Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 24, 1987)
Editorial Iran-Contra report shows incompetence In the past year the Reagan administration increasingly has become ineffective and incapable in the political arena. The Iran-Contra affair destroyed the credibility of the administration. The Tower Commission report and subse quent congressional hearings portrayed a president asleep at the wheel and a staff out of control. Since then, the Reagan administration has deteriorated to a state just short of political disaster. Consider the following: • In the wake of the death of Central Intelligence Agen cy Director William Casey. Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward disclosed that C^asey knew about the diversion of profits from Iranian arms sales to the Contras, a U.S.-backed force fighting the Sandinista government in Nicaragua. Con sidering the close relationship betwoen Casey and Reagan, if ('.asey knew about the diverted funds then the president pro bably did too. • (Casey’s death is just one of many administrative per sonnel changes that have destabilized the adminsitration. For example. Chief of Staff Donald Regan was forced to resign in tho wake of the Iran-Contra affair. Secretary of Defense Caspar Wienberger also recently resigned, possibly because of differences in defense policy with Reagan, who is trying to secure a nuclear missile treaty with the Soviet Union in order to end his tenure with an accomplishment. Who will be the next to resign? U.S. Attorney General Kdwin Moose has bean under investigation for his involve ment in the Wodtech scandal and the Iran-Contra affair. It does not lend credibility to the administration to have the highest ranking justice official in the nation under investiga tion for criminal activities. • 1 h«n came the political embarrassment to Reagan resulting from the unsuccessful nomination of two judges to the Supreme Court: Robert Bark and Douglas Ginsburg. Fur thermore. the fact that Reagan publically supported Ginsburg even after the disclosure that the judge had smok ed marijuana severely damaged the integrity of Reagan's war on drugs. •The stock market crashed in part because of an out-of control budget deficit and a huge trade deficit. Until recent ly. the administration has been incapable of dealing with either the deficit or with congressional democrats attemp ting to develop a reasonable budget. •The Reagan administration also has denied its legal obligation under the War Powers Act to report to Con gress about the U S. military presence in the Persian Gulf. This debate has raised questions about the coherence of U.S. foreign policy. In the wake of these political disasters, what does the future hold for the Reagan administration? If Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs Elliot Abrams has his way. the Central American peace plan will be prevented from achieving its objectives. The Iran-contra report may reveal the incompetence of the administration; however, it probably will not deter the administration from blundering in the near future. But the report may help assure President Reagan of his proper place in the history books as an ineffective and in capable president whose administration repeatably has been linked to political corruption and economic negligence. Ml FOREIGN POLICY V UAS ALWAYS SMOWNj. \ THE UTMOST RESPECT FOR THE LAW! / i Letters Reasons With all the uproar over the threat of President Olum's early retirement, may 1 suggest some reasons behind the rumors and news coverage 1) It seems evident that Chancellor Davis is eager for central control over higher education. Because Olum is the most outspoken of the eight presidents in the state for school autonomy and second in tenure only to Portland State Univer sity's Natale Sicuro. his replace ment would leave the Board un challenged. Davis's long-term interest may be to shift more power from Kugene and Cor vallis to Portland. 2) Gov. Neil Goldschmidt may be indirectly disciplining Olum for opposing him in the recent Oregon Public Kmployee Union's strike in particular and for him regularly criticizing the Legislature for not ap propriating more money for higher education and faculty salaries in general. In the Nov. 3 Oregonian. Goldschmidt said. “You can't have it both ways." When the legislature ap propriated salary increases in a lump sum. the board let presidents use the money to -i Oregon Daily Emerald P.O. lien Jl», Oragaa *T4S.1 The Oregon Daily Emerald la published Monday through Friday except during exam week and vacations by the Oregon Dally Emarald Publishing Co . at the University of Oregon. Eugene. Oregon The Emarald operates Independently of 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 ot papers is prosecutable by law General SUM