EDITORIAL Race requirement doesn’t get it done A committee of students, faculty and administra tors will discuss narrowing the focus of the race/gondor/non-European-American requirement at the University. Why' Because of complaints that the requirement — though well-intentioned doesn’t ac complish anything. The rnce/gendor/non-European-American require ment is the* University's most obvious attempt to prove a multicultural commitment. Students are required to take one non-European American course during their tenure at the University. The list of classes is broad, with about 175 classes fulfilling the requirement for winter term. f rom tlm beginning, the point of the requirement was to teai h a broader world perspective that reflects not only white America but other cultures as well. Stu dents would learn the history and traditions of non white societies, whic h would ideally help them adjust to and interact with a multiracial society in the future. What has happened to the requirement? Instead of learning about tin world, students skirl the requirement by taking broad, vague courses — most of which have little to do with cultural per spectives Students then do just enough work to Students treat it like any other non major class — another requirement to squeeze by. pass the course they treat —— it like any other non-major ( lass another require ment to squeeze by. The intent of tin* University to get people think ing about othnoc entrlcity c annot be fulfilled in a 21)0 person lecture class about Asian dam e. The course itself may be vary interesting, but a lecture rarely gives students an increased perspective, nor will it discuss why white i itizens sometimes see things differently than people of color If the University is going to make a change in the requirement, there are two options. One is to do away yvith the requirement entirely. It is doing little good as it stands now because students don't actually learn anything. Granted, it is the student's responsibility to study c lass material, but if the material doesn't ac tually provoke thought, few will benefit anyway. The second option is to narrow the requirement — as tiie proposal says — so students study more than just culture. Professors should teach not only about the history of different rat lal and ethnic groups, but also about the perceptions of eac h group with respect to one another. Small, discussion-oriented courses will entourage wider participation for students. And in this format, professors can actually dissect the meaning of "white perspective*" or ‘'multicultural." This should be the requirement's intent make students think about their place in the world. Other wise, students will treat the requirement like any other requirement. They 'll ignore it. Oregon Pailv Emerald mranEirea': »•:: Tfv«j Oregon D,*'> t <• .vk} ■% i-.t* *h«l da»> M, .'KMy I* pi ?.»i ■ 9 ••■ ** t» * — y«iy tvv3 Tu«*li*Y a/Kl TK.^vsay du' - g tft© Oy 5h© 0>9Qpn Oti'jj t rtwakJ Put* v^'g Co uv j? t?m tMrv^wvi , < Oegco f ugt?r»«*, Qm^t” TN» >«de|-W^‘ » »> o'V«"t «|t S- t# 301- >f tN* ! »!• Mr" - ,t V ■ ■ i .* . ,t • <• ■■li'.j* *f:»‘ A*. .- • .<>-:! P <-\s Th« tme»£Urvneau CaNy Anderson Associate Editors: Tammy Baiey tic w-ment Arf’v-fr* Dara.-yn T-.upr*. C«.vr».*rv mfy. Cotteoo Poht*g. f Now* Staff. Chester A «• Moody B.* .. • Matt Br'vde' Jt.P - U?crr ‘kVah ( .v* Dedotph Amy Devenpo'V Amar^la I em-e A < a Fer*»n Teresa Munts»ng©r l .*a 11*4 Mat.*'. P«mva'* Me l ©a Stew M m*. t * Mv;t*i«e*. t* *ta I*.-* i >m' ^;w M- »■.« Shandler fr«* StudWvAa Ma oo State*. Thompson Aguiar. Amy Van Tu>- Todd W•■Mint's Jacques e Woge liealhrr Zdbauer General Manager k/d> H**i Advertising Director Bryan R Coppedge Production Manager Ross Advertising Shawn Bervvn .tone I'OM Teresa lr»at-e*^ Ph^ John*y ii Chr * Ka *•• Tom l eech. Jeremy Mason. Van V O'Byran it G- an Oh. Sharon Viur. A-vg* A * dhe-m Classified Peggy McGm© Manager Barry Logan Sharon Sa*,w Distribution Rebecca Brooks. Kr*st> Van Gorder. Anthony Wy Business: Kathy Carbone Si^>ervrsor Judy Connofty Production Ingrd Wh P Coo*a ;iv K'-sG-e ir,v'3-" t>ee M L obb Stacy Mrtchek. Jennifer Ro*«nd JennJ©» Sm*h Anne Stephenson Newsroom 146-5511 Display Advertising 346-3712 Business CXfke . 