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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 8, 1985)
Making an elegant entrance See Page 5 Oregon daily Thursday, August 8. 1985 Eugene, Oregon Volume 87, Number 13 40th anniversary of bombing marked by candlelight vigil By Kirsten Bolin Of ft* Kiptferekf iHIVnfai iiuimiuhS pCKipit' j^iithtTCu tmaOrCj u "Hem;** In Our Life Time'' banner at the Campbell Senior (-enter on Tuesday night to commemorate the 4Uth anniversary' of the bombing of Hiroshima “Vye gather here to mourn for those who have died and to ensure what happened there never hap pens again." said U’shr Brockeihank. event emcee and a member of Clergy ami |j»tty Concerned. Local officials and plain folks alike turned out for the event that ended with a ceremonious candlelight walk to Alton Baker Hark pond. The event was sponsored by a collection of Eugene anli miclttar groups including CALC. Citizens* Action for lasting Security. Peace and Justice Network and the University Arms Control Forum. "It (the nuclear threat) is an issue we live with every day." said Lane County Commissioner Peter Ik*Fazio, "This is the 40th vear of our captivity under nuclear weapons." Tuesday night's activities were part of the week long schedule of events planned by the groups Organizers hope to increase citizen awareness of the throat of nuclear arms and want to prompt people to fight the continued proliferation of nuc lear weapons said Barbara heller, event coordinator. "Our purpose is two-fold." heller said "We want to remind people what happened with the’ bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and we want to move people to understand what they already know ft? their heart* “boat living in the nuclear age." Others directly affected by or involved with the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki spoke about their experiences "What is it in human nature that makes war at tractive?" asked Yowko Ichioka Richardson, one of 77.000 Japanese-Americans interned in holding r amps in the United States during World War II, "We need to see weapons as the enemy, not people." she said. Richardson recounted the story of a man who went into Nagasaki soon after it was bombed to get the remains of his dead son for the family burial plot. The building where his son had lived, a stu dent housing complex, was totaled. But the man was determined to bring back something so he grabl»ed a handful of ashes and returned to his rural home Two years later, the man died of cancer from the intense radiation he received from holding his dead son's ashes in the radiation-filled city, Richardson said, .. .• "lust hoping and praying and wishing and . singing for peace is not enough.'' she said • Aaron Novick. founder of the; University’s, molecular biology department, worked- oh -the ManhattanTrojert at Los Alamos in the early 1940s a where the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were built. “Clearly it was the great moral disaster of our time." Novick said. “There is no defense.” Novick credits the public with being wiser than the federal government about possible reper cussions of a continually escalated arms race. “I'm convinced the problem is in Washington with our government," Novick said. “The public is way ahead of the government on this issue.*” Above from left: Hundreds of citizens cross Ferry- Street Bridge during Tuesday night’s ■ candlelight walk: Amber facobson gazes at her candle during the vigil. . Photos by Rob Hare .- - " ' ............ ..— Commissioners delay research park decision By Scott McFetridge (If Ihff I-: niff raid In a city highly concerned with economic develop ment through a diversified economy, the proposed Riverfront Research Park has run into little opposition from local governing bodies. But at a joint public hear ing Wednesday night before the Lane County Board of Commissioners and the Lane County Planning Com mission, the proposed high-technology park ran into a temporary stumbling bk>ck. After nearly an hour of public testimony, the plan ning committee voted unanimously to delay action on the plan until its scheduled meeting Tuesday. The Board of Commissioners also will meet at that time and will deliberate on whether or not to amend the Eugene/Springfield Metropolitan Plan, as has been re quested by the Eugene City Council. Amending the plan would mean changing 70 acres of University-owned property bordering the Willamette River from a designation as open space to space reserv ed for University research. Because the Eugene City Council wants to amend the plan, it must have the ap proval of the Lane County Board of Commissioners, the Springfield City Council and the I,ane Council of Governments. Any change in the Metropolitan Plan requires ap proval by these four, local government agencies because all would be affected by a change in the plan. Susan Sowards, a professional employee of the ASUO Executive, said the Only people testifying in sup port of the Riverfront Research Park are those intimate ly involved in the project. And while there has been many more people speaking out against the project, "there is a strong feeling growing that it is falling on deaf ears,” Sowards said’ David Thaler, a University graduate student, said scientists will be picketing the research park if the cur rent planning methods continue. Most University scientists are opposed to allowing classified research at the park, and believe the University is not seeking their input, he said. "Secret research is against all that the University stands for," Thaler said. "The riverfront research pro ject is in deep trouble because it seeks to draw on the science community,” but hasn't asked how faculty members feel about the project, he added. University Vice President for Administration Dan Williams said University President Paul Olum is not necessarily opposed to banning sofne kinds of secret research at the park. Olum probably will decide Univer sity policy concerning the research park within the next several weeks, Williams said Because he was in California. Olum was not at the meeting. When Olum will make his announcement on University policy at the park became a major issue after the public hearing was closed, initiating a discussion by board and planning committee members. A majority of the committee members disagreed with parts of the research park plan, and several indicated they would like to wait for Olum’s policy decision, especially con cerning a possible ban on classified research. Williams said the University would move as quick ly as possible, but did not promise that Olum’s decision would be made in time to aid the commissioners in making their decision. The Eugene City Council must have approval of the plan by early September because of a possible change in the tax collection policy if a sales tax is approved by Oregon voters. The commissioners must vote on the plan by late August.
