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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 18, 1994)
EDITORIAL School board says no on Measure 15 The Eugene School Board tested brave waters when it voted to oppose Ballot Measure 15. the so-called "Kids First” initiative. We salute the board’s decision. And University students, faculty members and admin istrators should I jo grateful. If passed. Ballot Measure 15 would force the state to maintain current funding levels for education in grades K-12 and community colleges. Higher education and any state-funded program for children younger than kinder garten age are not included. The measure is backed by the Oregon Education Asso ciation, as well as BO percent of school board members from around the state who were polled at a recent regional conference. Its opponents include University President Have Frohnmayer and the Oregon Student Lobby. Eugene School Board members realize the world doesn’t end and begin in grades K-12 and voted unani mously to oppose the measure at a meeting two weeks ago. School board members say tho measure, which is being sold to votors as a "Kids First" initiative, is actu ally a stop backward for education and child develop morn. Members of the school board were able to look past a measure, which some view as a salvation for public edu cation. in order to look out for the good of the entire sys tem And they are able to point out valid reasons to oppose this measure going beyond the simple argu ment that higher education isn't included. Any benefits gained at the public education level by Ballot Measure 15 are seriously offset by cuts that will be suffered in other areas. The measure could force other institutions, including public colleges and universities, to take cuts of up to 30 percent. Social service programs, such as those aimed at protecting juveniles and helping the homeless, will face a serious loss. And programs aimed specifically at preparing chil dren for education could bo cut. The school board should he supported in its argument that education means much more than grade school or high school. What good does locking -in funds for schools do. when the program kids need to get there could be eliminated? Philip Barnhart, a school board member, opposes the measure because it really won’t provide more money for schools. He doesn’t see a gain for public education from lea king funds, even for grades K-12 and community col leges. Setting a minimum for funding usually means set ting a maximum. Barnhart and other school board members can see how irresponsible this measure is and their views need to be recognized. Straying from the popular vote might be dif ficult from some school boards, especially at a time when everyone agrees that something needs to be done to step-up funding for education. But Eugene School Board members are willing to look past the quick-fix solution. They put themselves in the positions of others who would suffer from the measure. The school board should be applauded for considering the welfare of the entire state. Oregon Doily PO 00» 3*S* IUGCNC OftfGO* *7403 T''« V Oa-i I -rr .1 S? ift pUt« lifci , MCVKlS» " ' . t 1 !.» » (kf * Q th* V*> -.-• ye-v and Tuesday and Thursday du^-nty the so mm«f fey the Oe^on Darfy f met aid K<Jfii»h*f*g Co , Inc . at the Un*ve»swty ot Oa^oo, Eugene, Oegon The tmprAki opt*«tes independent^ erf the Urwerirty w*h crffccee *t Sorfe 300 erf the I ft; Me*"-.>■,,»( tk^eut and * a membef c>f the Aesocsatetf Prwi The £mer«sK7 4 prfvd* property The unl#*tuf 'umcvai or use of papers 4 prosecutabt* t*y Editor-In-Chief *.t» Soto Emerald iMnjyino tailor Editorial Editor Graphic* Editor Fraaianca Editor In-Dapth Editor J 'ft 4J I rtQTft Jo* Harwood MU PstMiiy Atorm B*u"> Ed Klop*>nH<»n tailor Sports Editor Photo Editor Sopp*#morM» Editor Night Editor H*MCC« Mtmft M«*U Tf.»*a Not# D*v«j Thorn AaaocUMe Editor* ' r+Om*h *cw> Carp. Stixtor* Gc*mnmmH At*<v>b*a Mercator* t do»da, C<ynmt*uf> T.Kany S^vlfi « [ cAxVJfKVV Adm«tej#a&0tf1 N0wa Staff: Lon Botinas*' Wti&on C^an Amy Co!umt>c T&aha F.>chanaohar Aba f atvnada. Pr»mo Fontara Gftyte f ormarv O srfopho* f « M*»r Gorton. Gory Qni,> Sortf MOtttortOft. Kf*» tfcwvy flavor Koarnoy Ad<rn Kmc**. M»k MkrTy*«. Bar McwOus Ann* Moaer Kom«a*d- 8N*T)F RltoOy, RofeMt Rwrvet Ua Safcxoo. Paoi Van Scfcla. Kim Wo«s Oar** West. Br*an Womacfc Oanaraf Manager: Judy R*»J Advertising Director Ma^ Waner Production Manage Afar** Ross Advertising Ma to Ch*ng„ Tony I o», Erin HariNu MkcMo Merrmo'fc. Jeremy w.»