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.
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