■ COMMENTARY
Rose Bowl helps University
By Ryan March
Swelling with pride .is we
returned home from our rtx ent
trip to Pasadena, there were
those of use who couldn't help
but wonder how long it would
take before our beloved Fmrmld
published an unfounded bash
ing of the Ducks' long overdue
success and national recogni
tion On January 12. Paul Van
Sickle turned those fears into
reality, with a confused com
mentary that painted a picture of
our victimized University falling
to the evil blow* of Rich Brooks
— the anti-Christ of education.
For those who may have
missed the article, Mr Van Sit k
le explained that our institute of
higher learning is somehow suf
fering in the aftermath of Ore
gon's storybook season, and that
the University is ignoring its
educational responsibilities by
supporting such a meaningless
event. To support his claim that
our Rose Bowl appearance
received too much attention,
Paul points to the fact that peo
ple seldom turn out by the thou
sands to witness such college
events as the completion of the
Knight Library renovation.
Funny. 1 never looked at it
that way Come to think of it.
just last term I submitted a class
project that was to l>c the pinna
cle of my educational career,
and that too. failed to draw n
world-wide audience! Is it pos
sible that such events simply
weren't designed to attract spec
tators? Don’t worry Paul, I real
ize that you wore desperately
trying to make a point, and since
it appears that you're new at
this. I'll pardon you for the false
analogy.
Unfortunately. I can't seem to
look past the collection of illog
ical arguments that made up the
remainder of your commentary
Take. for instance. your claim
that the University has terminat
ed its mission of "teaching and
learning" by supporting a
department standing simply for
"playing and winning " First of
all, we should give the good
folks at Johnson Hall the benefit
of the doubt and assume that
somewhere in their professional
backgrounds. they have
acquired an ability to facilitate
education in the wake of a week
end football game If such a feat
cannot be accomplished, then
the problem lies in our adminis
tration — not in our athletic
department.
Furthermore, if you would
open your mind. |ust long
enough to see what has tran
spired through this "Miracle
Season." you might find that
even football has "taught" us a
great deal. As the Ducks
rebounded from a 1-2 start to
defy the odds and capture the
first outright Pac-tO title in
school history, thousands of
onlookers learned once and for
all, that there's never a good
time to quit. Kven as the "Gang
Green" fell to defeat in Pasade
na. more than 45,000 Oregon
faithful remained standing as
one, saluting a team that had
gained national respect and
illustrating a lesson that can't
often be taught in the classroom
— “sometimes even when you
lose you win'"
If. however, you aren't con
vinced by the philosophical
implic ations of our athletic sue -
cess, at least consider the finan
t.ial bottom line. In your artic le,
you conceded that the Rose
Bowl had earned our University
money, publicity and even a
sense of prestige. What you cam
eluded. though, was that none of
these gains could lend to "acad
emit: improvement." 1 could be
misinformed (I am. after all. an
admitted football fan), but it
seems to in* that a combination
of money, publicity and pro*
tiK*’. is the closest thing to an
academic suet ess formula tfiat
this world has ever seen
Without the Rose iiowl. do
you think that this University
could have pooled together the
funds net essary to broadcast n
30-second common ial to an
audience spanning 15 coun
tries51 I3o you think that the stu
dent discount on course books
would have int teased, were it
not for profits resulting from the
stile of Host* Bowl merchandise'
You mentioned that you once e
mailed former University Prose
dent Myles Brand for informa
lion — how about dropping
President Kruhnmaver n line and
asking him what impact all of
this publicity will have on our
"atademic" institution
The bottom line is that our
athletic department is receiving
money and recognition that will
allow it to fund its own opera•
turns. so that vow won t have to
You < an try as hart) as you wish
to minimize the positive effects
of our athletu suit css on our
at ademic community, but you
certainly can't say that it has
taken anything a.wav On a < am
pus so divided by social and
political barriers, I simply can't
see the value in cursing a
department that has finally giv
en our community something to
celebrate together If you can't
bring yourself to enjoy the
moment, and all of this agoni/.
ing "Duck Spirit" just gets too
much for you. my only advice
would be to head to Corvallis
At least, as a Beaver, you
wouldn't have to worry about
footliall success stones dampen
ing your "college experience "
Hyan March is a senior ma/oring
in business management
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BIODIVERSITY THREATENED
Informational Meeting and Slide Show,
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Shakespeare in Ashland
II bother you art- now to tin- Oregon
Shakespeare I-estival or ,i seasoned profes
sional, a trip to Ashland is always great
tun A trip is being planned tor Friday.
Saturday ami Sunday, March 17, 1H and 19,
1995 Hays iikhide Twelfth Night. Flu
iklUitiilii.L*.'e|ii, l‘ravda and possibly,
Mississippi | Vita R«x>ms are being held at
the Albion Inn IS-d ami Breakfast (5 rooms)
ami Stratford Inn (5 rooms) transportation
will be pooled among participants (‘all
Frank Geltner at VU>-0(X)7 for details!
Rooms on first come, first serve basis.
4 Plays
+2 Nights
(double occupancy)
$160
including service fee
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