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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 13, 1996)
Opinion uneducated This is in response to the Emer ald’s editorial on Nov. 12. First, the editorial shows just how une ducated the Emerald is. The fact that the paper took the stance makes it obvious that students of color and their cultures are not re spected. The editorial also shows that the need for students to have a place of their own is more vi able. The editorial is poorly writ ten and poorly researched. Why do students of color have to outreach? Why can’t the uned ucated outreach to those who are educated? You at the Emerald are the ones who are uneducated and don’t know what student of color issues are. You should be taking the first step. People of color have always had to have an open door policy for non-people of color. Events that ethnic unions put on are not for their own entertain ment. These events do educate those who choose to attend the events. I pose the question to you: When is the first or last time, whatever the case may be, that you attended an event put on by an ethnic union? It could be an event put on by the Asian/Pacific American Student Union, Black Student Union, Native American Student Union, MEChA, Jewish Student Union, International Stu dent Association or the ASUO Multicultural Center. I propose the question to you: Where were you when NASU had a Pow Wow last weekend? Where were you when BSU had its open ing reception for Kwanzaa on Nov. 11? Where were you when MEChA and NASU had their In digenous Day Celebration? Where were you when MEChA and nu merous campus and community members honored the Day of the Dead? I ask you: When is the last time you walked down the hall way where the ethnic unions are? If you did this recently, you would know the unions do work together. You make reference to division among the unions. But if you were educated, you would know about the Multicultural Center and all students of color as well as those that are not students of color utilizing the MCC. Everyone who comes in the MCC knows it is a safe place to learn and be “at home.” It is a place for coalition building and inter-ethnic commu nication as well as a place to im prove race relations. Perhaps the editorial board should visit the MCC as well as the ethnic unions to learn exactly how wrong it is. Dee Eason Co-Director ASUO Multicultural Center Unions necessary As a minority student at the University, I am involved exten sively with many ASUO pro grams. I serve on the board of di rectors for the ASUO Multicultural Center and on the Programs Finance Council. Last year, I was a director of the Native American Student Union. I have participated in many committees such as the Race Task Force and the Long House Committee. I be lieve I am eminently qualified to talk about matters on racism at the University. After reading your editorial re garding racism at the University and the responsibilities of the eth nic student unions toward the rest of the student body, I have to dis agree with the argument proposed by the unknown editor. One of the goals of an ethnic student union is to provide a place to feel “at home” with “your own” as proposed by the author. But as to the isolationism of these student groups, I have only a few exam ples of a counter argument. At NASU, we produce at least two gatherings of natives, called Pow Wows, every year. The Spring Pow Wow is traditionally the largest event produced by a student organization in a school year. I personally cannot think of a better example of an outreach event. Last year, we had the Hawaii Club perform traditional Hawaiian dances at the Pow Wow. This year, MEChA and NASU collaborated to have In digenous Peoples Day on what is traditionally Columbus Day. At all of our functions, we have invit ed the whole student body, facul ty and staff to participate. The Spring Pow Wow was even cov ered by the Emerald last year. If the editorial staff of the Emerald does not participate in these events, that is not the fault of NASU or any other ethnic student group. Secondly, regarding the argu ment that ethnic groups should be “educating” the rest of the student body, I have serious problems. Perhaps I am strange, but isn’t one of the main problems that ethnic students have to deal with in the racism issue the fact that ethnic people have been largely reedu cated themselves by what is re ferred to as "white” society? Why should ethnic people be expected to educate the white people in this light? Isn’t this the job of the institution of higher learning we are all attending? The role of the ethnic unions is not to “educate” but to provide a cultural environ ment where their voices are heard equally. Thirdly, regarding the issue of the “innumerable student groups,” I am not sure what every one’s perception of America is. But my point of view of America is that it is made up of “innumer able ethnic groups.” But, as many of us minority group members know, America is controlled by a “white” majority. To many, this is discrimination. To tell one ethnic group it cannot be recognized by the ASUO would be discrimina tion. All ethnic groups deserve to be heard, and a student union is the best way to concentrate their energies in that effort. I stress to the editorial