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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 27, 1987)
Editorial Tower Commission fingers key players The Tower Commission report released Thursday chronicles a string of presidential aide cover-ups and various governmental improprieties concerning the full story of the Reagan administration's arms-to-Iran deal. While most of the report’s revelations come as no surprise, other aspects of the whole sordid “Iran-scam" affair have come to light, which does little to help Reagan regain lost ground. The commission found that it was probable Lt. Col. Oliver North, a dismissed National Security Council aide, did destroy pertinent evidence; that former National Securi ty Adviser Robert McFarlane did offer inaccurate accounts of events and the president’s involvement in the scandal; and that William Casey, former director of Central Intelligence, did know about diverted aid going to the Nicaraguan Con tras almost a month before the story was released but failed to notify the president. The report also criticized John Poindexter, another former National Security Advisor, saying he played a role in regard to missing documents—the first time this charge has been leveled against him. He was the NSC’s official note taker during numerous key council meetings, and apparent ly many of the notes from these meetings are missing. Donald Regan, White House chief of staff, also was criticized in the commission's report. He has been accused of issuing a false series of events to the media and govern ment inquiry boards in an effort to shield the president. Regan has maintained that the president did not know about the first shipment of arms to the Iranians. This contradicts McFarlane’s testimony that the president knew before the arms were sent. At the risk of sounding obvious, all of this does not reflect well on the president. People close to Reagan had urged the president to keep a low profile until the commis sion’s report came out. It was their hope the report would clear the president of any wrongdoing and distance him from those who had. Unfortunately for the president, the release of the Tower report will serve to heighten his "Iran-scam” woes. North and Poindexter may have acted illegally in several instances and could face criminal proceedings. Regan, from all indica tions, soon will resign—adding to a list of dozens who have resigned from Reagan's adminstration. The inevitable ex odus of Regan will be hailed by many who wish him gone. Hut even with a new chief of staff, it is unlikely the ad ministration will be able to regain the vigor it had before the arms-to-lran story broke. Regardless of what the president does in the near future—be it continue to keep a lowprofile or step back into the limelight—he is destined to spend the remainder of his term attempting to live down the biggest foreign policy blunder of his presidency. No “Great Communicator” speech will heal the wound this scandal has made in his ad ministration. and no wave of his magic wand will bring back his teflon coating. r *gur'£sass Letters Equal pay We have been fighting for ap proximately five years to achieve pay equity in the state of Oregon; we are now very close to that goal. SB28H which will come before the state Legislature very shortly, will release the money for funding the raises to bring the underpaid classifications up to parity. It is a shame that a full-time state worker is paid so little that they qualify for state assistance. That is why it is so important that we let our legislators know we support SB28B. We urge everyone to write or telephone their legislator and let him or her know you support SB288. and how vital you think it is for them to pass this bill. OPEIJ Clerical Committee University of Oregon Your senate Your Feb. 18 article on the Student Senate brushes over one of the most striking im provements in the Senate this 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 General Staff Advertising Director Susan Thelen Production Manager Wayne Michael Lottlnville 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 Lilia, Rick Martz, Joseph Menzel, Peter Miller, Joan Wlldermuth News and Editorial 686-5511 Display Advertising and Business 686-3712 Classified Advertising 686-4343 Letter Perfect Graphics 686-5511 Production 686-4381 Circulation 686-5511 Editor Managing Editor News Editor Spectrum Editor Spectrum Assistant Editor Editorial Page Editors Sports Editor Photo Editor Spectrum Photo Editor Graphics Editor Night Editor Associate Editors Community Politics Higher Education I Administration University Affairs Student Government Student Activities General Assignment General Assignment General Assignment Michelle Brence Lucinda Dillon Michael Rivers Stephen Maher Stanley Nelson Michael Drummond Angte Muniz Cap* Lynn Michael Wilhelm John Giustina Lorraine Rath Michael Rivers Jolayne Houtz Nick Reed Chris Norred B J Thomsen Carolyn Lamberson Sarah Kitchen Karen Creighton Dennis Fernandes Scott Maben Reporters: Sean Axmaker, Mary Courtis, Gary Henley Janet Paulson Photographers: Sherlyn Biorkgren, Shu-Shing Chen, Maria Corvallis, Derrel Hewitt, Bobbie Lo, Dan Wheeler Production: Michele Ross / Ad Coordinator Kelly Alexandre, Elizabeth Asher, Ronwm Nicole Ashton, Virginia Bamaga, Sandra Bevans, Sara Briscoe. Shu Shing Chen, Janet Emery, Judith Gatz, Lisa Haggerty, Donna Leslie, Curtis Lott, Kelli Mason, Mike McGraw! Rob Miles, Angelina Muniz, Julie Paul, Ingrid White! Serena Williams, X Kang Xie year — our assertiveness in pushing student issues into University policy. T his assertiveness is demonstrated by our victory in extending the drop deadline from 10 to 15 days after classes begin — an issue for which the students demonstrated their overwhelming support in last spring’s elections. Now we have introduced a motion to the University Senate to revoke the Athletic Depart ment’s drug testing policy and replace it with an effective educational and counseling program. We think that bv do ing so the Athletic Department can more effectively prevent drug abuse by athletes, without subjecting the student-athletes to the invasion of privacy that now occurs. This kind of student em powerment is a cornerstone of the philosophy which put Students for a Progressive Agenda (SPA) candidates in of fice last spring, and it is the philosophy under which we have operated this year. Dan Thoma Student Senator Fair trial Both supporters and detrac tors seem determined to try Silas Bissell in the press. He has been described as a soft-spoken gentleman by friends and com pared to Hitler by the ubi quitous Dan Goulet. Activists in Eugene seem to have an odd perspective on “civil disobedience.” Civil disobedience involves an activi ty known to be illegal with full acceptance of the conse quences. To perform such an act and then complain about being caught reduces it from a social statement to a delinquent prank. On the other hand. Mr. Bissell has currently only been accused of a crime, not con victed. The law of the land in this country is “innocent until proven guilty” (something Mr. Goulet seems to have missed in his political science studies. ..). Silas Bissell deserves neither more nor less than a fair trial on the charges against him. If he is found guilty, it is for a judge and jury to consider the ex emplary life he has led since the time of the alleged crime, and decide whether this is sufficient atonement for any alleged damages. Hiawatha Graduate, music Competent 1 realize Willy Bils and the Emerald editorial writers are charging the ASUO with mismanaging the student in surance program. This judg ment is based primarily on a number of students not receiv ing their one dollar or so in terest payment. I administered a workers’ compensation program of two years and also sat on the board of directors of a nationally known health insurance com pany. I have no illusions about how easy it is to administer an insurance program. I am also recovering from a back operation. The bills, so far, amount to $5,800. I am covered by the ASUO/Kevstone in surance plan. It has been my pleasure to deal with the ASUO insurance administrator, Shirley Chase, during this time. She has been friendly, suppor tive and thoroughly professional. 1 suspect Bils’ motives con cerning this issue. 1 wholeheartedly recommend the ASUO insurance plan to any student at the University. Roscoe Caron Education
