Editorial
Reagan should not
ignore team reports
President Reagan set the stage, but didn't plan for the
surprise ending. And in efforts to regain his footing, he is
making a bad situation worse.
The Reagan administration encouraged Philippine
President Ferdinand Marcos to arrange a presidential elec
tion in order to demonstrate Philippine public support for
his position. And ever since Marcos announced a presiden
tial contest Nov. 3. the administration has called for a fair
and honest election.
The United States organized a 20-member team to travel
to the Philippines, observe the election and report abuses to
the United States. Reagan even dangled a carrot in front of
Marcos’ nose in the form of a substantial aid-increase con
sideration bartered for an election perceived as honest.
But Reagan didn’t plan for what happened next. Few,
including the Emerald, expected presidential challenger
Corazon Aquino to assume an early lead, or any lead for that
matter, particularly one reported by the government’s vote
counting commission.
To complicate matters, the American team and other
observers reported flagrant election-day violations
emanating from the Marcos camp including violence, vote
buying, ballot-box stuffing and ballot-box theft. Sen.
Richard Lugar, who headed the U.S. delegation, reported a
‘‘very disturbing pattern of incidents" and accused Marcos
and his supporters of withholding ballots in an attempt to
manipulate the election.
In addition, 30 workers in the government’s vote
counting commission tearfully left their computer ter
minals, claiming the election results were being falsified to
favor Marcos.
The Reagan administration thus found itself faced with
a potentially sticky situation. After emphasizing the impor
tance of a credible election, the administration faced a situa
tion in which evidence could indicate an Aquino victory but
Marcos could refuse to relenquish power.
So, in an attempt to avoid jeopardizing U.S. military
bases, Reagan peered over the corpses of Aquino supporters
and the reports of his own commission and said fraud oc
cured on both sides and that the American team didn't have
any “hard evidence beyond that general appearance" of
election fraud. He affirmed his desire to maintain diplomatic
relations with the Philippine government regardless of the
declared winner.
When questioned on his position, he said, "the elec
tion ... is for the people of the Philippines to decide, and not
for us to interfere."
But if Reagan believes it is not the United States’ place
to interfere, why did he send a U.S. delegation in the first
place —- particularly if he was prepared to ignore its reports?
And why didn’t the administration consider the
scenario beforehand? Admittedly, Aquino’s success came as
a surprise, but the possibility was not so remote as to remove
it from consideration.
Understandably, Reagan is in a difficult position. It
would be completely inappropriate for the United States to
attempt to force Marcos to step down. And
economic/diplomatic sanctions could jeopardizing strategic
military bases in the nation — a risk Reagan firmly disfavors.
But the administration should not trivialize reports of
fraud. And if it appears Marcos stole the election from
Aquino, the administration should not hesitate to protest —
including slashing aid to the Philippines.
It appears Aquino accurately assessed the situation.
Referring to the United States, she said, "Its only interest is
in safeguarding its bases, not in restoring democracy.”
LEI’S PUT^SBEYOUR
[AND
INGVfiTH
THEFUPOFACOIM- I
Letters
False statement
This is in response to the let
ter "Fraternity rape" (ODE.'
Feb. 10). .
The letter was one of many at
tacks that single out fraternities
as the focus of a social problem.
Date rape is an important issue,
but to ignore the fact that other
organizations and dorms have
just as many documented cases
is not . giving Justice to the .
matter.
Simply blaming the fraternity
system for an individual matter,
is like saying the U of O" is bad*
because there have been cases of
rape in. the dorms. Both
statements are unfair.'' • ...
As far as the problem being
overlooked, the Greek system
has set up seminars and has in
formation available to’ it's
members specifically address
ing the problem of "date rape.” ■
Furthermore, there is no °
fraternity , on campus that .
reprimands its pledges for not",
getting "laid” or for letting
women leave early. As with so
many letters written previously
about fraternities, the people
who submit these letters- are
misinformed and their
statements are false.
It’s a pity the media tend to
focus on the negative aspects of
Oregon Daily
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Greek life and not.on all the
positive, events that take place.
But that’s life,at the U of O. ,
Lisa Hastings
Delta Gamma
Doug White
Sigma Chi
Careless deed
On .Friday. Jan. 31, ’shortly.
; before 1:3Q p,m.. a bomb threat
was called that forced the
evacuation of Science I, in
eluding the Geology building..
■ Twoexams were scheduled for
. that .°hour in those buildings':
Geology 102 and Chemistry 462
•(Biochemistry). • •
’ The Geology 102 exam was
postponed until Monday.
'. Geology. 102 is a' split-section ,
course, so the coordination “of
. lectures is now disrupted. The
Chemistry 462 «xam was given
in the EMU cafeteria. AH nor
mal.operations in Science i and
Geology ceased for. about 45
minutes' while the buildings
were checked.
The students, staff and facul
ty listed below wish to express
their displeasure at being In
convenienced due to the
malicious and selfish actions of
some individual who, evident
ly, has little or no respect for his
or her ”neighbors" in the
University community.
Although it cannot be proved
the person who made the threat
was a student in either of the
two courses, it is probable. This
sort of action shows disregard
for the rights of other students
In those courses who were
prepared and wanted to com
plete the examinations at the
scheduled times and places.
r
;°The message wewish to send
to the perpetrator of the bomb,',
.threat is simple: ~We‘ have ,nq
respect for anyone whowpuld .
infringe In this way upon I he
rights of others. ° ;
• « ^
• 'V Sarah L tJlertck
. • • • Faculty
Joseph M. Greeley
Student
, , ' ’• Marc Htrschmann
’ GTF
• X
- V
Janet Tan*y \
; Student
% *
M. Allen Kays
.... Faculty
Sheila Monroe'
• . GTF
Bill Ciingman
,* .GTF\„
C.D.Huli.
GTF
• •' /■. ••
' " ' James W.'long
Faculty
Library reply
Regarding til»k<V Louis
Sliter’s letter to the editor (Feb.'
ft) concerning the loss of nickels .
in library photocopiers:'.
Mr. Slitflfr. in a letter
delivered to: the University'
librarian's office, indicated he
had lost 1S cents since the
beginning of winter quarter In
a letter of response to Mr. Sliter.
be was assured the library
would gladly refund his money
and he willing to discuss any
other problems he might have
had.
George Bynon
Director, University Library
Administrative Services
Letters Policy
The Kmerald will attempt to print all letters containing
fair comment on topics of interest to the University
community.
letters to the editor must lx; limited to 250 words, typed,
signed and the identification of the writer must be verified
when the letter is turned in. The Kmerald reserves the right to
edit any letter for length or style, letters to the editor should
be turned into the Kmerald office. Suite 300. KMU.