Editorial
University upkeep
continuous process
I^st spring the Northwest Association of Schools and
0)1 leges graded the University in an accreditation review to
identify its strengths and weaknesses
The reviewing program, which occurs every 10 years, is
a benefit to the campus And while the University is already
working to correct many of the problems mentioned in the
accreditation report, it should not ignore the other points.
The report, released last week, cited a lack of accessibli
ty for handicapped students, an excessive reliance on
graduate teaching fellows, a "space crisis” in the library
and low faculty salaries as problems at the University.
Presently, the University is working to install elevators
and build ramps in old buildings on campus. It also is in
stalling a computer system in the main library to save time
and become more efficient. The evaluation stated the library
was too small and understaffed.
With Oregon legislature funding, the University hopes
to be able to build a new library, but unfortunately the
legislature will not reconvene until 1989. The University
has recommended that the legislature consider library fun
ding and faculty salaries as top priorities.
Both the report and University President Paul Olurn
have recognized that salaries for the faculty are too low. The
evaluation stated Oregon should not rely on Eugene's "plea
sant lifestyle" to keep professors at the University and that
low pay "directly hampers teaching" because the Universi
ty is unable to purchase and maintain quality services.
At this point the problem can only be acknowledged. It
cannot be remedied until the Legislature meets and ap
proves more funds.
Another problem cited deals with funding and faculty
salaries Because the University cannot afford full-time pro
fessors. it must rely on GTFs to teach introductory courses
The report reprimanded the University for its over
reliance on GTFs But because the University cannot afford
more full-time professors, it is difficult to solve this
dilemma.
Nevertheless, the University should be willing to meet
Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation requests for health
care provisions and detailed job descriptions considering
how extensively the University relies on the GTFs.
The report also criticized the registration process. The
University still uses the arena method but hopes to switch to
computers soon. Currently, the State Board is reviewing a
state-wide computerized registration system.
The University is making strides in solving the pro
blems stated in the accreditation review. It has recognized
its weak areas and. under the circumstances, is fixing them
as quickly as possible.
The accreditation report is an effective method of
reviewing the University and receiving a broader base of
opinions on how to improve the institution. It should not be
ignored or brushed aside as a 10-year review. Instead, the
upkeep of the University should be a continuous process.
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| Letters
Convoluted logic
As a registered Republican. I
can very much appreciate the
desire "to create more debate
about the Iran-Contra situation
on campus" that was expressed
by the College Republicans (via
the Oliver North slide
presentation).
But after reading Kathy Pro
fit!'s article (Oct 16). it strikes
me that an even greater issue in
need of consideration is the
ability of students on this cam
pus to think critically.
1 could lie wrong, but I fail to
see the logic of, for example,
Oliver North's assertion that
"the Soviets have spent three
times what the United States
has on aid to Nicaragua (ap
proximately $5.5 billion) This
is evidenced in photographs of
extensive military facilities con
st r u c t ed in C ub a an d
Grenada . " Whatever you say
Ollie
Unfortunatily. much of the
so-called debate that occurs on
issues such as this is steeped in
the U S vs THEM tradition
This makes for great band
wagons to jump upon, but I
suspect that a large number of
people on both sides of the
political fence are so caught up
in the exuberance of the ride
Oregon Daily
Emerald
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that they fail to question just
where in the hell the wagon is
going
Hy the way, the Miskito In
dians are currently returning to
their villages in Nicaragua in in
creasingly large numbers. Their
response to the Sandinista
government's declaration of
amnesty has represented a
positive step toward peace in
the region.
As to concerns about human
rights, did North include any
t'ktachromes of Contra
atrocities in his show' Or did
they too get lost in the shredder
of convoluted logic.
|okhua Hamill
Latin Amerit an studies
No Contra aid
Central America today is hav
ing an epidemic of rebellion.
There is armed resistance to
military-controlled govern
ments in Honduras. Guatemala
and El Salvador, and recently
then? were huge demonstrations
against the military government
in Panama
To combat any epidemic, you
must identify the cause of the
disease. Revolution is caused by
dissatisfaction on the part of the
general populace and a percep
tion that there is no other means
of change.
Those who are dissatisfied
with the military governments
in Honduras. Guatemala and El
Salvador are denied representa
tion Any opposition is perceiv
ed as a threat, and military
minds are trained to respond to
threats with force.
l.ocal opposition leaders
disappear Some have had elec
tions stolen out from under
them by military coups. With
US. support (or at least
silence), military governments
in Central America have cir
cumvented the democratic pro
cess. When poverty and
dissatisfaction is forced to suffer
in silence, there is a powerful
incentive to revolt. Rebellion
can seem to be the only real
hope for change.
We have allowed the germs of
revolution to fester. The Soviet
Union nurtures the germs, but
Reagan is grasping to claim that
the Soviets are 'causing' this
epidemic. Without popular sup
port, such revolutions would go
nowhere, much like the
Contras.
Our money would he better
spent rebuilding the damaged
economies of Central America
and influencing our allies to
allow internal dissent, to res
pond with reason rather than
death squads. Then we would
la; attacking the epidemic rather
than the people who have suf
fered from it
Spike (iildea
Graduate student, linguistics
Get informed
An attitude of, "It can never
happen to me" can no longer be
tolerated. Kvery man. woman
and child should get the facts
about AIDS, and then use every
precaution possible to avoid
spreading this tragic disease.
The state of Oregon is im
plementing a mass AIDS educa
tion program using straight for
ward, often explicit ads in our
local newspaper. Unfortunate
ly. publications like The Orego
nian have rejected publicly
these ads because of their ex
plicit nature, disregarding the
act that these ads are trying to
emphasize the importance of
responsibility when it comes to
sexual relationships
I was overjoyed to see the
Oregon Daily Emerald take a
stand on this issue and publish
of one of these controversial
ads. one that other publications
refuse to publish, in an effort to
stress the importance of AIDS
education ("Battle for AIDS
education." Oct, 21).
I hope that my fellow
students and professors look at
this ad and try to understand
that only through such
measures as education and
"safe sex" will they be pro
tected from this deadly disease
You Cjin't ignore AIDS
because ignorance will not
make this killer disappear.
Shannon Parker
Sophomore