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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 5, 1987)
Two cents In their letters to the Emerald during the past few weeks, Steve Frichette and other students have so generously us ed this forum to offer readers their political suggestions and beliefs. With similar tactfulness, I would like to make one equally appropriate suggestion in my letter to the Emerald. Get a haircut, Steve. Phil Levinson Student Buggery In response to Sharon L. Cud die's letter to the editor (ODE, April 23). Despising the jmjliferation of false and misleading informa tion. we feel compelled to res pond to Ms. Cuddie's statement that "When the American (sic) Constitution was adopted, homosexuality was illegal in all 13 states.” For a generally workable definition, we sought Webster's International Dictionary, which defines homosexuality to wit, "erotic activity with a member of one's own sex.” Under this definition. Ms. Cuddie's broad statement is patently incorrect. What was illegal during the time of the U.S. Constitution's adoption was "buggery;" i.e. anal sex. The illegality of this sexual act emerged from English common law, which the 13 original colonies adopted as their law. Neither oral sex nor intrasex ual masturbation was illegal Buggery itself was not made a crime in England until 1533; a result of strong religious pressure. Ms. Cuddie also implies that anti-sodomy laws (which may include both anal and oral sex depending upon the state law's statutory language) have only been striken from criminal statutes during the past 20 years. In fact, between the Revolu tionary War and the begining of the 20th century, at least three states dropped sodomy as a criminal offense. Today. 26 states, including Oregon, refuse to prohibit these sexual acts, whether performed by homosexual or heterosexual couples. For more information. Ms. Cuddie can refer to the follow ing sources: Rivera. "The Legal Position of Homosexual Persons in the United States. " 30 Hastings Law Journal 790 (1979): Rizzo. "The Constitu tionality of Sodomy Statutes," 45 Fordham Law Review 553 (1976): and May. The Law of Crimes (1893 and 1938). Edward Gardes Leslie Garrison Law Negotiate The front page coverage given to the Oregon Public Employee's negotiations pro cess was greatly appreciated but needs clarification on some key points (ODE. May 4). While the issue of the bomb throat situation was indeed one of the issues discussed at the bargaining table between state negotiators and OPEU's Higher Ed Coalition, the real point OPEU representatives wanted to make was that after thorough discussion on all of the issues, the response from the state's team has been virtually non existent. More importantly, because of this lack of serious response from the state's team. OPEU has declared negotiation at ‘im passe’ and has requested media tion (a review of the pro posals/counter proposals by an impartial party) so that the pro cess can move ahead. OPEU's position is that we have made good contractual proposals and deserve a better response from state negotiators. It is also important to note that in addition to 'clericals and laborers' there are a myriad of employee classifications represented in these negotia tions. and they affect over 4.000 employees in Higher Ed Institu tions. 1.100 at the University. OPEU represents 16,500 state employees at central table . .1 ' 1 . ' "1 DEPARTMENT OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES PRESENTS PROFESSOR TU WEI-MING of Harvard University CONFUCIANISM, SELFHOOD, AND CREATIVE TRANSFORMATION Monday, 4 May: ON CONFUCIAN RELIGIOUSNESS Room 167 EMI!, 7:30 P.M. Tuesday, 5 May: CONFUCIAN ETHICS TODAY Room 167 EMU, 7:30 P.M. Conversation with Professor Tu at Koinonia Center. 1414 Kincaid For. University Students. Faculty and Friends Time 3:30-5:00 P.M.. Tuesday, 5 May Uv/n.o tumpat inter faith Ministry ami fUitgnms Ihmttin Am* latnm Ustures yf-muaed hx the Hrpattment of Ketlgious Studies ami the Center for the Humanities negotiations. The last scheduled session in these Higher Ed negotiations will be held on Wednesday. May 6. at Cortland State Univer sity’s Smith Memorial Center. That session will l>egin at t> p.m. and employees and in terested others are encouraged to attend. Help support your bargaining team either by actually being there nr by giving them input as these negotiations proceed Mary l.ou Mansfield Psychology Department Dark hole Yes. lairry Ferris, "prejudice is an intolerable pari of socie ty." and especially insidious when it masquerades as "scien tific" objectivity. Hut you should drop the limp-wristed pretense of impartiality and show your true political color (khaki brown). In response to your claim that homosexuality poses a grievous threat to the racial biological "survival" of Western culture, just a few points: 1) Your ideological drift was neatly carried to its conclusion by a certain German political movement in the 1930's; only the name of the scape-goat dif fered. Please check out the Nuremlairg Race l.aws of 1935. 2) World imputation rates are soaring, probably due to un bridled heterosexual activity. Declining birth-rates among white middle-class couples in the West have nothing to do with the "homosexual" of right-wing fantasy. 3) Gay men and lesbians fulfill more "productive" social functions than you could over Imagine. Ask your favorite pro fessor for details Or go visit a volunteer AIDS counselor. Get your head out of that dark hole. 4) You greatly overestimate the role of the penis in the history of civilization. This is obviously due to a certain authoritarian identification with the patriarchal father, not to mention a drearily techno hioliiittcal view of sexuality as r reproduction-and-nothing-hut. For this reason you cannot tolerate men and women who live outside of the straight jacket of compulsory heterosex uality. We are no threat to "society" but perhaps to sex ual Aryan nation you have in mind Ami that's something to lx* proud of. Walter Allmand Comparative literature t Letters Policy The Emerald will attempt to print all letters con taining 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. Letters to the editor should he turned into the Emerald office. Suite 300. EMU. TAN 10 visits $25 Job lnt*rvl«w? Some htallhy looking rofex will h#lp" SunShower on campus Mtmi'IMI iw> Up*llr» »| Hiwfco > ALASKA Summer Employment • Earn $600+ /week tn cannery • Earn $6,000-512,000+ lor 2 month* on fishing vessel • Over 8,000 openings • Male or female • No experience necessary • Ages 18-70+ To receive your 52- page employment booklet, send $6 95 toMAL Research, PO Box 84008, Seattle, VWA 98124. NEW CAMPUS LOCATION the STEREO WORKSHOP Buy * Sell • Trade • Repair Service • 1621 E. 19th MO*) Mini Si (19th & Agate) Sprtngfiald 344-3212 741 1597 Mon Fri 10-6 _-_/ ! | RIVERFRONT | RESEARCH PARK You are invited to attend an ISSUES EXCHANGE about the Riverfront Research Park Wednesday. Mai; 6. 2987 The Ballroom. Erb Memorial Union. University of Oregon 13th Avenue at University Street 7:00 p.m. to 10 00 p m University ot Oregon President Paul Olum is hosting an oppor tunity for the public to discuss social, philosophical, and political issues related to the Riverfront Research Park project Issues iden tlfied for discussion are classified and proprietary research, site loca lion, pollution and toxic waste, and adequacy of the public process Other issues may be introduced at the exchange We encourage you to attend and participate In order to help us plan for this event, we would appreciate your advance response Thank you. Riverfront Research Pirlt Issues Exchange O Yes, I'll be there on May 6. □ No. I can’t attend * Name......- — pieprint Address_ Phone___ *Convn«rttf in writing may Alto b* ftubmitttfd to lb* Addr««ft b*low Mail to: City of Eugene Development Department 72 West Broadway. Suite 213 Eugene, Oregon 97401
