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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 17, 1987)
Return of measures earns Nelson praise ASIJO President Steve Nelson gets our salute for putting three ballot measures back on the general election ballot. His decision for doing this may seem like a political move to some, but whatever his reason, we’re glad to see tin* measures back on the ballot. Ballot measures 5, 7 and ft were removed from tin? ballot last Friday by the Constitution Court. Measure 5 supports preserving the Southbank Riverside Field from development and construction; Measure 7 proposes an increase in fun ding lor the marching band; and Measure t) proposes an in crease in funding for non-revenue sports. Incidental Fee Committee member Bob Baldwin created a stir last week when he approached the court and asked it to declare unconstitutional all measures placed on the ballot by referendum. The court agreed with Baldwin and declared all signatures gathered by sponsors of tin; measures “null and void.” The court’s decision was technically correct. Sponsors of tin? three measures had failed to get wording of their pro posals approved hy the court before soliciting signatures for their measures, a violation of Section 1 :i.r» of the ASIJO Con stitution. But late approval of ballot measure wording hy tin; court is not a new thing. Last year tin; court altered the wor ding of some measures after signatures had been gathered. The court was not following its own precedent regar ding this issue. Furthermore, the court restricted voting rights inappropriately by interpreting the constitution too narrowly. Sponsors for these measures were not totally at fault for failing to adhere to the constitution. They had been acting under the assumption their measures would be placed on the ballot, and wording of their measures would lx; approv ed later. Elections Board Chairman Carlton Clark and ASIJO Vice President Caitiin Cameron assured the sponsors their measures would be placed on the ballot and gave the spon sors a standard referendum form. The signatures, then, were gathered in good faith. Sponsors of tin? ballot measures in question should have demanded the court approve their measures’ wording before they solicited signatures regardless of the assurances they received from Clark and Cameron. That would have saved a lot of time and frustration. The ballot measure sponsors received little sympathy from the court, however. The court should have upheld Sec tion 11.1 of the constitution, which maintains that ASUO elections “shall be conducted in a manner consistent with the best interests of the student body.” Allowing these measures on the ballot is in the best interest of the student body because access to the ballot should be defined as broad ly as possible. The measures should not have been removed by a technicality. We agree with the dissenting opinion, written by Con stitution Court Chairman Andy Clark, who stated “blind adherence to specific constitutional provisions will not serve the goals of consistency and fairness which are the benchmarks of any judicial system.” Vocal opposition to the court’s decision may have push ed Nelson into putting the measures back on the ballot. That issue is moot, however. The important thing is the measures are back on the ballot, and students will have the choice in seeing them pass or fail. Letters Charleton Is it really possible to be a political science major at the University and never read a newspaper? One might easily get that idea from reading some of Dan Goulet's letters. No. Dan. the current backlash against Oral Roberts is not because he uses his position as self-appointed head of his own religious organization to extract money from a gullible American public — he’s been doing that since day one. What you obviously haven’t heard is that Mr. Roberts’ claims that God has told him he will die unless he raises a specific amount of money by the end of March. Even the conservative bible belt Oklahoma television sta tion which carries his regular pregram found this claim so outrageous that it banned him from the air unless he would stop making it. If Oral Roberts truly believes his own words, then his first motivation, whatever ultimate ly becomes of the money, is selfish rather than charitable: i.e. he wants to save his own life. On the other hand, he may Oregon Daily Emerald The Oregon Daily 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 Lottinville Classified Advertising Alyson Simmons Assistant to the Publisher jean Ownbey Advertising Sales: Peter LaFleur I Sales Manager Teresa Acosta. Janelle Heitmann, Catherine Lilja, Rick Marti, Joseph Menzel, Joan Wildermuth, Advertising Ap prentices: Teri Boring, Heather Mull. Barbara Rodaers Julie Paul 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 / 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 Angie Muniz Capi Lynn Michael Wilhelm John Giustina Lorraine Rath Lucinda Dillon 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 Bjotkgren, ShuShing Chen Maria Corvallis, Derrel Hewitt, Bobble Lo. Dan Wheeler Production: Michele Ross / Ad Coordinator Kelly Alexandre, Ronwin Nicole Ashton, Virginia Baniaga Samantha Barbitta, Sandra Bevans, Sara Briscoe, Shu shing Chen, Janet Emery, Judith Gatz, Lisa Haggerty, Jung Lee. Donna Leslie, Bobbie Lo, Curtis Lott, Kelli Mason, Mike McGraw, Rob Miles, Angelina Muniz, Ami Pate, Julie Paul, Ingrid White, Michael Wilhelm, Serena Williams, X. Kang Xie simply be one of the most un conscionable r e I i g i o u s charlatans and con men of re cent times. Hiawatha Music: graduate Toxic issue OSPIRCi is being sued. It seems like every time we try to get something accomplished, there is massive disapproval regarding our methods. 1 fail to see how writing a let ter to a legislator or researching a report or holding a news con ference on issues such as clean water, clean air or the potential dangers of hazardous waste ac cumulation — issues which af fect every member of society — can Ik? considered by certain in dividuals as partisan political activity. It the suit brought against OSPIRG is successful, it will ef fectively bring an end to such activities. Partisan activity is that which is adherent to a particular political party as opposed to the public interest at large. The Oregon Student Public Interest Research Group works on issues serving the public interest; that’s our middle name. OSPIRG gives students an op portunity to become involved in creating a cleaner and healthier society for the future. Our detractors intend to curtail our efforts by disallowing us funding. It is a case of harassment by an elite few with extremely limited student support. Should such individuals be somehow privileged to prohibit a publicly supported organization from its 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. freedom to work in areas advan tageous to society as a whole? Ken Petri Coordinator, OSPIRG Toxics Project Far right zone After reading her letter (ODE, April ti), 1 would like to think — or at least hope — that “Thelma Crimp’’ (who is not listed in the phone hook) is someone’s idea of a carefully-crafted practical joke. In that respect Ms. Crimp bears an extraordinary (but pro bably only coincidental) resemble nee to Brandon Shepard, Michael Cross, Dan Goulet and other implausible denizens of the Far Right Zone. Michael E. Stamm Graduate Secretary English Department Our Choice This letter is in response to an article published in the ODE on Friday, April 3 entitled “Organization offers alter natives to destruction of substance abuse.” Although generally pleased with the content of the article, there is one major clarification of misinformation that arose which we feel must be cleared up. Attributed to Glen Synoground was the statement that Our Choice had met with “administrative resistance.” This is not the case. Here at the University, Our Choice has been constantly encouraged by the administration and feels very good about our current relationship. 1 would hope that in the future, any comments given by members of Our Choice are stated in the proper context and with the additional details that could alleviate such situations. Glen Synoground Public relations Our Choice Carine Green Our Choice President
