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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 22, 1994)
EDITORIAL Request for office: Is it discrimination? For the second time in as many weeks, a battle for office space in the EMU has uncovered the undeniable discriminatory motives of a student-funded organization on campus. This time, the villain is radio station KWVA. The victim: all women everywhere. Mow dare the upstart station suggest that a neighbor ing women's bathroom bo converted into office space? The more suggestion indicates a deep-seeded hatred toward women and their excretory rights. It's a traves ty! How could the EMU Hoard even consider such a bla tantly anti-feminist proposal? Although KWVA argues that the bathroom is hardly ever used, the fact remains that it could ho used bv any woman on campus. That bathroom represents more than 8,000 people so what if only the tiniest pen outage of those people actually make use of the facilities:* The true motivations behind KWVA s claim are proved by solid evidence: some bathroom patrons claim to have overheard KWVA staff members telling a joke about the station being the "Male student union " The ta/lwtlf* ctnm U of wnmnn-h/iImu ATTENTION: This has been a tost of the emergent v satiro system. This was only a test. Of course, KWVA cannot be fairly act used of woman hating, just because it has asked for permission to con vert an infrequently used bathroom to office space. The request was made because the station has outgrown its existing space and needs to expand. That's all. Similarly, it was also unfair for the Oregon Commen tator to be accused of racism when it made a request ear lier this month for additional office space. Its proposal would've moved the growing publication into the joint office of four student unions — the Muslim Student Association, the Japanese Student Organization, the Iran ian Student Association and the Singapore Student Association and moved the unions into the piano room, larger than the Commentator office but smaller than their previous accommodations. Officials from the student unions described the request as an affront, and at least one was offended that the proposal was oven considered. The only affront that could've occurred would have been if the EMU Board had refused to listen to the Commentator just because some people think it’s racist. There is hidden racism, sexism and other forms of dis crimination on this campus, and everywhere. No one can dispute that. However, the acknowledged existence of such discrimination doesn't mean accusations of dis crimination should be thrown around lightly. It is a seri ous charge, and it is used too often. Whatever happened to "the benefit of the doubt"? It's getting so that people are considered guilty of discrimi nation until someone proves them innocent — as if it was possible to prove it, one way or the other. The case for discrimination must be supported by more than a simple request for office space. If the charge is dispensed too liberally, then it loses its punch. And no one stands to gain from that. ()r< i>on Doily Emerald PO 1*0* JIM tUGCNt OAEGOW 97403 The ugh y r«day dur*ng the fChocv Daily fmeraid 300 i Managing Editor Editorial Editor Graphic* Editor Freelance Editor osacutar.* Steve Mrr<s j«ff Pcfcherdi M* ht>r $n*ndkK Kafy Soto •t:&S «l M«wr Vpg. -•• 0;*/> f ;\%1 •. U«t> W J.ly thrc year Tuesday .1- 5 Thursday du»’”9 the yum-r-c- t>y Co W* St th* UruvfKSrty Ot Oregon lug The t r'«*rav? operates ■ *Jep<j<xJnniS * the u-vers.!, w*tr> " < | t Me*’ •' ,|1 17- ->’■ ,»-»d '3 a ■ <•''■!»•• .;•» the Associated P'ess Trw» f ‘S private property The ur>*«wfui removal o* a%r oi c by *n* Editor-In-Chief Jafce lW»/g Caey Anderso Sport* Editor David Thom Editorial Editor Jell Pastay Photo Editor Jeff Winters Supplement* Editor Night Editor Steve M*ms A»*oclate Editor* Edward Ktopfenatem Student Government » Comm urn f) Ju»*e Swenson, Hbgher l dbcatan New* Staff: MfclXfy BtUGUR, Erie fiucfchaiter. Wtl*on Chan. Dave ChflffcOAAMU. Amy Co*umtv\ J*m Qaws Mt%j Oadotph. Amy (Vvenpod Cara Echevarria Moira F«*ds Marfr. f<*he« Sarah Mendenwn. tioathode it»m«. Ym long leong. Manus Mma-xi Tr«*ta No©i f i»sabeth Rearview* Robbe Reeve*. lu» Satacoa. Scott Simonson. Stephanie S*»aon Suiy^o Steffen*. Ju»*e Swensen Mchato Thompson Aguiar. Kem Tripp Amy Van Tuyt Darnel W«»i General Manager Jody R*o Advertising Director Man Wane* Production Manager McneM Ron Advertising: Sub* Dutt*. N«cok> Mertmart. Teresa IsabeUn Jefl Manon Jeremy Mason. Uciw M*'-rrtt« MaciuMi I'u- noise* WoseB Ang.e W.ndhetm Classified tkv *> Merchant Wi apr* WKx Me a S.m t.