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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 1, 1986)
Editorial No more increases for college athletics Oregon is the only state in the Pac-10 conference that does not use state revenue to support intercollegiate athletics. Last week the student voters of the University turned down two measures that would have increased student fees to support athletics. The state and the students should continue to discourage the use of additional public resources to support intercollegiate athletics. Colleges and universities must recognize the nonessential nature of athletics and make fun ding decisions accordingly. There is nothing inherently wrong with combining academics and athletics. Intercollegiate and intramural athletics as competitive, entertaining recreation between amateurs is healthy., Such activities give stuaems a cnance 10 engage in en joyable extracurricular activities that build skills, encourage teamwork and provide entertainment. The problem is a combination of high cost and the special status of student athletes. The state cannot afford to spend more on athletics. The University, too. must keep athletics — and the needs of athletes — in perspective. Universities try to operate the equivalent of semi professional training schools and franchises. Some schools with access to vast financial resources and enormous donor bases are able, for better or worse, to do this. Oregon cannot. The University is trying to raise $20-22 million to dome Autzen Stadium, but cannot find $400,000 each year to pro vide basic support for women’s athletics. We support doming the stadium with private funds as a way to provide more long term revenue for athletics, but we caution the University not to seek or rely on more public or student funds to support athletics. The Athletic Department should raise money by reduc ing spending of both public and private money for special support programs for athletes. This may allow better fun ding for women’s programs, and will help return student athletes to amateur status, where they belong. No university — including ours — should make special academic, financial, housing or other support available to athletes or their programs. At this university, intercollegiate athletics is supported mainly through private donations and ticket sales, with a small portion of the budget coming from student activity fees. This is the proper detached status for an athletic epartment at an academic institution. ■ The University community must make sure student ithletes always are treated fairly — no differently than other students. If amateur athletes getting no special perks cannot at tract enough private donations and ticket sales to sustain a top-quality athletics program, so be it. If students, donors and ticket-buyers are unwilling to pay more, then administrators must recognize this and ac cept limitations on the future of University athletics. Athletics administrators may have to choose between quality and quantity of sports. Quality brings recognition, visibility and opportunities for outstanding student athletes. Quantity brings more student participation and the ability to remain in the Pac-10 and NCAA. If the choice must be made, choose quantity. The people of Oregon and the University cannot pay for quality across the board. 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 Ed> 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 Staff Advertising Director Production Manager Classified Advertising Assistant to the Publisher Susan Thelen Russell H. Steele Vince Adams Jean Ownbey Advertising Sales David Wood Sales Manager, John Boiler, Jessica Cederberg, Michael Gray, Laura Goldstein Robin Joanmdes, Carlos Lam ad rid, Marcia Leonard. Shawn Leuthold, Catherine Lilia, 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, Charta Parker. Ken Parrott, Jennifer Peterson, Geoff Rainville, Michele Ross, Alyson Sim mons, Gregory Tipps Awaiting reply Mr.. Blake Louis Sliter: This Greek apologizes for not playing your silly little game. I suppose we Greeks have been too busy flunking out of school, raping our dates at parties and undermining community vitali ty to fret over the attempts of "a fucking narrow-minded son-of a-bitch" (excuse me?) to pro voke our violent, primitive and uncontrollable passions. Really now, Mr. Sliter. Con sider your statements. Greeks have been listening to charges such as yours for years. But if you look around yourself, you see not only that we're still here, but that we're also getting stronger every day. We’re ob viously doing something right. You have a fine, progressive, liberal education. Mr. Sliter. Why don’t you put it to use by experimenting with a new ap proach to the Greek condition? Examine closely the ways in which Greeks (in your twisted logic) harm the community: the Greek Days of Giving, Sigma Chi Derby Days, the Greek Volunteer Bureau. Delta Gam ma Anchor Splash and the numerous other philanthropies and charity drives sponsored by Greek organizations. If you like, comment on those Editor Managing Editor News Editor Editorial Page Editor Assistant Editorial Page Editor Sports Editor Photo Editor Friday Edition Editor Sidelines Editor Night Editor Julte Shippen Michelle Brence Jolayne Houtz Alan Contreras Scott Harding Robert Collies James Marks Sheila Landry Allan Lazo Jolayne Houtz Associate Editors Community/Politics Higher Education Student Activities Student Government University Affairs General Assignment 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, B.J Thomsen Photographers Lynne Casey. Shu-Shing Chen, Maria Cor vallis, Steve Gibbons, Oerrel Hewitt, Ross Martin, Karen Stallwood, Mike Wilhelm. News and Editorial SM-6S11 Display Advertising and Business 6M-3712 Classified Advertising 686-4343 Production 686-4381 Circulation 686 5511 ^Authorized person nel^&vv i star wars RESf 1 TOP secret- ke^pML Letters aspects of Greek lifestyles. If you fail to see the virtue in our efforts, Mr. Sliter, then Pin afraid the problem ties with you. not us. I'm sure we’ll all be waiting for your response with great curiosity. End of game. Ric llgenfrttz Journalism, Greek Oluro w^uld "Manhattan Fni „ . ject" us nil the .-.way- lo -the NCAA championship! v" •• Then pu<>ple around the ra tion would shake, .their heads ) and say. "those were the ---■ Docks?’* as they sort through. the rubble. . Tim laqiies Math , Vote Larson As you may know, primary elections for l.arut County are approaching us quickly. On May 20, we. as citizens of lane County^ have the privilege of exercising our right to vote for representatives and issues that effect lane County. Wishing to serve as. I^me County Commissioner in District 2 Is Christine Larson. This nonpartisan position is for a four-year term beginning in lanuary of 1987, I feel she would be the most effective per son as Count y Comm issioner for the following reasons: t. She has six years of ex perience on the Springfield City Council and has been council President id net; 1985. 2. She has knowledge of Cur rent and longterm problems of our area as a resident of Eugene for twenty years 3. Sb has held representative posit it on state and local committees whore she has gain ed the trust and confidence of other community leaders. 4. She formally attended the University of Oregon and graduated from Southern Oregon State College with a Bachelor of Science in Education. I hope you will consider her experience and commitment as you make your choice for lane County Commissioner. I sup* port Christine Ijirson with the confidence that she will do the best )ob possible when address ing issues and problems within our county. I encourage you to support her too. Trade L. Rieker Political Science All mixed up The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) are up to their usual antics this spring. Bringing their usual lack of logic to the research arena, they present a strong argument against the use of stupidity in very sophisticated areas of human endeavor. Their argument goes liku this (I think); We shouldn't test new drugs on animals, because that isn't nice. We should test new drugs on people. No. that isn’t nice either. We should not develop new drugs; that is. we should allow people to get sick and die Hmnim. That’s not quite it. We shouldn't lest animals to learn about the limits of human physiology. We don't need to know any more about our bodies. All medical research should he done by computers. Wait. I’m suddenly all mixed up. Sigh. Perhaps it's hopeless to try to mimic the logical con volutions of the PETA people. However, their existence does serve one vital role: we don't need to use animal experimen tation to determine the effects of brain deprivation. Rob Young Senior Earthshaking We should change our mascot from Donald Duck to Khadaffy Duck. Then our sports teams would "terrorize" the whole PAC-10. And mavbe even Paul