EDITORIAL
Students’ interests
not served by IFC
The Malfeasant Seven, better known as the Incidental
Foe Committee, should be immediately and permanently
disbanded for general ineptitude.
Actually, it’s already heading in that direction. In the
past couple weeks two members have resigned, reducing
the group to a Feeble Five. One of the members. Jose
Balderas, resigned because he was not registered for class
es spring term, but not before invalidating an entire hear
ing with his mere presence.
The IFC is supposed to allocate student fees In a re
sponsible manner. Its mombers are elected by the stu
dents (the few who bother to vote), and its mission is to
ensure feos are usod in a manner that provides maximum
benefit to the student body.
Unfortunately, the group has so far been controlled
by ideologues Steve Masat and Lydia I-erma, who have
used their positions to provide favorable funding to groups
whose agendas they support, while decreasing funds
for those they do not.
For example, groups have been awarded increases
because they "have more enthusiasm this year." That's
an actual quote from an actual group shortly before re
ceiving an actual increase.
Another group received an increase because, last year,
it spent more than it had planned on a karaoke party at
the Eugene Hilton. Yet another needed about SI.000 for
Hispanic food. Why $1,000? Because they were using tor
tillas that are made from corn grown and ground by a His
panic woman. Apparently the group's members are too
good for the regular, commercial tortillas that the rest
of the campus community is suffered to eat.
Most recently, the committee has simply not shown up
for its meetings.
best term, a mooting was canceled in order for people
to participate in a rally in Salem. The group was not elect
ed to go to rallies. It was elected to do its job — which
it hasn't been doing.
This term, the group has been forced to cancel two meet
ings for lack of attendance. None of the missing members
have yet given a satisfactory explanation. Big surprise.
In a recent meeting, a student who had just witnessed
the IFC in all its glory, stood up and told the committee
that she was appalled at how it was running the meeting
and then left.
At the samo meeting. Masat began rambliug about how
difficult his life was and how he didn't have time to deal
with certain issues before the committee. If Masat can't
handle tho pressure — and judging by his performance,
he can’t — he should serve the public interest and resign.
Other students also have pressures In their lives, yet they
manage to at least stay above water.
Students need to regain control of their fees, and the
only way to do that Is to take it out of the incompetent,
special-interest tainted hands of tho IFC and turn it over
to the ASUO at least until an entirely new committee can
be elected.
Oregon Daily
Emerald
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LETTERS
Good reasoning
March 12, near the- end of
winter term, a commentary of
mine was published under the
heading "Academia should test
beliefs "
In that essay ! dealt with the
problem of “cognitive compart
mentolization." which results
when otherwise dear-thinking
people place intellectual brack
ets around their religious beliefs
and act as if those beliefs are
somehow immune from the
tests of evidence and sv stematic
verification that are generally
applied to non-religious knowl
edge claims.
March 29. in response to my
analysis, letters from Kurt ban
dre and Trey Imfeld expressed
reservations about some of my
assertions Imandra, for example,
wonders whether I am aware of
"the implications” of these
ideas.
I can assure these two lotter
writers (and other Emerald read
ers) that the focus of my think
ing is quite clear. The same
methods or tests of validation
that are used in ordinary life
and science to evaluate claims
to truth are applicable to the
claims of religion as well.
If these ideas are still really
confusing, perhaps the follow
ing comments from Jonathan
Rauch, writing in the April 1993
issue of Reason magazine, will
help make them more under
standable: "... if you want to
believe the moon is made of
green cheese, fine. But if you
want your belief recognized as
knowledge, there are things you
must do. You must run your
belief through (systematic tests)
for checking .... And if your
belief is a loser, it won't be tak
en seriously by most res|>ectab!e
intellectuals."
To reiterate, religious beliefs
are not “self-authenticating."
Ron Rousseve
Professor
Counseling Psychology
Long-term
1 would like to clarify the
motives of those people who are
fasting in protest of the elimina
tion of the U.S House Select
Committee on Hunger Fasting
is a symbolic action of convic
tion. it is based on the idea that
there are people who are willing
to sacrifice a basic human need
lo demonstrate the depth of
one's concent and commitment
for an issue, and in this case, the
issue is hunger.
it is important for people to
understand that fasting alone
only raises awareness. Only
when it is in the context of a
larger campaign for long term
solutions is it effective. 1 would
like to let you all know what our
campaign is
Although it is necessary to
concentrate one's energy on
short term solutions such as the
suggested food and clothing dri
ve, it is of more importance to
build long-term solutions in
respect to ending hunger.
Right now there is a petition
being circulated around our
tampus. as well as the country,
which calls on Congress to
"Make Hunger a National Prior
ity."
Second, in conjunction with
the National Student Campaign
Against Hunger and Homeless
ness. OSPIRG is organizing the
Ninth Annual Hunger Clean-Up
for Saturday. April 17. The
clean-up is a work-a-thon in
which volunteers participate in
community service project* and
raise funds for the support of
international agricultural pro
grams in developing countries
as well as local organizations
We invite everyone to join us
by turning concern into action
through participation in the
hunger clean-up. Please call
346-4377.
Jim Tretoar
OSPIRG
Open debate
While reading the April H
Register Guard (lam forced to
for I cannot afford the New York
Tunes). I saw on page 1. section
C, a photograph of Professor
Jacob Beck forcefully holding
the clenched fists of Professor
Sandra Morgen while engaged
in what appears to have been a
heated, abusive argument.
This incident took place,
according to the Register-Guard.
after the University Senate's
vote on the new multicultural
policy and w'as in reference to
said vote.
I wanted to take a few min
utes out of my day to publicly
thank Professor Morgan and
Professor Beck for illustrating
what supporters of multicultur
al philosophy engaged in an
"honest, open, non-threatening
discourse" can look like. I feel
that their support for the new
multicultural policy was illus
trated wonderfully by their use
of physical threats to each other
to express their opinions.
Their example is profound,
and 1 can only hope they are on
future committees that are
designed to inhibit hate crimes,
physical intimidation and abuse
on this campus.
Thank you. Professor Morgan
and Professor Beck, for being
shining public examples of what
open academic discussion is
like. I am proud to be a student
at the University, and even more
proud that my $900 tuition bill
is going to pay their salaries and
to facilitate further discussions
like this.
By the way. so no one will
misconstrue this letter. I am
being a bit sarcastic in parts. So
watch out.
Mark Anthony Jaffaria
English
Philosophy
Donations
This is in regard to the article
titled "Candidates seek signa
tures" {ODE, April 9).
The Sexual Assault Exam
Fund and the multicultural ran
ter would be wonderful pro
grams for the University. I don't
believe, however, that students
should continue to be "nickel
and dimed" to death with more
and more fees.
Instead, why not ask for dona
tions and grants? Oregon Public
Broadcasting does, and they do
quite well. I think these pro
grams would also do well with
community support. But asking
the students to bare more costs
is crazy If you don't think I'm
right, examine the outcome of
I990’s Ballot Measure 5 more
closely.
If someone from the ASUO
asks you to sign the petitions. I
urge you not to. Instead, go to
the ASUO and tell them you
wish to see these programs be
started on a contribution basis
only.
Todd Helton
Humanities