-e tec« Distribution Andy Harvey John long Graham Simpson Business: Kalfy Carbone. Supervisor Judy ConnoBy Production Dee McCcbfc. Production CdorOWafcx Shae-'J Abrw- Grey Desmona Tara Gaurtney Brad Joss. Stacy Mtchen. Jenmtor Hotand. Matt Th*ngw|it, Clayton roc Newsroom MMM1 Display Advertising jab-37t2 Business Ortlce MISli! Clessitled Advsrtlsing 34«-«a43 2A Oregon Daily Fmet a la luesday FuDruary 22 i99u OPINION Tonya could have rocky homecoming RobbikRkkh.s on\>1 Harding is ai the Oregon somehow deserves to have a couple of weeks where Tonya will be out of the state, thereby possibly freeing up the front pages of newspapers for other news Hut she didn't leave quietly. Thousands of Portlanders bid Tonya goodbye, hoping she would get the gold medal. Although Tonya isn't consid ered to be thu frontrunner for a medal in the Olympics (they haven't got an event involving creative assault as of yet), it would be nice if Tonya got a medal. For that matter, it would be nu e if everyone got a medal at the Olympics However although Tonya has gone to Norway the Tonya sto nes |ust keep on coming On the Sunday before she left, lunv.i joined friends and went to a i Inin ti in Portland. She told the priest that she wanted him to pray for her when she skated at the Olvmpii s, ami she gave him the dates The priest then told Tonya that she was skating for Christ now and to do a good job. I didn't know that higher beings took sides in the Olympu s I guess that Tonya just needs all the help that she i an get Speaking of getting help. Tonya is getting support from another favorite person of mine. Sen Hob Packwood. While addressing a group in Medford. Pat kwood said that “the press has convicted her, and that isn't fair " Pat kwood dei lined to talk further about the implied disparity between Ins (.ase and Tonya's. This brings up an interesting point Who will hurt who more7 Will Bob's support of Tonya hurt her. or will Tonya's alleged antics hurt the senator7 Actually, probably neither. Nobody hut columnists seem to care about these things And Tonya Harding isn't the only one making news in Lille hammer these days. Nancy Kerrigan, in a very thoughtful way. called a news conference in Norway to tell the news media that there was more to the Olympics than the Tonya Harding fiasco, and that the press should perhaps i over oth er Olympic stories as well. Ironically, Kerrigan's well attended news conference (sev eral hundred reporters attended the meeting in a room that looked bigger than a stadium) coincided with the opening cer emonies to the Caines, with a corresponding lack of coverage Way to go. Nancy! I hope that Tonya does well at the Olympics I really do Seem ing that it probably is her last shot at a gold, it would be nice to see tier accomplish her dreams while she still has a chance to There’s also another reason why she should really enjoy Norway Her life is likely to be a living hell once she gets ba< k to the states While the lawsuit that would have kept Tonya from going to the Olympics has been dropped (in return for Harding dropping her multimillion-dollar retalia tory lawsuit that would have kept her from being dropped), it is still possible that she can tie charged by either state or feder al officials. Officials in Portland are still investigating the allegations that are flying around, and a trial still mas' he forthcoming. In fact, a grand jury in Multnomah County was hearing more wit nesses regarding the assault Maybe if Tonya is charged, there could lie a big party when she returns from Lillehammer There could be a crowd at the airport in Portland, with big "Welcome back, Tonya" signs Then, the district attorney could hand Tonya her subpoena, maybe with a few balloons attached for good measure and fun. I'd bo there, and 1 have the feeling that I wouldn't be alone. Somehow, Tonya Harding is one of the I setter tilings that has happened to the Olympics in the past few years She has light ened things up a bit. Sure, felo nious activities aren't exactly what Olympians are supposed to be striving for, but the come dy has certainly interested a few more people in the Games than would normally cure (like me) Of course, as Nancy Kerrigan pointed out, there is a lot more to the Olympics than the Tonya and Nancy story, and the media should try to cover as many of the stories besides the Harding controversy as they can. After all, the Winter Olympics only happens once every four years (Hut then again, how often are we fortunate to have someone come along like Tonya?) Go for the gold, Tonya. Believe me. we ll be watc hing. And. for that matter, waiting for you to i unit' back home. Hobbit• Beeves is a columnist for the Kmcmlil COMMENTARY The Oregon Doilv Emerald welcomes commentaries from the public concerning topics of interest to the University commu nity. The Emerald reserves the right to edit any letter for length or style.
