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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 1997)
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR University slum lords? I would like to question the current University Housing De partment policy, published in your paper (ODE, Nov. 11). Michael Burnham, an Emerald reporter, wrote a story “Council discusses housing plan.” This story leads me to wonder if the University fits the mold as a slum lord. I took this story as important news, and it disturbs me. After reading, I wanted to find out if the University was or was not a slum lord and to reas sure myself that I was reading correctly. I contacted Mike Eyster with the University Housing Department and found my interpretation of the article very clear. Eyster reassured me that Burnham did not misquote him, and his statement was cor rect. I found the University oppos es the adoption of a city-wide housing code on economic grounds only. When I asked what current safeguards were in place to assure students that University housing meets with state compliance, Eyster replied, “The University meets or ex ceeds all state housing codes.” He did not elaborate further and felt that University housing would not benefit from city in spections. Eyster further explained that the proposed housing code would only affect off-campus housing because the state al ready has a statue that exempts the University dormitories from city inspections. I then asked him why the strong policy op position to a proposed city-wide housing code. He responded, “The city was proposing a $12 per unit fee (only $4 per term per unit) for a city managed in spection program.” He contin ued to explain that a tax on rental deposit interest earned by the University was the major contributor to his negative view of the city code. (Note the inter est is above and beyond any stu dent paid monies and is created by investment of security de posits.) Eyster revealed that the secu rity deposit money from the 800-plus units draws interest and the city wants to tax it to pay for city rental housing in spectors. This is only one pro posed option within a field of many. Yet because of a city dis cussion that includes a tax as one form of payment, Eyster will not yield in his opposition. He did say that if the University was exempt from any city in spection program, he would support every effort to imple ment the proposed housing code. I view his concerns as real fac tors in development of current University policy. Nevertheless, if all landlords were able to opt out of every new proposed ordi nance, would there ever be any new housing legislation? And what amounts of money are we talking about? My understand ing of mathematics and finances causes me to think the dollar amount cannot exceed very much compared with the over all University housing budget. I cannot visualize the taxable in terest being large and plus, the benefits of city housing inspec tors should outweigh any addi tional costs. When will the University, city, landlords and renters wake up and take financial/personal responsibility for their actions? Many students are living in sub standard conditions and a city wide rental unit inspection pro gram would alleviate many students’ or parental concerns. As adults, the learning process and educational experi ence that this University pro vides should enter the realm of political and social innovation. Furthermore, a University stu dent should be able to live in the highest quality housing possi ble. Consequently, I feel that the University should attend to housing needs and provide all resources possible so that stu dents can feel safe in their off campus housing. This is not limited to University-owned units. Therefore, this University should set an example to its stu dents, other landlords and the nation by supporting the pro posed city of Eugene housing code. Leslie Wilson Planning, Public Policy and Management Avoiding rape Recently, after the play “Drawing the Shades,” some body asked the question: How come women keep putting themselves in dangerous situa tions where they might get raped? The statistics say that happens to a lot of people. So why do people keep putting themselves in these situations? Let’s pretend I’m a woman student who wants to be safe. Help me plan my life at the Uni versity, okay? First, where am I going to live? Well, I’m definitely not go ing to live by myself, because somebody might attack me while I’m alone in my house. I’m not going to live in a dorm, since rapes occur in dorms. 1 sure don’t want to live off-cam pus with roommates; one of them might assault me. I can’t live in a sorority because there are parties there. Now that my housing prob lem is solved, help me decide how I’m going to get to class. 1 can’t walk, especially at night, because that would be danger ous. Riding my bike would be almost as bad. I’m certainly not going to stand around on a street corner waiting for the bus. I can’t afford a car right now, so I can’t drive. Saferide provides free transportation for women students at night, but some of my classes are in the daytime, and it’s dangerous for me to walk around alone. Now that we ve figured out how I’m going to get to class, let’s plan my social life. Obvi ously I’m not going to date men, because everybody knows that date rape is common, and rapists are usually men. Now everybody realizes that some times women rape, too. So I’m not going to date. I guess I could hang out with friends or go out with acquaintances — but sometimes “friends” or acquain tances rape people too. That’s why they call it “acquaintance rape,” right? I definitely won’t go to parties, bars or dances. I guess I’ll stay home all the time at my house where I live alone ... I mean, with people ... Never mind. Of course, social acquain tances aren’t the only people I have to be careful about. We’ve all heard stories about profes sors who assault their students, bosses who harass their employ ees and co-workers who threat en the people they work with. So I won’t have any professors or bosses or co-workers. I’m not going to get married, because husbands often beat and abuse their wives. We al ready decided that I’m not going to go out and have relationships with men or women. I shouldn’t be single, either, since then peo ple would consider me avail able. I can't travel, and we already decided I can’t stay home either. I definitely need to put some bars on the windows of my bed room and extra locks on my doors. Better yet, 1 could build a sort of prison, with bars and locks and a great security sys tem. Then nobody could get me, and all the rapists would stay outside where they belong. Wait a minute... Did you say the rapists are the ones who should be locked up, and not the people who are trying to stay safe? Did you say the rapists are the ones who should be chang ing their behavior, not me? What do you mean, rapists are responsible for the crimes they commit and for the climate of fear they create? You say 1 should be able to make friends and date if I want to and go to parties if I want to and wear whatever clothes 1 like and be alone without having to be afraid and go outdoors without having to fear that someone will attack me? I could never say a thing like that. Somebody might think I was a feminist. Suzanne Kocher Graduate student for the latest f MU/ASUO event and renovation Information, chock out the CMII WEB PAGE http://darkwing.woreg0n.edu/~emw1nain/ EMU TICKET CFFICE (How about a (Huft Center gift certificate... or tickets to... Hot Tuna .December 15th The Nutcracker .December 18th - 21st The Eugene Opera's Die Fledermaus .New year's Eve Trillian Green & Shelley Doty .Nov. 14 &15, Actor's Cabaret GREASE .January 29th - 30th Porgy and Bess .April 1st - 2nd OPEN: Monday-Friday 9-7:30 Saturday 10-4, Sunday 12-4 The EMU Ticket Office is a ticket outlet for: Fastixx, Huit Center, W.O.W. Hall, LCC Theater, EMU and UO Athletics. TICKETS BY PHONE: 346-4361 L.OST & F<?UNP i>ALC Today and tomorrow from 10am-4pm in the Walnut Room. Come and stock up on umbrellas, mugs, calculators, books, hats, gloves and morel Nothing over $51 Come early for all the best deals. Craf t Center Winter Workshops Registration begins Dec.4 at 10 am Lower level EMU/346-4361 http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~craftctr Food Service The EMU Eatery Naming Contest entries are due on Friday, December 12th. Look for our ads in The Emerald for more information. _ The EMU would like to CONGRATULATE April Davis, Greek Life Tamara Theodosis, Child Care & Development Centers Jennifer Petersen, Administration for receiving the first EMU Student Scholarship awards as the three top outstanding student employees in the EMU! Thank you Council Travel for your generous contribution tothese awards, and thank you everyone who participated in the nomination and selection process. We’ll do it again next term! CONGRATULATIONS to all of the outstanding students who were nominated. We appreciate you! £ EQUESTRIAN Equestrian Meeting Monday, Dec. 1,1997 Cedar A6 - 7 p.m. SCUBA I Discover Scuba ■ Tuesday Dec. 2,1997 Leighton Pool 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
