Editorial
Habib mission is a
diplomatic mockery
President F agan’s latest campaign pitch for aid to
Nicaraguan Contras, thinly disguised as a diplomatic ven
ture, defies integrity. Reagan announced Friday that veteran
diplomat Philip Habib will travel to Central America to
negotiate a diplomatic solution to turmoil in Nicaragua.
But don’t be disappointed when Habib returns empty
handed. Administration officials readily admit the trip is
designed to rally support for Reagan’s shaky $100-million
Contra aid request. Media exposure of Habib's recent Philip
pine assignment coupled with his limited experience in
Central America reveal the administration is more interested
in publicity than in true negotiation.
In the face of the aid request’s cool reception on Capitol
Hill, the administration hopes to bolster credibility for the
aid package. It hopes the Habib mission will serve as proof
positive that the administration is seeking a peaceful resolu
tion alongside a military one.
The administration also hopes Habib’s recent role in the
Philippines will correlate Nicaraguans and Filipinos as peo
ple struggling for democracy.
But rather than bolster the credibility of Reagan’s re
quest, the exercise will damage the credibility of the
diplomatic process. The system was designed to peacefully
reach solutions through communication and mutual trust.
Abuse of the system to lobby for domestic legislation will
only serve to cheapen it and reduce its effectiveness.
‘ And foreign leaders are not likely to accept a role in
American political games enthusiastically."
The administration is also insulting, the intelligence of
Congress and of the American'people by .requesting Contra
military aid in one breath and -announcing- pursuit of a
diplomatic solution in the next. As lohg as-Reagan supports
terrorists intent on toppling the Nicaraguan government, at?
tempts to reach a diplomatic settleiftent will fail.
• Envoys are invaluable diplomatic tools'. And diplomatic
solutions are always preferable to military exertion: But
Habib’s assignment is not a diplomatic mission. It is a
mockery of one.
-The administration should not exploit diplomacy to
stengthen support for military aid. Rather, it should de
nounce bloodshed and sincerely strive for peace in Central
America through legitimate diplomacy.
Students should step off
sidelines and into game
Rather than complain about University policies,
students should shape them. They should take advantage of
the opportunity to serve on student government.
Any University student who pays incidental fees and
who is enrolled at least half-time can fill a student office.
None of the offices are limited by class standing. Prospective
candidates have from today until April 3 to file for student
elections in spring.
Student offices provide the opportunity to directly af
fect University policies, to work with faculty and ad
ministrators and to hold positions of leadership and
responsibility.
For example, the ASUO’s South African divestiture suit
set national precedent. Student senators debated and voted
on the recent ROTC motions. By the end of spring term, In
cidental Fee Committee members will have decided how to
allocate close to $3 million dollars to student groups.
Through student offices, students have the chance to
step off of the sidelines and into the game.
Get a light!
Bikers, save yourself some
money and possibly your life —.
buy a bike light! It is almost im
possible to see ah unlighted
biker at night, especially when
it’s raining. Drivers.' other
bikers and pedestrians can't see
you. A battery-powered light
that straps onto your leg costs
about five bucks at any local
bike store. Tickets tor riding
without one are $35. hospital
bills a lot more. Don’t screw up
your life or anyone else’s. Get a
light! It's the law. and it’s
smart.
Steve Buck
Pre-P.T.
It's not fair
After driving hopelessly for
one hour Wednesday morning
— 17 miles by the odometer —• l
started screaming.
Questions.
For instance, what do the
University and city intend by a
policy of restricted parking in
precisely the area that students
need it most?
If you have a block of classes
in the morning or early after
noon and live far enough from
the campus that a bicycle ride
becomes a major daily exertion
(the social-policy ramifications
of physical fitness aside for the
moment), what are you suppos
ed to do when no parking space
for longer than two hours is
available?
