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 The Oregon D*ty Emerald .t published deh Monday mroieaP Friday Amng the *cN» year and Tuesday and Thursday during me »umm»f by m# Oregon Da^y Emeiaid Publishing Co Inc at me University ot Oregon Eugene. Oregon The Emerald operate* independently o» the University with ot*ce* at Suae 300 01 the Erb Memorial Umon and * a m*meer ot the Associated Press The Emerald » private (yoperty The unlawful remove » use ot papers a prosecutade by taw Editor Pat Meacn Naw* Editor J*e Editorial Editor Martin T,*hm Oraphlca Editor Ja« PaM* Entartammant Editor frays Worn Fr*Ol*nc« ton Of n*JC.OT Editorial Editor ftnrar* Jfhw Sport* Editor D*v« Charbonn«*o Supptamant* Editor C*«*y AnO»*on Might tditof Pal Maiach AlltcIM Editor*: Tammy Batey. Sfwdenf Government Acfivrhes. Dataiyn Tiappe. Community Coeeen Ponag. >*gAar Eduamn'Admintimon M*w* Sttd Cnuw Aiien Malt Bonder Juatm Brown Sarah Oar*. Mag Dadotph Amy Devenpon Jan taaon, Amanda femm Anthony Forney Bath Mage Te>e»a Muntamger HaOacca Mwt.tt Stave Mm» HLaty Moeoer T iitm Muefcer Truta Moai. E»an Shaw tnc« StudenOu Manon Sutor Handy f lueean Me hale Thompeon Aguar Amy Van Tuyl Todd wavitt Dayton Yaa Owneral Manager Judy Hredi Production Manager Menem Ho»» Advertiaing Tom Loach Sae> Manager Shawn Berven Ornce M.i agar Jane hoia Tarawa taabelM Pha^s Johnaon II Chn» Kanod. Jeremy Maw- Van V OBryan it Guear Oh Haehaai Ttu». Ange Charm Claaatttad: Becky Merchant. Manager Bony Logan. Sharon Sat;re Olatribution: Brandon Andaraon. Graham Srnpaon Buatnaaa: Kathy Cardona. Supevisot Judy Corneay Production ingd Wh.te, Production Coo'it tK* Kama Granger Oaa McCoOC Stray Miches Jemviai FTosand. Janrv.V3 / I FiRESlDC ^ WCcu.lT'S K 6k NtvtR ISM NO — JUST TV IK TO TV€M On TML /IV RADIO RADIO77 - / SK\p-m*r gnu. Nbu wavs ft TVty UfcVE * KWOtZVOUS —->. \NNY a OK. * DATE wnwTX^rtNV non &u. do you MKVfc K \>CG -7 M.rmE DoG' A CAT > WORRY ABOTIWkT I Be* 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