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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 13, 1989)
-Editorial Weapons stock taints superpowers in Paris The complete elimination of chemical weapons trom the planet is a lofty goal — perhaps a goal that most of us will never see in our lifetime — but following the past week's developments at an international conference on chemical weapons adds some light to the dark clouds. The objective of the conference was to reaffirm the 1925 Geneva Protocol banning chemical weapons, breathing new life into negotiations asking for a total ban on development, use. production and stockpiling of chemical weapons. Fortunately, the 149 nations represented at the confer ence pledged not to use chemical weapons and to work to eliminate them. U S. officials, in fact, had hoped that the conference would give impetus to a new treaty being negotiated in Ge neva concerning a similar worldwide ban on chemical weapons. U.S. President-elect George Hush himself offered the U.S. draft of this treaty when negotiations on the chemi cal weapons began in Geneva in 1984. But for all of Bush's apparent hard work to draft such a treaty — in a recent speech referring to the proliferation of chemical weapons, he said one of his highest priorities as president would be "to deal with this terrible scourge" — it was he who cast the tie-breaking vote in the Senate to re sume production of chemical weapons two years ago. Using typical "Red-scare" mentality, he was swayed by the Senate’s argument that the United States needed a reli able chemical weapon stockpile to use as bargaining chips with the Soviets. It is precisely this mentality that hinders any agreement among nations or a thorough ban on chemical weapons. While a superpower agreement on a chemical weapon ban might serve as an example to other nations, it is only part of the battle. Controls on the export of technology and materials that other nations use to establish their own chem ical weapons facilities are needed. This issue brought heated debate to the five days of bickering at last week's Paris conference. Many participants believed they shouldn’t be expected to limit their chemical weapon use as long as the superpowers retain their stock piles. Many participants also said that their chemical weapons are their only deterrent to the nations with nuclear weap ons. Charges of hypocrisy were aimed at the Soviet Union, for using chemical weapons in its war against Afghanistan, and at the United States for dropping the poisonous weap ons on Vietnam. But not all hope is lost in the battle to ban chemical weapons. In fact, the Soviet Union made the largest leap at the convention. It has announced that it will begin disposing of its chemical weapons stockpile — a declaration by a super power not offered by another. The U. S. representatives, however, downplayed the significance of the Soviet Union's declaration, claiming the Soviet stockpile is full of obsolete weapons and therefore would lose nothing by disposing of it. The United States is already disposing of its outdated chemical weapons. Maybe the proliferation of chemical weapons can be prevented by this agreement among nations to limit or elim inate the supply. But the transfer of technology and materi als also must cease for the ban to work, as West Germany's apparent role in selling Libya parts and materials for a chemical factory makes glaringly clear. The horror of the effects of chemical warfare on its vic tims is paled only by the horrible reality that nations remain poised and willing to use it. P.O. Boa list. On«oo *T4U The Oregon Daily Emerald la published Monday through Friday except during exam weak and vacations by the Oregon Daily Emerald Publishing Co. at the University of Oregon. Eugene. Oregon The Emerald 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 property The unlawful removal or use of papers Is prosecutable by law General Stall Advertising Director Production Manager Advertising Coordinator Classified Sales Assistant to the Publisher Susan Thelen Michele Ross Sandra Caller Colynn Me Math Jean Ownbey Advertising Sales: Ten Boring. Greg Borke. Matt Collins. Tom Leech. Kelly Maloney. Scott McAvoy, Tracy Me Cullough, Amy Mittlestaedt, Melissa Nelson. Vicki Reed. Catherine Richardson. Eliae Sharon. Kathy Smith, Scott Thorklldson Accounts Receivable. Circulation. Newsroom.SM-5S11 Classified Advertising.«....MS-4343 Display Advertising.-.