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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 20, 1985)
editorial No room for secrecy in student government On at least five occasions during the current academic school year, Emerald reporters have been forced out of stu dent government meetings. The reporters were at the meetings as part of routine news assignments to cover events relating to the student community. The Student University Affairs Board, the ASUO Executive and the Interfraternity Council have all prohibited Emerald reporters from covering certain portions of their meetings during the year. Although such activity on the part of student organiza tions is rare, the Emerald feels it can no longer remain silent about the issue. Reading the Emerald is one of the only ways students at the University can learn about what is happening within student government organizations. There should be nothing secret about student government activities or deci sion making. Denying reporters access to meetings sets a bad prece dent on the part of student organizations whose decisions and activities affect the student body. Students have a right to know how organizations representing them operate and make decisions. Many students rely on the Emerald as a way to keep themselves informed on student issues. Preventing Emerald reporters from gaining access to student government meetings is, in virtually all cases, a violation of state law. This was stated in 1983 by Peter Swan, assistant to the president for legal affairs. When the question of news coverage of student government was raised at that time, Swan investigated the issue and responded by saying, “ My own conclusion is that meetings of the Student University Affairs Board or any other committee, advisory group, or body which acts in a deliberate way, as part of stu dent government, would be under the law.” Swan was refer ing to ORS 192.610 which outlines the rights of anyone, in cluding the media, to attend public meetings. What the issue boils down to is that the best form of government is an open government. This applies to student government as well. When student organizations begin to deny Emerald reporters the opportunity to cover their meetings, then it is the student body as a whole that suffers the most. Beer garden and folk festival make a bad mix Once again the EMU Cultural Forum put together an ex cellent weekend of music in the form of the 15th Annual Willamette Valley Folk Festival. But unlike years past, the Cultural Forum tarnished its image this year by mixing the usual Friday afternoon student beer garden with the folk festival. Whether it was intentional or just a case of careless misplanning, mixing the beer garden with the folk festival left many people angry. To begin with, the folk festival was advertised as being free to the public. But on Friday afternoon, when Eugene residents showed-up for the first day of music, they were told they had to pay $1.50 to get in and also had to show I.D. to prove they were at least 21 years old. Local residents com plained that advertisements for the event never mentioned the beer garden or entry fees. As a result, some people accus ed the Cultural Forum of false advertising. The Cultural Forum staff worked hard to put together the folk festival and they deserve a lot of credit for doing an over-all good job. But the beer garden and the folk festival should have never been mixed. Furthermore, when the Cultural Forum advertises free admission to an event, they should make sure it stays that way. 'tyUREttE ASKEDRom 'weakwhereverYousavweare,sir. Geckoe replied 'mt/SWDROM,' I BEUEVE WE ARE INSOME KlNP OF CHURCH, BECAUSE MERE IS A BOX OF CAMPLES. U6HT0NE, 6E0RSE.' - 'OF COURSE,SIR.' SAID GlC^l , &0V*> f*tss r+*xc**f letters Local danger After the disastrous fire at the Bradford city soccer stadium, a quick check of Hayward Field revealed the following: The east grandstands, built in the early part of the century, are entirely wooden with steel sup ports. There appears to be only one fire sprinkler in the entire structure, over the weigh-in room. The newer west grand stands are mostly wood, but they have sprinklers every 10 or 20 feet on their underside. Fortunately, there is a fire sta tion a block south on Agate Street. But the Bradford stands, built shortly after the turn of the century, were entirely engulfed in flames within four minutes; it w'as more than a single fire engine could handle. Tom Gronke Junior, Physics Power crazed After spending a year as the EMU Board’s budget chair, 1 am angry over the past action of this year’s Incidental Fee Com mittee. Last week when the EMU budget came before the IFC, no