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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 8, 1994)
EDITORIAL Is Amazon really that historical? History is being made at the University. The administration didn’t even know it, the history professors themselves probably didn’t even know it, but the tenants of Amazon fought for it It was 1947 when the University bought the structures that make up the Amazon family housing units Shipped via boat from Portland, the units were used to house returning veterans who were attending the University after World War il. Nearly a half century later the units are still being used to house students. The units did have a new roof put on, some of them did have a little foundation work and there was a bit of re wiring done. Regardless • they are nearly half a century old. Tho key is history, ami that is the direction the residents of Amazon have taken in order to preserve their community. The University had plans of demolishing and rebuilding the family units, many of which aro not oven occupied at this time because the University was ready to demolish them. M Amazon remains a historical site then that says a lot about the history of America. The Amazon residents went before the hugene Historical Review Board and petitioned for the board to declare Amazon .t historicel district. I hey won, sort of. From a political standpoint the Amazon tenants probably didn't care that they were living in a historical district: it just made a nice argument to preserve a place to live. Fearing higher costs, the loss of the community living, as well as no place to live while the units were demolished. Amazon tenants fostered the notion of a historical district. Now the students have a place to live, for the time being, but the cost of living will most likely increase. Some kind of renovation must be done. When something is done, costs will increase, perhaps even higher than they were perceived to go up bv demolishing and rebuilding. In fact an engineering study completed a few weeks ago said that preservation will be more expensive than building new units. The current tenants of Amazon have come away with a win, but what about the big picture? For the people that will be in need of family housing in the future they may very will be caught in the aftermath of the "save Amazon" movement. The structures, if preserved, will pass on a higher cost to the now tenants. It may bo time to do some new goal setting because the goal of low-cost family housing is history and that can't be preserved. Family housing is financially self supportive so the higher costs, if the buildings are preserved, will be directed toward the future tenants. History has been made, and unless the University files a petition and the vote is overturned then Amazon must be preserved. If Amazon remains a historical site then that says a lot about the history of America. Oregon Doily PO fiOOttt lUGCNC Thfl Oegon Omfy ( ^*'.**} <s published rtai»> Monday through f r»day during tb# »cbo<y y0at and Tuesday and Thursday during in© summer by the Oregon Da«ty EmerakJ Pubfcsbmg Co . Wk . at the University ot Oregon l ugene. Oregon The fm&akl operates 'idependentty or The Uo<v©«S'ty with othcea art Suite 300 ot The l.'b Memo' i U»von a • t m a member of th© Associated Press Th© Em&*kJ is private property the unlawful removal or use of papers >t prow*:u!at>»© by >ae Ed»tor-ln-Ch»©f: Jan# Berg Man•gtna Edit<x Editorial editor Graphic* Editor Fra«tanc« Editor C*y-oy AnckHKsn DavxJ Thom j«« PasU> Sport* Editor Editorial Editor Photo Editor Supplement* Editor Night Editor: Stffv*' M • St<rv«* KA % P<hhar(« n jti $t--,rx%<en Ka»y Soto Associate Editors t (N»a.’d KlOptonstW’ StvOtfrtt ArfiV Rebecca Me*f>r C&mmvrut) -M*> S**na©n hiQh#/ £dUr#?*><v4i|nnn.s;?afion N«w» SUift Mft'xJy Bdu-. I »-. Boch^dfle* Oa-i Dave Oarbonr>«n. J<m D*>>* Meg Dedoip* Am,- Devenport Ca/a Eoh+virrift, Ma* a f**e‘ds. Marita f Sarah ►♦enderson NfMlfhe* '■• Mimei Vin l eng leeny. Ma* uS Metand. T'-'Stfl No«i. I - satxsth Reenstjerna. Rotrtx* Reevev l a Saocoa Scott Simonson. Stephan* Season Susan/* Staftent. Ju«*e Sw»ts«<' Me***# Thompson Agu*Ar Kevin fnpp. Amy Van Tuyi Den«# Wes? General Manager Judy R*edt I Advertising Director Mark Waiter Production Manager Micn«te How Adverllalng SoOn Outta. Nut Metrmara I vma vice ->e" Je'en y Mchaei M»i»eflo. Rachael Tiu' Kelsey W»« . Ang.* Wmdheim Claaalfled ilec*y Merchant. Ma-’u»ge> Vctor Me; a. Sim Tre Tec» Dlalflbutlon: Andy Harvey, John Long, Graham Sanpaon Businama: Kathy Carbone. Supervisor Judy Connolly Production Dee McCotob Production Coonsnafor Shaena Ah*e Greg Desmond. Tara Gauitney Brad Joss Stacy Michel Jenn.ier Roland Man Thangyiyt. Clayton Yoe Nmroom . 