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
Tuesday
February 15,2000
Volume 101, Issue 97
Emerald
OK, people. As you may or may not
know, lam the official “student life”
columnist for the Emerald. Sounds of
ficial, doesn’t it? But the truth of the
matter is that I haven’t got much of a life.
I’m in college for Pete’s sake! I am locked in
my dorm for large periods of the day read
ing and doing homework and playing
Tetris on my computer.
I m just one man
trying to make a dif
ference in this world.
(Cue violin music.)
I’m out there with my
nose in it just so
twice a month you
can see my ugly mug
on page 2. But dangit,
that’s not enough. I
want to make a differ
ence!
M.USOYI So, I need you, the
Wpct readers, to help me
__ out. Take a look at-the
end of the column re
ally quickly. You see what's there? It’s my
e-mail address. There’s this amazing thing
called the Internet, and you can use it to
send electronic letters to people instantly.
Wow, isn’t technology swell! To this date,
only two people have ever e-mailed me in
response to my columns. I must say, I’m a
little hurt. Without feedback how am I sup
posed to know if I’m accurately represent
ing you? Even the little things are great. Did
you laugh a little? Did you receive valuable
.information?
My wisdom extends only so far. I know
about drama, music, “The Simpsons” and
Tetris. That leaves a whole lot of uncovered
areas — areas that you are involved in. You
are my eyes and my ears, my children. I
place myself in your hands to mold me and
make me a better columnist.
In times past I have turned to others for
guidance. You may recall my last column
about resident assistants. Now, I don’t
want to shock anybody, but that wasn’t en
tirely my idea. Before your reality crum
bles into little pieces, you have to get rid of
this image of us columnists as supreme be
ings. We’re just as smart as you are! Maybe
even less so, in my particular case. I just
Letters to the editor
Candidates should get second chance
I went to the coffee hour on Feb. 4 that
was hosted by C.J. Gabbe and Peter Larson. I
did not feel pressured in any way to vote for
them. They were encouraging people to
vote but to make their own choices in who
should be elected. I felt very happy that they
reached out to the international communi
ty to encourage everyone to vote. I was glad
for the opportunity to meet some of the peo
ple running for office. Gabbe and Larson
should be given a second chance and be
able to get back on the ballot.
Helen Whitlock
international studies
Gabbe, Larson’s actions inappropriate
In response to James Pippen’s comments
(ODE, Feb. 14) regarding the violation of
election rules by C.J. Gabbe and Peter Lar
son, I think Pippen is correct that the candi
dates have a responsibility to “influence the
outcome of the election.” The manner in
which Gabbe and Larson attempted to do so,
however, was neither appropriate nor fair.
Elections regulations prohibiting candidates
from offering voters a “thing of value” were
pretend that I’m important be
cause when I was in kinder
garten, the kids called me
“poopy head.” Needless to say
I’m still working through thos<
issues.
From now on, I want you to
think of me as Mason West,
“The People’s Columnist.”
Not to be confused with
“The People’s Communist.”
The last two sound a little
similar. I want to know
what you think, what
you’re doing, what you
had for dinner last
night.
This is not to say /
that I am abandoning >
my personal views; /
I’m just being open to
other input. Be aware
that I can’t use every
idea that you will, I
hope, give me. I will
pick and choose at my
discretion. There is a
reason that I’m writing
the column and you’re
not: I paid off the edi
tors! >
L.PV/6.
Recipe
r»uric'
As a sign of my
dedication, I
played “man on
the street” and
found out what
some students
want.
“More human interest stories. Things I
can relate to,” said Karen Smith, a sopho
more educational studies major.
“More Pac-10 news and national sports,”
said Nebiyu Yohannes, a sophomore com
puter science major. (Sorry, but the only
sports I know about are trampoline and
frisbee.)
“It’s good to see both sides of the issues,”
said A.J. Swoboda, a freshman business
major. (Sounds great, I could have the an
gel side and the devil side like in cartoons.)
