EDITORIAL Be a little careful until Perot speaks All this attention and he's not even officially in the race yet. Ross Perot (no H. anymore) has both the Demo crats and Republicans scared. The Texas billionaire, by virtue of his loaded money clip and iconoclastic per sonality. has been anointed us a presidential contender. He doesn't belong to any party — he's going to form one. He’s appointed a temporary running mate, who probably won’t be on the ballot come November. So far. Perot’s biggest asset seems to be that he's not George Bush or Bill Clinton — and his un-politi cian like ability to keep his mouth shut. The guy hasn't gone public on anything except for a speech March 18 in front of the National Press Club No advertisements, billboards, circulars or posters The result? He beat both Bush and Clinton in a re cent Texas poll, and was just a tick behind the presi dent in California. This silence thing seems to be working Stick with . ♦ L*, .. . Both Democrats and Republicans are whining. They compare I’erot to a new car shiny ami bright at first, but alter you put a few miles on it, the grime sets in Perot, apparently, is still under warranty. So far, Perots biggest asset seems to be Ns un-politiciarblike ability to keep Ns mouth shut. In ii( least one thing. Perot Indies es in equality stealing votes from other politu inns. His supporters are .1 mixed bag: roughly one third each from Republicans. Democrats and inde pendents He sa\ s he won't of fit ially declare his t urtdi dat y unless or until he gets on all fit) state ballots In the meantime, he isn't talking. Oh. maybe he is a little, but not much. His background is ultra wealthy Horatio Alger. Annapolis and commando raids. Hut this makes him presidential timber? Who can tell? I’erot ain’t talking Sooner or later, t’erot will have to take stances on issues Some of bis political views have leaked out al ready. lie's pro choice, wants to raise taxes on the rich, get a presidential line-item veto, and eliminate the budget deficit, to name just .1 few. But so far, he hasn't had to answer his critics, defend his ideas. Only then can he he considered for president. On one thing, I’erot is at a direct disadvantage. He's .1 businessman — a business owner who's used to telling employees what to do and knowing they will follow his orders. That might work in the executive brunch, but not in Congress. If they don't want to listen to him. they don't have to. Until Perot begins to speak, there's no use specu lating on his chances ()rcyi>n Daily P O aOXliM EUGtNC OflEGON»7«01 !'« Otgon (>A-fy ( *% o*i > PAwuuty ift'Ougfi f may t^w school ytfci' .*•»} TuOU^y and T^u'Vl.ty ck^rng :»m» %..rv ’ *v by trw» 0*gt>' IXa 3 I V «.) I'V 41 lh# Un/*0f%:Ty Qt OttQon f Ou^iW' !' o t '*■*»’•**,! i***'*-'**' ??y o< '*’*» l>v®MKty arftft of,-w*, a! Sort* 300 o< t^« ( ff M«r\XW*i Un*on iVIl A d C>1 !’n* A**W .<*ud TS* l m«E44.J A [M Vitio p'o«w*ty Th# u .m*\, rarxw« 0/ atn* O' papor* A proMICUtAt>«» try -4«* l duor m Chwf Ry».’ Managing t CM or £ dttorial I ditor Graphics I'd* lot I nuii&inmanl I ililot Pai UMK* Cmtm Jmtf Pauay ( .1. 41 1 HMJ'V' Ctvtt (lounaft [Xx> Ps4*K» Jam* N«**s E clrtor E ditorisl E dito# Sports Editor In Touch Editor II mi I Night Editor Da AtaOCiAta ( drtora Studant Gowarnmant ActivUiaa (Wav'1 !■*»;.•,** Community I .m N*»* Mighar l ducation Administration Carr** Dannatt Faaturaa l \« MM-agan M»f>ort«ra T a/nmy it a: ay MdncJy BauCir' Da.xJ ChA/tKy **.». J«y*on Jao&y Rrvar* Jk»r*ivmk\ (►*" 1 Ko«iH>ng. K ryjan l jcm. Mopa NuAfeon. C.*to«n Pong Copy I drtora Dan l -va* i 'tMJ ttagar P*. lfct'vor%on yw;* W”! Kathy !>*iaXx» Photogr aphara So< Noatman M* n** Sn^xJwr Advarltaing Scott Dana. I «**.** i .» Daw] Ga. .-''!«*? Jm'ri'*' Fix: tun*. B'>1 a>r Ksho'n Tom l aach Calhattna t toy to Du*: Siak* VOu ToChc Sfwon Va/ Ctaaartiad I’ugfly U<>-i. Uana^a AanC./t» I c**n.*o Buamaaa Kathy Cartxxto Si4*r\mat >Jdy Co,''v*i'y Production Ing/aJ Wtuta fVoducfeon CaonAnarar Conn* i '«#r k v'>• G/angar S>»ar iu.k! ; «au UcCoM Stai'y MiCfu** AMft Mcr •• Ja••■- ’i* Fk**nd Jar’" tor Smith Anr^a s *» phar'.aon .tonnifar Va« T odd W -Aft'* Ganaral Managar Ax>y ft-**] Advartiaing Oiractor il-ya M Copparige Production Managar M *to-« fVn* N««aroom iki«m*sa OVK0 LMBfMay Autimw'iy Uto 4143 FtW°F W S'LLY Delays/ b 0KfTi\E/E^fAS" ^ i \ \ * \ A \ /r\ /t / The pR°-LlFe C°urt ------ -J COMMENTARY Students need to get involved B, Myli.