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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 7, 2000)
Editor in chief: Laura Cadiz Editorial Editors: Bret Jacobson, Laura Lucas Newsroom: (541)346-5511 Room 300, Erb Memorial Union P.O. Box 3159, Eugene, OR 97403 E-mail: ode@oregon.uoregon.edu Friday January 7,2000 Volume 101, Issue 71 Effierald in the right direction University President Dave Frohnmayer recently sent a letter to corporate licensees of the Univer sity logo requiring full disclo sure of several important labor facts. It was the right decision and made in the right way. There is an urgent need, no doubt, to join in the fight against sweatshop labor throughout the world, but in this instance, the methodology of reaching this decision was as important as is the final result. The decision to require infor mation on employee grievance procedures, locations of pro duction facilities and names, ti tles and phone numbers of company officers is a small step in the right direction. Acknowl edged by all as only the begin ning in a battle on sweatshop labor practices, hopefully the inertia of getting the ball rolling will continue to move the process along as quickly as pos sible. While the end result was crit ical, the method of reaching it was even more important. In stead of immediately bowing to groups such as the Human Rights Alliance who tried to impose arbitrary deadlines for a decision, the president fol lowed advice of a diverse panel of serious individuals dedicat ed to change within the system. Using a formal process offers several important benefits to the decision. One important benefit of withstanding vocal protesters in favor of a school committee involving students, faculty and administrators is a boost to the credibility of a final decision. By listening to the Licensing Code of Conduct Committee, Frohnmayer sent a message that University business will be conducted by a thoughtful process and will resist the often fickle nature of public demon strators. Not only will students know that the decision has the backing of the administration, but companies who license Oregon logos will receive the message that this is a policy that is measured and not subject to negotiation. Another benefit of a formal process is that it takes longer. Though it would be easy to bemoan the time necessary for such a well-measured process as a hindrance to righteous change, the time itself lends perspective to those charged with making such important decisions. Large, raucous crowds living in the moment are not known for their judi cious policy making. Obviously one must appreci ate students who are involved and stay active in the local poli tics of the school. There is no substitute for a concerned stu dent body, and there should be heavy involvement and over sight on the part of students throughout the rest of the process, as well as constant re view once a policy is in place and working. In an era where a public truth is built from spin and reputa tions are won and lost on the ability to demagogue, the deci sion to ignore meaningless deadlines for change sent just the right message from Frohn mayer. But for all the discus sion on how the decision was made, the fact should remain unobscured: the process for ending University-licensed, sweatshop-made wares is un derway, and we should all be happy with that. This editorial represents the opinion of the Emerald editorial board. Re sponses may be sent to ode@oregon.uoregon.edu. Thumbs To one more comeback The Ducks won the Sun Bowl, up setting number 12 ranked Minnesota and leaping into the top 25 in the polls. The win is expected to help recruiting and keep donor mon ey flowing in. To a house of win ners Delta Sigma Phi fraternity was rec ognized by the Governor's Council on Alcohol and Drug Prevention for a pledge to keep a dry house. The recognition comes in the form of the governor’s Outstanding Com munity Service Award. To the storm after the calm After the new year came without any significant com puter problems, lawsuits are ex pected to build against computer consultants as some believe the hype provoked unnecessary com puter improve ments. Come on, bite the bullet and move on. To the end of a good thing Peanuts cartoonist Charles Schulz is sued his final com ic strip on Jan. 3 after retiring to fight off a cancer he is facing.
