Letters
the Housing Department sees fit
to propose a week of bac
chanalian activities ranging
from jello slurping and jello
wrestling to jello kicking and
jello tossing. We deplore this
abuse of jello and implore all
students, faculty and staff to
protest, through non-violent
means. JAW. We thank you for
your support.
Don Araey. pre-journalism
Matt Uhre. biology
Bravo
I have to say “bravo!” to
Douglass James for bringing up
the problem of pedestrians vs.
human-powered vehicles. I
know that it can only be a drag
trying to walk down the
sidewalk through a maze of
cyclists and skaters.
However, one point that he
didn’t make infuriates the hell
out of bicyclists who obey the
traffic laws — that being
pedestrians in the bike paths.
Mr. James, I’m sure that you
don’t do this, but next time
you’re walking between Univer
sity and Alder on 13th Avenue,
check out how many of our
fellow students act completely
oblivious to the 15 mph, 180
pound-plus projectiles that are
required to remain on the bike
path.
These supposedly illiterate
ones (after all, the path is clear
ly marked) walk in, sometimes
stand in, the middle of the path,
affording no possible means of
passage for bikes.
Not all bikers are guilty, Mr.
James, nor are all pedestrians
saints. Bikepaths are for bikes,
as sidewalks are for walkers.
Let’s try to remember this.
Chris Ramko
Student
Dialogue
I am grateful for the initiative
of the Muslim Students
Association in bringing about
the recent Muslim-Christian
dialogue concerning the
understanding of Jesus. I
believe it is very important for
Christians to recognize the
significant role of Jesus in Islam
(although for Muslims, Moham
med is still the ultimate
prophet).
I also believe it is helpful and
constructive for Christians and
Muslims to discuss their com
mon interest in Jesus, and many
other common points of faith, in
a time when there is so much
hostility between Americans
and citizens of the Middle Kast
(most of whom are Muslim).
I hope that continued
Muslim-Christian and even
M u s I i m -1 v vv i s h - C h r i s t i a n
dialogue can further reconcilia
tion and better understanding,
both so needed in our world.
Norman Metzler
Adjunct associate professor
Germanic studies
Screaming
After reading Michael Cross*
letter “Statistics'* (ODE. Ian.
26), 1 stuck my head out the
window to vent a little frustra
tion with a nice healthy scream;
the window jarred loose and
struck me.
Suddenly, every window on
the street flew open and faceless
forms appeared, screaming, as
if the world was coming to an
end. Could it be that these peo
ple were screaming for the same
reason? Or for the opposite?
Perhaps, I thought. 1 should
reread Mike’s letter. Just maybe
there was some profound point
that I hastily overlooked. The
knock on the head did me some
good. 1 began to see the light.
Angels were singing. Wow!
How informative! it was full of
vital “Statistics'*. Names and
titles of dignitaries and their
works, even the Wall Street
Journal! Impressive
The coup de grace: his point
about the food surplus that
plagues American farmers. I^t
me see if I got this straight —
U.S. farmers produce an excess
of food, so that means that 5
billion people aren’t enough
and they all have too much to
eat.
Wow, how could I be so
stupid! And I suppose because
Dow Chemical has a surplus of
2-4-D, there must lx; a shortage
of corn worms. Now I get it.
Suddenly I felt a sharp pain in
my neck, and 1 realized that I
was dreaming, and I quickly
acknowledged the unfortunate
reality that the number one pro
blem in Eden is the over
population of the human race.
Patrick Clancy
Eugene
Portrayal
“Imagine a country called
‘Amerika,* “ the ads say. This,
of course, refers to the upcom
ing miniseries on ABC in
February. “Amerika”.
The plot of the story is not im
portant; the more subtle
underlying meaning is, though.
This meaning is that the Soviet
Union is an evil empire and has
an interest in taking over the
United States.
The portrayal of the Soviet
Union as the evil force in the
world should be upsetting to
anyone who wishes for world
peace. To make the Soviets
seem .is the bad guys while we
are in tin* midst of trying to en
sure tin* existence of both coun
tries in the future, makes ab
solutely no sense and is highly
contradictory. We cannot on the
one hand he talking to the
Soviet Union about ultimate
peace in Geneva, while on the
other we allow such anti-Soviet
propaganda to be broadcast.
To first bring about peace in
any situation, one must first
recognize their adversary as a
person, with the same basic
rights as any other person. The
rabid anti-communism that
underlies "Amerika” treats the
Soviets as nothing more than
heatless robotic "commies” out
to take over the world and
destroy all freedoms. To show
anyone you wish to have peace
with in such a light only serves
to thwart any efforts for peace.
