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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 13, 1994)
EDITORIAL Inmates go to boot camp instead of jail There is a new alternative available to Oregon pris oners — boot camp, Inmates who have not boon con victed of a sex offense or a major felony {such ns murder, kidnapping or arson), and are 18 to and 40 years of age. may qualify. Summit, which is an acronym for Success Using Moti vation, Moral. Intensity and Treatment, is Oregon's first boot camp. It opened March 6. Inmates trade in their hair for a shorter sentence. Their days are filled with standing at attention, saluting the flag and walking In formation, as they call out cadences as loud as they can wherever they go. Each day begins at 5:15 a.m. Inmates are in formation outside their barracks within 15 minutes. Success, as in the first letter of the name of the camp, isn’t tremendous, statistically speaking. For the most part this system isn’t working any better than the his torical prison system. A recent national study of boot camps concluded that boot camp inmates return to prison at about the same rate as those who don’t go through the systom. However, the boot camp is fairly new. just 10 years old. One benefit that serves the entire system is the addi tion of jail space. The boot camp reduces inmates’ sen tences from three years to three months, which will free bunks for now offendors. Oregon’s prison population will bo reduced by 400 by January lflflfi. It may soorn a small amount in tho big picture, but at least it is an alternative that is doing something. The boot camp also is small. There are Inmates trade in their hair for a shorter sentence. only r>2 inmates currently enlisted, with a capacity of 200. The program lasts six months. In that time the con victs complete their sentence and also deal with issues like drug and alcohol addir (tons. They are also involved In programs that work to change their thinking methods away from criminal thinking patterns. Success, if measured by statistical analysis, of those returning to prison after release is not overwhelming. But for those who don't return, they may return to soci ety with a new outlook and a larger benefit to others around them because of the values introduced at boot camp. It seems a better use of resources to attempt to teach inmates values and motivation rather than encour age them to stare at the cement blocks of a cell wall as they play solitaire. Oregon's first boot camp is a small part of a big answer that works in favor of both the inmates and the state. The inmates must be willing to change in order to endure the six month process. The state gets more prison space by not gaining the new facility and by reducing sentences. Oregon Daily **0 OOi )1W fUClNt «’4CVJ the frtf&yi f).Vy t mar aid »a putofe»bad ila^y Monday though f nday ch>nng the *cfxx>f yea» and Tuesday and Thursday dunng the »umm#( by the Oagon Da>fy EmefakJ Kjt*ah*na Co . tnc at tt»e Urn verity of Oregon tugene. Oregon the tmerafcf operate* independently Ol the UnrverMy w*th <>«*.«• at Su*e 300 ot the f ft) Memorial Un*on and n a momtar ot the Aaaooated Ptaaa The fmer*W«a private property The uniawM removal or uae o» paper* it proaecutafcie by law Editor-in-Chiet Jake Berg **n*yma tmiur Editorial Editor Graphic* Editor Freelance Editor /vsoorKV’ Dav*1 Thorn .)«* Pasiay J*h Winters Editorial Editor Photo Editor Jolt Pekhardl Uchaal Sh«*«r Supptamanta EdHor Kafy Soto Associate Editor* Edward Kiopfansta^. Student Government Acir%-t«nt Hebecea Marrm. Common*fy. > iaafhana i*ma<S. Higher Education Admtn&trmbon Nawa Staff Maody Baucum ton Be«inen>., Enc Buckh*na«. WH»on Chao. Dava Dvarbonnaau. Amy Cotumbo >m Dav**. Mag Dado**. Amy Davanpori Mata E**Ja. Martin Sa>ah Mandarson. Ym tang laong. Manus Meiand. Tnsta Near fi.sabath Raanatjama. RoW>« Raavas. L*a Sa*occ»a Scott S<mon*on. Stephan* S**»on. Susanna $t*lt«rvs, Mchsta Thompson. Amy Van Tuyi. Danwi Wati Oanarai Man agar Judy R*edi Advar timing Dirac tor Mark Wain* Production Man agar: M<n«*a Rosa Advadimlng. Bn an Dav<s. Sufcu Dutta N*co;a Mar*m*fk. T**©** (sabata J#h Manon Jaramy Mason. Mkhaai M»a««a. Karaay WakaU Ctemmifted Wacky Mo*c*w>t, Ma>\agee V«cto# Mr*?.*. S*m Tte Tack Distribution: SJohn tong. Graham S*mp*on Busina**: kathy Carton©. Supervisor Judy ConnoAy Production: Daa McCobb. Production Coordinator Shawn* Ao©*©. Grag Oosmood. Tara Gauitnay, Brad Jo**. JannJer Roiand. Naft Thangyijrt. Dayton Yaa fWWVOOfll . OfflC* 546-5512 ixaptffy AOventting ClaM(fl«d Advertising. 