Daily Emerald Editorial Program suffers as budget cuts roll on We’ve been waiting for the ‘'peace; dividend " You all know what that is; the government's big plan to re route funding away from the defense industry After all. the (’old War is over, isn't it? Watch the Pentagon and you realize some tilings never change. burlier this week, several states announced there would be severe cuts in aid for the Special Supplemen tal Food Program for Women, Infants and Children, otherwise known as tin; WIC program. The reason giv en is surging food prices; the federal government's $2.1 billion allocation won't cover the additional costs WIC affects more than 4.5 million people per year It is one of the few federal programs that really works, and was mercifully spared during the Reagan era of welfare-slashing. WIC differs from other programs be cause it focuses on preventative measures by giving food, juice and infant formula to expectant mothers and families who cannot afford to feed their children adequately It is a much needed program, and should be a prime concern for all politicians. Unfortunately, it isn't. States that can’t afford to continue WIC at its cur rent level are faced with a touch choice — cut down on the food packages or kick ’‘borderline" participants out of the program altogether. There is no telling just how far. just how many people are going to be effect ed. There is no way of knowing what a smaller WIC budget will do to infant mortality rates or the overall health of our nation’s newborns. While $2.1 billion is an unthinkable amount to most of us. in terms of trillion dollar budgets and defi cits, it is a pittance The defense budget runs over $.100 billion annually So far, the ’’peace dividend" has amounted to nothing. The WIC program works — even the federal gov ernment’s endless studies have proven that. Rep Tony Hall (D-Ohio) wants to inject another $150 million into the program. But even that might not be enough. Why does something like WIC suffer while big de fense contractors continue to receive billions for weap ons? It is ironic, almost eerie, the announcement about WIC came just before the start of the Bush-Gorbachev summit meeting. One of the big summit topics will be reduction of conventional and nuclear arms. If Bush and Gorbachev can somehow come to mu tual understanding on weapons reduction, can we dare hope some of the unneeded defense dollars will funnel back to social, environmental or welfare programs? Given past record, don’t hold your breath. ___ Oregon l)uil\ _ _ Emerald 1*0 K..\ »!<** t ufriMt OrrRon *?40' If-..’ O mu Jim i >.•* I y Eme'a'd is published Mi.wu1.iy through f ^ • l a V o»< ept e»am wee* and vacations by the Oregon Daily Emerald Publishing Co University of Oregon Eugene Oregon I he Ernerakf is operated independently of the University *dh offw.es third ti, f the E.rti Mem, mat Un. and is a mem tier of the Asso sited P The l meraid is ; ".ate , roperly The unlawful remo* ti ■ use <•( papers • • *v utahh* by la* at the Editor f n. i Pr a«s Managing Editor Editorial Editor Graphics Editor Encore Editor .WheHe Don Peter M.i»K Yle Kelvin We Nows Editor Sports Editor Supplements Editoi Night Editor Christopher ni.-ti' Tracy Sumner Darla Jdv kson Thomas Prowell Associate Editors Community ** {•--■■ Student Government* Activities ath»■■ ■■■»• m.ia • Higher Education/Administration H. . "heatuies ()•• i M Reporters *• A iMiir Peter i • >gs*e A-,hv> » i Dar t -or SttH ’ i •. M .r-r Joe Kuld Layer i akefish Pat Maiach. Stephanie Mi.-s imc ■ an S .es 1 1 Ain't* Thornton Photogiaphers Stir.* ,im1 Made- I fuel Advertising M.iuircr He'.- .nit? Mark B.'u Mage Vm ■ *' H i ;.- v. t! M A. , Ait'i Mitteist.nnlt V.. N.-'\, Kathy Smith. host- Strothe' F dw a* :1 Wem *• Apprentice Kathy End . oft Becky H *m Jennife* K s?a Krc McBr-de N • l.rahy Susan Miguel Acosta Stephen Mosley Maria Neuman In. i Mu timan Production Jennifer An her Kathryn Barton Mm Bede■sen Ter Bv'f-'UJ Jed Clark Alice Cannon Lotus Child Jim Finch. Corine Fner Yvette Gill. Susan Head Jennifer Huey Juln? Keeton Linda Klaastad Ensatichtman Sheila Loien jo Scott Mahon. Jim Mason Wendy M. Angela Mu"-; An.-- . R«*r- t'»* m ja* et Schoher Jean Senechai Jennifer Smith Anne Stephenson Martin Thiel Jen niter Thomas Ingrid White Kelly Williams Todd Williams General Staff Advertising Director Susan Theien Assistant to the Publisher Jea Oa ; Production Manager Mu hen* Ross Advertising Coordinator Sand*a Dao-r Classified Manager: Tom Bos* -th Accounts Receivable. Circulation Newsroom 346 S5t 1 Classified Advertising 346 4343 Display Advertising 346 3712 Production, Graphic Services 346 4381 I 5Ml c v.ljxuj POLWdslI iGwujftjsjicI \TimBi#*£r OUt ^SAMPioti 1 JIM | J TSATSi k'iO)*-'Ki.yaJ^ "This is an emergency! Is there a decent role model in the house?!” The wall I have seen the Vietnam Wall I (in not toilet its tom h I <