I Editorial
Release of Sakharov
speaks well for USSR
The recent release of Dr. Andrei Sakharov, a leading
Soviet physicist and outspoken dissident, from internal ex
ile in the industrial city of Gorky certainly comes as good
news, although the Soviets have a long way to go to end
their harsh repression of dissident opinions.
However, whatever the motives, it is in itself good to see
Sakharov released.
After nearly seven years of often harsh treatment in the
closed city, Sakharov was allowed to return to his home in
Moscow with his wife. Yelena Bonner, who was sentenced
to Gorky in 1984 for anti-Soviet slander. Bonner herself has
since been pardoned.
Sakharov gained Soviet acclaim in the 1950s while
working on Russia's hydrogen bomb, and is a three-time
recipient of the honorary title of Hero of Socialist l.abor for
his work in nuclear weapons research — although he was
stripped of his awards after his exile.
He later gained international recognition while publicly
championing human rights for ideological dissidents — for
which he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1975 — and criticiz
ing Soviet foreign policy. He was finally sent to Gorky in
1980 for openly condemning the Soviet invasion of
Afghanistan.
Sakharov's only offensive was to speak his convictions
and express his support for human rights.
Sakharov's release follows the emigration of another
prominent dissident. Anatoly Shcharansky. These two cases
illustrate that the Soviet Union, under Mikhail Gorbachev,
has tacitly agreed to the United States’ precept that trade
issues and arms control hinge on human rights conditions.
While the release of Sakharov, along with a handful of
other prominent dissidents, makes a case that the Soviet
Union is serious about improving its image and wants to
ease criticism of its human rights record, critics cite correct
ly that the move was mostly a public relations ploy.
Countless others still remain behind prison walls for
speaking out against the Soviet system. Emigration from the
Soviet Union, after reaching a peak of 51.000 in 1979, has
currently slowed to a snail's pace; Jewish groups worldwide
estimate that 400,(KM) of the Soviet Union’s 1.7 million Jews
wish to leave the country, yet are denied exit.
More poignantly, Sakharov's fellow dissident Anatoly
Marchenko recently died in a Soviet prison after a hunger
strike.
The switch in Soviet human rights policy has so far only
applied to a select, prominent few. Aside from these cases.
Soviet handling of dissidents remains repressive. It remains
to be seen if other, less visible dissidents will be granted
their autonomy.
Despite the doubts about the Soviet Union's sincerity
regarding human rights cases, there has been an improve
ment in Soviet civil liberties. We hope that the trend will
continue.
The expansion of Saferide
may have been too hasty
During this term. Project Saferide will expand its ser
vice to receive riders on the blocked-off section of 13th
Avenue from University Street to Kincaid Street.
Although the reason behind the expansion of the route
seems admirable, we do not believe enough student input
was considered Indore the decision was made, nor do we feel
the decision was correct.
The basis for the decision to open the blocked-off sec
tion of 13th Avenue was to increase safety for Saferide riders
and to shorten the route the shuttles must take to retrieve
them.
The shuttles will operate through the blocked-off sec
tion of 13th Avenue only at night, which raises concern
about the safety of pedestrians during this time.
All non-emergency vehicle traffic is Iwrred from enter
ing that section of 13th Avenue, including campus security,
and we feel that the Saferide vans should not be allowed
special privilege — particularly since the distance between
Kincaid and University streets is virtually a stone’s throw
apart. In light of this, we view the expansion of Saferide as
more of a potential hazard to pedestrians than as a conve
nience to its riders.
There is currently enough congestion with pedestrian
and bicycle traffic, and Saferide vehicles will only clutter
what is designed to be a pedestrian-only thoroughfare.
We feel the policy should Ire discontinued until a
broader review of the plan is established and more student
input can be voiced.
me hwitiowi new yw«twy ,
Letters
Frustrated
As a junior here at the Univer
sity, I find myself very
frustrated with its arena-style
scheduling process. As I sit here
with my whopping seven hours
of classes. I have to look back at
this hellish day and laugh
This University's present
system is a joke.
Let’s be honest. We all know
that with today's technology —
or yestarday's for that matter —
computers could easily do what
the present system can do with
half the hassle.
Oregon State does it. why
can't we? I have to admire the
administration up there at OSU
because they really seem to care
for their student's needs. Here,
we are nothing more than a
social-security number
I find it disgusting that my
fate lies in the last four digits of
my social security. I’m not a
freshman, and when a class is
closed I don't have a million
ways to change my schedule.
