EDITORIAL
Third time’s no charm
for requirement vote
This week, for the third time in as many months, the
University Assembly wiil vote on proposed revisions to
the race, gender and non-European requirement. And
whatever the outcome, a substantial portion of the Uni
versity community will be unhappy.
One of tills greatest problems with the revision and the
debate on it is facts: either a lack of the fats or misrepre
sentations of them. This was made further evident in a
set of commentaries that appeared in Sunday’s Regit
ter-Guard. where proponents and opponents voiced their
concerns.
One significant conflicting point is the revision's cost.
Proponents claim it will be about $350,000 per vear. Oppo
nents claim it will cost $1 million per year tor the first
two years and S2 million a year thereafter. This is a dis
parity not easily overlooked. —— ———
If the opponents are right,
the University could find
itself stuck with an
unplanned outlay of an addi
tional SI.65 million at a time
when the effects of 1990‘s
Measure 5 will be truly just
beginning.
The pro commentary
states, "there an? mechanisms
in the proposed requirement
that prevent its implementa
tion." This is not so In fact,
there is no language in the
proposed revision that
addresses costs.
The current
committee that
drafted the
propose! should
be replaced with
a more even
representation of
the many
viewpoints that
surround this
issue.
In fact, the opposite is true.
The revision's implementa
tion may be postponed for one year if there are insuffi
cient classes to moot the demand — not because there
is not enough money for the classes.
Further, the requirement requires "that the University
administration commit sufficient resources to support
additional classes over the next two years to provide
the array of options necessary for the implementation
of this requirement." The proposal requires the courses
to bo funded — thore are no "mechanisms that prevent
its implementation without adequate resources."
However, the money issue is just one of the proposal's
many unanawered questions — but one that can be dealt
with, assuming both side are willing to cooperate and
compromise. Of course, because the committee that draft
ed the proposal was rather heavily weighted with pro
ponents, much of this discussion was passed over.
It's not too late to address the many flaws in the pro
posal. although that should have been a part of the draft
ing processes. However, the current committee that draft
ed the proposal should be replaced with a more even
representation of the many viewpoints that surround this
issue.
The University Assombly should not be spending its
time rewriting proposals that come before it. It should be
voting on polished motions that reflect the viewpoints of
more than half the members. After all, isn’t that what
"diversity" is all about?
Oregon Daily
Emerald
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LETTERS
Laughed, cried
When a fellow graduate stu
dent from the linguistics depart
ment i ailed to tell me the Slit
dent Insurgent had denounced
Tom Glvon as a racist, my first
reaction was to burst into laugh
ter In fact. I laughed until I
cried.
If there is one thing Givon is
not. it's a racist I have been in
the linguistics graduate program
for five years, and 1 have been
hlac k every day of those five
years 1 think I would have
noticed any racist attitudes or
behavior on Givon's part He is
not a man who hides any
aspects of his c haracter under a
bush
I do not agree with GivotTs
position on the motion to revise
the race, gender and non-Euro
jieaii requirement However, the
fact that Givon and I disagree
does not make him a racist It
makes him a human being with
a different viewpoint, and he
has a right to express it
The opinion voiced by the
Insurgent is tasteless, misguid
ed. immature, irresponsible and
inaccurate Apparently, it is not
interested in Givon's true rea
sons for opposing this require
ment
If the Insurgent plans, to con
tinue its campaign of intimida
tion and name-calling, it might
want to consult with some
experts on thinly-veiled charac
ter assassination and half-lwked
ranting* May I suggest a call to
Lon Mahon and the CXiA. or
perhaps the anti-Catholic Print
ed Page Ministry
As methodological soulmates
of the if-you-don’l-agree-with
me-you-are-moral! y-unfit-to
draw-another-breath mindset.
I'm sure they could give the
Insurgent a few helpful hints.
Belinda Young-Davy
Linguistics
Ignored Islam
The Emerald's coverage of the
open meeting on anti-Semitism
that took place May 25 and
reported in the Emerald the next
day was shamefully incomplete
At least one half of the time
spent in discussing courses on
multiculturalisrn was devoted to
debate on inclusion of courses
on the sociology of Islam and
the Middle East.
It's obvious that the Middle
Hast and Islam don't exist in the
< onscious of the University
administration, faculty and the
campus newspaper
Shame
Wira Kurniawan
Eugene
Which ones?
The Emerald ran a commen
tary from Eben Fodor in which
he stated that each year more
than 87,000 species become
extinct (ODE. May 10). Perhaps
he could trac k up that statement
In enumerating to the readers
just one fourth of that number
for 1991. as published in 1992.
Or to make it even easier, he
could inform us ns to which 238
species became extinct in any
one day.
Tom Lakin
Eugene
Helmet choice
1 believe the editorial about
bicycle helmets in the May 24
Emerald misses the point entire
ly The problem with the bill is
not whether there is a statistical
need for such a law. but rather
how much freedom of choice
we as Oregonians wish to sur
render to the intrusive state and
national governments
I am increasingly incredulous
over how much we "free Amer
icans" are willing to surrender
all responsibility for personal
action to the government. I
believe this is the real concern
in the (unfortunately) passed
seat-belt law and the abortion
issue
Are we going to learn person
al responsibility and respect, or
are we going to elect to have a
parental government leaning
over our shoulders all the time
telling us to behave like good lit
tle children? Even Plato said
that you can't legislate morals
(Republic XI).
Jenifer Sheldahl
Fine and Applied Arts
Missed it
This letter is regarding the
event put on by the Asian/Pacif
ic American Student Union the
weekend of May 22-23.
Helen Zia. a prominent Asian
American speaker and leading
advocate for minority civil
rights, came to the University
May 22 as part of Asian-Ameri
can Heritage Month
"Racism in America" was
addressed, as well as the 1983
Vincent Chin case, where in
Michigan, a Chinese-American
was beaten to death with a base
ball bat by a man and his step
son. Both were let off with pro
bation and a fine of $3,780 each
because the judge said, "These
men are not going to go out and
harm somebody else."
Our event was covered by
radio, television and What's
Happening, but actions seem to
speak louder than words for the
Emerald, which was not pre
sent.
Tina Koida
APASU
Missed thrust
It seems a few people totally
missed the point of my com
mentary [ODE, May 18). The
thrust of my letter was to help
people become aware of "politi
cally correct bigotry" that is
developing toward groups like
celibate men and women From
those who actually spoke to mo
personally, it seems those points
were made well. (Politically cor
ns! bigotry existed here against
people of African ancestry, so
it's no new idea.)
Iii tin; May 24 Emerald. Peter
Shair's opening statement
pulled a phrase from the end of
my commentary, where l
referred to a specific group
people with a specific problem,
and he applied it to a statement
1 made about everybody on am
pus.
That is a contextual reading
error, so Shair should hit the
books and try again. All I have
to give him is real love, which
calls for a spanking in this case.
Regarding Paul VanSickle's
letter (ODE. May 24). I did not
say I was "more righteous
because I lead a pure life."
)esus. who lived a perfect life
2.000 years ago, became my
righteousness. When I start
looking at my own deeds as
source of righteousness, you can
start looking for me at the porno
stand or stalking someone to
rape (i.e. self-righteousness is u
killer).
I prefer talking with Shair and
VanSickle. as 1 frequently
extend the invitation to anyone
who'd like to talk about things,
but they don't seem to have
phones.
Bob Weigel
Lab Technician