EDITORIAL
Jolin must face facts
and pack her bags
Oregon politics grow more Interesting every day. And
though the characters we have elected are entertaining,
they’re not getting any work done.
If there was a poster child for being a disruptive ele
ment, the unanimous choice would he Sen. Peg Jolin,
who holds the distinction of being the first convicted
felon to serve in the Oregon Senate.
Jolin was convicted of lying to solicit contributions,
but is appealing her conviction. Having added "convicted
felon" to her resume, she was appointed as chairwoman
of the Business, Housing and Consumer Affairs Com
mittee. Who says crime doesn’t pay?
Citizens of Cottage Crove, who Jolin now only mar
ginally represents, have initiated a recall campaign after
she refused to resign.
The recall campaign stands a chance of success, espe
cially because Senate ethics rules prohibit members from
raising campaign contributions while the Legislature is
in session.
Meanwhile, Senate Republicans have proposed a con
stitutional amendment that would prohibit felons from
serving in the Legislature. House Majority Leader Greg
Walden supported the amendment saying, "The Capitol
and the state penitentiary may be on the same street, but
there ought to be only one building where you have to
serve with felons."
Presumably, he means the penitentiary, but in Oregon
politics you can never be too sure.
Jolin, for her part, is trying to turn this into a parti
san issue, which in a way it is. Jolin, a Democrat, gives
her party a 1ft-14 majority in the Senate, a slim margin
that could be lost if she were recalled and possibly
replaced by a Republican.
Jolin has accused Senate Republicans of being "extra
ordinarily vicious." and are not allowing her “due process
that is guaranteed to every citizen of this country."
Jolin has apparently forgotten she already had her "due
process" and was convicted, Although she is appealing,
for now she is a convicted felon, a criminal, and should
not be exempt from punishment because she is appeal
ing her conviction.
Perhaps even more Interesting is the reaction of Ore
gonians to Jolin compared to San. Bob Packwood. Pack
wood, who has been accused of sexual harassment, has
not been convicted, or even charged, with any crime. Yet
people feel obliged to demonstrate vigorously for his res
ignation.
At the same time, Jolin is virtually ignored by demon
strators who claim to want integrity in government, such
as those who protested Packwood. Yet Jolin is a convicted
felon, with emphasis on "convicted."
Could there be a partisan standard of conduct being
applied here? It’s acceptable for a Democrat to serve, even
though she’s a convicted felon, but it’s not all right for
a Republican to serve, regardless of the fact he’s been
convicted of nothing,
Whatever the reason, Jolin's presence has prevented
the Legislature from getting on with its business. All
cynicism aside, the Senate is truly no place for a con
victed felon. Period.
Oregon Daily
Emerald
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SENATE
PRESET I
COMMENTARY
KWAX needs community base
by George Beres
'V^WAX. the University’s
powerful radio voice, is a
jL^Lmixed blessing, even for
classical music buffs.
The University public radio
outlet is an island of classical
music In a contemporary music
country. Even as an oasis for the
thirsty classical oar, KWAX is in
danger of playing nothing but
redundant classical Muzak that
creates as much disappointment
as satisfaction in listeners.
The latest evidence was the
station's Christmas announce
ment that in 1993, it no longer
would tarry one of the rare pro
grams in its packaged repertory
having an Oregon link. "St. Paul
Sunday Morning," hosted by
former Eugene Symphony con
ductor Bill McGlaughlin. had to
be dropped
One can't argue with the rea
son: The money isn't there to
maintain network affiliation for
the show But implications go
beyond money. They suggest
station management and the
University are increasingly con
tent to be part of the jungle of
depersonalized network music.
The skills of announcer
Caitriona Bolster can only go so
far. Her voice and understand
ing of classical programming is
the sole buffer between KWAX
and complete personal sterility.
Her value was reflected by her
selection last year by Robed
Conrad, of the Cleveland
Orchestra, to be the National
Public Radio "voice” for a
national series of Mozart con
certs.
There's irony there. Because
of Bolster's voice — albeit sup
plied by satellite from a distant
point back East — the packaged
network series on Mozart had a
local identity when broadcasted
over KWAX, as once did the
McGlaughlin program
But the balance of the KWAX
broadcast schedule depends on
the music library and computer
ized programming — good to
listen to up to a point, but lack
ing the personal character a self
respecting radio station owes its
audience.
But when it comes to steering
an intelligent course through
classical programming. Holster
is a minority of one on the
KWAX staff and In the admin
istration that oversees it.
Those are tough financial
times for KWAX. as elsewhere.
The University's most attractive
outreach into the community, it
has to generate its own funds
through listener support. Does a
full schedule of network shows
enhance these efforts? Doubtful.
As canned programming dehy
drates its image, it restricts its
fundraising options
There's no argument that
classical music should be its
focus, But the great problem
with KWAX is its failure to
exploit its location, to develop
public affairs programs that tap
expertise of the University's top
professors.
A one hour public affairs pro
gram out of a weekly broadcast
schedule of 108 hours would
enable campus authorities to
comment on relevant issues,
giving KWAX some variety and
national significance.
For example. Jim Klonoski. in
political science, and law
school Dean Dave Frohnmayer
could express lively insights
into the Sen. Bob Packwood
controversy, and on implica
tions of ex-President George
Bush's Christmas Eve pardon of
figures in the Iran-Contra scan
dal.
Ron Wixman. of the geogra
phy department, could give lis
teners an understanding of
Eastern Europe and the Balkans
in ferment that he has long
shared with the federal govern
ment. John Baldwin, in Plan
ning. Public Policy and
Management, started the new
year with another trip to Cher
nobyl and could provide per
spectives on how that
peacetime nuclear tragedy
might have potential parallels
in the United States.
Music Dean Anne Dhu Mcl.u
cas is a potent new resource
who could light up the airwaves
with comments on a Eugene
music scene currently in a state
of major transition Many others
on campus are qualified and
articulate enough to reach out
The gnat
problem with
KWAXIsits
failure to exploit
its location, to
develop public
affairs programs
that tap expertise
of the University’s
top professors.
and stimulate the community
over the airwaves.
The potential for good — and
for a good sound — also tan be
fed by experts in the communi
ty who often share their insights
on campus. Among them: Paul
Slovick, head of the Decision
Research think tank; Keza
Uehnam. director of Eugene's
Institute for Advanced Middle
Eastern Studies: and a wide
spectrum of internationally
known athletic figures such as
jogging guru Bill Bowerman.
That programming could help
foster significant new financial
support from listeners.
It also would fill another
important role — meeting pub
lic service responsibilities
implicit in a campus having a
radio frequency. That commit
ment has received only lip ser
vice at KWAX.
"Read my lips" may have
been the byword of a retiring
president, but as a new admin
istration is likely to graft fangs
onto a Federal Communications
Commission Bush and his pre
decessor made toothless,
KWAX may be forced to give
higher priority than lip service
to public affairs, as well as to
music with a local identity.
Better that the change come
from enlightened self-interest
and concern for the community
than because the federal "big
daddy" says so.
George Acres is a classics
columnist for Oregon Music
News.