Editorial
Holland's testimony
not representative
Maurice Holland, the dean of the law school, testified
for Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork Tuesday despite
opposition from a majority of law school professors and
students.
While it is within his rights to express his views as an
individual, he should have respected the opinions of the
people he represents and not have testified personally. By
announcing his title as dean of the law school, he carries the
prestige and reputation of the school and his Oregon consti
tuents into the hearings.
But both his colleagues and students do not favor Bork's
nomination.
The Student Bar Association circulated a petition op
posing the nomination and urging the Senate to deny confir
mation after Holland announced his plans to testify for Bork.
The bar collected 280 signatures — more than half the
students enrolled in the law school.
SBA President laslie Harrison said the petition was pro
mpted by Holland's tesimony. She will send the signatures
to Oregon Senators Mark Hatfield and Boh Pack wood, as
well as committee chairman Senator )oseph Biden.
law school professors also oppose Bork's confirmation.
In another petition signed by 23 of the 28 faculty members,
they state: “Although Judge Bork has been a colleague in the
teaching of law. we oppose the nomination because of a con
cern that overrides matters of credentials or personal
consideration."
noth groups disagree with Bore s interpretation of
jtidiciul restraint and believe be will reverse laws protecting
civil liberties.
"We agree that there is room on the Supreme Court for
differences of opinion based on principled judicial
thought," the SBA petition states, "However, we believe
that fudge Bork’s record has clearly demonstrated an un
principled bias in the approach he has taken to our
Constitution."
These are the beliefs of the majority of University law
school students and teachers. As their dean, their represen
tative, Holland should acknowledge their point of view.
Granted. Holland is an individual and should lie able to
express his opinions. But these opinions should be separate
from the University.
In his prepared statement, however. Holland introduces
himself as the law school dean. He then adds the disclaimer
that he is appearing on his own behalf and not on the behalf
of the University. Nonetheless, his credentials are based at
the University and he will undoubtedly be associated with
it.
This could have negative ramifications on what is cur
rently considered a liberal law school.
On a national level. Holland's testimony will have little
impact on the committee. He is one of many deans and pro
fessors testifying in favor of Bork But to the people of
Oregon he represents the University law school. His ap
pearance will influence the opinions in the local community
and have an impact on their opinions of the University. The
fact that he went to Washington to testify, as opposed to a
written endorsement, makes his opinion all the more
powerful.
It is important that the views of the people of Oregon are
understood by Hatfield. Puckwood and the rest of the
Senate. They should not be overshadowed by Holland's per
sonal appearance.
r^rWDO.GETWCK!
^VBKKTDVMffiEVyE
ONCEBBOME)!!!^
1
Ill II
entary
Learning to learn key to education
Welcome to the University of
Oregon. Some say that when
you walk in the door of a
modern American university
you step onto a conveyor belt
carrying your dismally ill
prepared little mind through
pallid, unthrealening
course work, culminating in the
degree of Bachelor of Schlitz
Commentary by
Alan Contreras
Others claim you are the
cream of wheat, chaf left at the
gate, here to engage in an orgy
of cultural enrichment and per
sonal growth unmatched in
time and place.
You are yourself. You will get
from your university experience
what you choose to get. Aside
from the ritual drudgery of
grades, the University will rare
ly judge or prod you.
At times it will seem a two
dimensional monochrome bat
tleground peopled with
Ihousands of blank-faced
teenagers and fire-eyed
graduate students.
Oregon Daily
Emerald
The Oregon Daily Emerald la published Monday
through Friday eacept during eaam 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 properly The unlawful removal
or use of papers is prosecutable by law
General Staff
Advertising Director Susan Thelen
Production Manager Michele Ross
Classified Manager Kelli Mason
Assistant to the Publisher Jean Ownbey
Advertising Sales: Ten Boring. Gary DeLossa. Tom Leech.
