EDITORIAL
Amazon doomed
by obstructionism
Activism on campus is alive and well, and so. for the
time being, is the Amazon Family Mousing complex.
Once again, a very determined group of people has
suc ceeded in saving Amazon from the bulldozers and
wrecking balls — this time by taking its case to the
slate's Land Use Board of Appeals. Monday, the board
granted a temporary stay against the plannee) demolition
of the 50-year-old complex, until the board can fully
consider the merits of the Amazon supporters’ case.
If all this seems familiar, it's because it's been sw*n
before Opponents of the demolition plan have fought
the University tooth and nail, using every available gov
ernment body from the Eugene City Council to the
Oregon S«h rotary ol State to the Eugene Historic Review
Board.
Where they have suet ceded, they have still failed The
historic designation of complex (the units are considered
representative of World War ll era military housing! has
delayed, but not derailed, the University's efforts to tear
down the aging structures. The Secretary of State's
office agreed to audit the l 'diversity's handling of Ama
zon. but refused to assume the role of land-use planner
in blocking the demolition. Although Amazon’s advo
cates keep throwing up roadblocks, the University keeps
[lushing them out of the way.
Clearly, the Save Amazon Coalition and those who
agree with its aims are the underdogs in this battle
against the relatively well-heeled University. But as
much as we are tempted to side with the underdog, we
need to consider what damage is Iwing done by the coali
tion's obstructionist strategy.
A plan that is already In the works will move 30 of
Amazon's units (two buildings) to a i ity-owned site at
200 E toth Ave. in Eugene. That plan, intended to pla
cate Amazon supporters by preserving some of the hous
ing, is being Jeopardized by these delays, as is any pos
sibility of relocating the complex's other 244 remaining
units.
And the coalition's efforts, no doubt costly to the
group members themselves, threatens to cost the Uni
versity — and the entire student body — as well. The
University says that the cost of delaying the Amazon
proje< t another construction season could cost as much
as $1 million.
Why is the relocation option so horrible that Amazon
supporters are willing to risk losing everything — the 30
initial units as well as the 244 others — rather than com
promise? The "historic” nature of the buildings is pre
served by moving them, and the low income housing
market will suffer less if some buildings are saved than
if none at all an* spared.
If the appeals board decides to allow the demolition of
Amazon, then Amazon's supporters should take that as
their final "no,” and adopt a new strategy, one that tries
to preserve the housing the only acceptable way: by
moving it elsewhere.
Oregon Daily
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■ OPINION
Take time to vote, further democracy
Robbie. Reeves
Pop quia; time How many
people knew that Tuesday
was Election Day in the
slate of Oregon'?
Next question How many of
you voted?
l-ist one. Did anyone care?
If you answered no’ to each
question, you're one of a grow
ing number of Oregon's proudly
apathetii population You're
also a part of the problem
Granted. Lane County's con
tribution to the election was a
number of uncontested races
and one ballot measure about
taxing video poker, the point is
that few people bothered to mail
in 1m I lots
Oregon has been on the cut
ting edge of trying to make vot
ing as simple and effortless as
possible Instead of opening up
the polls and having citizens
havu to go somewhere to vote for
their school board, ballots are
now mailed to all registered vot
ers The voters then have two or
three weeks to send back the
ballots.
Hut it doesn't seem to help.
Turnout is always light
So much for democracy.
The same trend is evident
hero on campus in the spring
elections. Elections are held
each spring to elect the ASUO
president and vice-president for
the next year Polls are open for
two days for students to express
their viewpoints. A whopping
five minutes is required to vote
About 10 percent of students
took the chance to vote. That
means that about 15.000 other
wise-eligible voters chose not to
exercise their franchise.
Some people have told me
that they don't vote in any elec
(tons, i arnpus or statewide,
lx* a use they don't fool that they
can make a difference. Their
vote would fust be one in the
vast sea of voters out there, the
argument goes.
Well, the sea is a lot smaller
these days, mostly because of a
drought of voters fudging solely
by the number of ballots cast in
elections in America these days,
the most braced about democ
rai y in the world is made up of
a bunch of people who couldn't
Hive a damn who makes deci
sions for them.
It s important to look at the
fundamental reason elections
are held in the first plac e Our
government is based on the
principle that citizens have the
right (and responsibility, I might
add) to elec! representatives to
represent their viewpoints m
governmental bodies Hence, the
term representative democracy.
Using this logu.. the purpose
of government in the country is
defeated when citizens i boose
not to vote.
Another argument that people
have used is that they don't
know the issues and don't want
to vote uninformed While this
reason for not voting might Ihi
more respectable than others,
the logit leaves much to be
desired Read the voters' pam
phlet Read a newspaper once in
a while Get involved Open
your mind and learn what's
going on. After all, this is your
community and your state Ac t
like it means something to you.
Come to think of it. deciding
not to vote is a pretty dumb idea
anyway The fewer people that
vote, the more each vote counts.
Round up a couple dozen
friends and chances are that
someone out there could decide
the outcome of a school board
election. That was almost cer
tainly the fast* with ASUO elec
tions last year. Most races and
ballot measures won or lost by
several hundred vote.
If 1,000 more people voted in
the eltK tions last year here on
campus, every single race and
ballot measure last year could
have been decided differently
In several i ases, 500 votes cast
another way could have
changed the outcome of a fund
ing measure Do you want free
bus service?
What it all comes down to is
how motivated people are to act
to bettei their t ommunities and
further democracy Take a
moment and look at yourself
Are you willing to let the com
munity around you make deci
sions !o! you, about wlta rep re
sen is you, or might you want to
have a say in that decision? If
the latter is closer to your opin
ion, then get your tush to the
ballot box more often. Your
community needs you.
Elections are coming soon on
campus. Special elections are
held throughout the year here iu
Oregon. Take the time to study
the issues and to vote.
Your vote really does count,
in fact, it might count more than
you think.
Hobbie Reeves is the editorial
editor for the Emerald.
■ LETTERS A COMMENTARY POLICY
I he Oregon Daily Emerald welcome* letter!! and commen
taries from the public concerning topics of interest to the Uni
versity community
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words, legible, signed and the identification of the writer must
be verified when the letter is submitted.
Commentaries should be between 600 and 800 words, legi
ble, signed and the identification of the writer must be verified
w hen the commentary is submitted
1 he Emerald reserves the right to edit any letter for length or
style.