Presently. I am on two
waiting lists; consequently. I
am not a full-time student. This
means I have to stand in tuition
lines twice, or wait and see if I
am going to get into my
originally-planned classes.
By this time, however, my
late fee would Ik? about 30
bucks Now 1 have the option to
add other classes, but what hap
pens if I get into the classes I'm
waiting for? Enter the $8 drop
fee. No problem.
And this is all beside the fact
that these are the reasons one
can fall behind so early in a
term. Please change it.
Jeff Selis
junior
Wild place
One of the last great truly
wild places on planet earth is
under the sword of Damocles of
oil exploration.
The 19 million-acre Arctic
National Wildlife Kefuge
(almost the size of Ohio with no
roads, buildings, or permanent
residents) in Northern Alaska is
on deck behind Prudhoe Bay.
The refuge is home to an
almost imponderable abun
dance of wildlife: polar boars,
several packs of wolves,
wolverines, musk oxen, grizzly
bears, dall sheep, fox, several
hundred bird species, and a
caribou herd that has a higher
papulation than l*ane County.
Far beneath the permafrost,
however, lies the possibility of
oil and gas reserves, and with
only a 19 percent probability of
finding any economically
recoverable deposits, the
Department of the Interior has
recommended full leasing of
these suspected reserves.
This land was set aside as a
wildlife refuge: to subvert this
dictum for the slim possibility
of supplying a maximum of four
percent of the nation’s oil de
mand is an outrage. Your com
ments to the Fish and Wildlife
Service and your congressmen
are needed this week!
Stop by the Survival Center in
the EMU basement for more
information.
Steven K. Albert
U.S. Fish and Wildlife seasonal
volunteer
Graduate, biology
Dead dog
When will Michael Cross stop
beating that poor dead dog?
Caitlin Hecsh
PPPM
Letters Policy
The Kmerald will attempt to
print all letters containing fair
comment on topics of interest to
the University community.
letters to the editor must be
limited to 250 words, typed,
signed and the identification of
the writer must be verified when
the letter is turned in. The
Emerald reserves the right to edit
any letter for length or style Let
ters to the editor should be turn
ed into the Kmerald office. Suite
300. EMU
Oregon Daily
Emerald
The Oiegon Only Emerald i* published Monday
through Friday except dunng exam wo«x and vacations
by the Oregon Oaily Emerald Publishing Co. at the
University ol Oregon. Eugene. Oregon. 97403
The Emerald operates independently ol the University
with offices on the third floor ol the Erb Memonal 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
Q>o>fil Staff
Advertising Director Susan Thelen
Production Manager Wayne Lottinville
Classified Advertising Alyson Simmons
Assistant to the Publisher dean Ownbey
Advertising Sales: Peter LaFleur / Sales Manager
Teresa Acosta. Brent Collins. Beryl Israel, Janette Meil
mann. Laura Goldstein, Catherine Lilia. RicS Marti.
Joseph Menzel. Joan Wildermuth
News and Editorial BBB-S51 1
Display Advertising and Business 6M-1712
Classified Advertising M6-4343
Production BBMMt
Circulation 6BB-5S11
Editor
Managing Editor
News Editor
Spectrum Editor
Spectrum Assistant Editor
Editorial Page Editor
Editorial Page Assistant Editor
Sports Editor
Photo Editor
Graphic Design Editor
Night Editor
Michelle Brence
Lucinda Dillon
Michael Rivers
Curtis Condon
Stephen Maher
James Young
Michael Drummond
Capi Lynn
Michael Wilhelm
Lorraine Rath
Jolayne Houtz
Associate Editors
Community
Politics
Higher Education l Administration
University Affairs
Student Government
Student Activities
General Assignment
Jolayne Houtz
Shawn Wirtz
Chris Norred
Stan Nelson
Sarah Kitchen
Tonnie Dakin
Dennis Fernandes
Reporters' Sean Aimaker. Mary Courtis, Karen Creighton,
Gary Henley. Carolyn Lamberson. John McBarron
Photographers: Elizabeth Asher. Shertyn Biorkgren. Shu
Shing Chen. Maria Corvallis. Derrel Hewitt. Bobbie Lo.
James Marks. Dan Wheeler. Michael Wilhelm
Production: Michele Ross i Ad Coordinator
Kelly Alevandre. Elizabeth Asher. Ronwin Nicole Ashton,
Virginia Baniaga Sandra Bevans. Janet Emery, Manuel
Flores. Donna Leslie. Curtis Lott. Ross Martin Kelli
Mason Mike McGraw. Rob Miles. Angelina Muniz, Kara
Oberst Julie Paul. Knatm San burg. X Kang Xie