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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 8, 1991)
EDITORIAL Follow the Reps’ bouncing checks Let's open a new bank. For starters, there will be no penalties for bounced checks. Interest-free loans, too. To cover overdrafts, money from other member ac: counts will be used. Sounds good but totally unfeasible? Not if you're a member of the House of Representatives. When the story broke last week that the House bank had covered more than 8.300 of lawmakers' bounced checks, the public met it with a cynical laugh. After all, when compared to Iran-Contra. Wedtceh, payoffs and PACs. this latest bit of scandal is definitely a non-starter. But it is the kind of governmental gossip that garners headlines and sends congressmen fearful of their re-election chances scurrying for the want ads. There was no deliberate attempt to bilk the public, as in other scandals. No bribes or slush funds: just a few money-unconscious lawmakers not keeping track u i uiuii uicLiuu^ at counts and using their positions tor personal gain. Those1 caught with their rubber checks (134 so far) were, to a person, shocked and re peatedly claimed they had no idea that run ning up overdrafts in their bank accounts was bad. That more than Apparently, the rarefied air of Congress has sapped their brains to the point that they can't even manage a checking account anytmng snoum cause voters to knock those lawmakers off their pedestals and bring them back to the reality of civilian life. Apparent ly. th(! rarefied air of Congress has sapped their bruins to the point that they can’t even manage a checking ae count. And these lawmakers control billions upon billions of taxpayer dollars? No wonder there’s a federal deficit. It also explains $70 Defense Department hammers. House Speaker Tom Foley. D Wash., has gone out of his way to defuse the scandal, saying no taxpayer money was involved and adding that bounced checks and overdrafts did not constitute a violation of ethical standards. Mighty big of him when you consider that in the past, 20 of Foley’s account transactions crossed over the red line — including $540 last December for stereo equipment. Hope he enjoyed the sound system. Seriously, though, the whole thing just erodes pub lic confidence in lawmakers. Once again the public is presented with evidence that Congress has lost touch with the rest of the world. Overwhelming evidence shows that, as elected officials, our leaders have decid ed they don't have to adhere to the rules of society, let alone banking. The Capitol has become a place of elit ists; a place of snobbish leaders. Hut as far as punishing representatives for their lat est bit of financial mischance, there is no need. The ethics committee will give each a slap on the wrist, and that will be that. Hopefully, when election '92 rolls around, voters will actually remember these discre tions and act accordingly. Then the ousted lawmakers will get all the punishment they deserve: from their creditors and finance companies. "Hello, former congressman? We have a small problem with your account...” OjW-Y a few of these rubber checks ape Fop OUP PERSONAL USB. -WE REST A£E EOP 7W£ FEDERAL fiUD<bEr 8o|rt9 r / o I L-=l [ 'l '/"46/wf oo* loAieeooy ^JoncfO — [•MXlilii-Ln New hate crimes require proactive stance By Jennifer Bills and JoSonja Watson In the past few weeks there has been an increase of vio lence in the West Campus area The number of rac ial and sexual harassment cases have skyrocketed, and many stu dents have started to fear for their own safety for sensible and responsible partying Many of the acts of violence that occurred after the USC football game involved al cohol It is our responsibility to make sure that we drink and celebrate in a way that does not infringe on the safety of others and ourselves Our liehavior in these situations can turn a fun party into a potential danger doesn’t matter if it's night or day. Secondly, use services like Project Saferide and the Office of Public Safety. Also, if you are feeling threatened, get out of the situation. We don't need any martyrs for the cause. Pi nally, report any incidents of violence to the Eugene police department, the clean's office, 1 HUSO 11 it It T ' bused crimes are a problem that all s I u ilellls at the lIniversitv are going to he f a o c d wit h Whether It lie a friend, fami ly member, house mate. The final thing we can do is to watch out for our own safety and the safety of others. We do not enjoy having to advocate that students travel in groups, but the time has come that the practicality of safety overshadows the freedom of movement. They can pro vide emergen cy assistance us well as af tor-care infor mation. As a com munity, we have an ohli gallon to care f o r the a r ea spou si* or do mestic partner, w« will all bo faced with a situation that is potentially dangerous to the ottos wo caro lor and/or our solvos Tho time has oomo tor stu (loots at tho University to take an active stance against vio lence Wo liavo tho opportunit \ to speak up against mines th.it make our campus and the cam pus neighborhood unsafe. What wo can do has many levels First, we can take a proactive stance by speaking out against hate-based crimes and violence. We tain educate ourselves on tho merits of re specting others and being toler ant Secondly, we nan advocate r.one. Hu: final thiwe can do Is o watch out for our own safely Hid tin; safety of others Wo do lot enjoy having to advocate fiat students travel in groups, nit the time has come that thu )radicality ol safety overshad >ws die freedom of movement, ’lease, travel in groups or in i.urs when you are going out. It mu i w r. ii vi in. Stopping violence on the streets starts with stopping the violence in our homes. Educate yourselves and your friends on issues of women, people of col or, disabled people, and lesbi uns and guy men. In this way. we cun take a proactive stance on curbing the violence. Jennifer Hills and JoSonja Watson are president ami vice prosident of the ASUO. COMMENTARY POLICY Commentaries should be between 750 and 1.000 words, legible and signed, and the identification of the writer must be verified upon submission. The Emerald reserves the right to edit for grammar, style and length if necessary.__ __ r UEftE's vtT Another PtP0QT STATING W£ have a big EDUCATION PQ06LE.M A