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 is a member of the Associated Press
The Emerald is private properly The unlawful removal
or use of papers is prosecutable by law
General Staff
Advertising Director Susan Thelen
Production Manager Russell Steele
Classified Advertising Vince Adams
Assistant to the Publisher Jean Ownbey
Advertising Sales David Wood Sales Manner, John
Boiler. Jessica Cederberg, Michael Gray, Laura Goldstein,
Robin Joannides, Carlos Lam ad rid. Marcia Leonard,
Shawn Leuthold, Shawna Reed, Joan Vandermuth, Laura
Willoughby
Production Vince Adams, Kelly Alexandre, Lynne Casey,
Shu-Shmg Chen, Ellen Cross, Monica Dwyer, Storml
Dykes, Manuel Fiores, Shannon Gaither, Steve Gibbons,
Jim Marks, Ross Marlin, Mary May, Mary McGonigal, Rob
Miles, Angie Muniz, Kara Oberst. Charla Parker, Ken Par
rott, Jennifer Peterson, Jim Pfaff, Geoff Rainville, Michele
Ross, Alyson Simmons, Peg Solonika, Gregory T:pps
Editor
Managing Editor
News Editor
Editorial Page Editor
Assistant Editorial Page Editor
Sports Editor
Photo Editor
Friday Edition Editor
Sidelines Editor
Night Editor
Julie Shippen
Michelle Brence
Jolayne Houtr
Michelle Brence
Scott Harding
Robert Col Has
Karen Statlwood
Sheila Landry
Allan Lazo
Julie Shlppen
Associate Editors
Community/Politics
Higher Education
Student Activities
Student Government
University Affairs
General Assignment
Paul Sturtz
Andrew LaMar
Mary Llchtenwalner
Stan Nelson
Kirsten Bolin
Mike Rivers
Reporters Tony Ahem, Sean Axmaker, Dan Coran, Kim
Kaady, Capi Lynn, Amy Moss. Chris Norred, Chuck
Thompson, B.J. Thomsen.
Photographers Shu Shing Chen, Maria Corvallis, Steve
Gibbons, Rob Hare. Derrel Hewitt, Jim Marks, Ross
Martin.
News and Editorial 686-5511
Display Advertising and Business 686-3712
Classified Advertising M6-4343
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Circulation 688-5511
There are no good alter- *
natives. Just take the ticket?
Eventually, you might get _
“booted *’ Excuse yourself in
the middle of class? “Oh. «ti- *
cuse me. Professor. I've got to'
go and move my Volvo. I'll see
you in 20 minutes or so...'*
won't cut it Miss class driving
around trying to adhere to the
letter of the jaw? That- cuts"
against the central purpose of
the University itself •—
education. . • •
If the University and city are
trying to restrict driving around
the campus and/or are thinking
of parking violation revenues as
an end. rather than a means,
they should publicly say so.
If not. they should not ignore
the social costs — excessive
gasoline! frustration, tardiness
— to students impacted by the
unduly restrictive parking
policy.
Mere comes the meter maid, if
my car is parked here two hours
from now, l get a,ticket. I have
two hours of classes, starting
about an hour from now. I must
drive some more. IPs not fair. '
William P. Homans
Journalism
Blame readers
The criticism directed toward
Sports illustrated magazine 'is
unjust. The publication doesn't
endeavor to be a source of
athletic information, so claims
that it has ''stepped out of
bounds" are unfounded.
The main events covered are
not sports at all. but games.
Readers of this magazine are
fascinated by games like foot
ball. basketball and baseball.
These readers are only in
terested in what they believe to
be manly, masculine things,
and having once been told these
games are masculine, they are
acutely interested in them.
True, other games and even ac
tual athletic events are includ
ed. but their purpose is to help
disguise the content of the
material.
To these readers, the "unnual
bathing suit issue" is just a way
to self-affirm their own
masculinity. The fact that infor
mation regarding the cost and
manufacturer of the suits is
given is only an attempt to
cover up the true nature of this
sham. The publishers would do
just as well tu have a "Jacked
lip four-wheel drive pickup
with' big tires issue." or a
"Spectacular moustache and
western boots issue." The
readers aren't necessarily con
cerned with exploiting women,
o n I y . w i t h e x.p I o 11 i n g
themselves
. We- shouldn't censure the
privileges and obvious Joys of
the readers 'of Sports Illustrated
because of their nescience and
misguided values. The publica
tion is not to blame, but the
readers that support it. A solu
tion to this threat to refinement
is to ridicule the readers for
their manifest feelings of inade
quacy.- Stop support of offensive
.literature and the literature will
disappear
Bill Brewer
Psychology
•. ' ' ' c ’ .' '■
Not dangerous
Enjoy marijuana.
For the people. by the peo
pie? First the GOVERNMENT
requires you lo grow il (for the
Navy's rope), than th«y make il
illegal, without the people’s in
put Why not kelp fund this
country by taxing marijuana
.like tobacco? IT IS NOT
CANCEROUS.
_ Where is the logic in this?
(more on that later).
Steven Reiser
Chemistry
Hand that feeds
The current crusade to
*’demilitarize” the campus is a
clear case of biting the hand that
feeds you.
After all, if it were not for the
United States military, with its
intelligence services and ROTC
trained officers, this university
would long ago have been
renamed something like "The
Marshall Tojo College." or
maybe "The Institute for Aryan
Eugenics.” Certainly, the
academic freedom that we all
cherish would by now be a faint
memory.
Peter Runey
Student