EDITORIAL Court uses Spock, hotline for opinions The ASUO Constitution Court was shooting 33 percent from tho free-throw linu Friday after it Issued its latest set of bizarre opinions. The court ruled on three cases regarding the recont ASi JO elections. Two cases requested new elections and another requested a reversal of decision by the ASUO Elections Board. In its only correct opinion, the court ruled that Oscar Garcia was elected to tho Student Senate even though he did not file for tho general election ballot. Garcia made the ballot after running a successful write-in campaign in the primary election. Tho court ruled that Garcia did receive more votes in the general election than his opponent, and thus it is in the best interests of tho students that the candidate they elected be appointed to office. However, tho court went way off tho mark in ruling on complaints from Leslie Warren and Mark Johnson, can didates for ASUO Executive. The two complained the elections board violated its rules by not giving students tho chance to vote via absentee ballot. The court ruled that the violation did occur but was "unable to subject the orderly operation of government and tho student body to what would bo a tumultuous peri od based purely on a hunch." This is after tho court points out that Warren and Johnson "lost this election by an extremely narrow margin." and that "it would appear that (calling now elections) is tho best thing that could be done.” in what is sure to bo a resounding legal precedent, the court ultimately based its decision on a line uttered by Mr. Spock in the last 10 minutes of Star 7'n-k II: The Wrath of khan. "The needs of the many outweigh those of the |»nv, or the one." A solid legal foundation upon whir h to render a decision. This is the second time in two years the court has decid ed that a rule has boon violated and has done nothing about it Tho last time was in November 1991. when the court ruled then-incidental Fee Committee Chairman Mike Colson was improperly removed from office but decided the IFC would simply vote him off again, so tho court refused to reappoint him. Those derisions soom more likely to originate with Dione Warwick's "Psychic Friends Hotline" than from any judicial soun o. Finally, tho court issued a statement asserting tho Finer aid falls within thP authority of the Constitution Court because it receives "enormous amounts of student funds." Them is a difference lietwoon receiving student funds and being student-funded. La no Transit District receives stu dent funds; student unions are student-funded. Receiving student funds in exchange fur providing a service does not beholden the recipient to the ASUO. Being wholly funded with student fees, on the other hand, does. Perhaps tho court is unwilling or unable to seek out legal, or at least logical, grounds for its decisions. What ever the reason, the court should re-evaluate its role in the student government and begin to take its responsi bilities a little more seriously. Emerald P o 1*0 « J'« I uGf Mi DM* GO* Si14C The Oregon Da y Emerald d putftahed da.iy Monday through '"day during me school yea' and luesday and Thursday during the lummer by me Oregon Daily Emerald Publishing Co Inc at me IKwervIy ol Oregon f ugene Oegon The Emerald operates independently of the University wrtn oftioea at Suae 300 of the ErO Mamonil llreon and .» a member ot the Associated Press Th* Emerald s pryate property The urtfaeaui removal or uae ot papers •» prosecutable by law Editor Pal Malach Nm Editor Editorial Editor OrapMc* Editor Entartainmonl Editor .luff Hog Mi" n f .jh«r MX PkVty Fimi Hon FrMianc* Editor Editorial Editor Sports Ednor Supplarnants Editor Might Editor jaho Borg Maov*'nrr'*rnr Acfnrrftes Daratyn T-apo* Communtf Co«een Pohfeg >*&*' CtAKAhon *fn»ntlrt*vn Naws staff: Onw A*an Mali Bander Juatm Bm». Kar> Moefter. TrfMi tAm-uv Irma Noei Euan Shaw Enc* Stud*trtta U»«n Su«K Randy Theoen IA.NM Thompaon Aginar Amy Van Tuyt. T* WftW -U ^ -* ►«* iK> r*oiw%.v V-I 'ict ' fVJ TMi#«<'Sfc»J Ttr, U»t> ONtV ft> RTPUC4 T»*t CXf'crr. I W&H Ji LETTERS Hatfield speaks I would like to thank all of you who have written me dur ing the past few weeks in sup port of the Violence Against Women Ai t Your letters hove illustrated to me how important this issue is to students on cam puses in our state Violence against women is n serious national issue that has permeated our society The oc i urrenc e of rape, sexual assault and other violent crimes against women has increased to outrageous and frightening pro portions It is estimated that an art of domestic violence occurs every 1H seconds, lfi million women are beaten each year by their husbands ’or boyfriends, and us many as one of six col lege women will be sexually assaulted before their gradua tion. These women often experi ence further victimization because of the inability and unwillingness