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