—.SSS-Mli Production. Graphic Services.SSS-4381 wibKi. J key!! I HCSSOT Letters. No attempt I expect that lli*‘ designers of next year's si hoot phone IwHik will heed your editorial (ODE. Dec. 7) and int lode blacks, his panics and orientals on the cov er. Hut I hope that they will, in stead, selei t a cover photo graph by whatever criteria they have used in past years, not making any racial distinctions. Racial prejudice will lie de feated only when people stop discriminating by race, wheth er or not they have done it for humanitarian masons. A con cern for the welfare of all races is admirable, but it can be served only by treating them equally — which is to say. without distinction A concern for the image of the University is also justifi able, but the University can best prove themselves to be im partial about race if they never consider it. in this case making no attempt to include specific racial groups on the cover of next year's phone book. John Shenon Student We notice! In response to Dean A. How ard’s letter (ODE, |an if) attack ing the Emerald's editorial "Symbols on Directory a Sim Editor Managing Editor New* Editor Co-Editorial Editor Co Editorial Editor Sports Editor Photo Editor Graphic Artist Special Issues Editor Entertainment/Features Editor Night Editor Avon Knox Kelvin Wee Carolyn Lamberson Paula Green Robert St John Gary Henley James Marti j Jarrell Jester Julie Crlsl Frank Byers Carolyn Lamberson Associate Editor* Community Higher Educ»tion/Administration Politic* Student Qovernment/Actlvitles Betsy Clayton Michael Drummond Don Peters Frale de Gurman Rcportm: Kevin Allen. Christopher Blair, Brian Bloch. Chris Bounelt. Polly Campbell. Denise Clifton. Qreg Hough. Jack Milllkln. Brad Robertson. Cami Swanson Photographers: Shertyn Biorkgren. Andy Cnpe. Bill Haines, Scott Maben. Andre Ranter!, Ted Shepler. Qlnny Sltman. John Stoops. Michael Wilhelm Production: Ronwln Nicole Ashton. Amy Barth. Alice Can non, Jed Clark. Ellen Cross. Jim Finch, Vvette Gill, Chan dra Heller. Stephanie Holland. Jennifer Huey. Stephanie La Hale. Scott Maben. James Mason. Wendy Morris. An dre Ranlerl. Janet Schober. Ted Shepler. Scott Smith. In grid White, Kelly Williams pit* 'Whitewash' " — the editor obviously touched a sensitive nerve. I doubt that the publishing company is a group of white racists. I do think, however, that very often individuals and groups in the majority are sim ply unaware of such acts of omission and selectivity. Mr. Howard's accusation that the Kinerald has a "narrow minded perception of a perfect ly innocent situation" shows his own narrow perception. People of color are subjected to these "innocent" oversights every day. We notice! hdwin I., Coleman II Director of Ethnic Studies Latex gloves Evidently. Jon Wollander is not aware that homosexuals are likely not the only ones engag ing in the sexual behaviors he so vividly describes. Who knows what dastardly things people do behind closed doors? Certainly when a pair, or more, of adults get together for sexual activity, they are limited only by their imaginations as to the techniques they can devise. Unfortunately. Jon and those who share his views won’t bother to educate themselves about the facts that are known regarding AIDS and other STDs. The truth would fly in the face of their ignorant and vitriolic opinions. I suggest that Jon stock up on latex gloves, chlorine bleach, and above all. avoid person-to person contact. Kristen Smoot Eugene Unfair fee In the course catalog it states student I.D. cards and valida tion stickers allow students to use certain services: Library. LTD bus service, physical edu cation facilities, admittance to athletic contests, etc. ... due to the payment of an incidental fee of $21.25. I noticed the same $21.25 fee is assessed to students in th,. community education program, even though the services avail able are hardly plausible. ! inquired as to what services are offered? "Library, and physical education facilities (only if you are enrolled in a P.E. course), and daycare at re duced priority." was the re sponse. No mention of Student Health Center, no mention of being included as students in attendance to athletic events, no mention in LTD bus service, whose cost to ride "free" was included in incidental fees, and no mention of access to physi cal education facility use, even though the fact is you have paid for their use. The major question remains "Why is this fee accessed to CEP students when they do not receive even a "hint" in ser vices covered in incidental fees? There should be either 1) an exemption of the fee for CEP students — since they do not receive any notable services anyway, or only for those tak ing three credit hours, 2) a re duced amount paid in inciden tal fees — a fee only for the ac tual service they do get. or 3) an increase in services avail able to CEP students to justify this fee imposed. This assessment of a "tax" tag onto CEP students, when they do not receive services outlined in the fees, is unfair. A similar conflict arises when 1 consider the 50 percent wage increase for Congress — is there any discernment of jus tice left? Sheri Steiner CEP student Letters Policy 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 sub mitted.
