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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 19, 1987)
Editorial Retirement decision ignored information The State Board of Higher Education voted 9-2 to retire University President Paul Olum on June 30. 1989 in a phone conference Wednesday. This decision was made without regard to student, faculty and community input and without sufficient substantiation as to why Olum should be ousted The board reiterated its stance of wanting a smooth and orderly transition of presidents ("the future of the Universi ty is now") as the reason for asking for the earlier date of 1989. instead of Olum's requested date of 1992. But the board's stance is old and leaves many questions unanswered. The explanation is. in effect, a generalization used to cover-up more specific reasons. Board member Arlene Schnitzer argued Olum be presented with a bill of particulars and be given a chance to rebute the reasons given for his retirement. Schnitzer and ASUO President kasey Brooks were the two dissenting votes. While Schnitzer agreed with the overall motion to retire Olum in 1989, at least she recognized that the board did not have substantial information. It also is senseless to confront Olum with reasons after a decision has been made. The board's decision reflects a lack of communication between the board and its constituents, as well as a lack of coordination and dissemination of information. The board completely ignored the overwhelming support demonstrated by University and community members and hid behind a phone conference to avoid public embarrass ment. Instead, it succeeded only in exposing a closed mind. Censorship of school play an unneccessary action Superintendent Ben Schellenberg's decision to delete certain expletives from the John Steinbeck play "Of Mice and Men.” being produced by Rex Putnam High School's drama department, is an unnecessary form of censorship. It only considers a few parents’ concerns without looking at the context or importance of the play. "If we expect students to not use those words in the classroom, it is inappropriate to have those words used on stage." Schellenberg told The Oregonian. But the play is already taught in ninth-grade language arts classes. Schellenberg's one-dimensional stance neglects the impact of Steinbeck's award-winning play. When taken in context, the words develop the story and give it a realistic tone. They do not encourage students to use that language, but rather stress the intensity of the situation. Since Schellenberg ordered the words deleted from the play, drama coach Julie Gibson-Wickham has received com plaints from parents concerning censorship. Gibson Wickham also said the decision came to late to have any ef fect on the students. They only had two rehearsals without the cuss words and. as a result, the students slipped and used the words several times. But nobody has objected to the language since the Friday night performance. Words in themselves do not have much meaning — they must be taken in context to the situation. In this instance, the language adds to the reality and overall impact of the story. Schellenberg's decision is a form of unwarranted and unnecessary censorship and should not be tolerated. OWN,IX GOING TO SWJiI TO TR1& ONE MOPE TCME... t THIS 15 TOGS... ..MlT>Tm&ISYoUP pomcRHinw -.MDWWKMTBEKST. Letters El Salvador This letter is in response to the Nov fi Emerald editorial concerning the Central American peace proposal. Overall, this piece blames failures of the plan on the FMI.N/FDR in El Salvador and the Sandinistas in Nicaragua This assumption is false as well as the points on which you base the story. First, there has never been any credible evidence that the FMLN receives material assistance from Cuba The CIA sent an observer. David Mac Mil hael, to Central America in the early 1‘iHO's to monitor sup posed wea|Kins shipments to the FMLN He did not find any evidence of outside assistance to the FMLN and the CIA's con tin u e d insistence that shipments were occurring caus ed him to resign. Second, there is a vast dif ference between the Contras and the FMLN The FMLN con trols one third of the territory of El Salvador and operates from bases within that country Conversely, the Contras (by the U S. government's own ad mission) control no territory in Nicaragua and operate from bases outside Nicaragua with Oregon Daily Emerald r.O. hi AIM, lasmr. tArrgm «T4U Thu Oregon Dully Emerald it published Monday through Friday escept during a»am weak and vacaliont by tha Oregon Dally Emerald Publishing Co . at the University of Oragon, Eugene, Oregon Tha Emarald operates independently of the University with offices on the third floor of the Erb Memorial Union and it a member of the Associated Press The Emerald Is private property The unlawful removal or use of papers is prosecutable by law Oerteral Staff Advertising Director Susan Thelen Production Manager Michele Ross Classified Manager Kelli Mason