Catherine Lll|a. Rick Marti. Laura McKinney. Heather
Mull. Joann Nelson. Julie Paul. Barbara Rogers. Scott
Thorkildson. Joan Wildermuth
News and Editorial AM 5511
Display Advertising and Business AM 3717
Classified Advertising AAA-4343
Letter Perfect Graphics AM 5511
Production AM43A1
Circulation AAA-S511
Editor
Managing Editor
News Editor
Editorial Page Editors Angola Muniz
Sports Editor
Photo Editor
Graphic Design Editor
Special issues Editor
Entertainment Sporls Segment Editor
Night Editor
Stanley Nelson
Scott Maben
Eden God bey
Steven Hoenlsch
Aaron Kno«
Shu Siting Chen
Lorraine Rath
Kelly Kortekaas
H C Hutto
Stephen Maher
Associate Editors
Community Stephen Maher
Higher Education Administration Michael Drummond
Student Government Activities Carolyn Lamberson
General Assignment / Entertainment Will Holbert
Reporters: Craig Harris. Gary Henley. Andrew LaMar. Jeff
Morgan. Ingrid Petersen. Cami Swanson. Kelvin Wee
Photogrephers: Sherlyn Biorkgren. Maria Corvallis. Andy
Cnpe. Dusty Etzei. Oerret Hewitt. John Giustioa. Bobbie
Lo. Ross Martin. Andre Raman. Dan Wheeler. Michael
Wilhelm
Production: Sandra Daller / Ad Coordinator
Kelly Alexandre. Ronwin Nicole Ashton. Virginia Bamaga.
Stephanie Drynan. Dolores Ferreo. Shannon Gaither Lisa
Haggerty. Stephanie Holland. Dierdre Kelly. Eliot Knight.
Jung Lee. Bobbie Lo. James Mason. Angie Muniz. Ted
Shepler. Lisa Svanevik. Ingrid White. Kelli Williams.
Serena Williams. X Kang Xie
Some days it will seem a
blissful. pastoral peninsula only
tenuously attached to worldly
cares.
Whether you are a seeker or a
sitter, the University will serve
your needs. For seekers there
are endless trails to follow and
wildernesses to explore.
If you are a sitter, remember
that the University is like a
giant computer terminal If you
are seen sitting in front of it
long enough, people will
assume you know what you’re
doing.
You end up with a degree
whether you are a seeker or a
sitter, so the choice is less a
matter of strategy for quan
tifiable success than of personal
stvie.
The University can't in
culcate values by requiring a
course, said University of
Michigan Law School Dean Ter
rance Sandlow, recently.
Whether you come as a seeker
or a sitter, if you are steeped in
hate and greed, the University
won't attempt to make you
Mother Theresa or even Thomas
lefferson. although it will insist
that you play by its rules.
You will grow older and
perhaps wiser here, but how
you change as a person won't be
entered in the University’s
computer.
What, then, will the Universi
ty of Oregon do for all the
money and time you shovel into
it?
it should provide a setting for
true academic dialogue, the at
mosphere of mutual respect bet
ween students and faculty that
Provost Richard Hill praised in
his summer commencement
address.
Commentary Policy
The Emerald is interested in
printing commentaries on topics
of interest to the University
community.
(.ommentaries dealing with a
subiect that the author has exper
tise in and has researched will be
given preference.
It should provide the intellec
tual tools with which you can
strive to understand your world
for the rest of your life.
It should teach you to create,
not just memorize; to ask, not
just receive. It should Rive you
flexibility, but not abandon its
standards.
If it does not consistently do
these things, complain until it
does. Some of the faculty and
most of the administration will
actually listen, and we often act
on student suggestions.
The University has course re
quirements. the floor beneath
which no student may descend
and receive a degree. That's all
they are. a floor. Basing your
academic choices on the goal of
merely meeting the minimal re
quirements is like carefully
planning a four-year trek out of
the basement to ground level.
It not only accomplishes lit
tle, it's a boring exercise in
educational bean counting
Some of you art* here to get in.
get out. get a job and get away,
just for fun. try a little learning
w’hile you are here. It’s a
refreshing change from the
usual ual of slingiifg together
papers and finals to tally
another class over the side.
Buy a text a class you art;
not taking and read it for fun
Go to an odd-sounding evening
lecture before hitting the
nearest watering hole.
The University is a place to
try new things without fear, to
question things you don’t
understand and challenge
things you don’t like.
Learn as much as you can
from your university ex
perience, but go forth from here
realizing that learning is a
lifelong process and no one is
ever fully educated.
1-earn how to learn. Get that
from your university experience
and your mind will be able to
expand forever.
Helping you learn is the
University's greatest role. It is
the essence of education, and in
that spirit the University of
Oregon welcomes you.