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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 8, 1994)
EDITORIAL New requirement is no catch-all solution An Important symbolic gesture was made Wednes day, as the University Assembly overwhelmingly approved a new multicultural curriculum requirement, which would effectively double the old requirement, raising it from three credits 10 SIX. Thankfully, there was little of the antagonism Hnd name-calling that characterized last year's debate over multicultural ism, which eventually forced the Assembly to throw up its hands and send the issue to commit tee. Merely Increasing the requirement from one class to two will have a negligible effect... However, the relative absence of such venomous words should not be inter preted as a signal that the new requirement pleases all parties. In fact, it pleases very few. Four student unions — the Mc.xican-Chir.ano Student Union, the Native American Student Union, the Asian/Pacifh -American Student Union and the Black Student Union — all voiced their opposition to the new requirement in a prepared statement, read at the Assem bly meeting. They slated that it is "not in (the unions') interests to force a reluctant populat e to learn to appro date" their cultures and histories. This, of course, assumes that it is possible to forxe a reluctant populace to learn or appreciate anything. Merely increasing tint requirement from one class to two will have a negligible effect on the acceptance of diver sity — either here at the University or elsewhere. Stu dents who are interested in learning about the issues that will be taught in those classes would probably take the classes voluntarily anyway; those who aren't inter ested will simply blow off the new requirement. The best alternative to a new and expanded multicul tural curriculum requirement is the increased incorpo ration of multicultural perspectives in the general cur riculum. Although it is absurd to suggest that multiculturalism should bo taught in every class (astron omy. for instance, has nothing to do with multicultural ism), it can certainly be worked into more classes than it has been so far. And. when it is financially possible, the University should pursue an expanded curriculum that offers more and more courses from outside the traditional, Euro poan-American-male perspective. But those classes should be optional. And. the expansion of multicultural curriculum, if and when it takes place, should not be at the expense of current offerings, as long as the majority of the student body feels satisfied with those offerings There is little doubt that the now multicultural cur riculum requirement is well-intentioned, but it should not be considered the catch-all solution to the problems of intolerance, prejudice and discrimination that exist on this campus and throughout our society. < h, gf 'it I PO OQt 3t*>* tudwi 0At&0W9?*0 Th* OfApwn D#*Y «i pufcftshixJ darfy Monday * -KlHy during th» u boo* y«;v and Tuftaday and Thyraday during |h# ywmr by lb* O*gon D«>!y <*..(« fthra Co Inc *1 the On v0r*rty of I ugor**. O*gon d m at Su«e 30C ■.>< «** f ft Mr^ncy ,»i ljn*on a membu of th© Aaaoostad Pr#*s Th* £ mav**d »4 P'fvala properly Th* r*mov{* 0» uM of pap#r» -a prOMCutflb** b-y '•»* Ed»lor-m*Chk*f; Jafr© Reyo Managing t dtlof Editorial Editor Graphics Editor f raalanca Editor A/XfcWS**'' Dav**1 Tlwn (’avia, W*n!®»a Sport* Editor Editorial Editor Photo Editor Suppi«m®ot» Editor Simm Mim» P*ckharcK K**y Scrfo N tght tan of h.,^ Soto AuocMt Editors f lift'd Kloplanitr. Student Gov*rnm*n&Aarv>Nx*. Rebecca Men*. Communrfy MjwJNjfKi Hm«, Hghar fdUaMoft4dnfhiiralw Ntwt Staff: Mandy BauCum l ofi Battmeftb Cr.c Bucsha’!©' W'son Chan. Oava ChartXXVMWk/ Amy CoAxnbo. J*m D«vr» Meg Dedofch. Amy Oavunport M,v.j Fx*dv Martm f snor Sa?ah Henderson. Y>n l eng l eong. Manus Mo and, Tr-eta Noe! Elisabeth Rottfra Rmvm lui Satoccui Sco« S*mooson, Staphsma Stsaon. Susanna Sle««n* Mm ne*a Thompson. Amy Van Tuyt. Dane* Was* General Manager Judy fWf Advertising Director Marti Waller Production Manager Mcheie Ross Advertising: H- or Oav■%, Sub*> Dutta Ncole Mtrxmarti Ta*asa i*at>e<i« Jett Mar.on. Jaramy Mason Me hud Mrfiette. Kersey We*«r<: Classified Bec*y Merchant, Manager Veto Me***, S-m T*e Tec* Distribution John long. Graham Sampson Butinata; Kathy Carbone Sup«rvia<v Judy Connoay Prockrctton Daa McCobb. ProoUrhon Coo/tanakv Shaama Abe*e. Oag OeemorxJ Tara GaoRnay fVad Joss. Jerwfer Roiand Man ThanqvMl. Dayton Yae ...