staff of the Emerald that they actually come down and visit the ethnic unions. The author of the editori al obviously does not know what the ethnic unions are about, does not know contemporary issues and is severely misinformed as to the history of racism in this coun try. I suggest the editorial staff be comes informed before writing any other needless articles. David Lewis Humanities MCC needs expansion Since the ASUO Multicultural Center came into existence two years ago, it has done some in credible things for the University. Its programming has been second to none and inspiring to the entire campus community. For this reason, it is the feeling of many students who have been associated, used and involved with the MCC that it be expanded and included in the $4 million renovation of the EMU. The space that exists presently is one of the most comfortable environments at the University. Its design and layout make it one of the few at mospheres in the EMU where people from all walks of life, cul tures and backgrounds can enjoy each other’s surroundings and ideas. As it stands now, the MCC is small, quaint and accessible to is sues of cultural diversity and ed ucation. For that reason, it is be coming more and more evident that the MCC be expanded. Events that would normally be scheduled for the MCC have not been able to take place there be cause its capacity does not allow for it. On numerous occasions, the MCC had difficulty in hosting some events and meetings in which there had been an overflow of people. The alternative of using EMU Scheduling to find rooms in the building is difficult because many other groups want the same space at the same time. The MCC is the only place that is specifical ly set aside for students whose is sues deal with cultural diversity. Finding room for the expanded MCC would be easily done for a couple of reasons. One, the EMU is renovating as mentioned before. Two, the plan is to relocate Foot notes and replace it with the Cam pus Copy Center. This plan makes little sense because the Campus Copy Center should be in a place that is more central and accessible to everyone on campus. The space would be better used if it were ex panded to house the MCC. The MCC has been able to bring some incredible speakers to cam pus and the community in the past year. Historian Howard Zinn had approximately 700 people attend his discussion last November. Scholar and activist Angela Davis was the keynote speaker at the Hult Center for the Martin Luther King celebration last January. Also, the MCC has been one of the spearheads in trying to improve the University’s commitment to promoting cultural diversity. It has been involved with the cre ations of an ethnic studies major and of a coalition called Students Against Hate and Discrimination. At the Weaving New Begin nings reception on Oct. 30, Presi dent Dave Frohnmayer said he is proud of the University for the steps it has taken and its commit ment to diversity. If that is the case, the University has a sweet opportunity to prove its commit ment by creating more room for is sues that deal with multicultural ism. Javier Cervantes Public Relations and Outreach Coordinator ASUO Multicultural Center GENERAL SCIENCE FALL 1996 GATHERING WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER I3 5-6 PM. COLLIER HOUSE PARLOR _I Do you feel like you need help learning interviewing skills and presenting yourself in a cover letter0 Would you like to meet alumni and professionals in your career field and leam from their experiences0 To answer these questions, come to the fall ‘96 General Science gathering and learn how the Mentor Program can help you Beth Pfeiffer the Mentor Program Coordinator, and students who have experienced the Mentor Program will be presenting information on how \ou can use this valuable resource to make yourself competitive in the future job market FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT 346-3288 'MAfiA/lt yowi The Mentor Program A one-credit, upper-division class where you: • polish your resume & cover letter • learn informational interviewing skills • meet two professionals of your career choice English: ENG 408, CRN 22621, U 14:00-15:50, 204 CHA. Meets: 1/7, 1/21, 2/4, 2/25, 3/4. Business: MGMT 410, CRN 23718, M 15:00-16:50, 225 CHI. Meets: 1/6, 1/13,2/3,2/24, 3/3. Psychology: PSY 410, CRN 24873, F 13:00-14:50,311 STP. Meets: 1/10, 1/24, 2/7, 2/28, 3/7. Sociology: SOC410, CRN 25051, H 18:00-19:50, 203 CHA. Meets: 1/9, 1/23, 2/6, 2/27, 3/6. Environmental Studies: ENVS 407, CRN 22684, M 15:00-16:50,30 PAC. Meets: 1/6, 1/13, 2/3, 2/24, 3/3. Sciences: BI407, CRN 21737, PHYS 408, CRN 24632, CH 408 CRN 21917, W 19:00-20:50, 171 Onyx. Meets: 1/8, 1/22,2/5,2/26,3/5. All Majors: PPPM410, CRN 24693, H 15:30-17:20, 112ESL. Meets: 1/9, 1/23, 2/6, 2/27, 3/6. Contact Beth Pfeiffer at 346-6021, call 346-NEWS, ext. 3005 or visit the Mentor Program homepage at http://uocareer.uoregon.edu/mentor/welcome.html for more information. Sponsored by: The Career Center, Student Alumni Association, Associated Students of the University of Oregon and the University of Oregon Alumni Association. Tell your family and friends to read the Oregon Daily Emerald now available on the world wide web http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~ode
