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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 29, 1987)
Editorial Place watchful eye on Public Works The Lane County Board of Commissioners unanimously decided to lift a four-year ban on roadside pesticide spraying last Wednesday. The board hailed this decision as a com promise between the Line County Public Works Department and environmentalists. Yet the compromise appears one sided. Lane County Public Works crews once again have the green light to use pesticides along county roads, and although restrictions have been levied on where the road crews can use these pesticides, the hoard has opened another chapter to this controversial issue. The lifted ban satisfies Public Works people, who have complained the ban had hampered their efforts to control roadside weeds. But the use of herbicides now is prohibited near schools, bus stops, in standing water and along the hacks of roadside ditches, which appeases some environmentalists. I'he hoard has agreed to implement an “integrated pest management" program, which allows the use of both chemical and mechanical methods as a means to eliminate roadside weeds. No one argues that roadside weeds, if left uncontrolled, damage highways. But the Public Works’ commitment to use the mechanical aspect of integrated pest management must he questioned. Public Works may treat the relaxed ban as an impetus to make up for lost time and spray where spraying is not really needed Moreover, tin? tone of Wednesday’s public hearing could have given Public Works tin: impression spraying is preferable to mechanical weed control. For example. Com missioner Bill Rogers displayed his pro-pesticide bias when he retused to accept written testimony from pesticide op ponents. He claimed those who wished to testify against spraying had to appear before the board in person. But because the hearing was held at 1:30 on a Wednesday after noon. many people opposed to spraying could not attend the proceeding. Although many had submitted their objections in writing, their opinions went unheard. Furthermore, pesticide opponents received unequal time to present their case. The board granted Public Works Director John Coodson an hour to present his argument for roadside spraying. Allied with an ()regon State l Jniversitv toxicologist and a roadside vegetation manager from Washington's transpor tation department, the board listened patiently to their case. However, pesticide opponents only received about .1 half hour to state their side of the issue. Similarly, pro-pesticide bias was evident when Cleve Dumdi, husband of Commissioner F.llie Dumdi, submitted testimony supporting roadside spraying And it's disturbing to note Commissioner Dumdi. who also supports roadside spraying, received campaign contributions from Lane ( anili ty Public Works during last November’s elections. Furthermore, pro-pesticide sentiment is ingrained within the ranks of the Public Works Department. Steve Puett, a Public Works employee, was pictured in Dow Chemical promotional literature in 1983. Now that the* pesticide* ban has been lifted, careful supervision will be needed to ensure spraying is used only as <1 last resort and that more environmentally sound prac - tices take first priority. /■-x / I KNOW YOU FEEL > / OVERLOOKED AROUND I HERE, 50 LET ME BE I THE FIRST TO WISH VOU > l A HAPPY SECRETARIES v Letters Parenthood S o m e e 1 e m e n t s in o u r ‘modern” society try to devalue the importance of the family unit. That’s too had, because if strong American families become the exception - rather than the rule America cannot preserve itself as a culture or a nation for very long. Young men and women are told their highest priority and goal in life lies in attaining a ‘‘glamorous” or high-paying oc( upatinn while the idea of bringing up a family is, at best, presented as secondary in im portance to monetary success. Certain types of a c - ( omplishments receive much glorifit .ition today while the importance of parenthood is ig nored. or even significantly downplayed That’s rather odd, since our nation could endure without many of its glamorous occupations, but it certainly ( ou Id n't conti nue without motherhood and fatherhood So whii h task is really most impor tant overall? Parents are responsible for cultivating desirable values and behavior in future generations. 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 btatt Advertising Director Production Manager Classified Advertising Assistant to the Publisher Susan Thelen Wayne Michael Lottmville Alyson Simmons Jean Ownbey Teresa Acosta, Janelle Heitmann, Catherine Ltlja Rick Mart?, Joseph Men?el Joan Wildermuth Advertising Apprentices: Ten Boring Heather Mull. Bar bara Rodgers. Julie Paul Display Advertising and Business Classified Advertising Letter Perfect Graphics Production Circulation 686 3712 686 4343 686 5511 686 4381 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 Michelle Brence Lucinda Dillon Michael Rivers Stephen Maher Stanley Nelson Michael Drummond Angie Mum; Dennis Fernandes Maria Corvallis John Giustina Lorraine Rath Michael Rivers 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 Bjorkgren. Shu Shing Chen. Der rel Hewitt. Tim Jones. BobDie Lo. Dan Wheeler Production: Michele Ross / Ad Coordinator Supervisors: Sandra Bevans. ShuShing Chen, Eliot Knight Angela Muniz, Ingrid White Technicians: Kelly Alexandre Ronwin Nicole Ashton Virginia Bamaga. Samantha Barbitta. Sara Briscoe, Janet Emery Judith Gatz. Lisa Haggerty. Jung Lee. Donna Leslie Bobbie Lo, Curtis Lott Kelli Mason. Mike McGraw. Rob Miles, Diana Moy Julie Paul, Michael Wilhelm Serena Williams, X Kang Xie What other accomplishments can substitute for success in creating, nurturing, and pro viding the direction for the citizens who will inherit this country? Just remember — no amount of military hardware or finan cial power will preserve this na tion in the long run if youth ac cept a philosophy that paren thood isn't such a meaningful or worthwhile goal. The foun dations ot all great nations, in cluding our own, rest on preser vation of the family. bet’s give parenthood the respect it truly deserves. Teresa McNew Elmira, Oregon Smoked out Tile (>reek system, in the pro cess of doing some charity work, was drinking and rabble rousing. The Phi Psi “Smoker.” That fine charitable endeavor that raises money by having frat members beat on each other. I he Smoker was stopped due to too much boxing or brawling. People were beating on each other, and they weren’t doing it for charity. Some have even hinted at possible racial reasons. Only rumor. 1 would point out that never in the history of the Greek system has racism been an issue. 1 didn't hear of it in the Emerald or the Register-Guard, but from NEWSGREEk and witnesses. Cover-up? Greekies are always covering up their indiscretions. W by didn’t the Emerald print this story? They don't have the stones to print the truth about the Greeks and their pitiful organization. (Maybe payments?) U by were the boxers, fund raisers, and people in atten dance more interested in fighting and getting their money’s worth than raising money for charity? Mike Egan quotes Smoker Chairman Marc Arendt, "damage the brawl caused reduced this year’s donation (or allocation for donation?). The real people who lost were the fighters who really wanted to fight and the fans who came to see their friends." The article talked to other fighters but they were angry they didn’t get to fight, not about the brawl. Do the Greeks really care about the charities? The funny thing about the Smoker was that when the fight broke out. the people in the ring became tin; audience. Klakc Louis Sliter Political science, English Wildlife It is rare indeed when one or two citizens can actually make their voices heard among the lahvrinthian machinations of our federal government. One oi those rare opportunities is here now. The Bureau of Land Manage ment (BLM) is soliciting public input as to what they should do with, and how they should manage literally billions of acres of wildlands in this state. Such spectacular and impor tant areas as Oregon Sand Dunes, the Steens Mountains, A 1 v o r d Desert, O w y h e e C.anyonlands and Sheepshead Mountains are being scrutiniz ed: In all, 2.6 BILLION ACRES. Only 2H people in the entire state commented in the original public comment period! I am sure many people who read this have visted some of these areas, or certainly have driven through them and been impressed with their beauty. It it s important to you that these places stay wild, write to: the Wilderness Studies, BLM, or your congressman. Steven Albert Graduate. Biology Survival Center
