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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (June 3, 1985)
Emerald editorials have a key purpose The start of dead week presents an opportunity to reflect upon the purpose of the Emerald editorial page. Throughout the year the Emerald has used this page to discuss a variety of local, national and international events. We have focused upon President Ronald Reagan’s weaknesses as well as the effects of his policies. The Emerald has often criticized Reagan's policy toward South Africa and Latin America as well as his domestic policy. We have commented on the state Legislature’s attempts to change state elections law and we have critiqued a wide range of campus issues. Many have said that we have rarely come out in support of anything; instead they charge we have simply been a voice of negativism — anti, anti, anti! This has often been true, but if events warrant negative discussion then that is the purpose of a newspaper. We are not cheerleaders. We are not in the business of public relations. Our job is to report on and critique world events. There is just too much pain and anguish in the world for an editorial page to ignore these events. We live in a great country. There is much to be proud of. but we as a society, and as individuals, have our shortcomings. It is our respon sibility to inform you about them. We hope we have done this well. Surprisingly, the letters to the editor have raised much more campus debate than our editorials. Issues such as homosexuality, AIDS, abortion and South Africa have monopolized a great deal of the letters section. We have often been criticized for running many of these letters. But we believe it is important for the Emerald to pro vide a forum for community residents who wish to state an opinion. Many of the letters we have run, we believe, were in poor taste. Nevertheless, if they were not libelous and did not violate fair comment guidelines, we chose to run them. We did so simply because our definition of poor taste may not be the same as yours. In this country we have a responsibility to remain in formed on the issues. We hope we have helped to make our readers a little more informed and a little more conerned. editori We should all be proud of the women’s track team Congratulations to the Oregon women's track-and-field team, which won its first-ever NCAA track-and-field cham pionship Saturday, after a grueling four-day meet in humid Austin, Texas. The women were picked to do well in the meet, and they did not disappoint their fans. The women were led by Claudette Groenendaal, of Salem, who placed first in the 800-meters and second in the 1,500-meters. Others who scored points for coach Tom Heinonen’s team included Leann Warren, of Corvallis, who was third in the 1,500 and fourth in the 800; Kathy Hayes, of Newberg, who was fifth in the 10,000-meters and third in the 5,000-meters; Brenda Bushnell, of Eugene, who was seventh in the 3,000-meters; Sally Harmon, of Springfield, who was fourth in the javelin; and Quenna Beasley, of Pasco, Wash., who placed sixth in both the discus and the shot put. The women’s weeekend victory and the men’s victory at last year’s NCAA meet prove that Eugene is a successful training ground for track stars. Eugeneans should be proud of these fine athletes. letters Decency The obvious has been ignored in Sharon Ellison's commentary {ODE. May 7). For several years. Dr. Nathan son operated the world's largest abortion clinic. He personally performed some 5,000 abor tions. and was a leader in the pro-abortion movement, co founding the National Abortion Rights League. Gradually, however, as he put it, the “accumulating weight of evidence’* broke down the “mechanism of denial." and he came to see abortion for what it is. This very real denial system can clearly be seen when pro abortionists use such terms as “fetal tissue." "pregnancy ter mination.” and one used by Ms, Ellison, “undeveloped fetus"’ Such language seems designed to keep our minds from grasp ing the fact that it is living, growing children who are being brutally killed.. Having’ children destroyed before birth is presented as a . “reasonable, and ..healthy choice’’, that is “frequently” preferable to allowing adop tion by. any. large number of qualified, loving couples who are more than willing to do so. Ignored are the many, many women who must subsequently live with deep emotional scarr ing. and the many deaths that take place, both in the course of “safe, legal" abortion pro cedures, and by suicides among women who have been persuad ed to follow such “reasonable and healthy" advice. Once we open the door to solving admittedly real and often severe problems by O.D.E. LOGO 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 ot 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 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, 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 Stallwood, Colleen Tremaine, Hank Trot ter, Mary VanCura. Production Manager Classified Advertising Assistant to the Publisher Russell Steele Vince Adams Jean Ownbey Editor Managing Editor News Editor Editorial Page 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 Dave Berns Brent De La Paz Sheila Landry Kim Carlson Michael Duncan Julie Shippen Jolayne Houtz Scott McFetrtdge Paul Ertelt Mary Llchtenwalner Diana Elliott Cynthia Whitfield Lori Steinhauer Reporters Sean Axmaker, Kirsten Bolin, Michelle Brence, Robert Colllas, 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 688-5511 Display Advertising and Business 886-3712 Classified Advertising 688 4343 Production 888-4381 Circulation 886-5511 destroying unwanted or in convenient human lives, we cross a moral boundary where we lose much of what is decent and humane about our civilization. William Moore Eugene Unfair There has been a sudden change in the designated smok ing areas in the EMU, Apparent ly there was a box put in the EMU with a sign that stated “Smoker Survey Preference. “ The students were to place their comments in the box. i don't feel the method by which the survey was taken or the change that was made was done with fairness. There was little if no effort made to inform the students of the survey and the change. Tuesday morning we came into the Fishbowl where signs had been frosted "No Smoking.*’ I hunted dpwn the new designated smoking sections and found that there are only two places; an eight-table area outside the Fountain Court Cafe,' and the Skylight and Refectory. If anyone has ever tried to find a place to sit and study in these areas, one knows it is a difficult task. There is very little ventilation in the area near the F'ishbowl to disipate the smoke, rather than force the smokers in to areas not well ventilated and difficult to find seats. I ran empathize with the non smokers for their right to an area free of smoke, but 1 would like to see an effort to accommodate the smokers as well. 1 don’t feel the personnel of the EMU have given the smokers equal consideration. Karen Heldstab Eugene What are you? Dear Dan Goulet. Concerning your criticism of Eugene Free South- Africa and. it's efforts to free those oppress • ed by institutionalized racism; Surely you must understand that the efforts of the Free South Africa movement 'will' not' in-* • .• volve only boyciitting South 1 Africa but awakening a sleep-? ing world. -In .aii age.-where "prudent investor'-' means one • who. considers profit over Fife and liberty, to-speek out against this unjust pojicy is to strive '• toward a peace with all.victims - ' of injustice.'-. '.- ••** » We must jreaibte that suppor ting.the Oppressed-pimple of. the •. ' world is indeed-awiie.lind "wor thy Investment,-* while, suppor- -. ting the oppressors of ihe world . is short 'ighted’ at IVest >tp sup . port an enlightened policy bas ed on. .huma'h rights' Instead, of •* capital is prudent, pricticul.ahd flexible in application-' ’ . * "Boycott" is. hot pur. magic word. Dan?'"fWdbm" i'%, Bishop Desmond *f'utu;has smd thaUhtl ,SouQ> Afric an pen-, pie will remnmtg’r who .their* friends are. f see ottr rnovenferit • as an attempt Vh the pari of.lJf.S-* citizens to be, fiends -with the future rulers’ .of: South Africa, And divestiture is an attempt by our government to develop allies In a . reformed South Africa. • -. ; But this is .my view-. I invite ypu to learn moje and to. joih • Eugene'Free South' Africa. Do* not just sit back and be cynical, about other people's attempts- to • act upon their conscience. They are part of the solution Den. What are you? .. •' Michael Walker Eugene 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 identifica tion 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.
