EDITORIAL
No clear mandate
for requirement
The stale Board of Higher Education wants students
to be prepared for the 21st century’s society. That cer
tainly is a worthy goal and will require a broad-based
education that includes English, math, science and his
tory.
But is foreign language among those subjects? Should
it bo required that all high school students wanting to
attend college l>e proficient in a foreign language?
According to the board, it should be. On Friday, tho
board adopted a proposal to require foreign language
proficiency for students wanting to enter a state college
or university. In other words, high school students
would have to take a second language if they wanted to
continue their education.
That certainly wouldn't bo useless, it would spell out
for students the need to compete in an international
economy, ft would
encourage students to
understand and study
other cultures, thereby
broadening their own
perspectives. It would
also emphasize the
importance of commu
nication in a constantly
changing global com
munity.
A school can
easily emphasise
the Importance of
learning a second
language without
requiring It.
On a strictly utopian level, tms is a good taoa. 100
many students think the world revolves around the
United States and English-speaking people.
Unfortunately, the problems with the plan outweigh
the positives. First, too many students from the state's
high schools already lack proficiency in English, math
and science to justify adding another requirement.
Basic requirements must be solidified before adding
new ones.
Second, many people decide early in high school that
college is not for them. Either they aren’t interested in
continuing their education, or they need a little time
off. However, a few years later, many of these students
decide to come back. Those students would be out of
luck because they weren't on the college track through
high school.
Third, most college bound students take two years of
foreign languago anyway. The state board has always
recommended foreign language as a desirable subject,
and school counselors preach the necessity of learning
a foreign language. Tnorofore, a school can easily
emphasize the importance of learning a second lan
guage without requiring it.
Finally, tho board hasn't satisfactorily defined profi
ciency. Does it mean taking two years of a foreign lan
guage? After two years, one student may not be capable
of communicating with a two-year old. yet another may
bo ready to go to Spain.
Although tho importance of taking a foreign language
is unquestioned, the state board shouldn't require it.
Students should want to take a second language, not
have to.
Oregon Daily
Emerald
Tha Oregon Daily Emerald •» pubhahad Oaky Monday through Fnday during ih# achooi
year and Tuaaday and Thuraday during the mmm* by the Oagon Oaky Emerald PuWan
*ng Co tnc . al the UmvaraHy ol Oagon. Eugene. Oagon
Tha f marak) operate* ndapandantly ol tha UmvafVty *tth o*t«*» al Suita 300 ot tha
trb Memorial Union and a a member ol tha Aaaocatad Preae
Tha EmanUd a pnvata p<opart, Tha unlawful ramoval or u*e ol papers a prcaacutataa
by U>«
New* Editor
Editorial Editor
Graphic* Editor
Entanainmant Editor
Editor: Pat Malach
Jake Barg Fraaianca Editor Hope Naaiaon
Martin Fahar Editorial Editor Herat* Januan
Jell Paalay (pons Editor Oava Charbonnaau
f reya Horn Supplement* Editor Caday Andaraon
Night Editor: Cheater Aden
Aaaociata Edttora Tamrh, Bale, Student (Sovernmant.Aotrvif'aj Oaratyn Trapp* Commu
f>ty CoAean Pohag. laghar fOuceOcw Administration
New* Sleft Cheater Aden, Marxty Baucum. Man Bander Juatm Brown. Sarah Dark. Dylan
Coulter Meg Oadotph, Amy Davenport. Amanda Farm*. Akoa Ferrari. Tereaa Muntamger.
liaa Knaeiat. L.w Maun. Daman McLean. Slav* Mvna. Trftm. Meaner Tnita Noel. Math**
Schuatar. Eden She*. Mcnaei Shmdar. Enca Studancfca, Manon Su«or. Mehal* Thompaon
Aguar Amy Van Tuyt. Todd Wikamj. Jacquakne Woga
Oanaral Manager Judy Had Production Manager: Mchai* Ho*.
Advartlaing: Tom Loach, Sharon Vaj. Saw, Manager* Shawn Barvan. Otoe* Manager
Jara kola. Taraaa iMpera. Prmp Johnaon H. Chn* Kano*. Jaramy Mason. Van V OByran It.
