Editorial
Religious garb law
is unconstitutional
Can a teacher instruct students in an Oregon public
schixjl while wearing religious clothing? Not according to a
state law that has been in effect since the 1920s. The state
law calls for the automatic invalidation of the teaching cer
tificates of public school teachers who wear religious garb in
the classroom. But Wednesday, the Oregon Court of Appeals
ruled that the mandatory revocation of the certificate is un
constitutional. The court said this part of the statute is too
harsh.
nnu mm is» piwismy wiimu mr luim^
The decision overturned the revocation of the teaching
certificate of Karta Kaur Khalsa, a former Eugene public
school teacher who lost her certificate last year after refusing
to stop wearing the white turban and garments associated
with the Sihk faith. Khalsa believes the law violates her First
Amendment right to freely practice her religion.
But because State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Verne Duncan already reinstated Khalsa's certificate on the
condition that she not teach in Oregon wearing religious
clothing, the court simply supported an action that has
already been enacted.
And because the court ruled oniy on the constitutionali
ty of the penalty, it failed to address the larger question:
Does the law restrict the constitutional right of individuals
to freely practice the religion of their choice?
We think it does. We strongly advocate keeping church
and state separate, but we also support the right of in
dividuals to practice their religion. The line between the two
is often fuzzy, but not so in this case. This state law is clearly
a violation of First Amendment rights and a definite case of
discrimination.
First, the law does not define what religious dress is.
The law is open to interpretation and is left vulnerable to
being used to discriminate against particular groups. And
because of the degree of ambiquity, the state could have to
decide what is and what is not religious garb, and therefore
become involved in religious decisions.
Ironically, supporters claim the law is necessary to
maintain the wall of separation between church and state.
They appear to be afraid that religiously dressed teachers
will pass their religious biases on to their students.
But simply wearing a particular style of dress will not
influence the attitudes of students. At most, it is simply a
statement of one's religion, much the same way as wearing
the Star of David or a cross will indicate religious beliefs.
Simply stating *‘l am a Catholic” or "I am a Sihk” is free of
subjectivity as far as school lessons are concerned.
Of course it is possible for a teacher dressed in religious
garb to taint school lessons with a particular bias. But it is
equally possible for a teacher not dressed in religious garb to
bias teaching material.
The law discriminates against religions that require a
particular dress because it assumes that people dressed a
particular way will necessarily present biased information;
almost to suggest that they are completely inseparable from
their religion. It also assumes that they are guilty before any
crime is committed.
In addition, because public school teachers are already
prohibited from presenting religious material in the
classroom, the law is superfluous.
Khalsa reported that she intends to appeal the decision.
We hope that eventually the law is declared unconstitu
tional in its entirety.
o*"’ ^ i ^ nr*—^ f—**• *—'— -
$>RR<UWES-N0 Wtaa tm&ms Kt*i tme yioous. unpair marpships Of mer terrible
OMPWGN WAVE LEFT TfcOR MISS FERRARO FEEUN6 OUlTE DELICATE.
Letters
Don *t separate
In the article, "Committee
seeks change in Emerald
policy/' which appeared on the
front page of the Oct. 28
Emerald. Cindi Kim, a member
and co-founder of the IFC and
former director of the APASIJ,
charged the Emerald with lack
ing an understanding of racism.
I believe Miss Kim lacks the
understanding.
",. .anything that portrays a
certain ethnic group in
stereotypical terms is inherently
racist,” Kim says.
First of all. stereotypes are
usually based on majorities.
How else should a group be por
trayed if not by majority? And
doesn't the portrait reflect a
general reality that even those
stereotyped perceive?
Secondly, is unifying the
various “ethnic" groups a move
to protest or support racism? Ig
norantly uniting groups only
draws a line between the
perceived "US” (ethnic groups)
and "THEM" (racists). This
dividing line only breeds
racism by separating further
people who possess natural dif
ferences. The formation of
"ethnic" organizations, while
doing good, also feeds racism.
In reference to the China
Delight ads. I agree they aren't
amusing, but I doubt if any ad is
ever meant to be derogatory. I
think the restaurant's name and
the contraceptive ad (p.3, ODE.
Oct. 28) are more offensive.
Racism won’t end until peo
ple stop seeing differences in
Oregon Daily
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 University
with offices on the third floor of the Erb Memorial Union
and it, a member of the Associated Press.
The Emerald is private property. The unlawful removal
or use of papers is prosecutable by law.
General Staff
Advertising Director Susan Thelen
Advertising Sales David Wood - Sales Manager, John
Boiler ■ Intern. Michael Gray. Robin Joannides. Carlos
Lamadrid, Marcia Leonard, Shawn Leuthold, Julie Lewis,
Catherine Lilja - Intern, Brett Pickman, Anne-Marie
Vranizan - Intern, Laura Willoughby.
