EDITORIAL
No no no no no no
on Ballot Measure 9
Ballot Measure 9. Those three words and the ha
tred they represent will remain forever a blemish on
Oregon's history. Future Oregonians will have a new
symbol for hatred, intolerance and evil — "OCA." It is
destined to be our legacy, anti we should bow our
heads in shame.
The very fact that Measure 9 exists says more about
our society than any analysis ever will. The thought
A
linn mu: m jnru*
pie could be overtly
singled out for institu
tional discrimination is
repugnant.
Measure 9 would amend the Oregon Constitution
to declare homosexuality "abnormal, wrong, unnatural
and perverse." It would require Oregon’s public
schools teach that philosophy to its students
Scott Lively, communications director for the (XIA.
on Tuesday said be be
lieves there is a statewide
homosexual conspiracy at
tempting to force its mili
tant agenda into the state's
school system.
Homosexuality, or for
that matter heterosexual
ity. is not discussed, en
couraged or promoted at
any level of the state’s
school system. In fact, un
til the (XiA brought the is
sue up. most children had
virtually no overt expo
sure to homosexuality.
Perhaps the ()CA de
serves some thanks. Were
it not for them, homosexu
als may have never found
The very fact that
Measure 9 exists
says more about
our society than
any analyst ever
will. The thought
that one group of
people could be
overtly singled
out for
Institutional
discrimination Is
repugnant
their collective voice to the degree they have Perhaps
even more important is the response by the heterosexu
al community
people across the political, religious and economic
spectrum have found common ground in opposition to
the measure They have discovered they know more
homosexuals than they may have thought, and they
have learned homosexuals are, in fact, people, too.
Without the OCA, this level of awareness may not have
come for years.
The failure of Measure 9 will not be a victory for
anyone. Defeating it will only maintain the status quo
and then only on a legal basis. Homosexuals' social
status has been set back a hundred years and it will be
a long road just to reach pre-CXIA levels of acceptance.
Voting no on Measure 9 is only the easiest first step
in what will be a long and traumatic healing process.
Not only must Oregonians work together to accept ho
mosexuals, they must also work to accept the (XIA and
its membership.
Tolerance and understanding is a two-way street —
and until all sides can come to accept one another. Bal
lot Measure 9 will never truly be defeated.
Oregon Daily
Emerald
Editor
EdMoml Editor
Graphics Editor
Entertainment Editor
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COMMENTARY
College Republicans oppose 9
By Jeff Osanka
Wednesday night the Col
lege Republicans of the
University voted unani
mously (IS O) to strongly urge
Oregonians to vote noon Ballot
Measure 9 The vote followed a
lengthy disc ussion of the possi
ble rami lie at ions of Measure 9
Kim Kerbs, president of the
College Republicans, said peo
ple on campus who are sur
prised by the result need to
learn more about the COP
"We see Measure 9 as anoth
er example of expanding big
government," kerbs said
Kerbs said the traditional Re
publican philosophy, shared by
most rank arid-file Republicans,
opposes measures that interfere
with people's private lives
Economic s major Dinrdre
Molunder was active in two Re
publican U S Congressional
< ampaigns and served as an in
tern for Sen Hob Packwnod in
Washington, D C.
"Discrimination initiatives
like Measure 9 not only go
against my personal beliefs
about privacy, but they are also
had for business," Moiander
said.
"The Associated Oregon In
dustries. a pro-business lobby
ing group, says 'government
has enough to do without regu
lating the personal behavior of
individuals in (he privacy of
their own homes and lives ' I
agree," she said.
College Republicans member
Deanna Beppu is a history ma
jor She Is also opposed to
Measure 9, saying, “For myself,
I don't personally like homo
sexuality. And as a japanese
Chineso American. 1 know our
nation can't offord to take evon
the first stop toward discrimi
nation. Wo need to remember
our history and treat individu
als with respect. Thai's why
I've become involved in fight
ing Measure 9."
PPPM student Martin Lewis
is a lifelong Republican who re
cently finished a four-year term
on Lane Community College's
Board of Directors.
"Republicans already know
what it's like when alternative
voices are muted on campus,''
he said "That's why we re
alarmed bv a measure that
would restrict what teachers
can teach in the classroom Ed
ucation. especially at the colie
giate level, has to hi' free from
excessive governmental restric
tions
Republican procini t worker
Stefan Stent is joining the Na
tional Guard after graduating
from the University He he
lievcs Measure 9 would have a
i hilling effect on education
"Some of us have been cam
paigning as 'Republicans No on
9' all term." Stent said. "A 'Yes
on 9' person told one of us why
he supported the measure: 'One
of my teachers has been saying
things contrary to my moral 1k;
liefs; and by voting for Measure
9. 1 tan prevent my fellow
classmates from hearing such
statements and being fooled.' "
Stent challenges that asser
tion "While 1 don't always
agree with everything my
leathers say. I have the brains
to be able to listen, think about
issues and decide for myself;
and I think my fellow students
are equally capable," he said.
William Siegel, a
CIS/mathematics major, said, "i
have a strong sense of moral
values developed over the
years through prayor and faith
1 don't want and I don't need
the government deciding what
my moral values should be.
“I draw a distinction between
a personal belief in what is
right and wrong, and having
the government impose its
heavy hand over people's lives.
As a conservative, 1 oppose
state-sponsored restrictions on
free decision making," Siegel
said.
College Republicans Treasur
er Pete Knox was unable to at
tend the meeting. When
reached for comment, ho said;
"I'm not surprised that College
Republicans votod unanimous
ly against Measure 9. We join
Senators Packwood and (Mark)
Hatfield, (state school) Superin
tendent (Norma) Paulus, (Uni
versity law school) Dean Dave
We need to
remember our
history and treat
individuals with
respect
Deanna Beppu,
College Hepubhcans
Frohnmaver unci former Gover
nor Vic Aliynh in opposing
Measure 9 I don’t know of a
single! Republican member of
(lit! State Legislature who sup
ports Measure 9.”
Susan Sloweil, <i business
major from Virginia Tec:h, re
mincied Republicans that Meas
ure 9, like many of the meas
ures on the ballot this year. Is
poorly written.
"Voters should remember
that voting 'no' doesn't say that
you approve or disapprove of
the issues being discussed,"
she said "Responsible voters
can separate those knee-jerk re
actions from their analysis of
the actual text of the measures.
"Remember that by voting
no. we're not changing any
thing. Voting no is the true con
servative position when you
have doubts about a piece of
legislation," she said.
College Republicans Vice
('resident Kirsten Bay encour
ages Republicans to become
more activu on campus.
“A lot of Republicans at the
University think they are the
only ones.” she said. "In fact,
over the past 10 years the per
centage of Republicans among
University students has been 30
percent to 34 percent, pretty
close to the statewide average
"Republicans should get in
volved before and after the
election. We meet two Wednes
days per month at 6:30 p m In
the EMU. Check the Emerald
for our schedule or leave a note
at our office (behind the stair
case next to the EMU Copy
Center) and we'll call you.
Jeff Osanku is a member of
Republicans No on 9.