Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 6, 1987)
Editorial False-war scenario sends a sour signal Preparing for nuclear war sounds frightening, apocalyp tic and even ridiculous. The Northwest will be doing exactly that beginning the first week of March. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has “in vited” Oregon. Idaho, and in April, Washington and Alaska to participate in a compulsory federal program that will test the ability of these states to deal with the effects of a full blown nuclear war. The faults to this plan are numerous, and its sole merit is negligible. Phil Cogan, a FEMA regional spokesperson in Washington state, explained that the plan is a communica tion exercise — simply a preparedness measure designed to increase readiness-reporting by local governments concern ing the movement of resources to shelters, as well as simulating communication with local and state represen tatives before, during and after incoming warheads drop from the sky. Hut this reasoning presupposes nuclear war is survivable, an unlikely proposition at best. Another questionable aspect of the hypothetical nuclear war scenario is the heavy-handed, coercive way in which the federal government is implementing the exercise. It has tied state participation to states’ emergency management planning funds. Oregon receives $1.5 million annually from the federal government to help in dealing with natural and man-made disasters. If the state were to refuse participation, these funds would be cut off. Contrary to what FEMA representatives say, this puts nuclear war on a higher priority than re-occurring, “real life” disasters. States supposedly have the option not to par ticipate. Yet by threatening to pull emergency planning aid. the federal government is mandating states’ attendance in their hypothetical nuclear war scheme. Moreover, if a state were to balk at the program for whatever reason — and there are many — the federal govern ment would be withholding funds for regions in real need. A state would be made to suffer for not playing war games with the government. No state ever has been refused federal funding for not participating in the exercise. However, after Florida opted out of its obligation to participate last year, without federal repercussions, congress declared states had to play along. The most disturbing aspect of the program, however, is the message it sends to the Soviet Union or any other nation that could conceive of taking on the United States in a thermo-nuclear volley. The issue is one of posturing versus preparedness. Most of the events leading up to the hypothetical nuclear war entail a one-sided series of events with the Soviets, of course, playing the heavy and the United States as the victim of wanton Soviet aggression: the Soviets are blamed with building a submarine base in the arctic, the Soviets make moves to invade Iranian oil fields, the Soviets shoot down a U.S. military transport plane, etc. This sort of role-playing cannot be beneficial for super power understanding. Participating in peace is incompati ble with preparing for war. It’s evident our government, through this emergency planning exercise, practices the latter. \..Ya'know, this reminds me of a humorous anecdote Letters Magic Wand I received a poison pen letter the other day from the Collec tions Office at Oregon Hall. 1 owe them approximately $800; $800 from last term, and $500 for this term. I also received a Pell Grant voucher for $472 which 1 wanted to apply toward my account. 1 was not allowed to do so, hence the reason for this letter. Apparently, one must pay all previously accumulated debts (i.e. last term's tuituion) before one can pay current amounts due (payment, that is, in Pell Grant voucher form). This is how I see it: I owe the Universi ty $800 and I have $472 to apply toward that debt. Not only is the University rejecting my money, but they are also charging me five dollars per day until I do pay them. They are also telling me that I can’t get credit for my classes this term because of my indebtedness. 1 have been running around in circles in search of some logical explanation, and I have Oregon Daily Emerald The Oregon Daily Emerald is published Monday through Friday except during exam week and vacations by the Oregon Daily 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 Qeneral Staff Advertising Director Susan Thelen Production Manager Wayne Michael Lottinville Classified Advertising Alyson Simmons 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 Assistant to the Publisher Jean Own bey News and Editorial Display Advertising and Business Classified Advertising Production Circulation 686 5511 686 3712 686 4343 686 4381 686 5511 Editor Managing Editor News Editor Spectrum Editor Spectrum Assistant Editor Editorial Page Editors Sports Editor Photo Editor Assistant Photo Editor Graphic Editor Night Editor Michelle Brence Lucinda Dillon Michael Rivers Curtis Condon Stephen Maher James Young Michael Drummond Capl Lynn Michael Wilhelm John Giustina Lorraine Rath Stan Nelson Associate Editors Community Jolayne Houtz Politics Shawn Wlrtz Higher Education / Administration Chris Norred University Affairs Stan Nelson Student Government Sarah Kitchen Student Activities Tonnie Dakin General Assignment Dennis Fernandes Reporters: Sean Axmaker. Mary Courtis, Karen Creighton, Gary Henley, Carolyn Lamberson, Scott Maben, Janet Paulson, B J Thomsen Photographers: Sherlyn Biorkgren, ShuShing Chen, Maria Corvallis, Derrel Hewitt, Bobbie Lo, Dan Wheeler Production: Michele Ross / Ad Coordinator Kelly Alexandre. Elizabeth Asher, Ronwin Nicole Ashton, Virginia Baniaga, Sandra Bevans, Sara Briscoe, Shu' Shing Chen, Janet Emery, Lisa Haggerty, Donna Leslie. Curtis Lott, Kelli Mason, Mike McGraw, Rob Miles, Angelina Muniz, Julie Paul. Ingrid White, X Kang Xie yet to find one. I owe the University money, I offer the University money, and they don’t take it. What is a reasonable person to do? Should I wave my magic money wand (doesn’t every college stu dent have one?), and magically produce $800? 1 am, of course, being facetious, and 1 am laughing. I am laughing at the University, however, not with it. Jennifer Hancock Student Advice In response to Blake Sliter’s letter of Jan. 28; UNBELIEVABLE! Simply unbelievable! Mr. Sliter, I see you’re at it again.. An Andy Rooney you’re not. A consumer advocate gives the public FACTS on important issues, sort of like a middleman giving constructive advice. But what you’re doing, ONCE AGAIN, is stating untruths aimed directly toward the Greek system. Being a political science major, I’d think you would have more im portant things to do with your time, like for instance, observ ing and executing what our politicians are doing. Oh! I’m so sorry for not noticing that you are doing just that. You see Mr. Sliter, the Greek system will not allow the Lamb Letters Policy The Emerald 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 Emerald office. Suite 300. EMU. da Chi Fraternity (not frat) to use the swimming pool as a rush tactic to get rushees to join their fraternity, as you have im plied. The pool can be used by any member or pledge of the Greek system here at the University. My point here is to tell you to get your facts straight and not assume what happens in the Greek system before you continue “advocating” more misinformation to the public. I’m sorry to say it is people like you, Mr. Sliter, who cloud other’s views about the Greek system and mislead them into darkness. I pity those who believe and follow your ad vocacies. Have a good week and I’ll see you in the funny pages. M. W. Olenivich Physics, Bio-Chem Abortion In studying the arguments us ed to promote abortion, many inconsistencies become ap parent. One of the finest exposi tions of the weakness of the so called “feminist” position was made by pro-life feminist Rosemary Bottcher. Those who feel that women are somehow “liberated” by killing their children should ponder her words: “Pro-abortion feminists re sent the discrimination against a whole class of humans because they happen to be female, yet they themselves discriminate against a whole class of humans because they happen to be very young. They resent that the value of a woman is determined by whether some man wants her, yet they declare that the value of an unborn child is determined by whether some woman wants him. They resent that women have been ‘‘owned’ ’ by their mothers Jeff Hoyt Accounting
