EDITORIAL Keep city manager; alternatives costly An ongoing effort in Eugene to eliminate the position of city manager and replace it with an elected council member is a noble attempt to bring accountability and democracy to city government. Noble, but ill-conceived. If the initiative makes it to the ballot and is approved by the voters, it would replace a system of government that has served Eugene effectively for almost half of a cen tury, putting in its place a newer system that, although arguably more "democratic." is likely to erode the gov ernment's efficiency and accomplish little else. The concerns that have led to the initiative seemed valid at first glance. The city manager, who is appoint ed by the council and not elected by the people, seems removod from accountability. If the voters disagree with the city manager's handling of public affairs, they are not empowered to recall the city manager or even vote the r itv manager out at the next election. This in no way indicates, however, that the city man ager is untouchable. A simple majority vote of the City Count il. and the city manager is out. Period. Ami the council members ore elected by the people. It is unlike ly that they would remain in office if the city manager was unpopular with the public. Replacing the city manager with an elected council chairperson would increase the accountability of city gov ernment slightly, but it would do so at a terrible cost in efficiency. I* 1X81 f in© new cnBirpersun wumu iwvtj mi ui mw irajwir sibilities of the old city manager, but with the added task shouldered by every other elected official in the country: getting re-elected. This would not only slow things down, but would also force the chairperson to resnond to whichever special interests made possible his election. Besides, it makes more sense to have the City Coun cil choose a city manager based on experience and qual ifications than to force the public to eioct ono based on lawn signs and television commercials. The public is sim ply not as likely to mako an informed decision. Supporters of the initiative also assort that, undor the current system, the city manager makes the policy, and the council merely approves it. The manager provides much of the information that the council uses to mako decisions, and therefore, it is arguod. the city manager is able to manipulate the council by withholding or down playing any facts that do not support the city manager's position. In an attempt to address this problem, the initiative also includes a provision to give a salary and benefits to each council member — including the chairperson and the mayor, who. under the current system, are unpaid vol unteers. This idea has merit, because it would allow coun cil members to spend more time away from other jobs and more time dealing with public policy. Unfortunately, that assumes that the more than $200,000 that it would cost could be found somewhere without harming city services. Under the circumstances, the drastic reforms suggest ed in the initiative are unnecessary and costly. The idea of restructuring Eugene's city government is founded in legitimate but exaggerated foars, and if a solution is need ed. it will hopefully take a different form than this one. Oregon Daily Emerald Managing Editor Editorial Editor Graphics Editor Freelance Editor The Oegon n*ty EmerMd derson Sports Editor Steve Mma David Thorn Editorial Editor Jett Pichhardt Jett Passay Photo Editor Anthonv Forney Thor Wasbotten Supplements Editor Katy Soto Night Editor: Steve Mrms Associate Editors: Scot Clemens. Student Go¥*rtm*nUActiv*s. Rebecca Mdrntt. Community Rivers Janssen, higher EduCMcrvAiPtnrvfttwbOh News Staff: Dave Charbonneau. Meg Dedoiph Amy Devenport Ma .1 F^ds Mart.n fisher, lest.# Ga»iano. Sarah Henderson. A/A Hssssldsh'. Edward K»opme Bn Teresa Isabela ie'«*my Mason, M.cr-ae O Bryan II, Machaet Try*?. Kelsey Vi*** Angie Windham Classified: Bee*y Me*Chan’. Manager Victor Meet S«m Tier Tec* Distribution: Brandon Anderson Graham Simpson Ed Taimaoge Business Kathy Carbone. Supervisor Judy Conno > Production. One M. obO. P'-OOuCiOn Coordinator Snaw a Atv?>r vire Gauiney B ac; Joss. JenmicK Roland. Naft Thangv«g*t. Dayton Ye* Newsroom 34B-5511 Display Advertising Business Office 346-5517 Classified Advertising :h«*e Ross M ett e V 346-3712 346-4343 as™ [CflgE wilisf 'I J 9ft frjtHHD UE.J\ THE 1*0*J£V THEf^3NEV! IT'S OjOT 7° BE lAj HERE SOMEPLACE* a s AlMAOV BUM RtMOVft) Better methods to prevent rape Lia Salcktia here has go! to !»• a hotter way to prevent date rape .L Better than the new "poli cy" devised by Antioch Univer sity that stops short of placing video monitors in dorm rooms to make sure students are having politically correct sexual rela tions. "If you want to take her blouse off. you have to ask If you want to touch her breast, you have to ask If you want to move your hand down to her genitals, you have to ask. If you want to put your finger inside her, you have to ask." said Karen Hall — simply called an "advocate” by Jane Gross of the iVew York Times — to a room full of freshman men. It was Hall's job to explain Antioch's new sexual offense policy, which requires step-by step consent with each new sex ual act. So what did Hall say to the room full of freshman girls? If vou want to lick his ear, you have to ask. if you want to feel his chest, you have to ask. if you want to grope his member, you have to ask7 Of course not. Young women are helpless waifs who don't have a due about holdinx their own in the sexual arena. Their job is just to lay there and con sent. or disagree to being acted upon. And young men art* too stupid to be taught to respect women’s bodies, and that no means no. It's just loo scary to educate people as stupid as college freshmen about what acquain tance rape is and how informa tion and smart choices can pre vent it. It's much better that Antioch administrators solve the dale rajHt problem with true uni versity spirit — make more rules. Another nifty fac et of the 13 page policy is that it's against the rules to have sex while intoxicated. Jane Gross reported that in Hall's speech, "She told them that 'consent is not mean ingful if it is given while under the influence of alcohol or drugs and thus it is against the rules to have sex with someone who is inebriated.' " I'm not trying to make light of any woman's experience with sexual assault Rape is a horri ble, horrible experience. It is the responsibility of higher educa tion to address the issue and apply solutions to the problem of rape on campus. But making rules that are not only ludicrous and dictatorial, but also impossible to enforce, is not the way to encourage solu tions. Lia Salaccia is a columnist for the Emerald. LETTERS Speaking out Thu gay movement has prompted a number of hearings in which the so-called positive aspects of homosexuality have Ixjen addressed. What is the gay movement other than creative non—violence being used to make a negative into a positive? In keeping with this creative non—violent approach. I pro pose that the U.S. Senate and the Joint Chiefs of Staff hear me speak on "Homosexuality: the Bane ol Society." 1 will speak on the unspoken so—called posi tive aspects of homosexuality. Does "bane" sound bad? That’s good because "good is bad and bad is good’ (Isaiah f>.i!Q). I real Is want to clarify this issue and do gays a favor. They're sweet people Then are! Ask them, they'll tell you them selves. Who can oppose them? I have news for the lesbian and bisexual women who march to "take back the night." You already live in darkness. You are port of the problem. Not only have you subtly swayed the women’s movement to embrace the gay agenda, but a lot of you have also worked from the "closet.” It's so much easier to bring heterosexual women to embrace the gay agenda when you pose as a heterosexual your self, isn't it? Well, your time is up! As a servant of the Lord, my job is to say "to those in the darkness, 'reveal yourselves!’ " (Isaiah 49:9). Of course that should be no problem. You are such sweet people. Who can oppose you? Bobby Meade Washington, D.C. LETTERS POLICY The Oregon Daily Emerald will attempt to print all letters containing continents on topics of interns! 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