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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 3, 1987)
Black and white ODE. are you just now wak ing up to the racism problem? In your editorial "Racism a problem of apathy" (OI)E. Mar. 16). you claim that: 1) Racist activity is restricted to the South. 2) Apathy is the reason racism occurs. 3) Racism is having a resurgence in "liberal" Eugene. No, OPE, the problem of racism is deeply rooted in Oregon’s history. — As early as 1897, anti Chinese violence can be documented in Oregon. — The Oregon Constitution banned African-Americans from being here until 1926. — Under executive order 9066, Oregon interned citizens of Japanese ancestry in concen tration camps in 1942. — Adequate health care for black students concerning sickle cell anemia is unavailable at the University. — You have printed racist cartoons and ads about black men and Asian women. ODE, racism is a part of our history and is deeply rooted in our society. It cannot go away by blinking one’s eyes and w'ak ing up, as you might think. Racism is a disease and white people must take the respon sibility for eradicating it. We must acknowledge our racist socialization and work to change it. This must be done on a personal level. For example: — Stop telling and interrupt racist jokes. — Stop describing our friends by their skin color or ethnicity. And on an institutional level: — Hire non-white faculty members. — Newspapers should not print and perpetuate racist attitudes. This means you, ODE. Be more informed on your subject before you write misleading editorials. Julie Rutledge Student Amazing stories I want to take the opportunity to publicly thank the Greek Ac tivities Council *hnd those who participated in Greek Days of Giving for their recent contribu tion to the University Library. A gift from a student organization is especially en couraging because it demonstrates special initiative and commitment on the part of those here. now. to the quality of the University and its programs. Private gifts supplement scarce state funding and assist the Library in providing the support necessary to an institu tion of such quality as the University. Donations from students, faculty and communi ty members do make a dif ference and are sincerely appreciated. Laura C. Simic Library development coordinator Material world Question: Thirty years from now. who will have made the greatest contribution to America, a) a couple caught up in the 1980s craze of materialmania who don’t want to become parents or b) a couple with children? Maybe a couple who raises a family has less money to spend on expensive cars or other material goodies, but they in sure the continuation of their family and values into the future — especially if they raise more than two children. They also give America its future: the young people who will contribute to the economy, culture and advancement of our nation. And one can’t even measure the joy and happiness most experience from children and grandchildren. What would become of America if a significant percen tage of our people chose childlessness? Some of the areas affected would include: A) Our economy (fewer pro ducers. fewer consumers, lower GNP). B) Our educational system (fewer schools, fewer educators, less research and development). C) Our ability to defend ourselves (fewer men — more nukes?). D) Our Social Security (fewer workers, large elderly popula tion. less Social Security revenue generated). Yes, this country would be in sad shape if having children lost its appeal. Children are America’s most valuable and precious resource. Tereasa McNew Elmira. Oregon Moral majority There is currently a ‘‘homosexual rights” bill before the Oregon Legislature. HB 2325 would give homosexuality the same status as religion or race in regards to discrimina tion laws. It even states the Bureau of Labor and Industries “may pro mote voluntarily affirmative ac tion by employers.” Might we expect homosexual quotas in the future? And what of the strange pro vision in Section 3 calling for “A program of public education calculated to eliminate attitudes upon which practices of discriminati o n b e c a u s e of. . .sexual orientation. . .are based.” Oh great. Would this cause our school system to have to present homosexuality in a favorable manner? This bill must not be allowed to become law. Unfortunately, the gay lobby and liberal sym pathizers to ‘‘homosexual rights” will be putting pressure on legislators to vote for this proposal regardless of the fact that most Oregonians are against such legislation. We must let our legislators know that a vote for such a hill would cost them a great number of votes in upcoming elections. The vast majority of Oregonians do not favor legitimizing this lifestyle nor would they ap preciate their elected represen tatives passing such a hill over their objections. Gina D. Norens Eugene To a man's heart This letter is written in the half-desperate hope that there are people out there, besides myself, who do not share first floor McClure’s tolerant — or should I say apathetic? — at titude toward dorm food. After stolidly trudging through another delicious breakfast in Hamilton "Dining” Center (consisting of six grapefruits and some granola). I came to the conclusion that surely someone out there shares either my views on keeping grease, white flour, and white sugar consumption below the 75 percent level, or maybe at least my affinity for properly cooked food, eh? Did you ever try squeezing one of the "cherry fritters?” Well, if you do make damn sure you have something underneath capable of holding a tablespoon or more of grease. To return to our subject: Perhaps some of you have, like me. reached the stage where the food is tht? insurmountable obstacle which will prevent you from returning to the dorms next year. Oh. now you're hit ting where it hurts: the pocketbook. Those of you who are with me on this, pitifully few though we may be. let’s have a letter cam paign! Don't just bitch. WRITE IT DOWN on paper, address it to Dick Romm, and present it to your RA. Be sure to tell him, if applicable, that you're leaving the dorms next year because of the food. Come on. folks. let’s break out of this bureaucracy that's designed to hold us down and make some bloody CHANCES! Finn John Undecided T 0N1CUJ 7*0,1*0, l htPNKUT a no ttoiocy </»< 0 CAHPUt own tv ax a M fhmxmOm Jj IN TWE ELECTRONICS P€PT. ffUOSOOKSIDRE NEED CONTACT LENSES? ■ffFSSEIKEW SR «."■«>? SPRING BREAK SPECIAL For a FREE contact lens consulta tion and $20 OFF a new fitting. 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