EDITORIAL Council must push harder for new tax Eugene's proposed restaurant tax want down in flames last week, leaving the City Council with one pressing question: Now what? The council had little choico but to put the restaurant tax on the ballot because the tax was the only tangible result of the Eugene Decisions survey. Eugene Decisions cost about $400,000 and was supposed to reflect the voice of the populous. It clearly did not. as the tax lost by a 60 percent to 40 percent count. Just as naysayers warned, the survey was filled out only by citizens concerned with finding a tax alternative, not by people content with the status quo. The City Council now has to find an alternative rev enue source. It isn't quite dead in the water yet. although it mane a dir mistake not putting its full weight behind the restaurant tax. Mayor Ruth Hascom said tiler*' will he anoth er revenue measure in September or Novemtxir. as well as more cuts in local services. In the past, the council kicked The council is going to have to accept that voters won*t rally behind a new plan until the council itself does. around ideas for an energy tax or a progressive income tav — both promising, yet unlikely, ideas, i he council must now reconsider these ideas or develop a new one — and then stand behind it. Voters have proved time ami time again that they don't want new taxes. Thev've defeated a sales tax, reduced property taxes and now nixed a restaurant tax. I hey think fat needs to be cut from the budget Unfortunately, the only fat that's loft is in the voters' heads. Reducing the city’s deficit could come at the expense of Eugene's sen ices — swimming pools, the I iult Center or the Eugene Celebration. Although these services may not be entirely necessary, they all make Eugene a more enjoyable place to live. If the council is truly committed to finding replacement revenue rather than Increasing(u(backs, it needs toeon vince voters by rallying hard behind one particular tax solution. When the majority of council members support a proposal, the entire council needs to stand firm, what ever tax solution they pick. Dissension among specific members won't help anything, it only increases doubt in the voters' minds when the council itstdf can’t agree on a tax. The council also needs to focus the funding more, a problem it has already recognized. A new tax measure must tell voters exactly where the money will go. Citi zens are distrustful of money that goes into a general fund. They believe the city will use it in the usual wasteful ways. But if the measure were to specify exactly where the money is going, voters would fuel slightly more at ease. The City Council still has a lot of work to do. But before it gets anywhere, the council is going to have to accept that voters won’t rally behind a now plan until the coun cil itself does. Oregon Daily Emerald PO BOI fUGf*€ 0«fGO*< The ika>^ [U'y t men*! a pubMNO -te > Monday through Fnday during a-hot* )*»■ and Tuesday and Thursday during the »umme- By the Oregon Daily Emerald Pub*sh.ng Co Inc at the Umva-uty o> Otogon f ugene Oregon The Emeraid operetta independently ol the University with oil coy at Suae 300 ol me El® Memorial Unwn and •* a memt*- ol (he Associated Press The Emerald Jin Sport* Editor Dave Cha'txmneau Frey a Morn Supplement* Editor Caitey Anderson Night Editor lake Berg Aaaociate Editor*: Tammy Baley Student Gotrernmenf Activities. 0*ra:yn Trappe Comm unify Cotetn Pom.g M.gner foucafon Ajmmrjcahcwi Newt Stall Scott Anar* Chester Ar en Matt Bender Justin Brown Sarah Ctarn Meg OeiVkpr Amy Devenport. Jen Eason Amanda I erme. Anthony Forte, Teresa Muntsmger li»a Mpur RatMsxa Merritt Steve Mm, IiMir MueUrM Tr,»ta Noei. t Heo Shaw. Erck studervcka Mar-on Surtor Mxheie Thompson Agj.e Amy Van Tuyt. Todd tN am* General Manager: Judy Red Production Manager Mcheus Flo** Advertiimg Tom Leech Sharon Vat Sams Managers Shawn Eterven Otoe Manager j^>e Irola. Tests tsabene. Pnup Johnson it Chn* Kanoh. Jeremy Mason, Van V O'Bryan II.GatianOh Rachae Ttuii Angre Wntpvwm Brian Wndheen Ciasirlied Becky Me- hant Manager Barry Logan Sharo" Sauvo DtttrtBution: Brandon Andresor N * Mannn.ng Graham Simpson Business hatny Caroone Supervisor JteJy Conn T Production' Ingrrt White. PnxJuc'. m C-V'id*|'4'.'/ Any* a Granger, Dee McCotsO. Stacy KtSt ‘ n Jenniter Roiend. Jenrvter Sn Newsroom 346-JM1 Display Advertising 34B-J712 Business Office 346-SS12 Classified Advertising 346-4343 I NOtMMtfE... Jfjj II ■] ?a€n n**> •■V j€»»« THE Mfwl R>etic Justice THC*J CLAft£VC£ CAX ft£SC/Mf ms. uf*. , / C0U«TSM/P * - ■i. COMMENTARY Students need instructor support While wandering through my college t areer here at the University. I have been discouraged again and again from pursuing my dream career magazine journalism Professors tell me IVn good, but not good enough. Sitting in classes in the School of Journalism. 