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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 24, 1987)
Editorial Death penalty ruling encourages racism The Supreme Court s 5-4 decision to uphold the con stitutionality of Georgia’s death penalty Wednesday is a grave setback for both non-discrimination advocates and capital punishment opponents. The court has upheld the death penalty since 1976. But studies have shown a distinct relationship between the race ol the victim and the sentence given to thi; killer. One of these recent studies, the Baldus study, was the basis for the defense in McCleskey vs. Kemp. Warren Mc Cleskey claimed his 14th Amendment right to equal protec tion of the law and his Eighth Amendment right against cruel and unusual punishment had been violated with his death sentence. I he Baldus study claims that killers of white people are sentenced to the death penalty more often than killers of black people. In its decision, the court accepted the study’s findings as true. I he problems arose in determining if. in McCIeskey’s case specifically, discrimination had occurred. In other words, whether the jurors convicted him because he was black. The defense was right in its stance that this is next to impossible to prove. It would mean breaking the sanctity of the jury room and entering tin; minds of the jurors to see if they were motivated by race, said Jack Boger, an attorney for the Na tional Association for the Advancement of Colored People. I bis decision creates a messy bowl of porridge for capital punishment. By restricting the definition of discrimination in this case, tin; court has placed societal in fluences over the basic decision of constitutionalitv In the majority opinion. Justice Lewis Powell assumes capital punishment is constitutional. He said the case challenged the validity of capital punishment in our multiracial society” and ‘‘the principles that underlie our entire criminal justice system.” I his narrow view is flawed. Obviously capital punish ment is tar from perfect when studies, accepted by the court, continue to show such distinct discrimination. Powell continued. “It is not the responsibility. . .of this court to determine tin? appropriate punishment for par ticular crimes.” Granted, it is not the Supreme Court's role to pass sentence. Hut it is its role to interpret the Constitution cast; by case — without being influenced by outside factors. Dun of Powell's main concerns was that if this case were upheld, hundreds of other cases would come forward claim ing an unfair trial. Hut this evades tin; issue. If discrimina tion in capital punishment exists, then it should hi* exposed. Justice William Brennan stressed that in past capital punishment cases “the risk of imposition of an arbitrary sentence, lather than the proven tact of one" was enough on which to base a decision. Some have called this ruling the “last broad-based con stitutional challenge to the death penalty." Hut because the decision was 5-4 . this is not the case. One more vote in favor of the case would have changed the decision. I he court is still open to capital punishment oases. Hut if opponents of the death penalty take a defeatist attitude, this will be the final ruling. r Mtelitbflch ‘<r N6wS service Letters Survival i don’t think one can justify making surrogate parenting il legal just because problems have arisen in a very tiny p e r cen t a g e of s uch arrangements. I feel we should leave people alone who want to engage in practices to create families. America would be in better shape if we cracked down on destructive, anti-family prac tices liberals and feminists generally are so fond of defending. Many liberals say we shouldn’t condemn homosex uality. Well. I have yet to see anything positive result from this practice. Actually, the negative effects on society, biology, etc., would easily justify r e - c r i m i n a I i z i n g homosexual actions Another cause near and dear to the hearts of most liberals is legalized abortion Ironically, some of the same people saying a woman has the right to con ceive then kill a baby in the womb feel a woman shouldn’t be allowed to conceive a baby (through non-sexual. clinical means) and carry it for another 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 ol Oregon. Eugene, Oregon. 97403 The Emerald operates independently ol 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 Lottmville Classified Advertising Alyson Simmons Assistant to the Publisher jean Ownbey Advertising Sales Peter LaFleur Sales Manager leresa Acosta Janelle Heitmann Catherine Lil|a Rick Mart.- Joseph Menzel Joan Wildermuth Advertising Apprentices Tori Boring Heather Mull Bar bara Rodgers. Julie Paul News and Editorial 686 5511 Display Advertising and Business 686-3712 Classified Advertising 686 4343 Letter Perfect Graphics 686 6611 Production SJ.4381 Circulation 686 5511 Editor Managing Editor Nows 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 Michelle Brence Lucinda Dillon Michael Rivers Stephen Maher Stanley Nelson Michael Drummond Angie Muniz Dennis Fernandes Maria Corvallis John Giustina Lorraine Rath Michelle Brence Janet Paulson B J Thomsen Chris Norred Laurie Schwartz Carolyn Lamberson Sarah Kitchen Alicia Gano Scott Maben Reporters: Jackie Barry Mary Courtis Gary Henley Photographers: Sherlyn Rjorkgren Shu Shing Chen Dei rel Hewitt. Tim Jones. Bobbie Lo. Dan Wheeler Production: Michele Ross / Ad Coordinator Supervisors. Sandra Bevans Shu Shmg Chen Eliot Knight Angela Muniz, Ingrid White Technicians: Kelly Alexandre Ronwm Nicole Ashton Virginia Baniaga, Samantha Barbitta, Sara Briscoe, Janet Emery Judith Gatz Lisa Haggerty. Jung Lee. Donna Leslie Robbie Lo. Curtis Lott Kelli Mason. Mike McGraw Rob Miles, Diana Moy. Julie Paul, Michael Wilhelm Serena Williams, X Kang Xie couple. No matter how one feels about surrogate parenting, this must seem strange to anyone but the liberal mind. I find myself in agreement with Richard Sharvy’s letter (OI)K. April 1) and the state ment “scratch a liberal, and you II find a totalitarian underneath.” Many liberals hate regulation when it applies to their causes, but champion it when it applies to activities they disagree with. Ironically, most of the stands liberals take are harmful to the family and to American survival. Michael Cross (Graduate Political science, history Empowerment The University has one of the most powerful student govern ments in the country. The stu dent incidental fee is one of the tools through which students empower themselves to direct their ow n ed u c a tio n experience. The Oregon state legislature authorized the student inciden tal fee to provide for the “cultural and physical develop ment" of students. This was meant to provide students with funding for a wide range of ac tivities that will aid students in their development Ibis is the most important aspect of the incidental fee. To require all students to agree with every group receiving in cidental fees would be absurd and impossible. lames Randall, Laura Romano and Ron Munion have filed a 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 w riter 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 JOO. EMU petition with tin? ASUO Con stitution Court in an attempt to stop OSPIRC from receiving in cidental fees. Their argument states that they do not agree with OSPIRC and therefore it is unconstitutional that they should have to fund OSPIRC. If every student had the power to fund or not to fund, student groups would probably not get enough funding to sur vive, This is why the IFC was created in the first place, to make sure that a wide range of student groups could receive fair funding if they fit IFC guidelines. If these students win this case, it will undermine the IFC process and take away students’ rights. Tim Gross OSPIRG local board chairman Get the facts Michael Kennedy, identified as a member of Gay and Lesbian Alliance's board of directors (Kmerald. April 9). SHOULD CKT HIS FACTS STRAIGHT! He claims Dr. Paul Cameron has a Ph.D. in theology. WRONG! Paul Cameron, chair man of the Family Research In stitute, holds his PhD. in psychology and he also has an M A. in sociology. Dr. Cameron has appeared on various national news talk shows discussing homosexuali ty {biological, psychological and sociological aspects). AIDS and proposed legislation he and members of his organization have successfully fought against. His organization is made up of doctors, profes sionals from the social science field and others desiring the truth to get out to the public. I m surprised Kennedy could have made such a mistake. After all. Dr. Cameron has been label ed the most dangerous threat to tin1 gay rights movement by many of his opponents He must be doing something right. Gina Norens Kugene