Advertising Director Production Manager Classified Manager Assistant to the Publisher Susan Theien Michele Ross Kelli Mason Jean Ownbey Advertising Sales; Rick Marti. Sales Manager Ten Boring, Gary DeLosse. Tom Leech, Catherine Lilia. Rick Marti. Laura McKinney. Joann Nelson, Julie Paul. Barbara Rogers, Scott Thorklldson. Joan Wlldermuth News and Editorial *8* 5511 Display Advertising snd Business M*-3T12 Classified Advertising *B*4M3 Letter Perfect Graphics 6M-SS11 ffmAu-flnn jlll rfOOUCIIOn imbb i Circulation MISS11 Editor Managing Editor News Editor Editorial Page Editors Sports Editor Photo Editor Graphic Design Editor Special Issues Editor Entertainment Sports Segment Editor Night Editor Stanley Nelson Scott Maben Carolyn Lamberson Angela Munir/Steven Hoenlsch Aaron Knox Shu-Shing Chen Lorraine Rath Kelly Kortekaaa H C Hutto Scott Maben Associate Editors Community Stephen Maher Higher Education/Administration Michael Drummond Student Government / Activities Will Holbert Features Kelly Kortekaaa Reporters: Betsy Clayton. Paula Green. Fraie da Guzman. Craig Harris, Gary Henley. Andrew LaMar. Jeff Morgan. In grid Petersen. Caml Swanson. Ketvtn Wee Photographers: Sherlyn Biorkgren. Chrlstophe Chabaudte, Andy Cnpe. Cliff Etzel. John Glustina. Bobbie Lo, Gregor Okorn, Andre Ranlerl, Tod Shepler. Michael Templeton. Dan Wheeler Production: Sandra Dollar / Ad Coordinator Kelly Alexandre. Ronwln Nicole Ashton, Virginia Ban lags, Laura Carti art. Eva Cohen, Stephanie Dry nan, Dolores Fer raro. Shannon Gaither. Usa Haggerty. Stephanie Holland. Detrdre Kelly. Eliot Knight. Chris Knox. Jung Lae. Bobble Lo. James Mason. Ross Martin, Angela Muniz, Ted Shepler. Linda Sperling. Lisa Svanevtk. Ingrid White. Kelly Williams. Serena Williams. X Kang Xle keep faculty members who were tempted to leave or to attract new ones. Some passed-over faculty members complained of favoritism, and hence the legislature's uniform salary in crease this session. 3) The Lane County Hoard of Commissioners concerns over "long-term destabilization" of the University if Olum retires early In 1989. A survey by a New jersey marketing firm said Olum was not only a "good salesman" but a key player in any capital campaign. 4) Chancellor Davis's deci sion jeopardizes his own efforts in implementing the semester and unified course r e - quirements in 1990 because Olum retires in 1989. The na tional search for a new provost discourages applicants for two reasons: first, a lame-duck president disrupts an acting provost: second, one can not ex pect a provost to come for only one year. This is precisely the lack of planning the recent ac creditation review report cited, If the University Assembly meeting of faculty, ad ministrators and students can unanimously agree on a resolu tion to extend Olum's retire ment date by a 290-0 margin, obviously Olum's leadership works. Chariet Cartar Student False accusations Recently I was accused by the Women's Resource and Referral Service, via the Interfraternity Council, of creating a poster calling for an end to “dyke facism" at the University. It seems that my role in the creation of another poster found offensive coupled with my membership in the band. The Guardian's of American Morali ty, has given it cause to accuse me of something I knew nothing about. Neither I. nor anybody in volved in the creation of the Guardian’s poster to which it objected, had anything to do with this most recent poster But by virtue of circumstance I have been falsely accused. The Women's Resource and Referral Service has targeted The Guardians of American Morality as a band worthy of its attention. They have protested at our performances and in itiated a boycott of Taylor's Tavern for hiring us to play. That did not work, so now they make false accusations aganist me personally. I find it difficult to believe that an organization so closely tied to human rights can be so casual about their violation Mark O. Howerton Eugene Similarities After attending Friday Nov. 13’s Board of Higher Educaiton meeting, I saw the film. "Matewan." A person cannot help but notice the striking resemblance between the company thugs and the board members who are working for the company owners, the Chancellor’s office administrators. The union bears a striking resemblance to the Olumni. The kid whose throat the thugs slashed reminds one of Paul Olum. Ariel Friesner Eugene Letters Policy Th® Emerald will attempt to print all letters containing comments on topics of Interest to the University community. Comments must be factually accurate and refrain from personal attacks on the character of others letters to the editor must be limited to no more than 250 words, legible, sign ed and the identification of the writer must be verified when the letter is submitted
