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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 21, 1988)
Editorial Confirmation process should move quickly The intense media scrutiny given to Supreme Court nominees has subsided after President Ronald Reagan nominated Judge Anthony Kennedy after Robert Bork and Douglas Ginsberg. Although not much is known about Ken nedy or his ideologies, he is a compromise nomination and not likely to create controversy. The importance of finding a qualified judge to replace Justice Lewis Powell has not disappeared. Not only does the Supreme Court need a ninth justice as soon as possible, but he or she must be one reflecting the ideals and philosophies of the nation for the next several decades. The controversy between liberals and conservatives with the Bork nomination kept the public aware of the im portance of replacing Justice Powell, often known as the swing vote on the Court. Bork’s strict, "original intent" in terpretation of the Constitution did not agree with a Democratically controlled Senate. Similarly. the scandal created when Ginsberg, Reagan s second nomination, admitted smoking marijuana reminded the public a ninth justice had not been found. But since Ken nedy’s nomination. Reagan’s third attempt to place a conser vative on the Court, there has been little media coverage. Kennedy has been a justice on the Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in California since 1976. Before that he was a professor of the Constitution at Harvard. He is conservative; however, his most benefical attribute is he is not like fudge Bork. The Senate Judiciary Committee completed hearings on Kennedy before the Christmas break. It is expected to con firm his nomination and present a report to the Senate next month. From that point the Senate will discuss the report and vote, a process that may take two or three weeks. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court cannot take a holiday simply because it does not have a full court. It reconvened last week after a four-week recess. The hearings differed from the Bork review, causing many to complain the judiciary committee was too soft. Ac cording to Diane Pollack, a judicial researcher in U.S. Sen. Robert Packwood’s office, the hearings “were not as judgmental.’’ The Center for Constitutional Rights agreed. In a report on the judge, it said "A justice of the Supreme Court must affirmatively demonstrate a commitment to civil rights and civil liberties and not merely be ‘not as bad as Judge Bork.' ” Many questions, such as Kennedy’s views on abortion rights, were not addressed. This issue will be important for any potential justice in the next few years because the Court expects to hear cases involving the right to an abortion. Pollack said that Kennedy, unlike Bork, agreed that a right to privacy does exist. Bork ran into opposition when he said he believed there was no right to privacy therefore it could not be applied in cases dealing with abortion. Although Kennedy’s conservative view's may hinder the progressive views of the United States, he is a qualified justice. The Senate should enter the reviewing process with a critical mind, but it also should be aware of the urgent need to resume the Court to nine members. 9K* Be&R am ikm-Jktmr ■y*f» -jtm r - MILK r r ^ rs J—!=■* “Sure, we can afford lottery tickets... the kids can do without their polio vaccinations for a little while.” Letters Radio station As a University student who works at KWAX. i was in terested in the Emerald’s article on the station, which appeared |an. 18. It is ironic that although the article lamented the lack of a student-run "Radio Free Eugene," no mention of KWAX's offer to help start such a station was made. A student-run radio station could be on the air by fall at a start-up cost of less than $5,000. In one form or another, KWAX has been around for more than 35 years. The station has accumulated much surplus equipment over the years — equipment that has been kept on KWAX inventory should any student group be interested in establishing its own station. This equipment includes most basic studio and transmit ting gear. By providing this equipment, KWAX would lower the start-up costs of a stu dent station to $5,000. Too much money? I would note that a controversial st udent -lobby ing organ izat ion is receiving $9,000 this year from the ASUO. according to re cent Emerald reports. What kind of station would it lie? It would broadcast at 10 Oregon Daily Emerald P.O. Km 3159. Kiigriw. Oregon 97403 The Oregon Daily Emerald is published Monday through Friday except during exam week and vacations by the Oregon Dally Emerald Publishing Co., at the . University ol Oregon, Eugene. Oregon The Emerald operates independently of the University with otlices on the third Moor ol the Erb Memorial Union and is a member ol the Associated Press The Emerald Is private