%on M* *■»< M r«n Sarah W heU Tom MfttefetdNX*. K»v*> W«k# Classified Becfcy M<v ham, Manjg** S*m T*» Tec* Distribution; John Long. Ferenc BaAOCi Regiia ZtupnO Business: Kathy Cartoon*. Stjp^ryi%y Judy Connoty Production Oani-a MeCobb. Privlx-fxv? CiWdnefey Shawn* At***. Greg Ooamjnd. Tara Qauftney, Brad Jew Jawf# Roland. Natt Thangv***, Dayton Ye« M#wvoom Butmets Office *46-5511 346-5512 Ditpifty Adv«rlt*ir»g Achr#ftUMng 346-3712 346-4643 I OAHS CV*P A4^ •JC*Y A&E AKJtff HKWf&DJ TUAH OThtSS ' sy<£ F4KAA S£QOtL Iff ■ OPINION An alarming way to get a story The rules for filing a good sto ry in comparison with a great story vary from newspaper to newspaper, loumalism. to some, knows no bounds. Suppose the editor of the Ore gort Daily Emerald wants a pho tograph of the latest equipment available to Engine Company 3 on Agate Street. The editor pulls a fire alarm at the EMU, and with in minutes, E3 is on the scene The photographer on staff is then instructed to get out there ami take a picture. Sound impossible? In Now York City, anything goes Ruth llalikman, a student at Colombia University, pulled a false alarm and sent a photographer to take a photo of the new truck arriving at the school Her action reflected the attitude that she was above the lavs, revealing an immature arrogance bordering on stupidity. She thought she could get away w ith something generally regarded as a common-sense no-no. Besides the fad that no student at this University would do some thing us stupid as that, the Emer ald staff does not advocate prac ticing professional suicide! When the wlitor in chief at the Columbia Daily Spectator allegedly pulled a false fire alarm Sunday, Oc t '), just so one of her photographers could get a shot of a new fire truck, many questions — including why — arose. At the Emerald, in a situation like tins, editors expect from a reporter or from themselves that: 1 Reporters will call the fire department and ask for permis sion to take a picture for the newspaper. 1. If the fire station can't give permission for a photo, call city hall Ask an official there for \>v.r mission. 3. Follow the fire truck It's in the public domain, and unless a police officer prevents media ac cess, a reporter can get a shot of the truck being used at a fire 4 Call the manufacturer. Get the truck's make and ask for a publicity photo, if all else fails Avne Moser-Kornfeld Assuming the Spectator lives by the golden rule, "Get the sto ry at any cost.” the editor could have been trying to follow through on what she thought was the right protocol. On Monday morning, though, she found herself writing a letter of resignation on the advice of her managing editor. The photographer taking the pictures also agreed to leave the paper hut denied knowing about the false alarm Later in the week, the Spectator printed an editorial explaining how its edi tor got scorched She may have been following up on what she heard was a hot lip Probably, since guessing is all that can be done in this cose, what happened is the editor at Columbia, besides not thinking that setting olf a fire alarm was against the law, also didn't know how to tell her employers she wanted to quit her job. She may have forgotten how she could iiave resigned from her job in a more dignified manner. Yeah, that's it, and her status in a society that doesn’t want women to succeed undermined her self-esteem so that she was compelled to nr t in this manner. Uh-huh. better yet. the job stress from being editor of the paper at a pres tigious Kastem school may rank really high. In a school where stu dents are expected to have a CPA of at least 3.0 to meet admission standards, well, that would mean the competition just over whelmed the editor's ability to make a rational decision. Right. OK. so her action was. at liest, unexpected. Or simply, dumb She was able to leave behind job pressure and unlimited stress Sho was ultimately asked to resign. Columbia may Tile disci plinary charges against her. Halikman left the city for the weekend Ixifore the fire marshals could talk with her further By falsely reporting an inci dent, she could be placed under arrest, charged with a misde meanor and punished with a fine to be decided by a judge. No matter what gets covered in this paper, no matter how the staff prepares stories and no mat ter how opinionated the opinions get. the standard of excellence stays within the boundaries of the law. Most University students know the difference between activating a fire alarm that alerts a fire department to an emergency and activating an alarm ultimately determined to lw a prank. When Halikman pulled the alarm, the vehicle became unavailable in the event of an actual emergency. He ating an unnecessary risk Kor that, iter actions shouldn't be looked upon lightly. The choice between living in a i ity like Now York, where stu dents claim ignorance as an excuse for pulling a fire alarm, and living here, where there is a greater appreciation for com munity safety vs. cutthroat ambi tion. seems clear. But Mnlikman made a point, one students nationwide can find amusing. She gave students a chance to find something truly funny to laugh at during the beginning of the school year. Still, if anyone is looking for work, can serve as a qualified edi tor. and wants to spend time in New York, it's early enough in the school year to consider a move. The Spectator has a job opening — no doubt the paper will be taking applications soon. Anne Moser Kornfeld is a columnist for the Emerald