of the legal sys tern to prosec ute their attackers While the women who choose to recognize the frequency of these atroc ious acts are forced to live In fear, those who remain ignorant of the reality of violent i rimes unknowingly continue to put themselves at risk of becom ing future victims College should tie a time lor you to bask in the enjoyment of life and learning, not he in lear for your safety as many college women are today That is one of the reasons I am an original co sponsor of the Violenc e Against Women Ac t This bill addresses the issues of rape and sexual assault at all levels, including the classroom, the c ourtroom, the treatment of survivors and the conviction of perpetrators. This act would provide increased resources to help prevent violence against women in the streets and on school campuses. It yvould double the penalty for sex offenders, as well as increase funding for campus rape education courses and training to help impede further violence. The Violence Against Women Act reflects the need in this country to treat the abhorrent abuse of women as a top priori ty and national concern. By implementing its provisions, we could mark the beginning of a strong, large-scale effort to end the cycle of victimization that has continued for too long. College students like your selves can greatly assist in this effort by remaining committed to opposing violence in all of its forms. Mark 0. Hatfield U.S. Senator Angry biker Do you enjoy the feeling of the wind rushing through your hair while riding your hike? Well, in as little as two weeks, that feeling may be a thing of the past The state of Oregon is try ing to shove another govern ment restriction down our throats This time, in the form of Senate Bill 1 ohm — the manda tory bicycle helmet law. This bill, sponsored by Sen. Hon Cease, D-Port land. does not differentiate for age or location. If passed, bn vcle helmets will lie required not only along Ore gon highways, but also on quiet side streets, hike lands and paths, and on campus This new law will include a hefty fine of $50 every time your child under 1H is caught not wearing his or her helmet According to Cease’s office, an average of 250 people a year are injured on bicycles in our state. Tilts figure includes both adults and children, as well as head and non-head injuries In a state of almost three million people, this is not many If you have more questions on this bill, I received my informa tion from the office of Cease, who is the sponsor His number is 378-8073. The governor also needs to be urged to veto this bill if it passes in the Oregon Senate. You can call Gov Bar bara Roberts at 1-800-322-6345. Let's not give the police another excuse to harass us Your voice does count. Call now Susan Semenek Oregon State University Enrich oneself A good project for a multicul tural class to have for its stu dents would be to assign them to observe a week of special events sponsored by a culture other than their own and report on their observations in a com parison paper to stereotypes promoted by the media or upbringing from early child hood. For the uninformed, all events sponsored by any one group of the University community is open to anyone in the Universi ty community at large. On May 9. I attended a Moth er's Day brunch that was spon sored as part of the Black Arts Week The hosts and hostesses, all Africans and African-Ameri cans. were lovely and gracious individuals who made sure the food served was delicious and that the guests present were relaxed and comfortable The entertainment was superb l.ater on. all mothers present — of color or not — were pre sented with the traditional appropriate rose bouquets for having undertaken one of the hardest jobs in the world. Unfor tunately. I was earlier unable to attend the dinner, the talent show, the fashion show, or the dance, hut conversations with those who had reflected growing reports. It is unfortunate that media stereotv pes such ns boatings and riots, or stereotypes from early childhood that preclude people from associating with others not like them put the totul cultures in a bad light and perpetuate untruths It's time that more individuals attend the events, mix with the people and find out the truth for themselves. Ann Leadon Leisure Studies High standards Thanks for the educational and energetic piece on hot guys in Beverly Hills 90210 [ODE. May 10). Just think, the Emerald might have chosen to use that space for an insightful critique of the American Studies Confer ence, a thoughtful review of the John Trudeli concert or a report on the Black Student Union par ty/ort show — all of which hap pened in the EMU the previous weekend. But you made sure your read ers didn't have to hear about those You make it easier for us all to rest easy I'm so glad you resisted temptation and stuck to your standards. Jeff Harrison English