Editorial
Leader of Philippines
has the \right stuff'
In a series of decisive moves. President Corazon Aquino
of the Philippines has moved from being labeled “just a
housewife" in executive office to a legitimate power to be
reckoned with.
By firing Enrique Enrile, her disloyal defense minister,
signing a cease-fire treaty w!th Communist insurgents, and
recently holding a nation-wide voter registration drive.
President Aquino has shed the image of being a weak leader.
In her latest power coup. Aquino's voter registration
drive has consolidated her political might. It proved to be an
incredibly popular move; millions of Filipinos turned out
last Saturday to register to vote for a constitutional
plebiscite, which is due Feb. 2. and a general election to be
held next year.
The plebiscite will ask voters to approve a new constitu
tion that would extend Aquino's term until 1992. Aquino
and the Philippines need this new constitution to assure
tranquility and the national direction it will offer if she is
granted the extended tenure.
Just as important, the general election to be held this
May will ask voters to choose a new legislature to replace
the old National Assembly that was abolished when Aquino
took power.
The voter registration drive was needed to rid old voter
lists of "ghost" or fictional names, just one of the few re
maining Marcos legacies that needs to be addressed if
Aquino hopes to run the Philippine government effectively.
President Aquino needs more than merely gratuitous
pats on the head from the United States; now more than ever
she needs and deserves our most respected support.
Community is applauded
for its aid to St. Vincent
We share the grief fell by the community at the loss of
St. Vincent de Paul’s second-hand Pour Corners store that
burned to the ground last Saturday.
The destruction of the building so chise to Christmas
could not have come at a worse time. St. Vincent's was and
is gearing up to provide its annual food relief to hundreds of
families — an estimated 500 in all — and the loss jeopar
dizes its efforts to get food packages to needy families
throughout the Eugene and Springfield areas.
Roughly a ton and a half of canned and boxed food and
dozens of frozen chickens and turkeys were destroyed. The
loss amounts to about 50 to 60 percent of the food earmarked
for the needy, which was to be delivered Dec. 20.
The Four Corners store was the most successful out of
the five St. Vincent de Paul's outlets, accounting for one
third of the organization’s operating costs.
St. Vincent de Paul’s social services director. Gilbert
Shaw, is uncertain if a new building will be constructed at
the Four Corners site, but he said that a new building would
have to be built somewhere in the near future.
Despite the loss, however, he expressed his pleasure at
the community response St. Vincent’s is receiving in the
aftermath of the fire. He noted that cases of food are being
delivered by individuals, and stressed the need for more
canned fruit.
We applaud the community in aiding St. Vincent de
Paul's, and it is our hope that it will succeed in making the
holidays enjoyable for many needy families.
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Letters
Garbage
Pvw had enough. The so
tailed ftK»d served at the dorm
cafeterias is garbage.
Look at the facts, hatch person
living at the dorms payed
$1,027. Subtract out the worth
of the rooms (:) months; $200
maximum) that leaves $727.
supposedly spent on staff wages
and supplies From the quality
of the food, it is obvious that
there is little concern for our
nutritional welfare.
Evidently, it is more impor
tant to (lit wherever posihle and
to buy the lowest quality food
on the market (if not hlack
market), so that someone
upstairs is making a pretty
penny.
Well congratulations, you've
got us all under contract, you've
succeeded. Do you really
believe that all the complaints
are unwarranted? An; we all
just a hunch of kids who always
gripe? I think not.
And what of the so-called
vegetarian diet. I. lining a
vegetarian, am repulsed with
the bland tasting souffles and
nonexistent variety I'm usually
stuck with a peanut butter and
jelly sandwich, coupled with a
salad (I've never seen lettuce
stay green so long).
And what of the vegetables?
Are they fresh? And just how
long are they cooked? They
usually taste like water-soaked
cardboard. Were the promises
in the brochures just a ploy to
also entrap the vegetarian
dollar? Is making money at the
expense of our health really
worth it?
I. and everyone who must eat
at the cafeterias, want the quali
tv of the total increased. Come
on cooks, supervisors and ad
ministrators. let's do it right
Benjamin Tnblcr
Philosophy, sophomore
Comical
I am convinced Michael Cross
earned his undergraduate
degree hv reading the Classic
Comics version of II S. history
|ODE Letters. I)ec. :t|
The Constitution of the
United States is not. as Mr.
Cross would have us believe, a
stagnant document, frozen in
time and interpreted according
to the dictates of 18th century
America.
Instead, the Constitution is
flexible and was designed to
grow with the country and with
society.
Mr. Cross is constantly
fighting the Constitutional
rights of the unborn (something
the founding fathers didn't con
sider in the 18th century), but
apparently Mike feels different
ly about the living.
Once their lives get out in the
world it's okay with Mike if we
stuff them in 18th century-style
cells and execute them without
the rights our Constitution
provides.
The next time Michael Cross
unpatriotically harangues our
Constitution and our right as a
nation to live in the 20th cen
tury. remember. Mike is living
the Classic Comics version of
life.
Scott Elliott
Law
Social ills
I,ast Wednesday's I.etters sec
tion was delightful (ODE. Dec.
:i). First we were treated to the
eternally righteous l.ori
I'arkman. who must lead an ex
emplary if rather dull life.
She seems to believe that an
epidemic is not an epidemic,
that viral disease is caused by
"sexual permissiveness" and
not a virus, and that absolute
repression equals morality.
Bravo!
We then received the addi
tional bonus of the perpetually
outraged Michael Cross, who
through some supernatural
agency he has yet to reveal, has
direct, personal insight into the
minds of "America’s founding
fathers."
With his sublime knowledge
in his possession, he offers a
foolproof solution to our social
ills: stack transgressors in
prison cells like cordwood until
they rot. executing a few
whenever more space is need
ed. Encore!
Thanks to the impeccable
logic of tese two I have been
able to resolve a mini leer of my
own moral questions For exam
ple. I always did believe that the
"New Right" was the result of
unrestrained anal intercourse,
and we certainly could solve a
lot of problems by simply kill
ing them off.
Unfortunately our sick socie
ty offers a haven for all sorts of
deviants— Ms. Parkman could
become a nun. and Mr. Cross
might apply to become state
executioner.
Hiawatha
Graduate, music
A suggestion
I'd like to make a suggestion:
If the Ducks and the Beavers
ever combine their teams they
should call themselves the
Platypuses!
Joy Halliwell
Librarian