editorials, letters, commentary and perspective j ! Should the City of Eugene prohibit skateboarding and dogs on 13 th Avenue between Kincaid and Patterson Streets? Let us know. EDITORIAL First Amendment applies to Promise Keepers too ■ OUR OPINION: As an institution that encourages the exploration of ideas, the University should not discriminate on the basis of speakers’ messages CONTACT US What do you think? Write us a letter expressing your opin ion or E-mail us at ode@oregon.uore gon.edu Letters to the editor must be limited to no more than 250 words, legible, signed and the identification of the writer must be verified when the let ter is submitted. The Emerald reserves the right to edit any letter for length or style. The conservative-Christian organization, The Promise Keepers, should be allowed to hold its men’s conference at Autzen Stadium despite the fact that portions of their message disturb many peo ple on campus and in the com munity. Opponents, including gay and lesbian and women’s advocates, say the group’s message and mis sion is anti-woman and against gays and lesbians. They call into question the University’s decision to rent the stadium to a group they feel is discriminatory. The Promise Keepers have proved to the University they are able to provide the financing to cover rent and security for the event. They are protected by the First Amendment to voice their message and should not be pro hibited from renting University facilities based solely on the con tent of their message. This situation highlights an interesting trend on college cam puses with regard to free speech. Universities are traditionally thought of as arenas for free thought and exploration of new ideas. People with views that may be considered politically incor rect are finding it more and more difficult to voice their opinions. No matter the logic and manner of speech of these different voic es, we cannot shut them up. As a campus community we must work to insure that all speech, regardless of the content, be unfettered. Doing so creates a healthy debate that actually helps bring important issues to the fore front of campus discussion. We are fortunate to live in a country where a person can say just about anything and still be protected by the First Amend ment. To silence even the most threatening voice ultimately silences our own. This editorial reflects the opinion of the Emerald editorial board. I CANT BELIEVE THEY'RE LETTING .THESE OTHER GROUPS SCHEDULE... First Amendment Practiced Here. jb AUTZEN RENTAL CHRIS HUTCHINSON/Emeraid HISTORICAL June 5,1996: The Promise Keepers signed a contract with the University to rent Autzen Stadium for its men’s convention. The group agreed to pay $50,000 for use of the stadium. July 10: The Promise Keeper Action Committee presented the University with a petition requesting that funds raised at the convention be used for an anti discrimination conference. July 19: The Pacifica Forum presents “Promise Keepers Lifestyle: Implications and Practices,” an analysis and description of the Promise Keepers’ lifestyle. 11:45 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. Wesley Center 1236 Kincaid St. August 2: A vigil organized by the Promise Keeper Action Committee will take place in the Autzen Stadium parking lot. August 2-3: The Promise Keepers convention will be held at Autzen Stadium. The Oregon Daily Emerald is published daily Monday through Friday during the school year and Tuesday and Thursday during the summer by the Oregon Daily Emerald Publishing Co. Inc., at the University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon. A member of the Associated Press, the Emerald operates independently of the University with offices at Suite 300 of the Erb Memorial Union. Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the Emerald editorial board; signed columns represent the opinion of the columnist. The Emerald is private property. The unlawful removal or use of papers is prosecutable by law. Editor-In-Chief: Steven Asbury Associate Editors: Andrea DeYoung, Kristin Bailey Editorial Editor Tiffany Smith Sports Editor Martr McTyre Copy Editor Tracy Picha Photography Editor Andrew Brackensick On-Line Director Nicholas Stiftler General Manager. Judy Riedl Advertising: Becky Merchant, director Anne Amador, Lee Yen Beh, Nikki Harper, Anne Miller, Trina Shanaman, Rose Soli Production: Michele Ross, manager. Ingrid White, coordina tor. Laura Daniel Business: Kathy Carbone, supervisor. Judy Connolly Distribution: John Long Classilled: Tara Gaultney, manager Newsroom.(541)346-5511 Display Advertising.(541) 346-3712 Business Office.(541) 346-5512 Classified Advertising.(541) 346-4343 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Stop whining To those who choose to be offended by the onslaught of 40,000 Christian men (Promise Keepers) to Autzen Stadium next month: Stop whining! Since when is every member of every interest group entitled to an equal piece of every pie? The problem with everyone try ing to squelch every group that disagrees with you is that eventually, nobody will be allowed to openly speak, form an orga nization, express an opinion, or live a cer tain lifestyle. No matter who you are, or what you believe, someone will always dis agree, or be offended. If keeping everyone happy is the prerequisite for whether we can lawfully meet and express our opin ions — goodbye diversity! Imagine: Jews couldn’t congregate in synagogues on the Sabbath — they’d be excluding/offending Christians, agnostics, Hindus, Moslems. 500,000 black men couldn’t convene in Washington, DC to recommit themselves to their families and communities — they would be excluding black women, and peo pie of other races. Gay Pride Week would have to be can celed — they’d be excluding and/or offend ing straight people. Democrats and Republicans couldn’t hold conventions — they’d be offending each other, and excluding nonpartisans. Duck fans couldn’t go to football games, because they might offend Beaver fans or anyone else who prefers another team. Get the picture? Stop shooting yourselves in the foot by trying to prevent freedom of speech. Your own liberties are at stake. Barbara J. Guardino Student, Public Relations Story one-sided I found Monday’s article on the expand ed bottle bill very limited and one-sided. De Young presented the view of one small grocer who does not agree with the pro posed expansion. She never mentions even one of the hundreds of businesses that con sider the measure necessary and overdue. Small grocers such as L&L Grocery, Sun dance, and Oasis have stepped behind the Oregon State Public Interest Research Group in their efforts. OSPIRG is work ing to expand the nickel deposit so it will include drinks such as Snapple, iced tea and bottled water. These supporters con sider themselves to be responsible actors in the business community and hope large corporations will soon follow. One hundred million cans and bottles are ending up on Oregon’s roadsides and landfills every year because they are not covered by the nickel deposit. The expan sion of this 1971 bill would not only pre vent this litter, but would also require cor porate responsibility for the non recyclable, non-biodegradable products they create. Recycling a product creates nine times more jobs than landfilling. Although the majority of Oregonians have supported an expanded bottle bill, the Leg islature has repeatedly failed to listen due to the influence of big business like Coca Cola, Pepsi and Phillip Morris. Now the vote will be put in the hands of the people this November. It is up to Oregonians to take care of our state and its environment. The expanded bottle bill is a critical step in the preservation of Oregon’s beauty. Mikola Liese Education