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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 25, 1986)
Editorial — \ Students’ activism a force for change Campus activism nationwide is again showing that students make a difference in affecting political change. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the growing anti apartheid movement and the intensifying divestiture campaign. This activity has enabled other social issues to gain strength among students. Campuses across the nation, including the University, are witnessing growing student involvement in efforts to maintain financial aid availability, halt proliferation of nuclear weapons and ensure that minorities continue to be represented in college programs. While the majority of campus protest has centered on “liberal.” or “left-wing” concerns, a small but growing conservative student movement has also arisen. In part a reaction to the dominance of the student left, as well as representing genuine right-wing political sentiment, this ac tivism takes many forms. At the University, it is best expressed by the outspoken views of the Oregon Commentator. Nationally, similar publications have arisen on many campuses, as have Republican and conservative organizations. While issues addressed and political preferences remain diverse, a common thread is woven through all students' ac tivism: the desire to see a more just world. Events concern ing South Africa offer a striking example, and underscore the effectiveness'of this political force. To date, about $400 million of South African-linked ' stock has been divested from 84 colleges or universities. Since massive campus rallies erupted last spring, more than 50 schools have divested all or part of their investment. ■•■ ’Students have been instrumental in forcing the sale of $5 billion in South African related stock in state and city pension funds. The.private business sector has not been im mune from this pressure. .,‘Last week. AT&T announced it would end most business dealings with. South Africa, including purchases of ’platinum, which.represents the largest single U.S. import from South Africa! AT&T agreed to these and other actions ■ under pressure from employees and shareholders. Several days later. South African President P.VV. Botha announced that pass laws, which control the movement of blacks and determine where they can live and work, will no longer be enforced by the government. Botha’s announce ment is welcome, but it left many issues unresolved. Black access-to adequate housing remains dubious. Removal of pass law restrictions will not apply to one-third of the black population forced to live in the so-called homelands. Clearly, such reforms won’t end apartheid. But the decision is another sign of what can be achieved through direct pressure on South Africa. Concessions in the last several years, however small, have come only as a result of sustained public — and student — outrage at the con tinued atrocities of apartheid. Most of the decisions by college trustees to divest holdings linked to South Africa are the direct result of cam pus protest. High visibility tactics, however '‘disruptive,” remain an effective tool in the struggle for full divestment. Thus the rise of teach-ins, pickets and civil disobedience. We applaud the decision to rescind pass laws as well as other reforms. However, only the full inclusion of blacks in to South African social, political and economic life should cause an end to student activism on this issue. 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 property The unlawful removal or use of papers is prosecutable by law General Stall Advertising Director Susan Thelen Advertising Sales David Wood Sales Manager. John Boiler. Jessica Cederberg Michael Gray. Laura Goldstein. Robin Joanmdes. Carlos Lamadrid. Marcia Leonard. Shawn Leuthold. Catherine Lilja, Shawna Reed Kathy Stein, Joan Wildermuth, Laura Willoughby Production Vince Adams. Kelly Alexandre. Lynne Casey. Shu-Shing Chen. Ellen Cross. Stormi Dykes. Manuel Flores. Shannon Gaither, Ross Martin, Mary May. Rob Miles. Angie Muniz. Charla Parker. Ken Parrott. Jennifer Peterson. Geoff Rainville. Michele Ross, Alyson Sim mons, Gregory Tipps Production Manager Classified Advertising Assistant to the Publisher Russell H Steele Vince Adams Jean Ownbey Editor Managing Editor News Editor Editorial Page Editor Assistant Editorial Page Editor Sports Editor Photo Editor Friday Edition Editor Sidelines Editor Night Editor Associate Editors CommunityfPolitics Higher Education Student Activities Student Government University Affairs General Assignment Julie Shippen Michelle Brence Jolayne Houtz Alan