VIEWPOINTS
f OlTOftlAlS OPINIONS If HfRS TO T HI f QtTQR
University events help
educate community
■ OUR OPINION Pride
Week and Holocaust
conference were needed
In the midst of midterms
and flush springtime air, the
University held two very
progressive and much-need
ed events this week: Pride
Week and the Holocaust
ethic* conference And
though you probably could
not help hut notice these
occurrences with functions
such as Queerfest taking
place in the EMU Courtyard,
it is still important to recog
nise and appreciate that the
University is taking action
to increase students' levels
of acceptance and aware
ness.
Despite what tom* Orego
nian* would argue, this state
is riot one of the most
diverse and accepting plains
to inhabit Only last month,
flyer* were ported around
mmpui by a white supreme
dM organization The lX‘.A's
heathpiarter s are In* tied in
Salem and despite our wish
es, they continue to express
their disgustingly dosed
uiitide*! opinions
On a national level, the
FBI Just received a letter
threatening to kill 1.200
Jewish executives and doc
tors in the United States
unless Israel withdraws its
military forces from
iehanon and pays SI2 bil
lion in compensation by this
Sunday A letter like this
proves that this nation it not
yet properly dealing with
issues of diversity.
This news article was
buried inside the beck tuigtrs
of the Oregonian, which is
also quite disturbing A
threat of this volume should
be printed on the front page
to warn these doctor* and
executives of possible harm
Though the validity of the
letter ten not be proven, the
issue should not be given
less attention than a corrupt
politician.
One of the main reasons
that racism, anti semitism
and homophobia blossom
ant because people appar
ently prefer to ignore mat
they exist This preferred
ignorance only leeda to
more long-term negative
results and less tolerant atti
tudes
No on« expressed this
view more eloquently than
Kite Wiesel. whose parents
and younger sister died at
Auschwitz.. When Wiesel
returned to Buchenwaid
years ago to look for the
remains of the ramp he
found trees had been plant
ed and that there was no
plaque commemorating the
dead lews A plaque was
planned, however, for Nazi
criminals who had died.
One* we start to forget our
progress and the terrible
event* that have taken place
as a result of previous gener
ations' ignorance, we stop
learning from history and
start repeating it.
The events supported by
the JXdtA {lesbian. Gay,
Bisexual Alliance), the Jew
ish Student Union and other
parties were of vital impor
tance because their goal was
not to allow people to forget
two important things: that
the Holocaust did occur,
and that there are many
nonheterosexual students
on this campus.
It is great that them
minority factions are grow
ing in numbers and strength
and letting the entire Uni
versity and surrounding
i (immunity know it. This
week's events, hosted by the
University, are a major
accomplishment for ail.
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Bean parking takes wrong detour
The University K*« a wrm parking prob
fern The One* of Public Safety rou
tinaly itiuM fat mote parking permit*
that it ha* cpam to fill OPS cam'I
always guarantee aaaann ticket-hoi dart apace*
during game* because of the* abort ago
Commuter* have grown resigned to tin ling
tb* campus •evaral tuna* liefore aecuring apace
on a tide ttrwx
At the urn* uma. the Uni varsity it accepting
morn ouiof-ttaie vehicle dependent ttudanta
than ever before
And a» if living in Roan Cum plan weren't bad
anougb aheadv tba University ha* lately dacid
•d that adequate parking space might be too
much of a luxury for it* dormitory raaidanU,
too
A lut wn wu < mated by
«h* Untvenuty to rwpond to
tho parking crunch Its aolu
tt«n make mom lot commuter*
by booting the rasidants of
Boon Conphu from their park -
ing lot on the nut tide of cun.
pu» The problem with it*
•olufkm bund old* never
hauled anybody
The “lot of c,hoi<*" feu
tWt s clUpo««*s**<i Ulntb hinterland* of the
University e*t*t*. in proverbial "Been K—
Enypi/* Trio University U proposing that stu
dent* leave thou ear* «Mi the rtvat and
through the tree*. in an overnight tot a tnii«
away at Autxen Apart from exposing their cars
to theft anti damage*. student* will also be
expected to walk their vulnerable selves pact
brtiijpw anti bogey* to reach their vehicle* Dur
tog football game* they'll be forced to relocate
again or get lowed
What the University o NOT proposing it to
deal with it* eacalating and enduring parking
problem by building a parking garage The Uni
versity'* budget la even tighter than it* parking
At 114.000 per parking space. the estimated coat
of a parking garage would run up to $5 million
Not even the University-* revenue* from all
those surplus. irredeemable OPS permit* can
cushion the coat of «uch a venture. Five million
doesn't even seam like an inflated figure when
one considers that tha tiny checkpoint Mofk
outside of Oregon Hail cost STBOOO
But Own. the checkpoint is worth it. (All visi
tors ever do is take up parking, anyway).
Which lead* to the most sensible solution of
ail instead of inconveniencing Bean residents
or building a parking garage, maybe tha Univer
sitv should construct sn army of Uttle green and
yellow checkpoint*, one for each lot. road «nd
sidewalk on aunpus. At S3B.OOO per check
point, the University could afford mors than 100
tiny checkpoints foe the price of one parking
garage!
instead of permits, (evidently meaningless
anyway) all vehicle* will be required to pass a
little uniformed attendant who will allow only
66
The University should admit that their plan is
merely a stop-gap and begin brainstorming
ways to build a much-needed parking garage
-99
w many cars on campus as he or she deems
proper Once the little attendant decides that
enough cars are parked on campus for the day,
the less-lucky drivers will have to turn around
and take a gamble in the petty theft district of
Autxen Stadium — a sort of "game of lots."
This would be a fun and egalitarian way to
cope with inadequate parking! Tiny checkpoint*
also soften the smack of discrimination present
in the University's plan.
Unlike coddled commuters, dormitory resi
dents will be hard-hit by the proposal Many
residents feel they are already being "taxed" by
the University as part of their residence fees
The University demands $400,000 a year in fee*
from l iniversity Housing because of housing's
classification as an "auxiliary." This money is
culled from students' dormitory costs.
When students are expected to purchase park
ing permits in addition to those costs, it's rea
sonable to expect they might resent having to
park o' ride to their homes (Commuters on the
other hand, already have the advantage of not
living in Kean, they should recognise that shut
Uing to and from Annum is a small price lo pay
for big mercies).
Meanwhile, the University should admit that
their plan is merely a stop gap and begin Identi
fying spots to put those vital checkpoints Or
lartter yet. begin brainstorming ways to ember
rle money from the Casanova Center (or where* •
*r) to build a much-needed parking garage
Enrollment ia not going to decrease, and until
Oregon Public Safety reduces the number of
parking permits it issues, (it has found “no per
ceived need" to do so) the University's problem
will continue to grow.
Most of the finer details of the University’s
tentative arrangement — such as security at
Autaen and shuttle service — have yet to be
worked out, but residents era already pissed
Those who know about it. anyway. There is cur
rently only one student on the task force com
mittee to represent the 300-400 students who
regularly park In the Bean lot- Resident Asais
tants have been working overtime to spread the
word and prevent the parking ben
The University wants the problem resolved by
fall of 'iift. This term is almost over. Students
will find that some unpleasant changes have
quietly gone Into effect while they were on vacs
tion unless they arrive at a compromise now.
Sonja Sherwood, majoring in foumalism and
bnghsh. is a columnist for the Emerald E mail:
cheer»9gtadstone uoregon edu