan’s contention that the magazine creates something beautiful. “There is nothing beautiful about airbrushed anorexics with pumped up mams in a victim’s pose,” she said. The protesters were met by a small counter demonstration by five University men. Huck Cronin, a sociology major who carried a copy of Playboy tucked into the front of his pants, said he did not believe the magazine was degrading to women or that it caused violence toward them. “I believe (the protesters) arguments are un justified,” he said. "As a sociologist, I don't see any evidence or research to base their arguments on.” Professionals differ on the subject. University Psychology Professor Barbara Gordon-Lickey said it is impossible to prove whether pornography contributes to rape. But Pauline Bart, a sociology professor at the University of California at Los Angeles, said in a telephone interview that the “evidence is quite clear” that pornography does play a part in rape. Bart notes that several months before a woman was gang raped on a New Bedford, Mass., pool table, Hustler magazine ran a pictorial entitl ed “Dirty Pool,” in which a woman was similarly raped. “I see pornography as pro-rape propagan da,” Bart said. 1 Athletes express thoughts on incidental-fee allocation By Mary Lichtenwalner Of the Emerald Editor's note: The ASUO recently vetoed the athletic department's 1985-86 budget contract of $773,009, as finalized by the Incidental Fee Committee. Last week, students spoke out on the department’s budget in an Emerald story. Monday, the Emerald spoke with some University athletes about their views on funding the athletic department. When Oregon runner Kathy Hayes chose to study at the University, something besides academics drew her to the school. “The reason 1 chose the UO was because of athletics," Hayes said. “That played a big part in my decision — the fact that the University has a good track team.” Athletics is an integral part of an education, Hayes said. “I think athletics at the University has added as much to my education as my classes have, through the traveling and the discipline athletics takes," she said. Every University student pays $16 per term to the athletic department through in cidental fees, whether they attend sports events or not. Is that too much to ask of students? Sonora McDuffie, active on the Univer sity women’s basketball team, said no. “Personally, I don’t feel that $16 per student is too much to ask,” she said. “However, if the athletic department got as much as it requested, it should be balanced out per sport, with more going to non revenue sports.” Students should support the athletics program for the health of the University, McDuffie said. “Everyone wants to have a quality athletics program, and we need money to bring good athletes here,” she said. A substantial budget is essential for the athletic department, football quarterback Chris Miller said. The athletic facilities at the University are less than adequate as compared to other Pac-10 schools, he said. "We need the money,” Hayes said of the budget. "1 think a lot of people think it’s luxury benefits that the athletic department is getting.” Hayes spoke for the women’s track team. “We’re not throwing around any money,” she said. “If the veto passes it might mean restricting meets” through the possible reduction of funding for travel. Competitive athletics is essential to the University, said Sandy Vaughn, EMU recreation coordinator. Although Club Sports offers an outlet for students similar to the athletic department, Vaughn said, the funding received through the EMU budget is not comparable to what the athletic department gets. “The Club Sports program definitely represents the UO students’ need for an outlet for competitive sports. Our program is for students who come to the University primarily for the academics. We fill their need for athletics.” she said. A “balanced education” is important to Scrafford Orser, lacrosse team member. “That’s classical education from way back,” Orsen said. “The Greeks balanced mind with physical pursuit.” A factor contributing to that balance for athletes is the social aspect sports adds to a student’s college career. “For me, (athletics) gave me a great op portunity to meet new people," McDuffie said, adding that athletic participation builds school spirit. But while athletics is important, “academics should always come first,” she said. “There should be a balance between athletics and academics.” Group calls for more input into Research Park plans By Cynthia Whitfield Of the Emerald Students and community members attending a public forum Monday night called for more in put into the policies of the River front Research Park and planned a “confrontation” with University President Paul Olum over propos ed policy. Members of the Coalition for Responsible Economic Develop ment said they will encourage University administrators to in clude students and community members in the planning process. Susan Sowards, ASUO executive coordinator and organizer of the meeting, said the group’s greatest concern is the possibility that classified defense research will be conducted at the park. “The University of Oregon is working with the city of Eugene, rolling along without community input,” Sowards said. “We’re here tonight to prepare for public hear ings and begin a public discussion over issues that haven’t been addressed.” Two ASUO petitions were pass ed through the audience — one supporting a ban on classified research and the other calling for a more “participatory planning pro cess for the Riverfront Park Development.” The University already bans classified research on campus, but administrators say once the land is leased to the newly formed River front Park non-profit corporation board of directors, the University will have no control over what kind of development occurs there. The board of directors met for the first time in a private session Monday. Sowards and other members said they plan to pressure Olum into in cluding a ban on classified research in the terms of the lease. Members also expressed con cerns about toxic waste disposal, adverse environmental damage to riverfront wildlife, and the “ques tionable” economic feasibility of the project. “The Riverfront Park is intended to make connections between the university and the city, and it does link to the city in an interesting way,” one group member said. “I think the best way this group can be helpful is to give (the project) creative direction.” A woman describing herself as “one of those radical anti-growth people” said there are “very hideous things — chemical, laser and biotechnology — that man has done. I'm scared... .I’m frighten ed of biotechnology and the fact that the University is unwilling to extend the classified research ban there.” The group plans to write letters to the editors of the Oregon Daily Emerald and The Register-Guard, to attend Planning Commission and City Council public hearings, and to consider forming a future ci ty referendum opposing or modify ing the project before the public.