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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (June 8, 1987)
Editorial Reduction of CFCs only sane solution The Senate urged President Reagan on Friday to cease and desist his administration's infighting regarding chlorofluoroc:arbons and endorse a worldwide ban on their use. The Senate stands correct on both fronts. Chlorofluorocarbons — CFCs - are responsible for depleting the earth’s ozone layer, the atmoshperic shield protecting the globe from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays, and are used as refrigerants and. industrial solvents and. outside tire United States, as aerosol propellants Scientists assert that unless the rising fumes of CFCs are not abated, the ozone will suffer irreparable damage, caus ing increased incidences of skin cancer and a gradual heating of the planet. This type of portent should not be taken likely. But In terior Secretary Donald Model recently proposer! his own solution of dealing with ozone depletion by suggesting the population should dawn sunglasses, hats and lotions to block the sun's rays. Model’s suggestion would be humorous if this issue wore not so important. Meanwhile, Secretary of State. Ceorge Shultz has seen the wisdom in calling for a global CFC ban and has urged the president to sponsor banning their use The urgency of chlorofluorocarbon pollution and the dim-witted remarks by the interior secretary prompted the Senate to force the administration’s hand. Friday's Senate resolution called for the president to stick with his orginal game plan that is. to reduce CFC produi lion by ‘Ml percent over the next !.r» years Far ed with cataclysmic consequences if we do not c ut production, an administration refusal to limit CFC use would l>e nothing less than insane. Court cases and disease; legal parameters needed A recent Time Magazine story reported that sufferers of Herpes are increasingly taking former lovers to court for transmitting the disease to them. The escalating number of law suits lieing filed illustrates a potential abuse of tin; courts. This issue has far-reaching ramifications that could bog an already crowded court system. Few will argue against the injustice dealt to those who may become infected by a reti cent lover infected with a sexually transmitted disease. Ob viously. those with communicable disease should inform in timate partners of any ailments they may have, especially if infected with an incurable disease such as Herpes 2 or AIDS Although the possibility of being taken to court for not telling a partner about having a particular disease may en courage some to admit to their problem before engaging in sex. responsibility for doing so rests entirely between the in dividuals involved. It would be a small step for courts to hear cases originating in the bedroom to hearing those, say. acusing another of sneezing on them in a crowded elevator, which may result in one catching the flu. Clearly, legislation will be needed to control the legal parameters involving sexually transmitted diseases and limits must In* set on what cases the courts may or may not hear. Oregon Daily Emerald The Oregon Daily Emerald is published Monday through Friday e>cept during e«am week and vacations by the Oregon Daily Emerald Publishing Co . at the University of Oregon. Eugene. Oregon. 97403 The Emerald operates independently ol the University with offices on the third lloor ol the Erb Memorial Union and is a member ot the Associated Press The Emerald is private property The unlawful removal or use ol papers is prosecutable by law Oeneral Stall Advertising Director Susan Thelen Production Manager Michele Ross Classified Manager Alyson Simmons Assistant to the Publisher Jean Ownbey Advertising Sales: Peter LaFleur / Sales Manager Teresa Acosta. Janella Heilmann. Catherine Lilia, Rick Mart/ Joseph Men/el. Joan Wildermuth Advertising Apprentices Ten Boring. Heather Mull. Bar bar a Rogers. Julie Paul News and Editorial MA SS' 1 Display Advertising and Business MS- 3712 Classified Advertising M4 4343 Letter Perfect Graphics 6M-S511 Production AM4361 Circulation AMSStt Editor Managing Editor News Editor Spectrum Editor Spectrum Assistant Editor Editorial Page Editors Spoils Editor Photo Editor Spectrum Photo Editor Giaphlcs Editor Night Editor Associate Editors Community Politics Higher Education / Administration University Allans Student Government Student Activities