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EDITOR IN CHIEF
Ryan Frank
EDITORIAL EDITORS
KameronCole
Stefanie Knowlton
Freedom of what?
University of Wisconsin students confuse
freedom of speech with censoring opinions
Students from the university of Wisconsin
Madison have filed a law suit against their
university stating that they do not want their
student fees to subsidize campus organiza
tions with which they do not agree. The National
Organization for Women; the International Social
ists Organization; the Campus Lesbian, Gay, Bisex
ual Center; and an AIDS support network are
among the groups these students do not wish to
fund because of a conflict in opinion.
They argue that being forced to fund such pro
grams is a violation of their First Amendment right
to free speech.
Since when has silencing others strengthened
the right to free speech?
If the Supreme Court rules in favor of these stu
dents, universities across the nation, including the
University, will be forced to prorate fees according
to each student’s personal beliefs. This decision
would overturn a recent Oregon Supreme Court
case that decided that groups such as OSPIRG,
even though all students might not agree with their
objectives, can seek funding through student fees.
It may sound appealing, but the result would be
devastating. Universities would no longer be able
io iuna campus groups.
The cost of refunding
money and creating
questionnaires f
would make it im- «
possible to operate f
such programs. \
These conserva
tive Wisconsin stu
dents are crying free
speech but destroy
ing the avenues by
which students
pursue this free
speech (i.e.
affiliation >»—
with student groups and organizations).
As it stands in Oregon, universities give all
groups the opportunity to receive student-fee
funding. The exceptions include religious groups
(because of the separation of church and state) and
politically affiliated groups. Oregon law also pro
hibits fees to be spent on groups that endorse is
sues or candidates.
By giving all students the ability to start their
own groups, universities are giving everyone a
chance to exercise their freedom of speech. In ad
dition, the opportunity creates a diverse range of
groups and opinions.
Without student fees, campus publications such
as Oregon Voice and The Student Insurgent and
groups such as the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Transgender Alliance and the Black Student
Union may be eliminated or cut because the major
ity of students do not want to fund them.
However, as college students, we should be con
cerned with creating public debate on a range of is
sues.
One only has to look at history to realize that
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holding the opinion of the majority does not al
ways make you right or well-informed.
Every viewpoint brings a unique aspect to a de
bate and is vital in advancing thought and criti
cism. Our education at the University should not
be limited to what we learn in the classroom, but
should be supplemented by groups that enrich the
campus and our lives with minority viewpoints.
Ensuring a diversity of opinion is in fact one of
the functions of the First Amendment, and it is lu
dicrous that the Wisconsin students are using the
First Amendment to do the exact opposite.
The great French author Voltaire summed it up
when he wrote to a comrade, “ I disapprove of
what you say, but I will defend to my death your
right to say it.”
Just because we disapprove of what a group says
or believes does not mean that we should withhold
fees from that group. This process undermines the
whole system and freedom of speech on college
campuses.
This editorial represents the opinion of the Emerald
editorial board. Responses may he sent to ode@oregon.
uoregon.edu.
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Letters to the Editor
\
Bryan Dixon/Emerald
Deep in debt
Student debt at the University and
across the country is a major problem
that the government has been neglect
ing.
1 am personally graduating with
thousands of dollars of debt.
For the past 20 years, grant aid pro
grams have failed to keep pace with
inflation and rising college tuition and
expenses.
As a result, it has become more and
more difficult to afford a college edu
cation and graduate without massive
dept. The ASUO, USPIRG and the
U.S. Student Association are fighting
for our rights as students by working
to educate the U.S. Congress about the
problems students have accessing col
lege and advocating for a $400 in
crease in the maximum Pell Grant.
This would increase the maximum
grant from $3,125 to $3,525. Support
the representatives from ASUO who
traveled to Washington, D.C., during
finals week last term.
Sign a debt check which shows the
U.S. Congress that we are serious
about our education and are strug
gling to pay for it. Show your support
and concern for the University of Ore
gon and for yourself. Take action.
Elan Schmitt
Journalism
Joltin’ Joe
The ODE paid its respects to Joe
DiMaggio by printing an Associated
Press story about DiMaggio’s passing
(ODE, March 9).
However, I’m a lover of baseball,
and I feel like saying a few words
about Joltin’ Joe. With his passing,
baseball has lost the last of a rare
breed: players who play for the love of
the game.
DiMaggio may be remembered by
some as the man who had a 56-game
hitting streak or the man who won
nine world championships, though,
in my eyes, he was a baseball lover.
The baseball diamond was not just
where Joe worked, it was his play
ground too. Today’s players can say
they play for the love of the game, but
they don’t mind holding out for a lit
tle more money.
Joe DiMaggio earned the first
$100,000 contract not because he held
out but because he earned it.
Joe went about his job taking the
field everyday, ready to entertain peo
ple by playing a sport he truly loved.
I can only dream of seeing him play
a game. My eyes light up just watching
highlights of a true baseball player.
Joe will always remain on the field
in spirit, and when the first pitch is
thrown out this season, just remember
that the last lover of the game is still
kicking around the ballpark in spirit.
Chris Golec
Psychology
LETTERS POUCY
The Oregon Daily Emerald will at
tempt to print all letters containing
com ments on topics of interest to
the University community. Letters
must be limited to 250 words. The
Emerald reserves the right to edit
any letter for length, clarity, gram
mar, style and libel. Letters may be
dropped off at EMU Suite 300.
Thumbs
THUMBS UP
To protested:
An unarmed
African-American
was shot 19 times
by New York po
lice officers last
week. Protesters
have taken to the
streets to rally op
position aoainst
the polkte officers
involved and the
department Itself.
To working
together
Tree lovers and
the city of Eugene
finally came to
gether alter much
debate about the
80-year-old maple
tree in Owens
Memorial Rose
Garden. The city
diagnosed the de
caying tree as a
hazard,andafter
independent re
search, the tree
lovers agreed.
THUMBS DOWN
To not playing
(air:
Rev. Greg Dell
was suspended
from the
Methodist Church
for performing a
gay marriage,
which took place
last year. About 30
percent of his con
gregation at die
Broadway United
Methodist Church
in Chicago is ho
mosexual.
To inadequate
coverage:
Although spend
ing for the Oregon
Health Plan has in
creased, fewer
Oregon residents
are covered by the
program. The
number of Orego
nians who are not
covered but are
below the poverty
line rose from 17
percent in 1997 to
23 percent in
1998.