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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 21, 1987)
Editorial Forest fires deserve involvement, action As forest fires continue to burn out of control in Southern Oregon, the need for increased federal involve ment to extinquish the fires and restore the damaged forests is an issue of paramount importance. Dry weather and high winds provoked some of Oregon’s rural forest fires to spread Monday, causing Oregon forestry officials to close all state-protected lands on the west side of the Cascade Range. The so-called Silver Complex Fire, which has been bur ning for seven weeks, expanded by 1,494 acres on Monday to a total of 91.934 burning or burnt acres. 1 jast Thursday a congressional oversight hearing was held in Washington. D C., to discuss federal efforts to com bat fires raging in the Western United States. At the hearing. Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore.. initiated discussion with regard to the economic impact of the fires as well as the costs of reforestation and salvage operations. Federal efforts to aid the war against forest fires, however, should not stop at discussion; instead, sweeping action is needed on the federal level not only for the present situation but also for establishing a federal policy for com bating persistent forest fires in the future. In the beginning of October, the Senate approved an allocation of $10 billion in federal funds to help fight forest fires and to cover environmental damages in the Northwest. This is a step in the right direction, but as the fires con tinue to spread it may prove inadequate for preserving and protecting one of Oregon’s greatest resources. Increased local effort needed to battle hunger In the wake of a two-week observance called ‘‘World Food Focus." concerns about the problem of hunger in Oregon have once again surfaced. Furthermore, emergency food requests in Oregon have increased during the last few years at a substantial rate, shedding light on the degree in which low-income Orego nians are in need of food. True, hunger is not something that is normally thought a problem of deep concern in such an endowed society as ours, but the facts show that people do indeed go hungry here in Oregon. For example, between July 1. 1989 and June 30, 1987, 491,000 Oregonians received emergency food assistance — a 14 percent increase over the previous 12 months, according to Urry G. Raff. Oregon Food Share's acting executive direc tor. who spoke at a news conference Friday in response to World Food Day. Raff also pointed out that. “Less food is Imcoming available at a time when need is skyrocketing. Raff's comments show the urgency with which private citizen action committees and state welfare agencies must continue and increase efforts to combat a far-reaching social problem that threatens not only the people of distant, drought-stricken lands but also the humble inhabitants of this state and this community. To help overcome the local hunger problem, the more fortunate members of the community should take the time to donate food, volunteer time, or perhaps pressure an Oregon congressman to increase state appropriations for banting hunger. wage Bush VP Prr of the CIA UH Ambassador TewCatintstwii Otl Man Hwy Fher Yale T~T Letters Open mind I have been following the bat tle between Tim Chauran and the Phi Dell Theta fraternity with some interest. As Michael |. Flannigan states, "it has started again." (ODE. Oct. 12). The incident described by Chauran is of little importance (ODE. Oct. 7); although Chauran's account of the inci dent is more credible than the Phi Dell's — since when are fraternity brothers each others' keepers, as Stuart Sandor's let ter implies? (ODE. Oct. 12). Chauran also lacks an ap parent motive for having fabricated the entire story, which implies strongly that the incident did. in fact, occur However, the social implica tions of such an event are im portant. Some Greeks are aware of the stereotypes associated with the system in general; one need look no further than Flan nigan's sarcastic, albeit witty, letter to see that These stereotypes have endured for years; they must have some basis in fact, or else they would have died long ago. The idea of abolishing the en tire Greek system is ridiculous. However, changes could be im plemented that would better the image of the Greek system. In stead of denying that ugly in Oregon Daily Emerald The Oregon Dally Emerald la published Monday through Friday except during exam week and vacations by the Oregon Dally Emerald Publishing Co. at the University of Oregon. Eugene. Oregon, 97403 The Emerald operates independently ol 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 Susan Thelen Michele Ross Kelli Mason Jean Ownbey I SUM Advertising