Contreras Scott Harding Robert Collias James Marks Sheila Landry Allan Luo Kirsten Bolin Paul Sturtz Andrew LaMar Chris Norred Stan Nelson Kirsten Bolin Mike Rivers Reporters Tony Ahern. Sean Axmaker. Dan Coran. Kim Kaady. Capi Lynn. Amy Moss. Chuck Thompson BJ Thomsen Photographers Lynne Casey. ShuShing Chen Maria Cor vallis. Sieve Gibbons. Derrel Hewitt Ross Martin Karen Stall wood Mike Wilhelm News and Editorial 686 5511 Display Advertising and Business 666-3712 Classified Advertising 686-4343 Production 666 4361 Circulation 686-5611 Letters Most appalling One of the most appalling ideas concerning education ever to arise is upon us now: degree sharing. This is the idea that a working spouse who sup ports a studying spouse is due half of the degree, including half of the expected lifetime in come earned by the degree holder should the couple split up. Somehow by the mere fact of marrying, for example, an aspir ing doctor or business ex ecutive. the supporting spouse is said to have the same finan cial value on the open marketplace as the holder of the degree. Earning a degree re quires intellectual effort, something which cannot be shared. Nor cam knowledge gained from studies undertaken be shared; it must lie learned. As soon as a supporting spouse gains through osmosis, or whatever, the knowledge the degree holder has by simply be ing involved with the spouse, then degree sharing will be viable — not until then. The only valid way of dividing up the income in such cases is to figure the real earn ing power of the supporting spouse and pay accordingly. The danger to our society of paying doctor's wages to pro vide for maid services and minor accountant duties cannot be exaggerated. What about emotional support rendered etc., one may ask. flow much is love for sale worth? Anne Summers . Student False image It was nice of William Homans to write an article on the Songwriter's Showcase for the April 1H Friday Edition. However, a couple of errors made the article less valid than it should have been. With jour nalistic accuracy and the image of the showcase in mind. I will correct them In the second paragraph I am quoted as saying "Like Mick (agger said, 'it's the singer, not the song.' " What I actually said was the (agger statement was usually..correct, but in the showcase we reversed it for a night and made the songs the focus of both artist and audience. Following that misquote. Homans reviewed the showcase as a musician concert rather than a songwriter’s evening, therby missing the point and giving a false image of the showcase to Kmerald readers. In our group the songs are the meat and the performance is the gravy. It's the only time amateur musicians who write songs can show their art on their own terms. We need to perpetuate this condition by booking more programs and assuring the flow of correct in formation about our endeavors. Obviously, professional musi cians make the showcase all the more attractive. Percy Hilo (kiordinator Songwriter’s Showcase Balancing act On April IB. petitioners working on the Economic Con version Initiative were criticiz ed in a letter by Todd Saunders. In his letter, he inferred that sinc e petitioners frequently Hive .out literature! in response! to questions rather than length v verbal replies, these: cam paigners are* .apparently just lookingfor ' * sh e e p ■who. be I i e v I! whatever they‘re told." As the campus campaign coordinator of the petition drive. I am sorry that he developed such a bad impression Questions are certainly welcome. Hut it a question re quires a long answer contained in literature, distributing brochures is advantageous. To ensure that K2.521 valid signatures are gathered by July, petitioners must closely super vise! all individuals (frequently .t or 4 at a time) as they sign Staffing a table dearly requires efficient education which does not distract from supervising signers. Thus, when Mr. Saunders asked about the initiative's ef fect on attracting business to Oregon, he was given a brochure which explained: "The question of other com panies locating here is difficult to gauge, but most economists say that decisions to locate are based upon more tangible! lac: tors, such as: level and method of taxation, availability of suitable land and services, quality of schools, cost and quality of labor, and livability of the community." Also, it emphasized the in itiative would only affect businesses producing com ponents unique to nuclear weapons, not basic high-tech prod ucls. Far from looking for “sheep.” we are simply balancing educa tional efforts with the urgent need to put the measure on the liallot. Steve Kasner History Friday. April 25. 198H