1 constantly listen to stories of how hard it is to find a journalism joh and how ready I should Ih> for the mailroorn or secretary's desk when 1 graduate M\ personal favorite is. You uan try and try and try again and still may never find a |ob." This warning of preeminent failure scared me into applying for internships the summer lie lore mv senior year I asked a profes sor if he could connect me with anyone in entertainment jour nalism in 1-os Angeles. I wrote a letter explaining what I had done and what I want to do when 1 graduate and sent it to my professor's friend Mv letter and resume wore passed on to three entertainment magazines, all of which were interested in meet ing me while 1 was in LA lor spring break I interviewed with three enter tainment magazines in Holly wood. inquired about internship opportunities and future open ings in the field, and shared my journalistic experiences. The response I received from these professionals was astoundind They were excited about me taking the time to vis it them over break and assured nte they were always looking for new talent, just like any other field. They were impressed by mv initiative to hunt down edi tors and ask about internships, as well as jobs. They liked my writing style. unlike mv (irotessors. and assured me I would not have trouble getting a job in magazine journalism !*•< auso of mv initia tive. motivation, love for the field and talent They told me there are jobs out there After four vears of journalism si hooting. 1 was final ly assured 1 was ()k Two of the magazines offered me internships — one paid, one volunteer — and the third em ouraged me to apply lor a liegmmng position that will open in August The moral of my story Don't let people discourage you. even those who seem like they should know, suc h us a professor There is a fine line between pushing students to do better and dis couraging them altogether. As a peer adviser for the School of journalism. I have seen u great deal of discouragement and its effects on the students. How do we. as students, know that we aren't good enough7 Didn't Robin Williams teach us anything in Dead Poets Society when he told us to "seize the day'1? Think for yourself Question authority Don’t let anyone tell vou you aren't good enough You are as good os you let yourself be. If I let my self iielieve what I was told. I would never have met those people in I.A. nor would I have a summer internship with my dream magazine It's all a matter of what you're willing to believe about yourself Professors need to encourage us where we have strengths, in addition to helping us with our weaknesses We aren't paying $900 to $2,700 a term to be told we aren't good enough and that we'll never get a job when we graduate. We students need to be reminded of our strengths Too much criticism con destroy a very talented person’s confidence. There will tie rough times out there for some of us. but leaving this place with the belief that we will fail only hinders us This goes for everybody, not just jour nalism majors. .some people an; hicks enougn to have companies visit the Uni versity looking for talent There an- hundreds of jobs out there for even employer that comes to campus. (I'm not counting Ploy boy, tins week’s v isitor.) Start calling afpund early Got internships or other forms of experience that help you build toward vour career Internships can help you decide what you like and don’t like while you’re trving to decide on n career These things look good to future employers and show that you are a responsible person with initia tive, a desired asset in employ ees. The most important thing to remember while wandering the campus grounds and pushing through those degree require ments is believing in yourself Don’t let anyone make you believe you're not good enough I can't stress this enough Too many people have left school because of these feelings. Go out and meet professionals ill your future field or the fields that you’re interested in. Most will lie more than happy to invest a few minutes We are the future, and they know it Show them what you’ve done. Get their feed back Ask how your resume looks. Is there something you can do while you’re still in school to help you get a fob when you grad uate' Are you on the right track? Ask professionals what you could do to better prepare yourself for the job market and raise your chanc es for getting a job. Don't depend on what your professors say as the final word I felt like a tietter journalist talk ing to professionals than 1 ever did in the classroom. When it comes to your shot at a career, talk to the experts — the current professionals in the field lei i Pi 11 son is n reporter for the Emerald.