consideration was given to the work done by the EMU committee. Instead of offering some professional courtesy, the IFC made statements that the EMU board “rubber stamp budgets” have been prepared “in an unprofessional man ner.” The EMU program direc tors were harassed and insulted. I was personally appalled when Lori Lieberman felt it necessary to scold Sandy Vaughn (Club i 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, Michael Gray - Intern, Robin Joannides - Intern, Carlos Lamadrid - Intern, Marcia Leonard, Rick Martz, Nancy Nielsen, Brett Pickman, Tim Swillinger, Laura Willoughby - Intern, David Wood. Production: Kelly Cornyn, Stormi Dykes, Manuel Flores, Kathy Gallagher, Dean Guernsey, Jackson Haring, Susan Hawkins, Kirk Hirota, Grant Keltner, Rob Kraft, Ross Mar tin, Karin McKercher, Lauri Neely, Kelly Neff, Kara Oberst, Curt Penrod, Michele Ross, Alyson Simmons, Peg Solonika, Karen Stall wood, Tim Swillinger, Colleen Tre maine, Hank Trotter, Mary VanCura._ 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 Mike Sims Michael Kulaga Costas Christ, Dave Berns Brian Erb Brent De La Paz Sheila Landry Kim Carlson Michael Duncan Julie Shippen Jolayne Houtz Scott McFetridge Paul Ertelt Mary Lichtenwalner Diana Elliott Cynthia Whitfield Lori Steinhauer Reporters: Sean Axmaker, Kirsten Bolin, Michelle Brence, Robert Collias, Julie Freeman, Thomas Henderson, Robin Joannides, Allan Lazo, Adam Worcester. Photographers: Dean Guernsey, Kirk Hirota, Jim Marks, Ross Martin, Karen Stallwood, Hank Trotter. News and Editorial 686-5511 Display Advertising and Business 666-3712 Classified Advertising 686-4343 Production 686-4381 Circulation 686-5511 Sports Program Director) about how to prepare a budget and read 1FC resolutions. The EMU Budget Committee consists of two IFC members both whom had no objections to any part of the budget (except Club Sports) during the full board meeting in April. Instead, the program directors were greeted by a hostile IFC. When the IFC was told that they had no control over EMU salary in creases, they ignored that the state decides the level of in creases with or without the IFC's approval. To illustrate her power, Lieberman stated, "Go ahead, push me and I'll show you how much power I have.” 1 find this action inappropriate for anybody, including the IFC. Just to receive funding from the IFC is difficult enough. Countless meetings and paper work are required for each pro gram. The time has come to quit making people jump circus hoops to receive funding. Greg Miller EMIJ Board Budget Chair Thanks Leah Thanks for Leah Juniper’s quote: “There’s nothing beautiful about airbrushed anorexics with pumped up mams in a victim's pose” (ODE, May 14). Women are victims. Every 12 seconds a woman in America is being victimized by physical violence. These staggering statistics do not begin to con sider other types of victimiza tion. Women portrayed in Playboy and other pornographic publications are victims of society. By posing in suggestive nudity, women have exposed that which should be sacred to them. Pornography displays bodies with no discretion to whom will visually and mental ly rape the socially brainwashed woman. This woman believes that the greatest compliment to her would be to be made a bunny. Women who cannot believe that pornographic materials can lead to sexually violent vic timization against women should consider their pride and potential as a person. Very pro bably, by “making a spread” in Playboy, a woman could be closing doors to career oppor tunities down the road. If an employer or potential employer knew of her ap pearance in a pornographic publication, what professional respect would he or she have for this woman? As an employee, she could become a victim of sexual harassment. For the more “traditional" woman, it could (heaven forbid) ruin her chance to become “Miss America,” or disallow a mar riage between she and that famous, affluent boyfriend of her dreams! Come on women, get a grip. Do not allow this victimization to go on. Save that which should be respected, at least by you. Listen to those that support you as a person, with abilities to fulfill your own potential. Kate Conroy Business Thanks I would like to thank everyone who helped make LYLE’s 2nd ANNUAL FORMAL a success. The credit goes to everyone involved: the venture capitalists, the volunteers, those who supplied hors d 'oeuvres, the faculty club and of course the festive guests. Because of your efforts and enthusiasm it was the party that showed Eugene how to party. Lyle Sweeney Business Management 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. Letters to the editor should be turned into the Emerald office, Suite 300, EMU.
