editorial
Slaughter symbolizes
Palestinian tragedy
The tragedy of the Palestinian people is not simply the
product of an Arab-Israeli conflict. During the past 10 days,
three Palestinian refugee camps in Beirut have been sur
rounded by Shiite Moslem forces. Beirut police estimate that
more than 390 people have been killed and about 1,755 have
been wounded since the battle for the camps began.
According to the Associated Press, Shiite military forces
unleashed the offensive on the camps in order to smash
Palestine Liberation Organization chairman Yassir Arafat’s
attempt to rebuild the Beirut power base he lost during
Israel’s 1982 invasion of Lebanon.
Certainly, the PLO has been responsible for many tragic
terrorist acts in past years, and Yassir Arafat has done little
to ensure the survival of Israel. Nevertheless, the Palestinian
people are pawns in a tragic Middle East power struggle.
While the governments of Lebanon. Syria, Iordan, Iraq,
Iran, Egypt and Libya all vehemently criticize Israel for
treating Palestinians as second-class citizens, none of these
governments has undertaken a humanitarian program
geared toward the protection of the Palestinians. Not one oil
rich Arab country has developed a comprehensive aid pro
gram structured for the economic relief of the Palestinians.
Other than the late-Egyptian President Anwar Sadat,
who was murdered for his attempts, not one of these nations
has seriously tried to negotiate a peaceful settlement of the
Jewish-Palestinian conflict. In fact, Jordan’s King Hussein
ordered the mass execution of Jordan’s Palestinian popula
tion in 1970.
The Israelis are also responsible for the current
slaughter in the camps.
No Israeli government has ever sincerely worked for the
establishment of an autonomous Palestinian homeland on
Israel’s West Bank. Instead, recent Israeli regimes have ig
nored the legitmate aspirations of the Palestinians.
The United States must also accept responsiblity for the
slaughter. While the Nixon, Ford, Carter and Reagan ad
ministrations all stated their support for a Palestinian
homeland, none of them placed any legitimate pressure on
the Israeli government to negotiate with the Palestinians. In
stead they continued to increase annual aid expenditures to
the Israelis.
Current events in Lebanon are truly tragic. Shiite
Moslems indiscriminately murder men, women and
children; no one can justify these acts. But we all must share
responsiblity for the almost 40-year plight of these homeless
people.
The past week’s events demonstrate one more time why
the Palestinians must have their own secure nation.
New EMU Board policy
is a victory for students
The EMU Board must be applauded for its decision last
Thursday, initiating a new EMU affirmative action policy.
Several weeks ago, board members approved a policy
that would have excluded non-student groups that violate
University affirmative action guidelines, from using the
EMU. The policy was specifically targeted against the
military and the CIA, which discriminate on the basis of sex
ual preference.
At the time of its passage, President Paul Olum and the
Emerald both opposed the policy fearing that it would limit
issue-oriented discussion on the campus. Olum, who has
the authority to veto such rulings, asked the board to
negotiate a new, more agreeable policy.
The new policy requires that all groups using EMU peg
boards, lobby tables and office space, post their position on
affirmative action, and they must state whether they
discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation.
The new policy is a healthy one. Rather than closing
channels of free speech, it will enlighten students about the
individual organizations using the EMU. We believe that ac
cess to information is key to a University education. The
new policy enhances such access.
And you threw out ash trays
from high school shop class
A Navy inspection revealed Wednesday that Grumman
Aerospace Corp. charges them:
• $660 for two ashtrays.
• $400 for a pair of socket wrenches.
• $2,710 for a clamping device that cost $107 in 1983.
What more can we say?
letters
Free advice
Advice to next year's EMU
Cultural Forum:
t When the Willamette Folk
Festival is open for auditions,
the announcement should in
elude the names of all selection
committee members. Shrouding
their identity in secrecy leads to
the perception, probably cor
rect. that the selection process
is subjective and
unaccountable.
2. Do not restrict the audi
tions to tapes and records
Anyone can perform countless
takes of the same song until it is
right, yet be unable to do it right
the first time on stage. Live
auditions should be held for
those musicians who prefer it,
with all selection committee
members present. The auditions
should be free to the public,
prominently advertised, and
open to all musicians in an open
micro pohone format, with 15 to
30 minutes per act. The sound
system should accommodate
blank cassette tapes, supplied
by the auditioning musicians,
to be retained by the selection
committee during the selection
process, and then returned to
the auditioning musicians so
that all receive a live tape for
their efforts.
