EDITORIAL
Evolution of debate
slipping backward
In the 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial. Clarence Darrow
unsuccessfully defended a high school teacher who pre
sented the Darwinian theory of evolution to his students.
Toaching evolution was against the law in Tennessee.
The case is considered a landmark because it helped
spark dobate on the values of scientific evidence over
religious traditions in the public schools. Despite John
T. Scopes’ initial setback, evolution is now recognized
by most scholars as a valid explanation of human exis
tence.
In Vista. Calif., a similar debate is shaping up today.
However, this time the tablos are turned. The Vista
school board may vote in Juno to make creationism —
the theory that the Earth and all its inhabitants were cre
ated by a supremo being (God) — mandatory learning for
all students, thereby destroying the boundaries between
church and state devised by the U.S. Supreme Court.
To honestly evaluate the dobate, one needs to under
stand the purpose of a public education — to prepare
students for the future by teaching them the skills they
will need in the real world. Aside from basic subjects
like moth, writing und science, it also involves dis
cussing and evaluating such topics as life, sex, society
and death. Those subjects are taught on the basis of
researched information combined with theoretical mus
ings.
Evolution belongs in public schools. It is a scientific
theory proved to a satisfactory extent through research.
Science, which is knowledge derived from observation,
accepts evolution as a legitimate theory, as well it
should. Although people can interpret scientific discov
eries differently, the goal of science is always the same
— to further our understanding of the world around us
Christianity, unlike science, is based on faith. And
regardless of now hard you try. you cannot teach faith.
Because accepting creationism as a valid theory means
believing in God, that is like teaching an unteachable
concept.
Tho school board’s proposed policy would encourage
teachers to show "weaknesses that substantially chal
lenge theories in evolution.” But if the board were to tru
ly implement such a policy, it would have to teach all
alternative theories. In other words, every religion that
makes a claim about the genesis of human life deserves
equal time. That is one of the main purposes of separat
ing church and state; no one religion is favored over
another, whether it be Catholicism. Buddhism or athe
ism.
While different theories on the same subject have a
place in schools, students' educations should bo based
on the most plausible facts available. Creationism is
based too much on religious interpretations of facts and
belongs in the church or the home. If parents really want
their children to learn religious theories, they should
send them to private religious institutions, not public
schools.
Oregon Daily
Emerald
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LETTERS
Super cynic
Having worked alongside
Jason Moore as an EMU Board
of Directors member, I know
him to be intelligent, Involved
and endowed with a keen sense
of humor; however, more often
than not, I find myself in strong
opposition to his public pro
nouncements
A good cose in point are the
remarks attributed to Moore in
the May 19 Emerald in his angry
denunciation of the Incidental
Fee Committee members who
ousted Steve Masat. Moore
called a majority action of the
1FC undemocratic, adding that
members acted in a "vile and
reprehensible manner."
This is Quintessential Moore
at his bombastic best, using hy
perbolic rhetoric and theatrics
in an attempt to smear a Film of
righteous indignation over a pa
tently absurd accusation
Moore is also quoted as stat
ing that "to blame the IFC's
problems with the EMU on
Steve is a cynical attempt to get
him out of office." Cynical?
Masat helped mastermind the
most unconstructive and vin
dictive series of joint IFC/EMU
budget committee hearings that
I witnessed during my three
years on the board, and Moore
can summon the gall to survey
the alienation that Masat left in
his wake and call it student em
powerment.
Sheesh! Moore ought to stake
his own claim to the title of su
per cynic.
Mark Watson
Knight Library
Start without us
Yo, chumps! Recently we
read about the exploits of the
undefeated Emerald softball
team. We laughed. We've seen
better play from a lee ball game.
Hut then again, what do you
expect from a group of people
where everyone's nickname is
"scoop."
Look at the teams you played.
Those teams couldn't even shel
lac Charlie Brown. The admin
istration - oh. come on. So you
beat a bunch of Docker-wearing
fools. And we all know that if
you aren't wearing Dockers,
you're just wearing pants.
Everyone knows how hard it is
to round the bases with an alu
minum walker
About the mighty rout over
the ASUO — give us n break
Bobby I-«e is at the plate, every
body play deep! They got one
run — did he hit n homer? We
say that because we know you
had to pitch to him because Kar
men Pore was on deck
Why don't you play a real
team' We don't normally lower
our standards to your level of
competition, but the all-star
game is not until July We used
to think our grandmas were un
coordinated until we saw you
papor t»oys.
Step up to the mike. If you
aren't out on the softball field by
tHth Avenue on June l at 3:30
pm.. we know your softball
team is as worthless as your
paper Come one. come all,
because we are willing to have
the losing team reps appear on
the front page holding a sign
that says LOSER!
Dean VanDecoevering
Pre-Business
Larry Rapp
Sociology
Streetwiser
In regards to the May 17
"Streetwise" question, a neigh
bor of mine who lived in a big
apartment house (only because
of inherited money, and ndt be
cause he could keep a wellpaid
business position) despised
everyone.
Seeing me one evening in a
well-filled lobby, he called out.
"Do me a favor and tell me the
day you're going to die." I im
mediately replied. "I like my
hair the way it is," which
blocked any answer from him.
Jamas Haarmanca
Eugana
Story lacks merit
D. Lee Williams has the right
to free speech as much as any
one else. If Williams chooses to
glorify strip clubs, that is Wil
liams' prerogative. However, it
is ridiculous and offensive that
the Emerald chooses to serve us
a medium for Williams' writing.
The Emerald is funded in part
hy students' incidental foes and
so it has u responsibility to uti
lize its entertainment section
pages for stories or reviews that
will nppeul to at least a signifi
cant portion of the student
IhkIv Instead, its intent seems to
he to provoke the ire of those
who don't think, stories glorify
ing strip clubs belong in the
campus paper
The lack of good judgment
demonstrated in choosing to
publish this story is disappoint
ing. There have been frivolous
and pointless stories in the Em
erald's past, but this is the first
time (that 1 know of) that the
publication has stepped beyond
the bounds of good taste. Cen
sorship is the last thing I want to
see in a campus paper, but this
story about some buffoon
whooping it up at a strip club
should have been left out due to
lack of merit
Jason Jones
Pre-Journalism
Thanks Bob
I say "thank you" to Bob
Weigei for his commentary on
his celibacy [ODE, May IB)
In this day and age. it is rare
to see someone who is willing to
talk about it proudly. Today’s
society has a focus on sex. espe
cially the media Even our com
mercials are sensual.
It is hard for someone to re
main celibate in this day and
age; there is pressure no matter
what anyone says. And while
we don't want medals or to say
that we are better than anyone
else, we don't want to lie looked
down upon because this is the
life we have chosen — just as
people who aren't celibate do
not wish to be looked down
upon.
Kristen Kessler
Psychology
LETTERS POLICY
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containing comments on topics of interest to the University
community.
Letters to the editor must be limited to no more than 250
words, legible, signed and the identification of the writer must
be verified when the letter is submitted.
The Emerald reserves the right to edit any letter for length or
style.