Production Vince Adams, Kelly Alexandre, Shu-Shing
Chen, Ellen Cross, Judy Dieringer, Stormi Dykes, Manuel
Flores, Steve Gibbons. Rob Hare, Jim Marks, Ross Mar
tin, Mary May, Mary McGonigal, Rob Miles. Angie Muniz,
Kara Oberst, Charta Parker, Ken Parrott, Jennifer Peter
son, Geoff Rainville, Michele Ross, Alyson Simmons, Pea
Solonika, Gregory Tipps, Colleen Tremaine, Steven Wall
Production Manager
Classified Advertising
Assistant to the Publisher
Russell Steele
Vince Adams
Jean Own bey
Editor
Managing Editor
News Editor
Editorial Page Editor
Editorial Page Assistant
Sports Editor
Photo Editor
Graphics Editor
Friday Edition Editor
Sidelines Editor
Night Editor
Aiiocliti Editors
Higher Education
Community
General Assignment
Administration
Student Government
Student Activities
Julie Shippen
Diana Elliott
Jolayne Houtz
Michelle Brence
Matthew Dodson
Robert Collias
Karen Staflwood
Ross Martin
Sheila Landry
Allan Luo
Scott McFetrldge
Gary Jimenez
Scott McFetrldge
Linda Hahn
Kirsten Bolin
Mary Lichtenwalner
Julie Freeman
Reporters: Sean Axmaker. Dan Coran, Karen Engel, Frale
de Guzman, Deborah Janes, Kim Kaady, Andrew Lamar.
Robert Oakes. Barbara Shaw, B.J. Thomsen.
Photographers Kamila Al-Na|jar, Shu-Shlng Chen, Steve
Gibbons. Rob Hare, Jim Marks, Ross Martin. Steven Wall
News and Editorial 686 5511
Display Advertising and Business 666-3712
Classified Advertising 686-4343
Production 666-4361
Circulation 666-5511
each other and .Mart seeing the
bonds that should unite us. Uni
ty of all people, not of a par
ticular people, will end racism
and possibly more
Paul Kim
Eugene
Nice try
Did anyone read the Hold
Your Nose Commentator this
week? Read the one about the
Somocistas being the true Con
tras? After wading through two
and one-half pages of unsup
ported, extremist, right-wing
verbage, 1 discovered
something interesting. The
story is by-lined by Eden
Pastors, a leader of Reagan's
American terrorism squads.
Eden lends credence to the story
because he gives us first-hand
accounts of battles and how our
money is needed to win their
"freedom." The story begins in
the first person using the pro
nouns I, we. and us. Then on
page 12, column two, the last
paragraph. Eden Pastora all of a
sudden refers to himself as
"Eden Pastora.”
What's up guys? Do I delect a
lack of intellectual integrity?
Who’s really writing your
stories? It wouldn't happen to
be coming from a CIA puppet,
would it? Or a CIA concubine?
This seems to dampen your
self-righteous, front-page at
tempt at calling sin: sin. That
article was simple and unsup
ported nice at best. The fourth
column was full of false
equivocations, gaps in logic and
guilt by association. Then page
two was a complete contradic
tion reverting to your situa
tional ethics saying that the
lesser of two evils makes South
Africa OK.
Nice try Commentator. I was
holding my nose.
Eric Johnson
English
No stereotype
In response to the "Street
wise" column in the Oct, 28
Emerald;
Sorry Charla Parker. There
have boon canes where an accus
ed rapist was also a taxi driver,
just as there have been cases
where the accused was an ac
countant, banker, congressman,
doctor, electrician, football
player, minister, national
guardsman, or almost any other
type of vocation or profession
you might wish to name.
Many men are certified or
even licensed members of the
establishment. And nowhere
does it say that )ust because a
man has some social seal of ap
proval. he can't also be a rapist
Most rapes are not committed
by the stereotypical shaggy
haired drifter. There is no
physical description that
describes all or even most
rapists.
Think about it. Even lie con
cerned about it.
My second comment, and it's
not in response to Ms. Parker, is
that then* is little reason for the
driver, male or female, to have
to be some massive, armed and
dangerous guardian of good
The point is that rapists do not
tend to attack gruups. The risk
gets too great. The shuttle pro
gram is designed to group
together individuals who would
otherwise be walking at night
alone.
Third. The idea is to protect
women from rapists. If that ex
cludes males, so be it. Rape is
the primary violent crime that
occurs on the U of O campus,
and that is what the shuttle pro
gram is being designed to
reduce.
L.S. I-nuthold
Senior. Business
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
beturned into the Emerald office. Suite 300, EMU.