--MM1II •uimuOmct. ..._MMlIi CM spicy Advertising_ ClassifM Advertising.. . .MMM J 7WE LZ 7Vi£v AuroMATfQ yy jog a^d Pur n'E our or work SO l vJENT SACK To SCMOOC tor some w/oh tech srrfcA'WM/o I SAID TO MYS£iF r'O 8ErrEKG£T SOV.E SKillS A/OW I HAVE A GOOD JoB Su/l D/a/6 MACU/A;es TV AT PUT OTHER PfOPUE ovr of ia/ork . rw«s on( «£of wiu 6( C*nst£ ^ of ro'M5 cviRl^r >og rn Z, A LETTERS A better man I .i5: shot ked itiul <juifrank K disgusted by the viewpoint by < Constantine Potilos (ODt. April ft) in his commentary regarding (be labeling of men in relation to their sexuality. He says that the labeling of men as potential rapists is the product of irrational fear and ignorance He uses the word "punises" entirely for shock val ue. then prtx txxfs to preach alxnit the oppression ho boars, with labels that have nothing to do with tho topic, such as "poten tial pedophile " He even has the gall to claim that men have been "sexually and emotionally ster ilised" because of the aw areness and os ognition of sexual assault Well, excuse me. Mr Poulos. if I don't stop and applaud your brave stand in a society that obvi ously oppresses poor helpless men. making unwarranted i laims despite their innocent behavior Your an usation that women's fears are irrational and ignorant is shameful Many women live a life in which fear for their own safety dominates nearly every thing they do Many ft time have I thought that 1 would almost thank the attai kur who took only my purse and left my laxly atone Saferide is a service offered so women do not have to make the decision to compromise their physical and emotional well being because of the ilei essity or desire to accomplish something outside of the home. The worst you will probably ever have to suffer as a result of sexual awareness or sexual assault is the exertion of a little more effort in getting to know a woman before your affections become welcome. And you'll probably be a better man for it Barbara Grimes Pre-Joumalism passion, or to .1 'spare the rod, spoil the bov" mentality, which not only approves (he harharii punishment of "< aneing" (flog ging!. hui may find some relief from our own country's failure to curb 1 rime by cheering another country 's harsh punishment for them Hither choir e brings up some emotions to any reader of your editorial "Plan to vandalize? Pre pare for Hogging " Let s get one thing very clear, the head, how ever. "< aneing" is "torture" as defined by Amnesty Interna tional. as do most of us who choose to tm civilized. Should you choose, with me. for compassion and concern, you can write your U S. senator to support a Senate hill headed by Metenbaum/(,lenn to Ivin world wide use of this form of torture and support human rights. A.J. Riggs Eugene Support On behalf of the Religious Directors Association at the Uni versity, I want to publicly state that we deplore the recent vio lent uttai k on Temple Beth Israel m Kugene As ( ampus religious leaders, we stand in support of our Jew ish friends and families at the University and within this com munity As an ocumenical/inler faith organization, the Religions Directors Asstx tation stands lor love and cooperation among all people of faith. We seek to pro mote mutual respect, trust and healing within this community Rev. Janet Cromwell Religious Directors Associa tion Representation Orientalism persists on the international scene but also at the local level. Pope John Paul II started Palin Sunday ceremonies In sermo nizing to the (iatholic world that (Christians should remember the significant e ol Israel and Jerusalems to Christianity. The Pope's comments reflet t the new detente lietween the Vatican and the state of Israel However, the Pope conveniently left out the significance of Jerusalem to Islam and the Palestinians. Some Jewish American immi grants to Israel have committed crimes against Muslims in their homeland for four decades. The American media have covered Palestinian violence against Israelis, hut not the reverse. The enormity of the l-'eb 2r> mosque massacre could not he ignored. An American emigre in an Israeli army uniform killed at least to Muslim worshipers A subsequent investigation indi cated that the Israeli army had standing orders not to shoot at Israeli settlers even when the\ were shooting at Palestinians. Of the two courses offered this term at the University deal ing with the Middle Past and Muslims, none is taught by a Middle f.asterner or a Muslim The Pope, American media, and the facultv sele< lion process all exemplify, at its best, a lack ol compassion and understand ing for the plight of Muslims and the force that guides them; and at its worst, an assault on the integrity ol their culture Years ago the Oregon State Sys tem of Higher Kducation relegat ed Middle Pastern s-tudies to Port land State University. Middle Pastern politics, espet ially Islam, have captured the interest of stu dents everywhere The Univer sity must respond by giving Mid dle Pasterners and Muslims representation on its faculty M. Rera Behnam, Ph. D. Eugene no noggmg As intended, your editorial {ODE. May 5) regarding the fate of an American student in Sin gapore. Michael Fay, caused sparks to fly. or perhaps to say tie “flogged in the wind.*' One is either brought to rage or com 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.