“How does our dorm food measure up to
other universities?” said Tom Peryan, a
freshman English major. (I’d only do that if
established in order to maintain an ideal of
open access to all potential nominees. The
sponsorship of any University function by a
candidate compromises this ideal.
Pippen trivialized the significance of
Gabbe and Larson’s infraction. What about
those candidates who find themselves lack
ing the financial privilege to offer major or
ganizations such as the International Stu
dent Union coffee and snacks while
promoting their campaigns? Does economic
status determine how qualified one is to rep
resent University students?
The standards and guidelines of this elec
tion were clearly presented prior to any cam
paigning. All candidates were required to
sign an agreement to the rules established by
the elections board. Gabbe and Larson’s in
sistence that they did not realized their ac
tions were in direct violation of ASUO elec
tions rules suggests one of two things: Either
Gabbe and Larson were sincerely unaware
of the rule when they sponsored the coffee
hour or they were aware and chose to defy
the rules anyway. Gabbe and Larson were ei
ther ignorant or unethical. Neither of these
qualities has any place in our student gov
ernment.
. « . .. Ruth Williams .
“ undeclared
I got to eat for free.)
“I’d like to read about the problems that
international students have in some class
es,” said Emma Ko, a senior international
studies major.
“Perspectives on what’s the purpose of
the University (in the general sense) by un
dergrads, graduates and professors,” said
Terrance MacMullan, a humanities Gradu
ate Teaching Fellow.
“I like campus-related stuff. I don’t really
read the Emerald for local things,” said
Vickie Nelson, a Computing Center librari
an.“I think a lot of people would go for
some humor in the paper. It seems like
there are lots of students who don’t care
Bryan Dixon Emerald
about the serious issues,” said Luke
Williams, a junior psychology major.
(That’s exactly how I feel! Amen, my
brotha’.)
So what do you want? The e-mail ad
dress is still at the bottom of the page. And
it’s even closer than before!
I would love to hear from all of you. The
future of this column may depend on it!
And even if you don’t have any opinions,
yeu can write me, and we’ll go play Tetris.
Mason West is a columnist for the Oregon Daily
Emerald. His views do not necessarily represent the
views of the Emerald. He can be reached via e-mail
at mwest1@gladstone.uoregon.edu.
Candidates expected to follow ASUO
I find it imbecilic that two gentlemen sup
posedly as bright as C.J. Gabbe and Peter
Larson could fail to read and follow rules as
simple as that of the ASUO elections. In
stead of taking full responsibility for their
actions, they stay true to the course of
ASUO corrupt politics as usual and pull a
predictable, career-politician end-round. Is
this really the sort of dishonest malarkey
you want plaguing the executive office next
year? I should hope not!
Of course, there will most likely be those
in the Gabbe/Larson camp who will cry foul
because of my own ASUO Executive candi
dacy, so let me set the record straight: I do
not care if you vote for me. In fact, don’t
vote for me if you don’t want to.
If you really want to elect an official that
will go into the next academic year ready to
fight for your causes and your voice and
who will maintain integrity and accounta
bility in such a manner that will make you
proud to be a part of this association, then
cast your vote for Jay Breslow. A vote for
Breslow is a vote against the apathy and
clinical stupidity that the Gabbe/Larson
campaign represents.
V......... -.... 5f0tt P,Austin
*. - • . >AStiO Executive candidate
LETTERS POLICY
The Oregon Daily Emerald wilt attempt to
print all letters containing comments on top
ics of interest to the University community.
Letters must be I imited to 250 words. The
Emerald reserves the right to edit any letter
for length, clarity, grammar, style and libel.
Letters may be dropped off at EMU Suite 300.
CORRECTION
The story “PFC budget derisions frustrate pro
grams" (ODE Feb. 11) failed to mention that
the budget for the Designated Driver Shuttle,
which had originally been cut by 30 percent,
was reconsidered and decreased by only 12
percent from last year’s budget
Also, the story “Austin takes on ASUO exec
race with confidence” (ODE. Feb. 14) incor
rectly stated that Peter Watts was planning to
run with Austin as ASUO vice president Watts
had never planned to run with Austin.
TheEmeraid regrets these errors. .
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