Newspaper firing
at PSU unwarrented
Portland State University President Natale Sicuro ter
minated the PSU student newspaper faculty advisor last
week. The action was not only unwarranted but also an ap
parent politically motivated move to gain editorial control of
the newspaper.
Sicuro announced the change in the faculty newsletter,
but gave no formal reason for the dismissal of Jerry Penk.
Vanguard advisor since 1982.
Fired was Penk without a formal evaluation of his per
formance. without the consultation of the students working
for the newspaper and without a formal explanation.
Supposedly, an informal review of Penk's performance
was conducted; however, none of the newspaper's staff,
members of the university's publication board, or Penk's
colleagues had been consulted regarding his performance
and effectiveness.
One must question how an informal review was con
ducted and what criteria were used to evaluate Penk's per
formance fairly. Penk at the least deserves a full explanation
from the president as to why he was terminated from his ad
visory role.
Superficially. Penk's termination seems arbitrary. If the
PSU president's decision is examined more closely,
however, it becomes apparent that the action may be
politically motivated, reflecting a decision comparable to
the Oregon State Hoard of Higher Education's quest in the
retirement of University President Paul Olum in 198‘J.
The Vanguard has done a number of stories that have ir
ritated the administration. For example, the newspaper
questioned the remodeling cost of Sicuro's state-owned
home and how Sicuro dealt with problems of racism on cam
pus. The paper also has attacked the university's proposed
move to Division I football and criticized how the university
handles media questions.
A certain amount of tension has been developing bet
ween the Vanguard and the administration as a result of
these stories, anil Penk's termination appears to be the
manifestation of the administration's frustrations with the
paper.
Sicuro’s letter of termination, for instance, was written
"because of the loose and uninformed expressions on this
campus." However, Vanguard editor Bennett Hall contends
the newspaper has printed nothing but the facts. "We're
reporting the news," Hall said.
Because the advisor is appointed by the president and
because the faculty advisor to the newspaper ultimately has
control over what copy sees print, the new advisor will be
able to censor articles that politically offend the
administration.
Furthermore, working in the wake of a fired advisor, the
replacement might believe that he or she must act conser
vatively to retain the position.
Thus the new advisor will be pressured by the ad
ministration to transform the Vanguard into a public rela
tions medium for PSU. And. according to some students
working on the Vanguard, this is precisely what Sicuro
seeks to do.
On Nov. 2. the PSU Faculty Senate unanimously passed
a resolution supporting a free campus press — it is time the
president resolves to free it.
NOBODY
<y u*i*y target
Letters
Scooter advice
The Planning Department has
developed a new motorcy
cle motor scooter parking area
on the parking lot at Hast 14th
and Kincaid Street Unfor
tunately. I don't feel that a great
deal of thought was given to
either the location or the
design.
The section is about 8-feet
deep and runs the entire length
of the present parking lot. It is
bordered on the west by cars
and on the east by a sidewalk.
Parking slots have not been
designated for placement of
vehicles; consequently the
riders, especially motor scooter
riders, have a tendency to park
their vehicles at any angle they
please. This works to the detri
ment of all of us in that it cuts
down on the number of vehicles
that can use the area
In addition, pedestrians are at
risk every time a motorcy
cle scooter enters or leaves the
area.
I propose that a Motorcycle
Advisory Board be appointed to
work on the Planning Depart
ment This Hoard would help to
locate and design parking areas
on campus for motorcycles and
scooters Items such as ac
Oregon Daily
Emerald
P.O Hot MM. I1 DgToc, Orvgoa *T48*
The Oregon Daily Emerald la published Monday
through Friday except during e»am week and vacations
by the Oregon Daily Emerald Publishing Co . at the
University of Oregon. Eugene. Oregon
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 pnvata property The unlawful removal
or use of papers is prosecutable by law
Qeneral Staff
Advertising Director Susan Thelen
Production Manager Michele Ross
Classified Manager Kelli Mason
Assistant to the Nrbiisher Jean Ownbey
Advertising Sales: T en Boring. Qary DeLossa. Tom Leech.
Catherine LH|a. Rick Mart;. Laura McKinney. Joann
Nelson. Julie Paul. Barbara Rogers. Scott Thorkildson.