-'. Brand Rri cnlI v I mc! w11h a group of .K live and in solved University stu dents li was a good mooting, tin- discussion was friendly and constructive Hut I found one Unrig disturbing: (dearly, the students were not evpei ting un to discuss Measure :> VVliili- Measure r> apparently wasn't on tirrir minds, it was on mine They received an oar fui afKiut tin- significantly high or tuition that surely will mini1 as Measure U continues to un fold And they hoard how tins will keep still greater numbers ol promising students from completing, or even beginning, their higher educations I also told them how the University will become smaller if there is no remedy to the Measure "> fis cal i risis Those students were stunned Most seemed either to know lit tie about Measure li or to think that the issues involved are close to resolution Measure r> is the most vital issue afhs ting the long-term fu ture of the University True, there are many other issues that concern students on our cam pus. and well that tliev should Sin h issues are v Hal to the kind ..I diverse < umrnunitv that we are, reflecting high sue i a I and cultural values Hut no Issue lias more far reaching ronse quences tor our community no issue will more aflect access) hilitv and quality ol education on our campus than the hsial i risis wrought by Measure f> If nothing is done to keep Measure 5 from running Us full course, the University, as we knew U. will disappear If so. there will tie little prospect of dealing with any other issues The situation today is fright eningly reminiscent of Hi<»l), when I had my first encounter with students win) failed to take Measure 5 seriously Hack then, about 100 stu dents attended an open forum before the November election i n vv it 11 h M e a s u r e 5 w a s passed I spoke on the meas ure s potential impacts on the University The only questions, and the only topic of discus sion for the remainder of the fo rum. concerned a separate and passing <■ ontmx rrsv Then .is now, too lew were listening The result? Resident tuition in< .'reused S(>00. and col leges mid programs wore i losed Recently. I convened another open forum to disc uss Measure 5. About 40 people attended, many employed In the Univer s11\ anti already generally aware of Measure .Vs conse quent es l ew students attend ed Last week, I held a similar fo rum in ( arson Hall 1 he turn out while many more showed Interest this time vs as about the same The loss turnout on these two on asions causes me consider able alarm When it comes to Measure r>, it seems as though too many University students, frankly, don’t give a damn I hope that I am mistaken Students’ vou es are needed, ur gently, d we are to avoid sub stantial tuition inc reases and further degradation of access to our c ampus bach and every person at this university c an do something about c hanging the course of events It is not beyond our control Indeed, we are in this pickle liecause too many peo ple people who c ared tailed to step forward soon enough one e belore What are the facts, and what c an fie done' Measure > was passed by Or egon voters frustrated about an unfair tax structure In particu lar. s consequences un less Oregonians vote on it Here is where you can help hirst, inform yourself about the issues facing the University and the state Second, register to vote II there is a spec ini session this summer, you lin'd to lie regis tered to vote in a September elec tion It you will be gone, i ast an absentee ballot And third, vote your con si ience The elec ted student leader ship, ASl'O, has been trying to raise students awareness about Measure 5's eflects In addition to rec ent teach ins and voter registration drives, today at 1 p m , .it the State (aipitoi in Salem, ASl'O and oilier student leaders state wide have orgam/cd a rally to relay their message direc tly to legislators Free bus transporta tion will leave from Fust Kith Avenue and University Street at HI If) a m As these efforts illustrate, ASUO is playing a key leader stop role Hut ASUO cannot do it alone The administration and fm idly cannot do it alone. Stu dents have the largest say in the future of this University through their ability to vote on tax-structure proposals and to influence their elected repre sentatives through direct com munication. When tuition increases sig nificantly in the fall of 10‘Ft, and when access to c lasses de creases, it will he too late. The time for action is now and dur ing the next six to 12 months Once the state removes Univer sity funding, no amount of pro test will reverse the situation This is a wake-up call. Myles Brand is president of the University of Oregon.