Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 11, 1990)
EDITORIAL New requirements a good first step Beginning this fall, all entering freshmen or trans fer students must complete a race, gender or non-Euro pean-American course requirement. All bachelor's degree students, including those who have received associate of arts degrees, must earn three credits in an approved course involving one of the above areas. The policy is an excellent one. With racial injus tices and gender inequalities evident all over the world, the best place to start is right at home. Students must realize that their paths will inevita bly cross with someone with a different cultural back ground. For example, their future boss may be non white or female. An unsettling thought for many stu dents. Too often the only way different cultures react with one another is through confrontational incidents. The attitudes manifested in these random acts of vio lence begin with cultural misunderstanding. This misunderstanding can best be eliminated by learning about others. But learning about and interact ing with other cultures are two different processes. Since this is a university, the classroom is the first step. But it is far from the final one. Most classes that satisfy the credits of the new re quirement are specified anthropology, history, and art history classes, but the list includes a dose of ethnic studies, international studies and political science classes, among others. The University needs to be serious on this issue. The harassment of citizens because of race, color, reli gion or sexual orientation is on the rise. But can toler ance be taught in the classroom? Not likely. Students can gather in a classroom for an hour three days a week, but you can’t make them learn. History and anthropology classes can introduce students to foreign cultures, but how much of an im pact will it really have? The University administration, the media and elected officials remain dominated by white Europeans. Most students are still unaware of the new regula tion. It's just another class to take and pass to fulfill educational requirements. The University is trying to encourage students to think about what goes on around them. It’s a begin ning step in a long process. "BuM CoTrVerAp\oJt£S hte Cuttarcx\ 4^£r6>Uy terr\ HeViekev* >6. CorosiK? Zero tolerance will produce zero results The new zero-tolerance policy adopted this year for the University residence halls has the potential to cause more problems than it will solve The policy mandates that students under 21 or those c aught drinking in "party" situ ations will no longer receive warnings from their resident assistants. Instead, they will immediately be sent to the; Office of Student Conduct The most obvious problem with this no-party policy is that the term “party" is not defined. Leaving this up to the indi vidual RA s judgment will lead to inconsis tent and unfair enforcement. University Mousing is under pressure from the federal government to implement this new zero-tolerance policy. The Univer sity. along with other institutions receiving federal funding, could have funds pulled if it does not comply. Once again, the* federal government is. in effect, blackmailing these institutions into complying with ;i sweeping policy that leaves no room for the diverse concerns of individual institutions. While younger students have always had to find ways to get around the laws, students who are over 21 and have the legal right to drink should not get caught in the zero-tol erance net Students who wish to exercise their le gal right to drink, and those who will drink illegally, will have to leave campus to do so. So far this has not created any problems. During nice weather conditions, many stu dents have been walking to off-campus [jar ties and bars. But when the inevitable rain sets in. those students will begin using auto mobiles. The zero-tolerance policy will add to the number of drunken drivers on the road While Housing has few options other than to comply with the federal mandate, it should stress to the government that this new policy is a burden rather than a help. LETTERS Tax money Yes' on Measure 11 Your (hildren deserve the best. and you deserve a choice You say you don't have chil dren yet? I can share my expe rience at the hands of the pub 1 ii si linn! system I have three sons, and I am a modest homeowner My first son spent his first three years learning had habits, attitudes and a failure i ycle in public schools His last three years at a Christian school have been years of struggle, sweat and tears overcoming that de structive start Hut yea. we did it lie now finds lie's a success in the tith grade. He's finally working at the same level as his peers My second son started with the same public, school disad vantage and is now in the third grade at Emerald Junior Acade my He is involved with that painful, same long struggle Yes. he will eventually suc i eed (He has a very deter mined mother ) My third son started his edu cation in Ins Christian school What a joy to see him fly through the first grade How (.in 1 afford to support two school systems? 1 support Uitli the excellent Christian school with the high standards and a loving, supportive staff and .1 useless, academically dead public school system. Believe me I do want my tax money to support the school that works so beautifully for my family. Arik. my oldest, was exposed recently to public school stu dents at his grade level His joyful comment was. "If 1 was I tack in public school I would lie an A student! It's so easy." 1 replied, "That's exactly why you're at KJA and you know it." Carol Craham Psychology Elect Dix Kugene National Abortion Kights Action League has en dorsed David Dix in the race for District -It because he is the only c undulate w ho has taken a strong pro-choice stand on the issue of abortion David Di\ has not wavered in lies belief that government has no place in a woman's difficult dec ision to have an abortion Hi* understands that this is a dec ision tor a woman, her fami ly and tier doctor not the government. The recent Webster Supreme Court decision gives state legis latures the power to restrict women's freedom to choose It opens the door for the Oregon legislature to interfere in our private lives As a state representative. Da vid l)i\ has and will continue to fight for our right to choose, lie has pledged to keep those difficult decisions where they belong w ith the individual Please join us in supporting the only candidate in District -it committed to protecting a woman's right to choose Vote for David Ihx as our state representative Catherine Piercy hugene NARAI. Chairwoman Attacks Two attacks on Christianity appeared in one Einvnld issue [ODF. Oct 41 The first. Bert Trvba’s Two plus two." dis placed the lvpi( alls antagonis tic tone of Trylw's often printed slurs. However, ihis vo.ir Tryba has given me a glimmer of hope hope that he has exhausted his i reativity Only Jt) percent of the letter is Trvha's progeny, and what little he spawned is ludicrous Only men incapable of faith can he so spiteful to ward others who find solace in it A good humanist should la less resentful The other attack. "(ielihacy." is not as bellic ose as Try ha's Vet. Catherine Desmond exer cises flawed logic One cannot arbitrarily attribute the frequen cy of molestation in the priest hood to celibacy. Most men entering the semi nary already have sexual hang ups. Abolishing celibacy will not flush out filth Whether the (udaism of Christ's time dis dained bat helorhood is irrele vant )esus expected his disci ples to follow him. to give up their old lives Of priests, we expect the same sacrifice of the flesh Desmond is really arguing against the official church teachings on hirth control, di vorce and obedience. Celibacy is the sideshow meant to lure the gullible. Anthony (Iracolice bugene Memory I.ynn Bond, who had worked as a custodian for many years in Allen Mali until he retired in 1970. passed away Sept 22 at lvorena Nursing Home If you could somehow men tion this in your paper so that his many friends associated with the University could be informed. As per his wishes he was cre mated and no memorial was held Anyone who would like to send anything in his memory can please send it to Buckley House, 605 VV. 4th. Kugone. Or 97402. I did not know any of his University friends and there was no address book in his per sonal effects. Thank you very much for any consideration you may be able to give this. William K. Bond Springfield