Assistant to the Publisher Jean Ownbey Advertising Sales: Rick Manr Sales Manager Teh Boring. Gary DeLossa. Tom Leech. Catherine Lilja. Rick Marti. Laura McKinney. Joann Nelson. Julie Paul. Barbara Rogers, Scott Thorklldson. Joan Wlldermuth Newt and Editorial MS SS11 Display Adverttalng and Business 686 3712 Classified Advertising 6*64343 Letter Perfect Graphics MSSS11 Production 8*043*1 Circulation 666S511 D..iu •» fcditor Managing Editor Ne«*» Editor Editorial Page Editor* Sport* Editor Photo Editor Graphic Design Editor Special Issue* Editor Entertainment/Sports Segment Editor Night Editor Stanley Nelson Scott Maben Carolyn Lamberson Angela Munix/Steven Hoenisch Aaron Knox Shu-Shing Chen Lorraine Rath Kelly Kortekaaa H C Hutto Stephen Maher Aiiocilit Edhori Community Stephen Maher Higher Education/Admmlslratlon Michael Drummond Student Government / Activities Will Hotbed Features Kelly Kortekaas Reporter*: Betsy Claylon. Paula Green. Frale de Guxman, Craig Hams. Gary Henley. Andrew LaMar. Jeff Morgan, in gnd Petersen, Caml Swanson. Kelvin Wee Photographer*: Sherlyn B|orkgren, Chrlstophe Chabaudi*. Andy Cnpe. Cliff Etxei. John Giustina. Bobbie Lo. Gregor Okorn. Andre Ranieri. Ted Shepler. Michael Templeton. Don Wheeler Production: Sandra Daller / Ad Coordinator Kelly Alexandre. Ronwin Nicole Ashton. Virginia Baniaga. Laura Carharl. Eva Cohen. Stephanie Orynan, Dolores Fer rero. Shannon Gaither. Lisa Haggerty. Stephanie Holland. Oerrdre Kelly. Eliot Knight. Chris Knox. Jung Lee. Bobble Lo. Jama* Mason. Ross Martin. Angela Munix. Ted Shepler. Linda Sperling. Lisa Svanevtk Ingrid White. Kelly Williams. Serena Williams. X Kang Xie the support of an extra-regional government (the United States). Third, it is understandable why the FMLN would withdraw from cease-fire negotiations in protest of the murder of the president of the Salvadoran human rights commission by the government-supported death squads Especially because the Salvadoran govern ment's recent amnesty law also gives amnesty to the death squads. Mow can it be claimed that the Duarte government is a democracy that is capable of reasonable negotiations? Finally, it is amazing that the government of Nicaragua has agreed to negotiate with the Contras for a cease-fire, why should they even talk to them at all7 The Contras are basically a mercenary army financed and directed by the United States. The basic idea of the plan signed by the Central American presidents in August was to promote peace and democracy by ending outside intervention With this in mind, the U.S. government is the biggest obstacle to implemenlion of the plan Funding for death-squad democracies in El Salvador and Guatemala and Contra mercenaries against Nicaragua has got to stop before real peace can be achieved Wayne Iveraon Eugene Missed the point This is in response to the let ter from )erome Berry hill, a member of the band. “The Guardians of American Morali ty" (ODE. Nov 11). Mr Herryhill has missed the point Regardless of whether he meant it. the flyer in question did promote violence against Women. Because the woman in the pictured was naked and on her knees with a fearful expres sion on her face, and because the caption under the picture referred to women s genitals as being tbe rightful property of the “wild" men in charge of country music, the poster perpetuates the myth that women are the rightful property ol men and actually enjoy sub jection and rape. Research on the connection between such advertising and violence against women may be obtained through the women studies department. I would also like to remind Mr Herryhill that when he came to "sell" the protesters in front of Taylor's Tavern Guar dian T-shirts, a comment was made from someone in the crowd regarding a song the Guardians sing called "Beat the Wife and Kids" to which Mr. Herryhill responded. "I don't have a wife and kids, but if I had them, I would beat them." I rest my case. I therefore encourage a boycott of Taylor's Tavern and the Guardians for their disregard for the welfare and dignity of women. I commend Max's Tavern for their respect for women in canceling the Guardians, and recommend its patronage. I suggest Mr Berry hill take introduction to Women's Studies and Elementary Logic. The world would, undoubtedly, la; a better place. Tora Johnson Senior. Biology Credit due I am writing in response to Graig Unit's review of Michael Cimino’s latest effort "The Sicilian" (ODE Nov 5). Granted. "Heaven's Gate" was a finan cial bomb but this is hardly what Mr. Cimino is best known for. I would like to inform Graig Hoit that Cimino's first major film was "The Deer Hunter." a film that was nominated for the Oscars (including best director) in 1978. "The Deer Hunter" was so powerful that it is presently used by the American Studies Department here at the University. Perhaps Cimino's effort in "The Deer Hunter" was merely a fluke, but Craig Hoit should give credit where credit is due. Michael Welch (unior, English TKlieesleii 1 a