3. The musicians in the Fri
day afternoon session should
receive the same billing and
advertising as all other musi
cians, and all should be on the
same stage. To do otherwise is
to publicly ridicule the opening
acts as second-class musicians.
Equal treatment will be im
possible so long as an “outdoor
beer garden” is integrated with
the folk festival, because the au
dience would have to be remov
ed after the Friday .afternoon
session, and then be carded and
charged admission to get right •
back inside the fence.'
Richard Phillips
Eugene
Trash
I have long suspected an ele
ment of non-intejlectualism on •
this campus. With the furor,
over Playboy's photographer.
David Chan, I’m now quite con
vinced of it. ° '
Perhaps, while attending this -
university, these students could .
take a lesson in logical arguing.
Then they might sound as if
they belong here.
Sound arguments are based in
fact, not emotion,, illogic, in
substantial evidence or
innuendo.
The protest, editorial and let
ter* against Playboy are guilty
of all four. I have not seen a -
scrap of evidence for anything
that's been said against
r
Playboy. On what do they haw
their information?
Freedom of the pres.*
guarantee* there can be publica
tion* like Playboy and the
Oregonian, and also Iriuh like '*
Hustler and the Oregon Dally.".
Emerald. School has taught me ,V :
to see the difference for myself
l spent two hours witl^David
Chan ’and Sherral. Snow that
•Mo.nday.' They' were delightt'uj.
and seamed to enj(p^ my com- •
pany. likewise.. Our conversa
tion might have surprised some. .
and* if you ask me>-picely, *!• •
might show you-the portraits
David took. *.. •
By the way. We suspected one ..
of the'‘protesters also came for
an interview for the pictorial.
T’d also like* to say something
to the Women's Resource, and
Referral. Service: just ‘becatise .
we- have . the*' same type of-'
reproductive organs doesn't . "j
mean we have anything else iii
common Your sexist ijeh'avior.
has- deeply offended this. .
egalitarian. '*. .•*•••
0 ' Colleen Mahoney,.
Eugene
Letters Policy
The Emerald will attempt to print all letters con
taining 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, EMIJ.
Oregon daily _ .
emerald
The Oregon Dally 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 Susan Thelen
Production Manager Russell Steele
Classified Advertising Vince Adams
Assistant to the Publisher Jean Ownbey
Advertising Sales: Laura Buckley, Tim Clevenger, Jen
nifer Fox, Michael Gray • Intern, Robin Joannides Intern,
Cartos Lamadrid - Intern, Marcia Leonard, Rick Mart*,
Nancy Nielsen, Brett Plckman, Laura Willoughby • Intern,
David Wood.
Production Kelly Cornyn, Storm! Dykes, Manuel Flores,
a Gallagher, Dean Guernsey, Jackson Haring, Susan
Ins, Kirk Hlrota, Grant Keltner, Rob Kraft, Ross Mar
tin, Karin McKercher, Laurl Neely, Kelly Neff, KaraOberst,
Curt Penrod, Michele Ross, Alyson Simmons, Peg
Solonlka, Karen Stallwood, Colleen Tremaine, Hank Trot
ter, Mary VanCura.
Editor
Managing Editor
New* Editor
Editorial Paga 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 Barns
Brent De La Paz
Shelia Landry
Kim Carlson
Michael Duncan
Sheila Landry
Jolayne Houtz
Scott McFetrldge
Paul Ertelt
Mary Llchtenwalner
Diana Elliott
Cynthia Whitfield
Lori Stelnhauer
Reporters Sean Axmaker, Kirsten Bolin, Michelle Brence,
Robert Collies, Julie Freeman, Thomas Henderson, Robin
Joannides, Allan Lazo, Adam Worcester.
Photographers Dean Guernsey, Kirk Hlrota, Jim Marks,
Ross Martin, Karen Stallwood, Hank Trotter,
News and Editorial 866-5611
Display Advertising and Business 086 3713
Classified Advertising 888-4343
Production 688-4381
Circulation 686-8511