Director Production Manager Classified Manager Assistant to the Publisher Advertising Sales: Teh Boring. Gary DeLossa. Tom Leech. Catherine Lilja. Rick Marty. Laura McKinney. Heather Mull. Joann Nelson. Julie Paul. Barbara Rogers, Scott Thorkildson. Joan Wildermuth News and Editorial Display Advertising and Business Classified Advertising Letter Perfect Graphic a Production Circulation 66SSS11 646 3712 WS-6S11 666 4361 646 SSIt Editor Stanley Nelson Managing Editor Scott Maben News Editor Eden God bey Editorial Page Editors Angela Muni* Steven Hoenlach Sports Editor Aaron Knox Photo Editor Shu Shing Chen Graphic Design Editor Lorraine Rath Special issues Editor Kelly Kortefcaas Entertainment/Sports Segment Editor H C Hutto Night Editor Stephen Maher Aaaoctate Editors Community Stephen Maher Higher Education / Administration Michael Drummond Student Government - Activities Carolyn Lamberson General Assignment /Entertainment Will Holbert Reporters: Betsy Clayton. Paula Green. Frale de Guzman. Craig Harris. Gary Henley. Andrew LaMar. Jell Morgan, In god Petersen. Cami Swanson. Kelvin Wee Photographers: Shertyn Biorkgren, Marla Corvallis. Andy Cnpe. Dusty Etzel, Oerrei Hewitt. John Glustina. Bobble Lo. Ross Martin. Andra Raman. Dan Wheeler. Michael Wilhelm Production: Sandra Daller / Ad Coordinator Kelly Alexandra. Ronwln Nicole Ashton. Virginia Bamaga. Laura Carhart. Ellen Cross, Eva Cohen. Stephanie Drynan. Dolores Ferreo. Shannon Gaither. Lisa Haggerty, Stephanie Holland, Oetrdre Kelly, Eliot Knight, Chris Knox. Jung Lee. Bobbie Lo. Ross Martin. James Mason. Angie Muniz, Ted Shepler. Linda Sperling. Lisa Svanevik, Ingrid White. Mike Wilhelm. Kelly Williams. Serena Williams. X. Kang Xie cidents happen, why not take steps to prevent their occurrence? Why is it necessary for those "outside” and "within" the system to "ridicule" each other at all? Wouldn't it be more con structive if we worked together to enhance each group's collec tive opinion of the other? So, Greek people, what do you say? Try to enhance the public perception of who you are and what you are doing. I personally promise to keep an open mind. Rudy Asercion Computer science Problems i read the letter written by Scott lzswis in the Emerald (Oct. 14) about the sign that sometimes hangs in our office. The claims made by the author had some problems The poster says. “Soviet Free rone, no Russian attacks per mitted." It is in the same vain as having a nuclear-free zone or a violence-free zone. 1 do not think that the Russians will hold off an attack because we have our sign up. but as charms go, this one did not cost you $(>0,000 in attorney's fees. 1 do not want to hurt anybody's feelings as to the reasons why they put up those types of signs, but please do not point a finger at us when we ban w'hat we wish not to happen. This country still is free, is it not? Letters Policy The Emerald will at tempt to print all letters containing 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 be turned into the Emerald office. Suite 200, EMU. Also. 1 wish the author would have stayed around to talk to the person there in the office. All Scott Lewis said to us was: "1 am going to write to the Emerald about this." Timothy F. Chase. Historian. University College Republicans Valid criticism judge Robert Bork's sup porters are being "disengenuous” to blame his impending failure on a ■'disin formation” campaign. Bork was found wanting by the Senate judiciary Committee based on the substantive issues in his record. Bork had a chance to dispel critics’ concerns and was unconvincing. Moreover. Bork received a negative recommendation because of his inability to ac cept social changes most Americans have long embraced. He came across as a idealogue because of his propensity to theorize about the law with lit tie regard for the practical ef fects of his views on the civil and individual liberties of or dinary citizens. Speculation about Bork's views is not disinformation. It is the legitimate function of the confirmation process, the only weigh stop for accountability for judges on the nation’s highest court. The problem for staunch con servatives like Bork is they’re hindered by the so-called doc trine of "original intent’’ ■— a euphemism for conservative ac tivism on the court that would roll back much of the social pro gress of the past 30 years. Fixed as he was by this rigid philosophy. Bork proved himself unable to understand what Princeton’s constitutional scholar Stanley Katz called the Constitution’s greatest asset — its capacity for change while holding to fundamental values The American people spoke up and were heard through their senators — that’s democracy in action. Bork’s supporters should quit trying to stall debate by calling foul where there was none. Gary |imenez. Student
