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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 5, 1987)
Editorial La Alcohol-server law should be improved Oregon’s new alcohol-server education law is a step in the right direction as a means to enlighten alcohol servers and consumers about the dangers of excessive drinking, as well as a good way to reduce insurance liability for owners of drinking establishments. However, there are some flaws to this piece of legislation that should be corrected. For starters, the exam fee for the mandatory course is too high, ranging from $25 to $45. and in some areas the cost may even be higher. Those on fixed incomes, or who only work part-time will find it difficult to figure the cost of the program into their budgets. Moreover, individuals who serve alcohol should not have to bear any of the cost for taking the course — restaurant and bar owners should. Owners are in a better position to pay for their employees’ exams because they can pass the cost on to the consumer by raising drink prices. While many would criticize this suggestion as being un fair to owners and the drinking public, price increases would be temporary and spread out over a greater segment of society. Essentially, this would be more fair than the cur rent system, for the alcohol-server law was designed to pro tect everyone — not just those who serve drinks — and so it follows the greater whole should bear the cost. The law could also be improved if alcohol servers had the option to read the 30-page booklet and then take the ex am, rather than being required to attend the five to eight hour course. If one could read the booklet and pass the ex am, taking the course would be redundant. The public would be wise to keep an eye on Bennett While we applaud City Councilor Rob Bennett’s deci sion to abstain from voting on amendments to the city’s condominium-conversion ordinance, there are still ques tions regarding his participation in the final decision on the proposal that we believe should be addressed. Although the city’s attorney decided that Bennett does not have conflict of interest because he has yet to announce his intention to convert his Kugene Manor apartment com plex to condos, we have our doubts that will stop him from playing a prominent role in the city’s final decision. Bennett, a real-estate developer, pushed for the change in the condo conversion ordinance when he was on the Eugene Planning Commission last year. The ordinance change would suit Bennett just fine as he would no doubt benefit from converting Eugene Manor into condominiums. And even though he won’t be voting on the ordinance’s change per se, he will still have a hand in the decision mak ing process. As City Councilor, he’ll have access to the City Council’s ear. Herein lies the other conflict of interest not addressed by the city’s attorney. Bennett undoubtedly will lobby strongly for changing the condo conversion ordinance. Although it’s not illegal for him to do so, there are ethical considerations at stake here. Bennett has friends in high places, and his word carries a lot of weight. It would be naive to think that he will not pull some str ings to get what is most beneficial for him. For this reason it would behoove those who would be affected by the City Council’s decision to keep a close eye on the council, as well as City Councilor Rob Bennett. Off jajjbm fat* *6* ~ -““T You’Re. AMAZED veverwmcme AFRICAN NWWNN. Congress? I No . Winer \ lerfleowe shuuz | CONDUCT FWOGM I Pucr... J Letters Obscenity Oregon's Supreme Court rules that “obscenity is pro tected under the state constitu tion's guarantee(d)... right of free expression.” From this quote—the entire substance of the story it broached in four obscure column inches of space—I infer that: (Firstest—the Oregon Supreme Court, like the obscenity its rul ing countenances, is itself constitutional. Secondish — the Court couldn't have touched the anti obscenity prohibition it struck, if that prohibition was an organic part of the constitution. Thirdlike—if thus constitu tional. its clear interpretation and specific application pur suant to public conscience should be easier than negotiating the ground-fog of ERA shrouding the brow of its precipice. l^astmost—effectual “censor ship.” presently affecting only the “free", albeit unscriptural public exercise of religious observances, shall extend to media filth when, to our cons cientious recognition and abhorrence thereof, are wedded ACLU’s discernment-to apprehend and wisdom-to prevent abuses of censor ship—for which Ri-danq-ue lots. Dave. Kenneth L. Paige Salem Oregon Daily _Emerald The Oregon Oaily Emerald Is published Monday through Friday except during exam week and vacations by the Oregon Dally 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 Erb 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 Susan Thelen