property The unlawful removal or use of papers Is prosecutable by law General Stall Advertising Director Susan Thelen Advertising Sales: Rick Mart*/Sales Manager James Better, Teri Boring, David Cheonis, Mike Clark, Tom Leech, Catherine lllja, Laura McKinney. Joann Nelson. Julie Paul, Vicki Reed, Barbara Rogers. Scott Thorkildson, Joan Wildermuth Newt and Editorial 686-5511 Display Advertising and Business 688 3712 Classified Advertising 888-4343 Letter Perfect Graphics 688-5511 Production 686-4381 Circulation 086-5511 Production Manager Classified Manager Assistant to the Publ iger Publisher Michele Ross Kelli Mason Jean Ownbey Editor Stanley Nelson Managing Editor Scott Maben News Editor Carolyn Lamberson Editorial Page Editors Angela Muniz/Steven Hoenlsch Sports Editor Aaron Knox Photo Editor Shu-Shing Chen Graphic Design Editor Lorraine Rath Special Issues Editor Kelly Kortekaas Entertainment/Sports Segment Editor H C. Hutto Night Editor Stanley Nelson Associate Editors Community Higher Education/Administration Student Government/Activities Features Andrew LaMar Michael Drummond Will Holbert Kelly Kortekaas Reporters: Betsy Clayton. Paula Green, Frale de Guzman, Craig Harris, Gary Henley, Jeff Morgan, Ingrid Petersen, Cam! Swanson, Kelvin Wee Photographers: Sherlyn Bjorkgren, Chrlstophe Chabaudle, Andy Crlpe, Clift Etzel, John Giustina. Bobbie Lo, Gregor Okorn, Andre Ranieri, Ted Shepler, Michael Templeton. Dan Wheeler Production: Sandra Daller / Ad Coordinator Kelly Alexandre, Ronwln Nicole Ashton, Virginia Banlaga, Laura Carhart, Eva Cohen, Stephanie Drynan, Dolores Fer rero, Lisa Haggerty, Deirdre Kelly. Eliot Knight, Jung Lee. Bobbie Lo, James Mason, Ross Martin, Angela Muniz, Ted Shepler, Linda Sperling, Ingrid White, Kelly Williams, Serena Williams, X. Kang Xle watts in FM stereo — the same power as KZAM's second fre quency (102.3 FM). An antenna placed atop Villard Hall would enable the station to be heard throughout the campus and ad jacent neighborhoods. Why not use KWAX for stu dent programming? The test argument against such a move comes from the article itself. Speech professor Ron Sherriffs is quoted as saying that Univer sity administrators feared reprisals from the Oregon State Board of Higher Education because of “complaints of obscenity" on the station. If students ran KWAX. the state board would have authori ty to censor their programming — and undoubtedly would find themselves under pressure to do so. The advantages of a student licensed station would be the power to program independent of administrative overview. If students want a renaissance of “Radio Free Eugene,” that is how to make it happen. Mike l.ee Graduate student, philosophy Perspectives The disturbances in the West Bank and Gaza reinforce a number of longstanding truths about the region. First, there are problems between Israel and the Arabs. Palestinians in par ticular. that require resolution as soon as possible. Second, the problems that are festering can only be resolved through direct negotiations and. while the division in Israel between Labor and Likud is unhelpful in moving the pro cess forward, it is clear that the fundamental obstacle continues to lie in Arab unwillingness to negotiate directly with Israel, and in the PLO’s continued aim to destroy Israel, Third, the PLO, which clearly is inciting and coordinating the current troubles, sees destabilization as a way to block movement toward peace. It ought not be encouraged. Fourth, the rioting and violence only serve those who would like to force Israel to withdraw without real security or real peace. The re establishment of stability on the territories will help all those who are serious about resolving the problems and moving the process forward — Israelis. Palestinians, Egytians and Jordanians. Fifth, the United States can be most constructive by not giving encouragement to the sup porters of the PLO, while recognizing the importance of all parties working construc tively toward political solu tions. A pro-PLO resolution at the United Nations will only send the wrong signal: that in citement to violence can weaken Israel and further the PLO cause. Sixth, recognizing the possibility that it may take some time to negotiate a political solution, the short-term priorities must be to put an end to the tragic loss of*life and to restore stability and the rule of law in the territories. This, un fortunately, will require the IDF to maintain a high state of vigilance and. when necessary, the application of force to counter the unrest. Meantime, Israel will con tinue to work with local Palesti nian figures, many of whom wish to see the restoration of calm and stability in the region. Stephanie Kustner, director |ewish Student Union Letters Policy The 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, signed and the identification of the writer must be verified when the letter is submitted.
