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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 7, 1999)
NEWSROOM (541)546-5511 E-MAIL ode@ Oregon, uoregon.edu ON-LINE EDITION: www.dailyemerald.com EDITOR IN CHIEF Ryan Frank EDITORIAL EDITORS KameronCole Stefanie Knowlton A conversation with a not-so-real barfly reveals views on comedy, compulsion and college journalism He was sitting there waiting for me, as usual, even though it always felt like he’d never left. The grungy bar stool was embedded with the contours of his posterior and the requisite stein nestled near his chest lost flakes of dirt with each heave. I sat and quietly ordered a round. There was no use try ing to get the first, let alone the last, word in with my ex istentially challenged friend, Sam Shylock. As I sat in silence, Sam took a sip of his jet black beer and gave me his usual dash of charm. “Still working at that rag, the Emeroid?” “Emerald.” I gave a light smile. “And yeah, I am.” A few seconds passed. “You know, I feel for you guys up there.” A trace of sympathy from such a hardened citizen? I had to know more. “Really?” I asked. “Well, yes,” he said, putting his stein down. “People give you a lot of heat for not serving their needs, whatev er that means. But ultimately, you’re a newspaper, not a newsletter.” Opinion Ashley Bach “Sure, Sam, but don’t we have a duty to serve our readers?” I wasn’t sure why he felt so strongly, except for that stint he claimed as an ODE delivery boy in the ’70s. “You serve your readers by being the pa per of record and sometimes printing things that don’t make everybody happy.” He grabbed a handful of peanuts. “You should see angry letters as a badge of hon or, not a catalyst for change.” “We’re not perfect.” “Of course not, but everybody expects you to be.” He swiveled in his stool. “When push comes to shove, some times quite literally, the Emerald is one of the best college newspapers in the country.” After a few seconds of digestion, I turned to thank him, but his face told me the subject was dead. I glanced down at the wrinkled newspaper in front of him and stifled a laugh. “Comics page, huh?” “Yep, I prefer to call it the funnies.” He flashed a wide smile. “I’m not ashamed. No matter what they tell you, everybody reads the funnies.” “But they’re not even that funny,” “That’s not really the point. Reading the comics is a rite of passage, worthy more of little chuckles rather than drop-dead laughter.” Visions of “The Far Side” and “Calvin & Hobbes” danced through my head. “They used to be better.” “Everybody says that, and there are a few stinkers.” He pushed his stein forward for a refill. “‘Family Circus’ and ‘Peanuts,’ for example, are both actually written by the same schizophrenic maniac.” “That’s probably true, but what about ‘Rex Morgan’ and ‘Judge Parker’ and that one with the Viking? Nobody actu ally reads those, right?” “Those are for old people, who, by the way, are the only ones who read news papers anymore.” “You’re old.” “Not that old.” I smiled and glanced at the televi sion blaring above us. Lines of people were on-camera buying up mer chandise for a certain sci ence-fiction film at a fre netic pace. “Sam, you been keeping up on this whole Star Wars craze?” I asked, wiping the suds from my mouth. He shot a quick look at the screen. “Unfortunately, yes,” he said. “I know you’re a fan, but the fact is, they’re all freaks.” I squirmed in my seat. “What, just because they like something?” “Yes. Standing in line for hours just for a movie ticket, let alone toys that won’t be going away anytime soon, is paranoia, not a hob by.” I tipped my glass back. “The fun of it is trying to be the first on the block to have the latest.” “It’s idiotic, and all the 19-year-old boys with Boba Fett shirts should go out and get girl friends, some fresh air, and maybe a life.” I shook my head, pulled a fiver out of my wallet and laid it on the bar. “Well, are you go ing to see the movie? It comes out in less than two weeks.” “Maybe this summer, or fall.” He swallowed a few more nuts. “When I get around to it.” “Oh, that’s right.” I got off my stool and put on my coat. “Right after you hang out here for another eter nity, which is far better, of course, than camping out for tickets for a night or two.” “There’s one big difference,” Sam said, lifting his stein as I walked toward the door. “I have beer and they don’t.” Ashley Bach is a columnist for the Emerald. His views do not necessarily represent those of the newspaper. Letters to the Editor Making a difference This letter is in response to the article “ASUO Exec’s Results Vary” (ODE, April 20). I was interviewed for this article but was disappointed at the outcome. I would like to take this opportunity to add some important points that the article missed. This year’s ASUO Executive has been deeply involved in the work that the Oregon Student Association (OSA) is doing on the tuition freeze, the OUS budget and child care for college students. ASUO President Geneva Wortman and Vice President Morgan Cowling win real victories that change students’ lives. As a member of the OSA’s executive board, Wortman has been a leader and an inspiration to student leaders across the state. Among her contributions, Wortman played a key role at the Higher Education Rally Day, representing the University and the students with the most powerful speech of the day. Because of her leadership, she was also asked by the chancellor’s office of the Ore gon University System to testify in front of the House education subcommittee for the OUS budget. Cowling has also played an instrumental role statewide through her work with the Oregon Student Foundation, OSA’s fund raising and education arm. Cowling has re cruited new student members and created an OSF membership program. Wortman’s and Cowling’s work at the statewide level will ensure that all future Oregon students have access to a quality, af fordable education. Kellie Shoemaker Legislative Director, OSA OSPIRG not focus I appreciate the Emerald’s editorial about the OSPIRG vote (ODE, April 26). I too agree that the grievance against bringing Ralph Nader to campus is misguided and should not be used to taint what is a clear student mandate to re-establish OSPIRG. I was in the audience when Nader spoke and he never once told students how to vote on ballot measures. Furthermore, Nader spoke about lots of issues besides OSPIRG: farmworker condi tions, our legacy as students and his vision of the educational experience. Nader’s visit was a rewarding and educational experi ence, not a secret ploy to hype up OSPIRG. Anyone who would cast it in a cloud of suspicion unfortunately missed the impor tance of his message. Andrew Schneider Student Senator Elect mrmmm The Oregon Dally Emerald will attempt to print afl letters containing comments on top ics 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, grammar, style and libel. Letters maybe dropped off at EMU Suite The May 4 article about Student Senator Michael Dixon pleading guilty to two Class C felonies and one Class A misdemeanor should have sad the Dixon can face up to 11 years In prison and a $205,000 fine. The Emerald regrets error.