G>«an Oh. Anga WrndMim
ClaaaWad Peggy McOmn Manager Barry Logan. Sharon Sauv*
Diatrttiutton: Papeete Brook*. Krai. Van Oordar. Anthony Wynn
Bualnaaa: Kathy Carbone. Supervisor Judy ConnoAy
Production: ingnd White Production Coordinator Kriatma Granger Da* McCobb. Stacy
MrtchaB Janmlar Hoard Jannrtar Smith Ann* Slaphanaon
Nawaroom_J44-M11 Dtaptay Adverb*tog--NMTU
Bualnaaa Ottic*__ClaaaMlad Advertising..Mtotl
OPINION
Sorry, but I’m not a Euro-American
I have recently come to the
realization that life at the
University is really quite
simple — if you're schizo
phrenic. Waving the flag of
diversity, the University has
created an environment where
nobody is sure of who they are
or what they stand for.
To create an environment that
embraces every possible varia
tion of cultures and lifestyles is
a noble cause, one in which the
University community has
failed in miserably.
Rather than fostering harmo
ny and understanding, faction
alization has divided groups
into sub-groups, creating a
belief system that says. "I am
more diverse than you; there
fore, I am a better person."
The University has gained a
reputation as, if nothing else,
the Northwest's focal point for
ultra-liberalism Although the
activist crowd may seem
omnipresent throughout the
University and Eugene, their
numbers are deceiving.
In reality, the University's
reputation as a bastion for radi
cal leftists is perpetuated by an
extremely vocal minority. This
becomes evident after attending
two or three demonstrations,
protests, rallies or whatever
they choose to (all their gather
ing that day.
What becomes evident is that
all these events are attended by
the same people. There are per
haps 50 or so students at the
University who apparently
major in "Protest Arts” and are
capable of rallying another 200
mindless cattle around them
whenever the whim strikes.
Unknown to most people out
side the University, most stu
dents are just that — students —
and are too busy trying to grad
uate to take five minutes out of
their day to scream incoherent
ly into a microphone or smash a
few government windows.
Hut why is any of this an
issue, arid how does it affect life
for University students? The
answer is simple. The public is
being fed an inaccurate picture
of the University as a training
ground for domestic terrorists
and. when asked to provide
funding for the training ground,
is likely to refuse.
Such perceptions can also
create difficulty for graduates
searching for jobs. Many
employers may be turned off at
the prospect of hiring someone
who may attempt to politicize
the work place, someone who
will set their social and political
goals ahead of those of the
employer.
Although this vocal minority
of students inay actually believe
they are doing some good, they
fail to realize (or refuse to
accept) the potential damage
they cause the University and
their fellow students.
They also fail to recognize the
hypocrisy of protesting against
the very institutions that allow
them the opportunity to have
enough free time to protest.
Were it not for the University or
the federal government, both of
which fund these students' edu
cations. they would lie too busy
trying to survive and would be
unavailable for protests
So. bear in mind that while
you attend the University, the
eyes of the state are upon you.
Your mission, should you
choose to accept it. is to break
down the stereotype you are
expected to follow while here,
and be your own person.
Unsure how to do this? Allow
me to set a precedent, with
myself as the example. Contrary
to what 1 have boen told. 1 am
not a Euro-American. 1 am sim
ply an American, no hyphens,
thank you. Granted, my ances
tors came from Europe, but only
after being sold by a German
Factionalization
has divided
groups into sub
groups, creating
a belief system
that says, ‘I am
more diverse
than you;
therefore, I am a
better person.1
landlord to a Russian landlord
and than escaping Josef Stalin's
purges.
Actually, this bit of history
alone could serve as an excuse
for me to claim the politically
correct moniker of "victim.” but
I choose not to. Aside from the
fact that if I went to Russia,
there would be absolutely no
trace of my ancestors that sur
vived the purges; I have little to
complain about.
Some people would
doubtlessly try to pin the label
"German-American" on me. if
only I would let them. Because
some of my ancestors were Ger
man does not mean I swill beer,
eat sausage and wear lederho
sen every October. My attach
ment to Germanic culture goes
no deeper than the two years of
high-school German that I failed
miserably.
Simply because some people
I am related to were from
Europe, does not mean 1 have to
accept this label and whatever
baggage comes with it.
If being your own person
means you are not one of the
vocal minority, fear not. The
University now has a whole set
of classes designed to eradicate
your personality and replace it
with a politically correct model.
All you need to supply is a
weak mind. Check your spring
class schedule for details.
Martin Fisher is an editorial
editor for the Emerald.