Editorial
Goetz acquittal symbolic of Americans fear of crime
When Bernhard Goetz
shot four teenagers in a
crowded New York subway
in l‘IH4, he was dubbed the
“subway vigilante" and
became a hero to many who
feared or were victims of
muggings.
Goetz also law.a me a sym
bol lor not only the increas
ing fear of crime in America,
but the right for pimple to
protect themselves He was
described as a small, quiet
man who defended himself
in the lei e ol danger.
His case and subsequent
murder acquittal last Tues
day parallels this view of
American society. The jury
recognized the underlying
tear Americans have ol being
victims ol crime and granted
Goetz the right to defend
himself.
Although the case may
sound simple enough - a
man attacked by tour black
teenagers shoots them in sell
defense it has deeper
ramifications. The path for
more vigilante justice has
l»eon cleared, and unless
stronger measures are taken.
(loot/, will not be alone in his
notoriety.
Goetz was convicted only
of carrying a gun. The
sentence lias a maximum ol
seven years in prison anti a
minimum that requires no
prison time. Under the cir
cumstances, Goetz should
have received a heavier
sentence.
liven though the facts
almul what really happened
between Goetz and the four
teenagers may never be
clear. Goetz had several op
tions that would have
prevented any injuries.
Most importantly, he did
not have to aim to kill If he
had fired over their heads,
the same scare-tactic effect
could have been achieved
Hv firing directly at the boys,
he hurt them and en
dangered the lives of
everyone in the subway.
Goetz also did not have to
shoot all four Ihivs. lie pull
ed his gun and shot in self
defense Hut self-defense
ended when he was no
longer in danger.
It is impossible to know
what was going through
Goetz's mind when he pull
Cutting library expansion
hasty, unnecessary action
Funds for the Univeslty library expansion project wen*
cut from the budget Iasi week by the Oregon legislature's
|oin( budget Committee because the project could not be
completed in the next two years. The cut makes room for a
more expensive production center for Oregon Public
Broadcasting.
Although both projects are worthwhile, cutting the
library expansion is a grave mistake. The library is the
backltonc of education for the University and the communi
ty. By postponing the expansion the legislature is delaying
learning and hampering reseach for students.
legislators agreed the project should t>e top priority
when they convene again in I'lHtl But the two year delay is
unnecessary. The project for the Oregon Public Brodcasting
will exceed the budget and require them to dip into extra
funds.
Sen. Mike Thorne said the proposal was cut so the lunds
i mild he allocated to projects that could do the most im
mediate good But the library is an important aspect of
higher education that should not he ignored simply because
it will not lie finished in two years.
All projects funded by the budget are integral to a
higher quality of education. The University library should
not he ignored, however
We understand the reasoning for cutting the project hut
we do not believe it is necessary.
Cover photo by Shu-Shing Chen
Models: Dominic O’Dierno, Al Busteed, Curt Kimball
ed the trigger. But we do
know he deliberately shot
four people and risked the
lives of others.
By letting him off with an
insignificant slap on the
hand the jury judged crime
in America — not Goetz. It
shifted the responsibility of
protecting the public from
the police and the judicial
system to the people
themselves.
We do have the right to de*
fend ourselves, but Goetz's
case was an extreme. It
should not be bailed as pro
tection for the people
because it is, instead, a new
and widely accepted form of
crime.
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Letters
Disgusted
On (tine 2. I'W7 nil ad was
I>l.i< nil in lint Kmerald personals
depicting us and stunt! very hla
tanl klu Klux klan symbolism.
We ilu mil lake this lightly. We
wmild like In thank the kmerald
lur llit'ir ex|>edienl and sincere
11mipt'intinn in admilling their
error in printing the ad.
The periaitratore of suc h a
disgusting and offensive ai t are
l*hil Levinson. former ASIK)
I'resident nil candidate ("The
I'eople's Choice"): and Charles
Carter, his campaign manager.
Any hardships they incur as a
result of this disi Insure are well
deserved and cannot begin to
make up lor the unhappiness,
pain, and disgust experienced
by us, our staff, and the
countless other students they
offended with such racist
insensitivity.
We do not view this .is a mere
practical |oke. and have already
commenced legal action on this
matter. Our commitment to the
ideal that such rai isl and
malicious acts and people can
Oregon Daily
Emerald
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nol lie tolerated nr excused by
III*' University community nr
society at large. is unfaltering.
Kasev Brooks
ASl IO president
Karen Caffnev
ASIJO vice president
Guidance
I am involved in the Counc il
Ini Minority Kducatinn Mentor
Program
I agree with Carla Cary that
iH'ing in college ran lie a
traumatic experience, tiring a
freshman. I know that the
Ireshman year is always a very
difficult year because it is hard
In lie thousands nf miles away
from home, away from friends
end finally l>eing independent.
In addition, it is nut easy tn be a
member ol an ethnic group
I found the Mentor Program
In be very beneficial to me in
making the adjustment to col
lege1 lile My mentor, liunny
Nosier, is an advisor from
Academic Advising.
She really does know the
University rc*c|uirements. the
classes, the professors, and
most importantly, the tIniversi
I>. Sh« li«is given mo much in
sight into requirements. < lasses
and study habits.
1 believe that the Mentor Pro
gram is very useful in helping
one to survive in < ollege
As the word about the
benefits ol the Mentor Program
gets out there will In* more men
tors and mentees joining the
program. I believe that the pro
gram will gain more members
hv next fall.
Kent K. Ilori
Business/sociology
freshman
Unwarranted
To kasey Brooks. Karen Galf
ney and the Oregon Daily
Emerald staff:
About the ad that appeared in
the |une 2 edition of the Oregon
Daily Emerald . .
I accept responsihlity. And.
in addition. I apologize for an
action that was essentially
caustic, unskillful, and
unwarranted.
Phil Levinson
Student
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