COMMENTARY
‘Emerald’ independence is what it’s all about
By Gerry Gazlay
or nearly a century, the
Oregon Daily Emerald has
JL been the most important
medium of communication on
the campus of this University.
Yet many members of the Uni
versity community are generally
unaware of the Emerala s histor
ical development, legal structure
or organizational purpose
The Emerald had its genesis in
The Oregon Weekly, which was
first published by the Eutaxian,
Laurean and Philologian Soci
eties. Volume 1, No. 1 appeared
on Monday. Feb. 12, 1900. When
the newspaper resumed publica
tion after the summer break on
Oct. 1,1900. it had become a pub
lication of the ASUO. which it
remained until 1952.
In fall 1909 the paper began
publishing twice a week and its
name was changed to the Oregon
Emerald. In 1914 it began pub
lishing three times a week. When
publication was finally stepped
up to five times a week in the fall
of 1920. the newspaper became
the Oregon Daily Emerald.
Between 1952 and 1971 the
Emerald was published by the
University's Student Publications
Board. After more than a year of
planning and preparation to
make the ODE an independent
organization, the publications
board was abolished so that the
ODE could be "privatized" and
converted into a nonprofit pub
lishing corporation financially
and legally separated from the
University. This new entity — the
Oregon Daily Emerald Publish
ing Company. Inc. — came into
a state of legal existence under
the provisions of the Oregon Non
profit Corporation Act on Oct. 26,
1971.
One of the primary reasons for
making the ODE independent
was to protect the editorial auton
omy of the University's principal
student newspaper During the
Vietnam War era, mam student
publications were critical of gov
ernment policies, which some
times resulted in publicly sup
ported universities being
pressured by offended legislators
and alumni.
But independence was also
seen as a way to allow for
growth potential. Under the old
system, all excess monies real
ized from Emerald operations
were returned to the ASUO gen
eral fund at the end of the fiscal
year. As an independent corpo
ration. it was foil, the ODE could
put its surplus funds back into
the paper's operation, thereby
enabling the corporation to
make future capital expendi
tures (such as new equipment)
and enhance its ability to pub
lish a first-rate student newspa
per.
The ODE is a largely self-sup
porting organization: more than
80 percent of the corporation s
revenues comes from advertis
ing sales. About 17 percent
comes from IFC funding which
is, in effect, a bulk subscription
for University students paid
from student fees.
The ODE also pays its own
way. The corporation leases
office space in the EMU. owns
its own telephone system, pays
for all telephone bills, supplies
and equipment, issues its own
payroll and pays taxes.
The ODE employs seven non
students (including the paper's
general manager, production
manager and advertising direc
tor) and about 85 students
(including the paper's editor).
During the course of a year, the
ODE also utilizes the services of,
perhaps, 70 to 80 student free
lance writers.
The ODE'S corporate mission
is reflected in the preamble to its
bylaws, which states that the
"sole and exclusive purpose of
this nonprofit corporation is to
provide education and training
for University of Oregon students
in all aspects of newspaper pro
duction of an independent stu
LETTERS
Even “hets"
Though it's apparent that the
main targets under attack by the
Oregon Citizens Alliance are
homosexuals and bisexuals. I
believe that Professor Henry Al
ley's comment that "even heter
osexual people can show their
support” in opposing the OCA
by wearing pink triangle buttons
during Hate Free Week (ODE,
Nov. 16) puts emphasis where
none should be.
To say "even heterosexuals”
implies, to a degree, that support
from straight citizens is some
what out of the norm. The fact is
that several "hets" find the OCA
agenda chilling and threatening
to basic, fundamental rights of
all citizens.
For example, the OCA distrib
uted a pamphlet titled "What Is
the Best Use of a Woman?" You
guessed it: the best "use of" a
woman is to be a wife and moth
tir, according to tin* OCA. This
loaves me out, a non-wife and a
non-mother. And if you don't fit
the narrow confines of a "right
life" then you are at risk of being
at the reviving end of OC.A big
otry, gay or straight... plain and
simple.
The lion's share of OCA en
mity is indeed targeting gays,
lesbians and bisexuals. But let's
not forget that their full agenda
is far more broad-reaching, en
compassing land use is
sues/environmental concerns
(OCA is anti-environmentalism,
natch), church/state meshing
(they're for it) and on and on.
So this "straight" wears but
tons opposing the OCA daily,
both out of support for my
gay/lesbian/bisexual brothers
and sisters, and also to protect
my own ass. Charity, and vigi
lance. begins at home.
Carol Barg
Eugene
LETTERS POLICY
The Oregon Daily Emerald will attempt to print all letters
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
lie verified when the letter is submitted.
The Emerald reserve* the right to edit any letter for length or
style.
dent newspaper."
The ODE is governed by a 10
person volunteer board of direc
tors. Three of its members are
elected by and from the ranks of
student employees in the paper's
news, advertising and production
departments. Two board mem
bers are students appointed by
the ASUO president to represent
the general student body The
University president appoints
two faculty or staff employees of
the University to serve on the
board. And the board itself elects
three at-large members; these
seats have traditionally been held
bv members of the outside busi
ness community.
The general manager and edi
tor both report directly to the
board of directors. The general
manager has responsibility for
managing the administrative,
business and fis»al affairs of the
corporation. Under the ODE's
bylaws, the editor, who must be
a University student, has "final
The Oregon Dally Emerald bills Itself as
an "Independent student newspaper.” Is
that an apt description, or lust hype? In
my opinion, the former.
authority for all editorial opera
tions and all editorial content"
for the Emerald The board of
directors hires the editor each
academic year, hut is not
involved in the formulation of the
Emerald"s news or editorial poli
cies
The ODE does not have any
shareholders or corporate mem
bers No individual or group
derives any economic benefit
from the operation of the i orpo
ration. exi opt for employees and
freelance writers who ret eive
wages for services rendered
The (hvtfon Daily Emerald bills
itself as an "independent student
newspaper." Is that an apt
description, or pist hype? In my
opinion. the former
The Emerald is "independent"
because it is not legally a part of
the ASUO. the University or the
State Board of Higher Kducation.
It's truly a "student" newspa|>er
because, ns mentioned above,
only the student editor controls
the paper's news and editorial
content.
For me, these two features are
the essence of what the Oregon
Daily Emerald is .ill about, and
represent the paper's principal
contribution to the University
i ominunity
Gerry Gazlay is mi at-large
member of the Kmerald hoard of
direr: tors
To
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