EDITORIAL
1
Priorities need change
In the wake of the political waves caused by the
budget (or lack of one) controversy, ironic episodes are
already beginning to occur.
One interesting episode involves moves by the leg
islators to trim the budget in order to reduce the feder
al deficit. Congressional committees have recommend
ed cuts in programs from veteran's benefits to student
loans.
At the same time the Senate has approved a $268
billion defense-spending bill. In related moves, an
amendment to halt production of the radar-proof B-2
bomber at six planes rather than the 75 wanted by Pres
ident Bush was defeated 55-40.
Cutting funding for the B-2. which has been at
tacked as a plane no longer needed since the end of the
Cold War. would have knocked $35 billion from the
budget.
Instead. Congress appears more willing to cut ben
efits to veterans who served the country rather than
programs that line the wallets of defense contractors.
Balancing the budget is an important issue that
needs to be dealt with. If cuts have to be made to pro
grams such as student loans and veteran's benefits in
order to balance the budget, then do it. Everyone will
have to play a part to fix an overburdened budget.
But those programs should not be cut when white
elephant programs such as the B-2 continue to receive
excessive funding.
Call to support dean air
The National Association of State Public Interest
Research Groups is urging all concerned citisena to
register their concern for the passage of the Clean Air
Act before Congress recesses.
The act is scheduled for floor action today, it took
the conference nearly S months to complete work on
360 pages of the 700 page document. Now they expect
to complete the rest in four days.
Even though the legislation is favored by many in
cumbents looking to please unsatisfied constituents, it
could get held up ana be lost in the bureaucratic shuf
fle.
To voice your support for the passage of this sorely
needed legislation, contact: House Speaker Thomas
Foley (202) 225-8040; Senate Majority Leader George
Mitchell (202) 224-5556; George Bush (202) 456-7639.
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HOSPITM
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Rents keep rising without control
It comes as no surprise that apartment
rents in the Eugene-Springfield area have
risen an average of 10 percent in the past
year.
According to a survey by a Eugene-based
real estate and consulting firm, rents will
continue to rise next year, although possibly
only as much as 0 percent
The tight vacancy rate makes Eugene a
landlord s market. New apartment complex
es being built might ease spiraling rates, but
not halt them completely.
Because rent-control is illegal in the Ore
gon Revised Statutes of the state constitu
tion. landlords can raise rents almost at will,
needing only to give 30 days notice before
doing so.
With virtually no private land left in the
campus area, the University needs to take an
active role in building apartments for stu
dents. Apartments can be subsidized at cost
and students can be responsible for mainten
ance.
Students are being forced to find hous
ing farther and farther from campus. This in
creases travel time and costs — two precious
commodities.
Students are being priced out of hous
ing. It's a wonder liberal Eugene has not
started a referendum to put the issue before
the voters. Without it, more and more stu
dents may be forced to live in cramped,
overcrowded housing. The term "homeless
student" may become popular.
Rising tuition and rent costs are far ex
ceeding student income increases. Not
enough attention is paid to the vacancy
problem because authorities assume that stu
dents will find a place to live — even if it’s
five students in a two-bedroom apartment.
With elections around the corner, candi
dates need to be asked their views on the
housing shortage for students.
Rent control is a viable option for in
creasing rental rates. Put pressure on your
legislators.
LETTERS
Get off my case
Concerning Enna Dole’s let
ter "Outta my Face" [ODE.
Ocl. Hi): On behalf of all males,
please accept our sincerest
apologies Being of the male
gender. I fully sympathize with
you concerning the abusive
treatments that us men continu
ously inflict upon the pun;,
virginistic and virtuous women
on campus.
Everyone knows that men
stand for oppression, slavery
and tin? debasement of women
I apologize!! 1 apologize for
making you an object when 1
ask you. "What did you get on
the test?" 1 apologize for op
pressing you when 1 ask. "Ex
cuse me. do you know what
time it is?" I apologize for
breathing your untainted air
and for invading your angelic
presence.
It is obvious that men look at
women only as sexual objects.
It is appalling to admit that I.
nor any of my male friends,
have ever looked at a woman
and smiled with respect or ad
miration, for w-e all know that a
man's smile means lust, perver
sion. domination and the inva
sion of women's personal
space.
Ronandolong
Student
Wage war
I am writing in response to
Nickolas Kacaros w hose letter (
ODE. Oct. lt>) suggests that the
Oregon Daily Emerald fails to
comply with minimum wage
laws and cites as evidence a job
description for an associate edi
tor position.
Facaros uses selective quotes
to describe tin- job as requiring
"a minimum" of 80-100 hours
per month and paying "about
$.100." The description in fact
requires a minimum of 20-25
hours per week, a subtle but
significant distinction given
the fact that we often publish
less than a full four w<*eks dur
ing a month. Accordingly, pay
of "about $100 a month, based
on a per issue rate" (as stated
in the job description) can lie
correctly interpreted as an ap
proximation.
In fait, actual pay for an as
sociate editor is $17 per issue
and varies from $08 to $.101 per
month depending on the num
ber of issues published. In a
full week with five issues, the
editor receive* $H.r> for 20 hours
required to do his or her job
Time worked in excess of 20
hours may involve writing or
editing for which additional
pay is given on a per-inch or
par-page Ixcsis. Simple arithme
tic will indicate that our pay
scale complies with minimum
wage requirements.
|udy Riedl
General Manager
Oregon Daily Emerald
Good booze
Because it is Alcohol Aware
ness Week we're being remind
ed about the horrors of drunk
driving and drunkenness. Cer
tainly these problems are not to
l>e undermined, but in all fair
ness we must also acknowledge
the benefits of ethanol
For over 2.000 years, wine
has been used medicinally, so
cially and ceremonially. Stud
ies consistently show that a
glass or two of wine a day sub
stantially lowers our HI)I. lev
els. and generally ameliorates
our bodies.
So. while people are trying to
convince you that alcohol i.s a
deadly sin, recognize that alco
hol in moderation is healthy for
many people as well
Caitlin Twain
French
Disrespectfully
In response to Enna M.
Dole's letter [ODE . Oct. 16):
Oil me tell you about freedom
of speech and self-expression of
rights.
A man in this world of femi
nists is only partially to blame
for his wanton acts and lewd
behavior.
Point one; How come women
are used in ads to sell every
thing from cigarettes to alco
hoi? And I'm not talking about
plain looking gals hero either.
Point two: Any man who
knows women understands that
women dress up for each other
and not for men. Frankly 1
could care less what a gal looks
like in clothes.
When you apply makeup, get
your hair cut or shave your
legs, I suppose this is not di
rected toward male conscious
ness — of course not.
If I'm not clear or this issue
remains in doubt, why don't
you ask any of the happy gals
how they deal with similar
problems before blowing off
steam?
R.|. Chrisliano
Kugene
Letters Policy
The Emerald will attempt to print all letters contain
ing comments on topics of interest to the University
community.
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 submit
ted .