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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 10, 1987)
Editorial Denial of USSA funds was a wrong decision After heated debate last night, the Incidental Fee Com mittee voted four to two against providing funds for the United States Student’s Association. The arguments against USSA funding have merits, yet we believe the arguments for funding the USSA are stronger — the IFC should have pro vided the USSA its $9,000 request. Rob Munion and James Randall, two outspoken IFC members who were against funding the USSA, have criticiz ed in no uncertain terms this national student lobbying group as being detached from the University, and that it is ineffective at promoting student needs on a local level. Moreover, they citicize the USSA as having left-wing political leanings, and argue that the organization fails to adequately represent student interests at the University. But Munion and Randall’s charges are in themselves politically motivated. Both are conservatives, and they believe that because the USSA’s University representatives are Students for a Progressive Agenda members, admittedly a liberal entity, that the USSA itself is liberal-minded. What they fail to see, however, is that the University’s representatives are not the sole voice of the USSA. The lob bying group is a nationwide coalition of student interests, and its agenda is decided by college students from around the country. If the USSA agenda can be interpreted as liberal, so be it. As for claims that the USSA is detached from University students, the evidence indicates otherwise. The USSA directly affocts 4.5 million students nationwide, which in cludes our University students. The USSA helped pressure Congress not to make cuts in Pell Grants, an effort that unfortunately was unsuccessful. The USSA similarly failed in its attempts to block congres sional redefinition of independent student status. But it was successful in modifying provisions affecting Guaranteed Student Loan repayment deferment. The latter was no small achievement in light of the budget-cutting mood in Con gress. Many University students receive Pell Grants, thereby making charges of USSA detachment moot. Furthermore, the University’s two representatives, Caitlin Cameron and Katy Howard, have had audience with Sen. Mark Hatfield. This kind of representation cannot be matched through letter-writing or phone call drives. Univer sity students need this kind of legislative input if mean ingful improvements in the student condition are to be realized. We believe the $9,000 the USSA requested is a legitimate request, even though the bulk of budget outlays would go for travel and lodging. When on the road, USSA representatives have virtually no time for recreational pur suits. nor should they. The vast majority of time represen tatives spend away from the University is performing the task at hand — working to better student status locally and nationally. The IFC acquiesced to vocal objections by two of its members, and decided not to fund the USSA in order to avoid a deadlock vote. The USSA now has the opportunity to appeal the IFC’s decision. It is our hope that the IFC will change its ruling, and award the USSA the funds it deserves. r, DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS ...FREE ENTERPRISE... Mikhail,you must promise notto TAKE US TOO FAR WEST/ ] PER SURE V _ Opinions I am responding to Dean Backus' letter “Film Review” (ODE, Jan. 19). Dean con tinuously criticizes Sean Ax maker’s review on the twelve best films of 1986. Dean felt that Sean was a pro at being boring, confusing, and irritating. 1 think Dean is being unrealistically opinionated towards Sean. Dean briefly described nine movies he per sonally preferred that Sean had failed to list in his film review. I consider a few of the movies mentioned not worth seeing a second time, much less on the top twelve list for 1986. Fur thermore, “Restless Natives,” “Desert Bloom,” and "Parting Glances” were three movies Dean mentioned that my friends and 1 have not heard of, but that is his opinion. By listing only twelve of the most popular movies in 1986, Sean should not be expected to list everybody’s personal favorites. Individual tastes in movies are different and movie reviewers do their best to base their reviews on box office sales and, of course, personal opinions. I feel that Sean Axmaker does a good job and people like Dean Oregon Daily Emerald The Oregon Dally Emerald Is published Monday through Friday except during exam week and vacations by the Oreaon 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 General Staff Advertising Director Susan Thelen Production Manager Wayne Michael Lottinvllle 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 Maitz. Joseph Menzel, Peter Miller, Joan Wildermuth News and Editorial 686-5511 Display Advertising and Business 686-3712 Graphic Services 686-5511 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 Politics Higher Education / Administration University Affairs Student Government Student Activities General Assignment Michelle Brence Lucinda Dillon Michael Rivers Stephen Maher Michael Drummond Angie Muniz Capi Lynn Michael Wilhelm John Giustina Lorraine Rath Lucinda Dillon Jolayne Houtz Shawn Wirtz Chris Norred Stan Nelson Carolyn Lamberson Sarah Kitchen Dennis Fernandes Reporters: Sean Axmaker. Mary Courtis. Karen Creighton Gary Henley, Carolyn Lamberson, Scott Maben, Janet Paulson, B J. Thomsen. Photographers: Shertyn Bjorkgren, Shu-Shing Chen, Marta 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 Backus should lay-off on some of the harsh criticism and give him a little credit where deserv ed. I am sure even the best film reviews receive criticism because nobody is perfect. Kim Rath Business Open forum As a member of the Universi ty faculty who has long defend ed the ‘‘open forum” role of the liberal, secular university in a pluralistic society, I was delighted to read Bert Tryba’s letter (ODE, Feb. 6). Mr. Tryba indicated that the University’s mission is an educational one, not that of uncritical proselytiz ing. Accordingly, he wrote that “it is vital that secular views that challenge the claims of theist religions” be represented in campus discussions of, for example, Jesus Christ. I have previously acknowledged my current philosophic stance as that of “post-Christian agnosticism." Although reared in a Catholic family and educated in mostly church-related schools, I now seriously doubt that Jesus was more than human. On the basis of the available historical record and dispassionate philosophic reflection on the nature of the human condition, I have come to believe that there is no substantiated evidence to sup port the contention that Jesus was other than a human being. What follows is my brief, secular humanistagnostic view of Jesus: The son of a carpenter, Joseph, and his wife Mary, the person called Jesus probably lived in accord with his Jewish ethnicity. Following his bap tism by John the Baptist, he began a charismatic ministry in (>alilee — imparting a number of teachings which may have devieated from the “conven tional wisdom” of his time. Near the end of his short ministry, Jesus was delivered to the Roman authorities in Jerusalem by a faction of the Jewish establishment. He was subsequently executed by crucifixion. Ron Rousseve Counseling Psychology Professor Crucial issues In last spring’s election at the University, the student body gave a strong vote of support to the U.S. Student Assosiation (USSA). USSA is the largest and oldest national student associa tion that lobbies for student needs and interests in Washington on a national level. Recently we have witnessed the most frightening budget cuts in STUDENT FINANCIAL AID proposed by the Reagan Administration. Major cuts in Guaranteed Student Loans are already in effect this term! It is absolutely essential that we as University students support ef forts to protect access to higher education. The efforts carried out by the ASUO to participate in this positive process are very commendable. As a student dependent of financial aid, these are exactly the kind of priorities that I expect my stu dent government leaders to work on. As shown in last spring’s stu dent election, support has been given to the ASUO to work on these crucial issues. I implore the IFC to resolve their tie vote and support the student man date for continued funding for USSA. Bryan Moore Spanish 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.
