Editorial
Court*s decisions
must have authority
The injunction freezing OSPIRG's funds raised IFC
member lames Randall's question about OSPIRG’s activities
very effectively, but, ultimately, was not appropriate. The
Constitution Court's decision last Friday to suspend the in
junction was a good one.
The injunction would have frozen the funds to a number
of OSPIRG projects — including its student voter registra
tion drive — and OSPIRG payroll. Randall's concern is more
with OSPIRG's use of its office space and phones.
However, ASIJO President Steve Nelson, who enforces
the court’s injunctions, handled the the matter
inappropriately.
Nelson noted, correctly, that the original injunction was
not in the proper form. However, at the court’s hearing Fri
day he called the injunction a mere "piece of paper” and
made clear his intention not to enforce it or a further "piece
of paper" attempting the same thing.
Remember, the Constitution is only a few "pieces of
paper" that bear the basis for American democracy.
Nelson has since admitted that this remark was inap
propriate. but it still shows a danger of erosion of the court’s
authority.
We believe that OSPIRG can survive a legal challenge in
this case, and that the injunction wasn’t appropriate to the
concerns raised. However, what we or Nelson believe
doesn’t matter; it is the sole decision of the court.
That is why students are allowed to present cases before
the court — to challenge what the government believes to be
appropriate.
The last recourse for individual rights is the court, and
if any one student has any concern about any student
government action, the court must be able to hear the case
fairly and issue an enforceable judgment.
If the court does not have this power, the only appeal
will be to University President Paul Olum and the State
Board of Higher Education — neither a judicial body. Cur
rently, the president and the board rarely need to intervene.
Ultimately, the court is the basis of democracy; student
empowerment stems not from the personal judgments of stu
dent leaders, but from the protection of individual concerns
of students.
Jacobsen’s release
hails
The Monday release of David Jacobsen after a nearly
IH-month captivity in Beirut, Lebanon comes as a sign of
hope for the remaining six American hostages in Beirut.
It is still uncertain what approaches the kidnappers
hailed as bringing about the release of Jacobsen, but certain
ly their attitude has thawed; they called their release of Rev.
Lawrence Jenco this summer a "goodwill” move that would
not be repeated.
Officials say the release was aided by the recent arrest of
a leading anti-American offical in Iran, causing a pro
American shift in Iranian government.
Anglican church envoy Terry Waite, who has been in
strumental in negotiating with the kidnappers and securing
the release of other hostages, has issued a statement of
cautious optimism that the remaining two hostages held by
the Islamic Holy War also would be released soon.
His last message of cautious optimism came on the eve
of Jacobsen's release.
Letters
Harassment
Students need to remember
that they have several options
besides the Affirmative Action
Office in sexual harassment
cases.
Students can:
1. Go directly to the alleged
offender's supervisor for resolu
tion. if the resolution is not
satisfactory, go to the super
visor's supervisor.
2. File a formal complaint
under the Oregon State Hoard of
Higher Education’s discrimina
tion grievance procedure. Your
signed and dated written state
ment must be transmitted for
mally by the OAA to the UO
president and the State System
of Higher Education chancellor.
The OAA can assist with the
organization and editing of the
statement, or you can mail it or
hand it in to the OAA (472
Oregon Hall. 686-3123).
The president will assign
someone to conduct an in
vestigation and make recom
mendations to him for his final
decision. If you disagree with
the president’s decision, you
can take further action — all of
which is set out in Oregon Ad
ministration Rule 580. Division
15, available in any central UO
administration office.
3. Write or telephone the U.S.
Department of Education's
regional Office for Civil Rights
Oregon Daily
Emerald
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by the Oregon Dally Emerald Publishing Co , at the
University of Oregon. Eugene, Oregon. 97403
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Washington 98121 (202)
442-1930
4. File a lawsuit.
Please also remember: Option
four applies to most, but not all
student discrimination cases:
check with the OAA if your
complaint is based on race, age
or disability.
In any discrimination com
plaint. retaliation is prohibited
by law.
Options for employees are
somewhat different and will ap
pear in a subsequent letter to the
editor.
Bean Comrada
Director, Office of
Affirmative Action
Back again
lust when I thought it was
safe to go back to the
Emerald. .. another letter from
Michael (double-) Cross
surfaces.
I had hoped that the happy
occasion of his graduation
would provide welcome relief
from his compulsive opinion
sharing. Instead, it appears that
the letters will just keep coming
back to haunt us. Now I know
how trapped the characters in
those awful Halloween films
feel.
At least he returned during
the appropriate season.
And as a bonus, we now
know what kind of supporters
Bruce Long attracts. I'd as soon
vole for Lyndon laKouche.
|amie Rothschild
Psychology major
Set it straight
Mr. Steinbach's letter (CX:t.
17) claims that the Nicaraguan
government is systematically
trying to stamp out religion
because there is a conflict bet
ween it and the hierarchy of the
Catholic church. As 1 worked
for nine months in northern
Nicaragua. I trelieve that I may
be able to set the record straight.
In reality the root conflict is
within the Catholic church
itself, and it began in the early
1970s (long before the current
government came to power). At
that time some priests and lay
people, following new pastoral
directives of the Vatican Two
and the Medellin conferences,
began to form groups called
"base communities.” in which
people would read the Bible
and use that inspiration to work
concretely for the betterment of
their community. Many of these
Christians, appalled by the con
ditions in which their people
lived, and shocked by Somoza’s
brutal repression, participated
directly or indirectly in the
revolution.
Indeed, many Sandlnista
leaders both on the local and na
tional level come from these
groups. During my work I had
the opportunity to work with
many base communities. Base
community members often
minister to the physical and
spiritual needs of the rural peo
ple affected by the Contra war
and because of this, are
themselves favorite targets of
the Contras.
The Nicaraguan bishops to
whom Steinbach refers feel
their doctrinal authority
threatened by Catholics who
carry their own. perhaps revolu
tionary. biblical interpretation,
and therefore they oppose both
this progressive Christian
movement and the government
which has given it room to
exist.
Bruce Bondurant
Chemistry alumnus, 1986
Cartoonsville
The Emerald, in a recent
editorial, came out in support of
Peter DeFazio in his upcoming
4th District Congressional race
against Republican Bruce Long
Mr. DeFazio. as we found out
on Oct. 27. learns about and
follows the Contra freedom
fighters in the Doonesbury car
toon. Are we to assume the
Emerald does too?
Rick Bergesen
Math