345- 3712 346- 4343 MEAIW Cost* HW COMMENTARY University needs leadership By Todd A Barnhat! When I tell friends that 1 am running for ASUO president, I get one of two reactions The first is "Oh, great, wonderful!" a response that makes me fee I good and gives me encouragement The sia ond response is less encour aging "Why would you want to do that'" That response leaves me frustrated and angry, not at my friend but at the pathetic level to which student govern ment has sunk in the eyes of most students. It is tins sei ond rein tion that is at the heart of my campaign I have two reasons for running for ASUO president The first is the virtual lack of leadership I see on this campus From nei ther Johnson Hall nor the ASUO executive do I see any evidence of ability to lead this University and its people I see administra tors and managers running meetings, generating paperwork, issuing statements, wringing hands I do not see leadership. As a result. Measure 5 i ontinues to eat away at the foundations of higher education in Oregon, the University community is divid ed over the issue of diversity and multii ulturalism. and stu dents — particularly non-tradi tional students with families, jobs and a wealth of life experi ence — bear burdens that grow increasingly numerous, invasive and destructive. We need capa ble, innovative leaders to pro vide for the future of this Uni versity. \\'hert‘ the hell are they? My second reason is less tan gible but more driving: I t are deeply about the University, and l am angry at how it is being run. I am angry that education in this stale is being made a low priority. I am angry that we are not countering this destruction. I am angry that the current "leadership" is only giving lip service to inclusive democracy at the University We need lead ership that is innovative, com passionate and capable of devel oping solutions to these problems. Those solutions require the participation of as mam I! i Minin*! s <>f llic I nn or si tv community as possible, not just the fins who sit behind priv iUrged desks Like every student attending tins Univursitv, 1 am hen- to gain tin- knowledge, experience and degree that wilt enable me to pursue a fulfilling career. I’m also seeking the means to make a living that pro vides for my < htklren's needs My education is not a diversion or a luxury — the lives and future of myself and my chil dreri an* at stake I have the ability and experi ence to provide this leadership. I knou through troth study and experience that effective leader ship requires followers, and fol lowers require a reason for fol lowing People want to lx* a part of concrete and meaningful activities, and given the oppor tunity they will make the com munity better Leaders provide the opportunities, resources and encouragement for people to take actions on their own behalf As ASUO president, I will not tell people what the issues or solutions are. I will instead bring together people and utilize a \ ariety of processes to generate concrete objectives that cross value systems. I will ensure that opportunities for participation are open to all voices 1 will use all my energies and all thu resouries of the ASUO to hack up the efforts of students to take control of their lives, their edu cations and their futures. And 1 will model the behavior I think is necessary for addressing com munity issues. I am not an ASUO “insider," hut 1 am involved in University activi ties, serving on commit tests deal ing yvith student family housing (including the Amazon review) and child rare. At Portland State Solutions require the participation of as many members of the University community as possible, not just the few who sit behind privileged desks. I served in the executive of the Associated Students of PSU and on PSU's University Budget Committee 1 have extensive experience with the incidental fees prot ess I'm not a novice and I'm not serving an agenda. I care about this University I was from here in 1956 when my father was getting his bachelor's degree. Coming here several years ago made me feel special I still retain that feeling and nev er want to lose it. As ASUO president, 1 will channel my passion into increasing the par ticipation of students in their government I won't "own" the issues or specific proposals, hut 1 will encourage others to unite their efforts collaborntively We don't need to share the same dedication to fighting for what ever it is we do believe in. If we heed E.M Forster's advice — "Only connect" — not only will there be room for all of us in this community, we will begin to re establish education as this state's highest priority. This is the main reason I am running for ASUO president: It's too important not to run. Todd A Barnhart is a candi date for ASUO president. COMMENTARY POLICY Thu Oregon Daily Emerald welcome* commentaries from the public concerning topics of interest to the University commu nity. Commentaries should l>e between 600 and 800 words, logi ble, 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