In conclusion. I hope you that
watch this program will take a
deep look at its true meaning.
Then ask youself, does America
truly wish for peace in the
Soviet Union?
Eric M. Latham
Sociology
Freedom
Social activism seems to be in
vogue today. People are willing
to embrace any ideal, no matter
how idealistic, demeaning or
just plain idiotic.
Some will argue the abortion
issue for hours over how soon
after conception the fetus is
technically “alive." Don’t they
realize that the real issue is ex
tended government control ver
sus freedom of personal choice?
And what about all of these
Eugene peaceniks? They seem
to think that growing long hair,
wearing beads and faded
denim, smoking pot and
spouting cute slogans will save
the world.
But these people won’t pro
vide any real answers, opting
instead to pursue their own
educational program of bumper
stickers and tie-dyed T-shirts.
Campus feminists have pro
gressed so far since the early 70s
that they don’t even need men
anymore. One of these
“women” went so far as to sug
gest that all men should be done
away with and replaced with
sperm banks.
The latest argument rages
over the issue of underpopula
tion. Certain elements seem to
think that the United States and
Western Europe are running
dangerously low on people.
They cite AIDS deaths, surplus
food and bonuses for
children!?) as certain signs that
the Western world will soon be
devoid of life due to apathy and
sexual deviance. One look at
growing population rates shoots
this theory down. Do these peo
ple read census reports?
Freedom of expression is the
right of everyone, but it’s terri
ble to set* these Stupid People in
Action abuse this right.
As a concerned member of the
ASUO Incidental Fee Commit
tee, there is something that I
would like you to strongly think
about.
The simple fact is that in
cidental fees are a tax put on
you by the State Board of Higher
Education ($K1 per term). (liven
that the money is a tax, let me
ask you this: When was the last
time that you beard of tax
money being used for political
purposes?
This is the problem with the
Oregon Student Lobby, which
we fund in the amount of
$25,000 per year. This group
lobbies the state Legislature in
our name as your personal
representative. An example of
1»» »/» » »»»
i * 2839 Willamatt* i *
J !»»»»«»»»»■» |
|osh King
Political Science
Purposes
what I mean is the recent
governor's merit-based scholar
ship proposal for colleges to
help stop hrain drain on Oregon
campuses.
Since incidental fees must be
paid by all students, we now
fall into a question of free
speech.
According to the June 1985
Oregon Attorney General's opi
nion dealing with the legal use
of incidental fees, "When in
cidental fees are used for
political or ideological ad
vocacy, this action now
establishes an infringement of
the First Amendment interests
of students who disagree with
those viewpoints...."
In your name, the OSL is right
now arguing against the pro
posal that many of you think is
long overdue — the merit-based
scholarship.
In light of the recent attorney
general's opinion, the use of
1FG funds to support the OSL is
now seriously in question. As
one of your representatives on
the 1FC, 1 would like to hear
your comments on this matter.
Ron E. Munion
1FC member
Greek GYROS Sandwich
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THE SHOW CAN’T GO ON
WITHOUT YOU!
We need YOCI to arrange campus wide events for
1987 88 such as —
REM, Sonia Johnson, Talking Heads, Shadow Fax,
San Francisco Mime Troupe, Alex DeGrassi, G. Gor
don Liddy, The English Beat & the Neville Brothers.
CONTRACT with national and regional artists & lec
turers that reflect current student interests.
PROGRAM dances, noon gigs, dance & theatre, art
exhibits. Beer Gardens, comedy, feature & indepen
dent films & the Willamette Valley Folk Festival.
LEARN about yourself and others by developing
valuable life-long skills.
SUPERVISE and organize a security crew.
APPLY for a position with the Cultural Forum —
Popular Music Small Concerts
Film/Video Heritage Music
Contemporary Issues/Speakers Events Crew
Performing Arts Visual Arts
Positions begin Spring term ’87. Stop by the
Cultural Forum office, EMU Suite 2, for informa
tion and application.
DEADLINE for applying is Friday, February 13th.
I
1 he l Mil Cultural Fotum is an i
Equal Opportunity/AHu motive I
Action Employer J|||
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Private Hot Tub Rentals
Hours:
Sun-Thurs 12 noon - 2 a.m. $9/hour
Fri & Sat 12 noon - 4 a.m. $ 10/hour
Daytime rate (including weekends)—12 noon-5 p.m. $6/hour
Rales for 2 people
STUDENT DISCOUNT
Mon-Thurs evenings
$1 off rental with student body card.
•Stereo rooms available at no extra charge
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Bring this ad in for a
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WOODY LINN f.cls a
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Call 687-2522