Production Manager Wayne Michael Lottmvllle Classified Advertising Alyson Simmons Assistant to the Publisher Jean Ownbey Advertising Sales: Peter LaFleur/ Sales Manager Teresa Acosta. Brent Collins. Beryl Israel. Janelle Heit mann, Laura Goldstein, Catherine Lilja, Rick Martz, Joseph Menzel. Peter Miller, Joan Wildermuth News and Editorial 686 5511 Display Advertising and Business 686 3712 Classified Advertising 686 4343 Production 686 4381 Circulation 686-5511 Editor Managing Editor News Editor Spectrum Editor Editorial Page Editors Sports Editor Photo Editor Assistant Photo Editor Graphic Editor Night Editor Associate Editors Community Higher Education / Administration University Affairs Student Government General Assignment Michelle Brence Lucinda Dillon Michael Rivers Stephen Maher James Young Michael Drummond Cap! Lynn Michael Wilhelm John Giustina Lorraine Rath Jotayne Houtz Jolayne Houtz Chris Norred Stan Nelson Sarah Kitchen Dennis Fernandes Reporters: Sean Axmaker. Mary Courtis. Karen Creighton, Gary Henley, Carolyn Lamberson, Scott Maben, Janet Paulson, B J Thomsen Photographers: Sherlyn Bjorkgren, Shu-Shing Chen, Maria Corvallis, Derrel Hewitt, Bobbie Lo, Dan Wheeler Production: Michele Ross I Ad Coordinator Kelly Alexandre. Elizabeth Asher. Ronwm Nicole Ashton Virginia Bamaga. Sandra Bevans. Sara Briscoe, Shu Shing Chen, Janet Emery. Lisa Haggerty. Donna Leslie, Curtis Lott. Kelli Mason, Mike McGraw. Rob Miles. Angela Muniz, Julie Paul, Ingrid White, X Kang Xie Big Bang This letter is intended to up the ante on all the letters received. “Sophomoric," Mr. Kallimanis? (ODE, Jan 29) Your reading ability is half-baked. This is our first letter on the se cond law of thermodynamics, but don’t blame us for the misunderstanding—no one call ed to inquire of our statement! We said that the second law “was not always the case (if you hold to your reasoning)," (ODE, Jan. 12). What we are referring to is the Big Bang. On this issue of spontaneous creation, DuNouy says that "the chance formulations of a typical protein molecule made up of 3,000 atoms is of the order of one to 2.02 x 10 to the 231st power, or practically nil. Even if the elements are shaken up at the speed of the vibration of light, it would take 10 to the 234th power billions of years to get the protein molecule (needed) for life, and life on the earth is limited to about two billion years." Genesis 1. the creation of the world chapter, is certainly not out of harmony with the trend of present scientific informa tion. Think about it! "Freud”, Mr. Tryba? (ODE, Jan. 30) Your reasoning is pathetically basic, and terribly misinformed. Here’s to your ante, "My religion consists of a humble admiration of the il limitable superior Spirit who reveals Himself in the slight minds. That deeply emotional conviction of the presence of a superior reasoning power, which is revealed in the incom prehensible universe, forms my idea of God,” Albert Einstein. Brian Frary Biology Freethinkers There is one church in the Lane Gounty area that caters to the "free-thinkers” as many people call us. The Unitarian Church of Eugene and Une County, located at 477 E. 14th Ave. As we state in our Newcomer’s Guide: "We are a community of free religious seekers. We are people who look to all sources, both sacred and secular, for new wisdom and insight.... We also laud, not just tolerance of, but ge nuine respect for, the ideas and opinions of one another.” I am in a tight spot to PRO SELYTIZE too much because our church has a rich history in NOT telling people what to think, when it comes to the LARGER questions of life. However, please feel free to at tend the church services, held at 10:30, or the adult class call ed “Developing your own Theology” which brings people together to explore individual meanings to life. A personal note to the in dividuals who particularly identified with JOEL BEATH, amongst the Unitarian religion are a full range from “believers” to “atheists.” Brian D. Lewis Board of Directors Unitarian Church of Eugene Revolution I must be getting old. Did 1 read that the University of Oregon received bomb threats because they’re building a museum over a parking lot? (Register Guard, )an. 27) It used to be the other way around. (Has the revolution of the 60’s slow ed down, sputtered to a stop and shifted into reverse?) Oh well, 1 guess I can see the point of view of these new age protesters. There’s plenty of sil ly old museums around already, but how many really neat and convenient parking lots are left? Will they all be sacrificed before future generations even get a chance to park in them? What’s after that? High-rise condo demolition to make room for parks? Where will the insanity end? Bob Saltz Eugene In Vogue )osh King remarked, “social activism seems to be in vogue today.” Com’ on, babe; get a grip on yourself. N. R. Rant University of Washington Class of 1970