346-5512 Classified Advertising 345-4343 KPMNCIML ■MW9k\ I n|' • vv\u vw m* w-■ 11 — -ME? I GOT CAUGHT LEARNING MATH AND SCIENCE WHILE MY TEACHER ASSIGNED STUDIES IN GAY HOMELESSNESS AND AMERICAN SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPERIALISM!" Hall hype A month ago. vou printed n letter in wlm h the writer coin plained about the treatment of students and the level of ser vice at Oregon Hall (ODE. Dei •t) While 1 am sure exponent es in dealing with bureau! ra< y do differ on a i use bv i use basis. I am i ompelled to speak out from a positive viewpoint I have lw*en at the University for six terms, eai h term requir ing at least three or four visits to Oregon Hall In very few in stances have I experienced a person w ho w as not aim erel v attempting to provide assis tant e. whether it dealt with ai counting or financial aid or w hates er To be honest. I was rather surprised at the level of |M*rson al servue available in a system that deals w ith 17,000 students In partii ular, I think of Su zanne von Kleist. who has re peatedly Imlped to smooth bu reaucrat it details tor me, while al the same time lieing friendly and patient The University system is, no doubt, a bureau! racy. Hut if you've had other experiences with bureaucracies (there an* a myriad of those in tins world), you realize that Oregon Hall doesn't do all that l>ad of a job on the whole In many cases, there are good people behind the counter who are just as in hibited as we an* by having to deal w ith the sv stem. Hopefully, the University will ferret out those who don't t an* about doing their jobs and will make it easier for employ ees who do their lies! to serve students by continually im proving the "system." Kelita Morris Industrial Relations We have many plans for the next two years and hope to be gin by offering valuable semi nars in such topic s .is volunteer recruitment phone banking, leadership training, public poli cy educ ation, campaign organi zation and issue forums We'd like to inc rease our vis ibility in the community and take an active role in helping President-elect Clinton's "New Americ a" liec ume reality I ce gether yye c an forge- ahead with hope and prosperity Please join us as a procinc t |>erseiii to day. you can and do make a differwnc e Vicki L Walker LCDCC Chairwoman Created God 1‘vi* tieen pondering religion again It seems that many reli gions believe there is only one true (kid People of the Jewish, Muslim and Christian faiths lie lieve this is so. It also seems there are religions that hold there an* many gods, from the ancient Greeks to many tribal religions to some of the Asian religions today. 1 am not exactly sure of the spei dies surrounding each of these religions, as l have not studied theology It does seem there is a fundamental differ ence in many of the religions That is either there is or isn't one God. Given that if one group is right and the other is wrong. I've come to the conclu sion that neither is right, and therefore religion is just anoth er manifestation of i ulture. like art or social hierarchy. Each religion is unique to the culture that bore it. God did not create humans; we created God Dead Week In response to the editorial "Make Dead Week a truly dead - week,” {Ol)E. Dei Hi). I would like to say that the existing policy is usually appropriate, and only procrastination makes Dead Week "hell week ’ Al though occasionally we all might get a professor who has unreasonable expei tations and ai ts as 11 he or she was nev er a student, most of the professors at the University follow the eti quette of Dead Week If you choose to do an assign ment that is due during Dead Week at the last minute, then you choose to reduce the time you have to study for finals. I do. however, agree with the ed itorial's proposal that no exams should he given during Dead Week, but I would amend it to add "unless the final is going to !>e optional." I do think i lasses during Dead Week should be slanted toward an overview and review of the material covered during the term, but 1 also think we should have classes during Dead Week University stu dents pav a lot of money for these classes to lie taught, and for the chance to learn from them 1 represent students and support giving students a chanc e to learn I do think Dead Week could use some minor adjustments, hut I won't support a major overhaul. College is supposed to tie difficult, and I think we all know it is (that's what makes a c ollege degree valu able). As far as making classes Optional during Dead Week, this is college, all classes are optional. Lane Democrats The latne County Democratic Party has reorganized and elect ed officers for u new two-year term. As the newly elected chairwoman. 1 would like to welcome lane County citizens to participate in the Demot rutic process. Our Central Commit tee meets the third Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. in Harris Hall, and anyone is welt ome. Our office is located at 239 \V 13th Ave. *F in Eugene; the phone is 484-5099. James Rogers Geology Braden 0. Kelley Executive Secretary, Student Senate S PO The Oregon Daily Emerald will attempt to print all letters containing 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 submitted. The Emerald reserves the right to edit any letter for length or style.