General Assignment General Assignment Michelle Brence Lucinda Dillon Michael Rivers Stephen Maher Tim Chauran Michael Drummond Angela Muni; Dennis Fernandes Maria Corvallis John Giustina Lorraine Rath Steve Maher Janet Paulson BJ Thomsen Chris Norred Laurie Schwartz Carolyn Lam Person Sarah Kitchen Alicia Gano Scott Maben Reporters' Jackie Barry. Maiy Courtis, Gary Henley Will Holbert Photographers: Shetlyn Biorkgren. Shu Shing Chen. Der rel Hewitt. Tim Jones. Bobbie Lo, Dan Wheeler Production: Sandra Bevans / Ad Coordinator Supervisors: Shu Shing Chen. Eliot Knight. Angela Muni;. Ingrid White Technicians: Kelly Aleaandre. Ronwin Nicole Ashton. Virginia Bamaga. Samantha Barbitta. Sara Briscoe. Janet Emery, Judith Gat;. Lisa Haggerty. Linda Jones. Jung Lee Donna Leslie Bobbie Lo. Kelli Mason. Mike McGraw Rob Miles. Diana Moy, Julie Paul. Serena Williams HAFfY B/RTHP/tf CONSTIW^L. Commentary Heritage one aspect of identity Among the University's reasons for lieing is to serve as u resource with regard to issues of personal identity. However, it is not ordinarily emphasized to the degree that its other func tions are I would suggest that today identity dilemmas generate considerable emo tional unease for a sizable seg ment of the students found on our campuses. Ron Kousseve Professor of Counseling Psychology Consider the identity dilem mas that invariably affect American non-white students — particularly those blacks. Native Americans, and Hispanics whose previous life experiences contrast sharply with the values ethos which usually is celebrated within an academic community. The heart of the identity dilemma involves being aware of one's racial-ethnic heritage, while preparing to compete for opportunities in the societal mainstream. This emotional conflict tends Its generate what can be described as a double consciousness. Unless the split allegiance cun Ire satisfactorily worked through, it is highly probable the resulting internal discomfort will interfere with creditable academic achievement. Achieving a stable sense of self is difficult when one is aware of being "stretched" bet ween two social worlds. For ex ample. in a mid-1970s essay, Mexican-American writer Richard Rodrigue/, described the "trade-offs" that must la* ac c o in m o d a t e d by s e r i o u s students of color who choose to follow the path leading to per sonal empowerment: "...the youth who moves to an academic culture from a culture that dramatically lacks academic traditions must give nearly unquestioning allegiance to academic culture if he is to succeed at all, so different is the milieu of the classroom from the culture he leaves behind. For a time, the scholarship buy may try to balance his loyalty bet ween his concretely experienc ed faniTly life and the more abstract mental life of the classroom. In the end. though he must choose between the two worlds: if he intends to succeed as a student, he must, literally and figuratively separate himself from his family, with its gregarious life, and find a quiet place to Ik: alone with his thoughts.” (From ''Going Homo Again: The New American Scholarship Boy”). I believe he is correct in con tending that as soon as the value of personal empowerment in contemporary American s«x:iety is affirmed, the individual must he prepared to follow the established ground rules leading to that desired state of being. In other words, the CHALLENGE which the cons cientious student of color must accept is this: Beyond my sense of who I am racially and ethnically, if I choose to envi sion myself in the American oc cupational mainstream, then I must commit myself to the mastery of those skills and com petencies which art' aligned with security in that sector. In the |uly 1 *»Ht» issue uf "Psychology Today," Mario Cuomo, Gov.. NY, also discuss ed "The American Dream and (he Politics of Inclusion." A first-generation American of Italian descent, Cuomo asserted, "the dream of America endures only so long as we keep faith with the strug gle to include." He expressed confidence in the ability of most of us diverse Americans to make it on our merits — given a fair chance. As I continue to think about the University as resource and as forum, my hope is that those students of color who choose to become empowered and reasonably secure in the "posl inuusiriai society" that is now emerging will learn to view race and ethnicity as only one com ponent of a much larger mosaic of personal identity.