EDITORIAL Research, teaching have similar goals Throe state representatives visited the University Wednesday to discuss the role of research within the Oregon State System of Higher Education. Their main concern was whether faculty are spending too much time researching and not enough time teaching. "Our mission is to see how we can get more bang for the buck." said Rep. Carolynn Oakley. She wants pro fessors to revise their teaching priorities so they spend more time educating and loss time researching. Oakley is correct in assuming many people are frus trated by the quality of education at the University. There are too many impersonal lecture courses in which the student is intimidated by the size of the class and hesitant to Bsk questions or visit the professor during office hours. And smaller courses are often taught by graduate teaching fellows who seem uncomfortable with educating others because they have too little practical experience. So. should professors spend more time on teaching and loss on research? Frankly, the University needs to emphasize both areas because both are equally important and lead toward the same goal — learning There are two ways of looking at it First, education is the priority of any collegiate institution. Students pay tins University $n ' Editorial EdNor Rrveri Janisen Qraphict Editor Ja«P**‘.i. Sports EdHor Dave Cherbonneau Enter te ent ErStn* (teya Mr, Supplements Editor CaSey Andaraon Nigh r: Cnaitar Alien Ayr ret'ora. T Balev »■ 'anr 0 *f«t A. e«, Man Bandar. Juatm Brown Sarah Clan. Dylan r «■*.., Devanpod Amanda lanr Tareaa Hunttingar. L«a Knaater. Actmn Retm :a Mar nit Slavs Mrmi. T.tim. Musas' Tmia Noe -• Shaw. ShtmSar End Studen«*a. Manon SuAor. Mchde r .m tuyi todd Wraami , led Production Manigar; Mchata Boas g •,-nt tea n Sharon Vai Salas Managers Shawn Barvan Q«ce Manager , *. PNhp John ion II Chrn nanoh Jeremy Mason Van V OBy»an V> a>0. Bar1 IngsWndtant Brian Wndvaa ■..allied: Peggy >. ttmapar Barry Logan. Sharon Sauva Distribution: He0*cc.i Brocas. Kr,« van Gords< Anthony Wynn Business Kamy Cart* a, Suparvtaor Judy ConnoAy Production: Ingrid While. Producaon CoonSnuor Krishna Oangat. Dae M-Cooc Stacy MdcheH Jerwlar Roland. Jenrvter Smith, Anna Stephen**' Newsroom. Saa-Mtl Display Advertising ME-9T12 Ctaaaihad Adverbs* g.. MAUtl mcwnoifcPiAN mKPOTTUUOUGU 1€PKXK5l OPINION Packwood could use ethics lerson Ii was with relief Ihat I road ih ’•goman head'ine. ")o!in resigns her Senate aeet We a!. vv hv mm what the soon-to-t>« former state senator did that was so offensive. In order to increase campaign donations during a 1990 bid for re-election, Sen. Peg John sent a letter to her supporters claiming dire financial straits According to the letter. John's financial campaign was in debt to the tune of about $10,000. John blamed part of the debt on an accident involving a cam paign truck that rolled over while it was Unrig used to place campaign signs. What the letter left out was that the campaign truck was reg istered to |olin and that it was being driven at the time of the accident by her husband. Donations poured in from sympathetic, concerned con stituents. Then, unfortunately for |olin. the lustice Department began investigating — after financial records from the cam paign showed a surplus of 52H.OOO at the time she mailed the infamous letter. When she was called on the discrepancy, lolin defended her self by explaining that many of her colleagues use this "tech nique" of soliciting money by claiming to be in debt. Crow up. Peg "Everyone's doin' it" is the oldest excuse in the world. Fortunately, the public didn't buy it. )olin. angry and resentful, was finally forced to resign If she learned anything from this ordeal, it was probably to be more careful next time. Jolin has expressed no regret for her actions other than what seemed necessary to win back support The recent controversy over Zoe Baird is another example of ethics winning out over cheap politics. Baird, who was nomi nated by President Clinton for the position of U.S. Attorney General, declined the nominn tion after ihi> madia disc overed that she had knowingly hired two illegal immigrants. The issue of ethics in politics is big right now If von are caught lying to increase urn paign donations, you have to pay the consequences If vou hire an illegal immigrant you won't be allowed to serve as the I S Attorney General. ft's loo bad these ethics haven't convinced Sen Bob f’uikwood that fie needs to resign. Pack wood may lie a very good senator He has the experience a good senator needs. He has the connections to get Oregonians what they need. He has done some wonderful things for Ore gon in the past. Unfortunately, none of that means anything when so many of your constituents hate you. Every time Packwood appears m public, he is inundated wi|h questions about the 23 women who have accused him of unwanted sexual advances A new poll confirms that almost half of Oregon voters believe Packwood should resign, a percentage that has increased six points in (lie past two months. Several women's organisa tions say they won't forget the sexual harassment allegations against Packwood. nor will they let anyone else forget. "Sen. Packwood's record of advocacy on women's rights does not excuse his exploitive behavior." said Holly Pruett, a representative of the Women's Rights Coalition. “While he has used the power invested in him by the people of Oregon to achieve advances for women, he has also used that very same power to harass some women." The fact that the news of these allegations was not published until after the November elec tion is another sore point. "Boh Packwood made credi bility. clout and power his plat form for re-election," said Mary Botkin. Oregon National Com mittee member and the chair woman of the Women's Coali tion of the Democratic Notional Committee. "He has violated that trust, and voters deserved to know that beforehand...If he had If Pa \wc-d really cares about Oregon, he will do the decent thing and resign. not lied about it, he w-uld not be a senator today." Despite whether Packwood is or is not a strum ball, he is unable to effectively represent Oregon at this time. Although he is des perately trying to make the pub lic forget his indiscretions, the people aren't playing. Packwood just isn't a Slick Willie. The public isn't as ready to forgive and forget his indiscretions. Instead, we have vowed to remember. We intend to hold the Senate Ethics Committee, which is investigating the harassment charges, responsible for discovering the truth behind the allegations and handing out just punishment. In the mean time, many of us will continue to ask for Packwood's resigna tion. Are wo condemning Packsvood before the trial? Guilty until proven innocent? That isn't the point. The point is politicians, because of their high visibility, are public figures who are held up to higher standards than pri vate citizens. We expect more from politicians because they have pledged to represent us. Maybe Packwood is innocent, hut a lot of Oregonians believe he is guilty. Because of this, they are angry enough to fight every move he makes in his position as sen ator. We made sure |olin paid for her dishonesty. By pledging to remember the ordeal Packwood allegedly put these women through, and by demanding )us tioe. we can make sure that Pack wood also pays. If Packwood really cares about Oregon, he will do the decent thing and resign. Oregon needs representatives who can concen trate on Oregon's interests. Park wood is too busy fending off these accusations to get much of anything else done. Stephanie Sisson writes a monthly column for the Emerald