Joan Wildermuth
News and Editorial 666-5511
Display Advertising and Business 686 3712
Classified Advertising 686-4343
Letter Perfect Graphics 688-5511
Production 6864361
Circulation 686-5511
Editor
Managing Editor
News Editor
Editorial Page Editors
Sports Editor
Photo Editor
Graphic Design Editor
Special Issues Editor
Entertainment Sports
Night Editor
Stanley Nelson
Scott Maben
Carolyn Lam person
Angela Muniz Steven Hoentsch
Aaron Knott
Shu-Shmg Chen
Lorraine Rath
Kelly KorteHaas
Segment Editor H C Hutto
Andrew LaMar
Associate Editors
Community Stephen Maher
Higher Education Administration Michael Drummond
Student Government Activities Will Holberl
Features Kelly Kortekaas
Reporters: Betsy Clayton, Paula Green. Fraie de Guzman.
Craig Hams, Gary Henley. Andrew LaMar, Jett Morgan, In
grid Petersen. Cami Swanson. Kelvin Wee
Photographers: Sherlyn Biorkgren. Christophs
Chabaudie. Andy Cnpe. Clltt Etzei. John Qiustma. Bobbie
Lo, Gregor Okorn. Andre Ranien. Ted Shepler, Michael
Templeton. Dan Wheeler
Production: Sandra Daller / Ad Coordinator
Kelly Alexandre. Ronwin Nicole Ashton. Virginia Baniaga,
Laura Carhart. Eva Cohen, Stephanie Drynan, Dolores Fer
rero. Shannon Gaither. Lisa Haggerty, Stephanie Holland.
Deirdre Kelly. Eliot Knight. Chris Knox. Jung Lee. Bobbie
Lo. James Mason. Angela Muniz. Ted Shepler. Linda
Sperling. Lisa Svanevik. Ingrid White, Kelly Williams.
Serena Williams. X Kang Xie
cessibility. maneuverability and
security are issues best address
ed by such a board.
Said board could be compos
ed of three riders, the head of
the Planning Department, a
member of the ASUO and
possibly a member of the ad
ministration staff.
If any riders are interested in
forming an advisory board,
please call me at 686-1804. We
have to speak up and now is the
time to do it
Nancy A. CheHings
Senior, anthropology
State the facts
The article in the ODE on
Nov. 3 titled “Video presents
AIDS precautions" was one of
the better treatments of this very
important issue that I have yet
to find in the mass media. As
was stated, “Eugene health care
workers believe there is an
ongoing need for AIDS educa
tion for both medical personnel
and the general public."
While it is commendable that
this information is being made
available to medical personnel,
the dissemination of informa
tion to the general public has, in
my view, been horrendous. In
stead of the needed educational
facts surrounding the disease,
the media have presented the
public primarily with emotional
reactions (that have led to fear
and homophobia) and the ad
vice (albeit sound) to use con
doms when engaging in sexual
relations.
Even on this point, however,
our state’s two major
newspapers have opted not to
publish public advertisements
aimed at preventing the spread
of AIDS. Are they afraid of of
fending their readers by dealing
with explicit material? Or do
they just not give a damn?
AIDS is an explicit disease
People are dying from it while
newspaper editors quibble over
details of morality, and the
public continues to be
underinformed.
I would challenge the
Emerald to allow space for a
qualified person to put in print
some of the more basic facts
about the disease, like the
distinction between "high
risk” and "low-risk” body
fluids. While this information is
going to be included in the
senvnars for medical personnel.
1 doubt that many students are
clear on the issue.
It seems to me that in life-and
death questions it is worth run
ning the risk of offending a few
people. 1 hope that your editors
will avoid the footsteps of the
Oregonian and the Register
Guard and do your part to pro
vide this community with infor
mation rather than fear.
(oshua Hamill
Student
Conscious effort
War is imminent if the U.S.
continues its role in Central
America and the Persian Gulf.
l)o you want to die? Or would
you prefer to kill someone else?
The article on draft registra
tion in Nov. 3 Kmrrald does not
state how you can become a
conscientious objector. Starting
a file is quite simple. You simp
ly document your beliefs and
describe any action you have
taken to affirm life or oppose
killing. This could tie as easy as
copying donation receipts to
anti-war organizations and
writing a couple paragraphs on
an experience such as
volunteering your time at a con
valescent home.
Don't wait to start a conscien
tious objector file! If you can
show that you have opposed
war for a long time, your
chances of being deferred is
much better.
It's best to talk with someone
knowledgeable about the pro
cess The Student Campaign for
Disarmament (Suite 1. EMU)
will gladly help anyone who
seeks to become a conscientious
objector.
Kim Sargent
Co-director, Student Campaign
for Disarmament
Allen Hancock
Student Campaign for
Disarmament
Wednesday. November 18, 1987