346-5511 Office 346-5512 Display Advertising 346-3712 Classified Advertising.346-4343 W£’*€ P»NAi.LV DECKED To Do SO^rMVG ABour 7W£ V/Ol_EWC£ Ofsl TV. li 2 r wf found the g»uv REiPoNS/BtE FOR SOf*£ OF rwftX \J!OLEMCf fc. AND HME TIED M/M UP WAPPV I AtoW? / Art AT Wi Hk* MD rtrt WKOH KipouhBlI fon Kxwni cc>nn>rr yfj-o-' llii LETTERS You You walk outside and the bit ing wind tuts your fa< e As you begin to shiver and your body numbs, you want to reach for a wool jacket — but you don't own a jacket at all You want to go outside to a heated home, hut you only have a cold alley to return to Your stomach feels empty but you have no food or money This is what three million Americans face every day. Twenty-five pen cut of homeless are under age 1H One Eugene advocate stated that 45 percent of Eugenes homeless have high school degrees, and 1(1 percent have college degrees (witting an education is not an escape from unemployment and homelessness This could hap pen to you As u student, you have opportunities to get involved Come to a hunger and homelessness meeting through OSIMKC or . all :»4ti 4377 Get involved now and avoid being a statistic Inter Kate Wynne Jett Bolante Leslie Jones Nature guides Emerald readers may have noth ed the article about Mount Pisgah Arboretum, "Outdoor healing.” in the Jan 24 issue One can't help hut appreciate the serenity and pear efulness of a place like the Arboretum. In our often frantic, calendar driven lives, thunk goodness for these places of refuge where mind, body and soul are renewed and strengthened And hoys important it is to let this "healing power of the outdoors touch our children! Children learn and thrive outdoors in yvuts not possible within the confines of a classroom For the past 12 years, the Arboretum has provided an opportunity for schoolchildren to leave the classroom and explore the natural world and their place within it. Each spring a large pool of volunteer nature guides are recruited and trained to take ele mentary school children on walks through the Arboretum. 1 lie guides mtrodui e the chil dren to the variety of plants and animals that inhabit the area and strive to develop a sense of the interconnectedness of all life Most important of all, the interest, enthusiasm and appre ciation modeled by these guides is contagious, and makes a one and-a-half hour hike through the woods an experience the i liil dren never forget. Spring is rapidly approaching. Soon the Indian plum will be in bloom, and once again the Arboretum is seeking volunteers who desire to share their knowl edge and love of nature with the future stewards of the earth. If you're interested in a volunteer position in the outdoors that provides a vital serve e to the community, call the Arboretum office at 747-3817 Credit is available througli the KSCAPF program. Fran Rosenthal Mount Pisgah Arboretum Alarmed It seems to me the sole pur pose of T | Fooladi's Jon 2f> let ter was to create an environment of suspicion, hate and intoler ance toward member of the Haha'i faith on this campus His letter condemned the Baha'i for partii ipaling in recent Martin l.uther King )r Dav cele brations. Fooladi points to the Haha'i support of the state of Israel and prosolytizotion of their faith as factors that dis qualify them from partii ipatmg hi King flay events. If supporting the existence of Israel disqualifies groups from participating in King Day events, then many Christians. Jews and perhaps King himself should be disqualified. And if proselytization is another dis qualifying factor, most world religions should also lie exclud ed. I'lie Baha'i have not proven to be any more immoral than other religious groups. Nor has Fooladi presented any new evi dence that would make me believe special provisions should be created to exclude them from King Day events. Instead I feel rather alarmed that a small, religious minority is being so blatantly attacked. This is just not acceptable. The consequences of publishing a letter like this could be vorv dangerous Not many students know about the Baha'i faith and could ( arry the bigotry of this letter into their daily life. Please, to anyone who read Fooladi's letter and has ques tions about the Baha'i faith, edu cate yourselves' We do not need any more stereotyping, hate and intolerance on this campus! Yohanna Kinberg Co-Director Jewish Student Union Two sides "Group compares OCA with Nazis' — nonsense' The Oregon Citizens Alliance is taking a stand — as have gays and lesbians. Should either win? Not really. No special rights, period! Not lor me as a Christian or for gays and lesbians, since we re catego rizing. Did you see the article in the Hegistvr-Cuard about three weeks ago:' A bar, made into a gay and lesbian bar. discrimi nated against two straight women The coin has two sides to it When will the conflict end and the energy that is wasted be used for something important? If I were forced to take a stand, it would be against spe cial rights for gays and lesbians, or anyone, ini lulling myself. Vicki Travis Staff LETTERS The Oregon Daily Emerald will attempt to print all letters containing comments on topics of interest to the University community. The Emerald reserves the right to edit any letter for length or style.
