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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 23, 1985)
SUO shuttle plan should include men A University shuttle system that would transport women at night is being planned. Representatives from the ASUO administration, the Greek system. Rape Crisis Net work and the Women’s Referral and Resource Service have formed a committee to organize a system of vans to serve women in the campus area. Information is still being gathered, so few definite details have been determined. Before the final plans are made, we would like to make a few suggestions. We think the system is a great idea that would be widely appreciated. We also support the coopera tion ou the part of the various groups. However, some poten tial aspects of the program mentioned by committee members are disturbing. For instance, preliminary plans specify that the service would serve only women. Ray Veillet, ASUO University af fairs coordinator, said this is because the system would be an effort to protect women from rape. We suggest that the service be available tor men as well. Though not often threatened by rape, men are faced with other crimes such as mugging or assault. Oakley Glenn, the director of the public safety office, said that only a few men have used Campus Security's service. But even if men choose not to take advantage of the service, they should not# be specifically barred from it. A second feature concerns the qualifications of the drivers. Veillet said that the committee is seriously consider ing restricting the program to women drivers. Tills restric tion would be objectionable. The committee proposed the idea because members felt that hiring men as drivers would reinforce the idea that women need men to protect them. Jack Straton of Men Against Rape agrees with the idea because he says that women need to learn how to protect themselves. But protection should not be defined in terms of gender Women should learn how to protect themselves, but there is nothing wrong with accepting protection from another Human being, male or female. Rather than define rape in terms of women being the victims and men being the at tackers, it should be defined in terms of people being rapists and people not being rapists. The people who are not rapists should band together to protect society from rapists. Also, most men are not rapists and can be trusted. Ex cluding them from participating in services aimed at fighting rape suggests that all men are guilty. Women should learn to avoid dangerous situations, but they also should not be so blinded by paranoia that every man is view ed as a potential rapist. Eliminating men from programs to fight rape not only suggests that rape should not be any of their concern, it may insult and alienate men who otherwise might contribute to the fight against rape. Men are also victims of rape when a woman they care about is assaulted. The Women’s Resource and Referral Service has plan ned since last year to organize an escort system completely operated fay women. WRRS members proposed the system, which in this aspect is similar to the proposed ASUO system, in part because they felt that women could be assaulted by their male escorts. But if men are carefully screened, there is no reason why they cannot be trustworthy escorts. Campus Security has begun its third straight year of of fering a vehicle escort service operated by both men and women, and has never received a complaint. The Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity has also begun its third year of pro viding a walking escort service run completely by men, and also has never received a complaint. Participants in both programs, which together perform about 35 escorts per night, are screened and monitored by the public safety office and are clearly identified while on duty. If the ASUO committee develops a sufficient screening program and provides clearly marked vehicles, both of which Veillet verified would occur, men should not be pro hibited from applying for a driver position. Also, refusing to consider men for the paid driver posi tions could violate affirmative action codes according to the University Office of Affirmative Action. We think the policy would be a clear case of sex discrimination. The program could play an important role in the ASUO's campaign to fight violence against women. We en courage the committee to develop a program that utilizes the abilities of both men and women. Letters_ Goto Kansas I would like to respond to Todd Saunders and Kevin Lewis “A Proposal*’ (ODE, Oct. 21) in the letter to the editor column. First, I am wondering fust how you reached the conclu sion that reinstating the right* of certain members of the ASUO and IFC to read the Emerald will make the students as a whole better informed. There is a logical inconsistency there. Perhaps you meant to say that reading the Emerald would make the IFC and ASUO bettor informed? (Also a possible logic flaw!) I also take issue with the pro position that the ASUO only represents 850 of the 15,000 students who attend the U of O. 1 would say that the ASUO represents 850 of the 1500 students on campus who care at all about such issues. Remember that the two of you together shared the remaining 850 votes. So I have a proposal. Let’s reallocate some funds. Give the Unassociated Students of the University of Oregon (Todd Saunders and Kevin Lewis) $360 (180 multiplied by 2) in the form of bus tickets to Kan sas, and finally be free of the Davis administration. L.S. Leuthoid Senior, Business Are you? Thl* letter U in response to the letter by Clyde Davenport, which asked the question, U science rational? The real ques tion U. are you? 1 think not. However, due to "limitations of space" and time, I won't present my evidence, nor will I list any of the hundreds of thousands of people who quite probably would agree with me. In other words, fust sign me. a closet sado-masochistic manipulator, who likes to torture defenseless little animals. Robin Staicap Biologist Big downfall I was in your town on the weekend of Oct. 5 to watch a football game between Washington and Oregon. On Saturday I saw a number of things that upset me grsatly. Before the game started. I witnessed large groups of young people drinking alcohol in the parking lot of your stadium. Where were your school monitors while these young drunkards were carrying on? Why were these studenU not singing songs of school sup port? And whatever happened to wholesome social gatherings before games where milk and apple cider were shared? i also mw many young woman walking around without escorts or fatherly figures. Is this acceptable at your university? When the game was over and my family was preparing to leave, we were approached by a shabby looking man with broken glasses who smelled of alcohol and cigarettes. He used profanity and told us to go beck to Washington. Whatever hap Cned to Christian fellowship tween sportsmen? I haven't been to a game in many years, but if your univer sity is like other schools in your state, then Oregon is headed for a big downfall. S. Maher Moasyrack, Washington Correction: The writer of a letter printed in this column Oct. 21 asked that his name be clarified from “Richard Wright" to "Richard Bruce Wright fl" to distinguish him from his father. 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 2SO 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. Let ters to the editor should be turn ed into the Emerald office. Suite 300. EMU. Oregon Daily Emerald The Oregon Deity 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 ot the University with offices on the third floor of the Erb Memorial Union and is a member of the Associated Press. The Emerald is private property The unlawful removal or use of papers Is prosecutable by law. Advertising Director Production Manager Class!!led Advertising Assistant to the Publisher David Wood Susan Thelen Russell Steele Vince Adams Jean Ownbey Sales Manager, John Boiler Intern, Michael Qray, Robin Joannldes, Carlos Lamadrtd, Marcia Leonard. Shawn Leuthold, Julie Lewis, Catherine LHJa - Intern, Brett Plckman, Anne-Marie Vranizan - Intern, Laura Willoughby Production Vinca Adams, Kelly Alexandre, Shu-Shing Chen, Ellen Cross, Judy Diertnger, Storml Dykes, Manuel Flores, Steve Gibbons. Rob Hare, Jim Marks. Ross Mar tin, Mary May, Mary McGonlgal, Rob Mites, Angle Muniz, Kara Oberst, Charts Parker, Ken Parrott. Jennifer Peter son, Geoff Ralnvllle. Michele Ross, Alyeon Simmons, Peg Solonlka, Gregory Tipps, Colleen Tremaine, Steven Walr Editor Managing Editor Newstditof Editorial Paga Editor Editorial Paga Aaslatant Sport* Editor Photo Editor Graphic* Editor Friday Edition Editor Sideline* Editor Night Editor Julia Shlppen Diana Elliott Jolayna Houtz Michelle Branca Matthew Dodson Robert Colllas Karan Stallwood Roc* Martin Shalla Landry Allan Lazo Paul Ertalt Higher Education Community General Assignment Administration Student Government Student Activities Gary Jimenez Scott McFetrldge Linda Hahn Kirsten Bolin Mary Uchtenwalner Julie Freeman Reporters 8ean Ax maker, Dan Coran, Karen Engel, Frale da Guzman, Deborah Janes, Kim Kaady, Andrew Lamar, Robert Oakes, Barbara Shaw, B.J Thomsen. 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