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
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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