Letters to the editor Candidate removal unjust ASUO leadership should be determined by the many, not lim ited by the few as would be done by the ASUO Elections Board. It is a perversion of the process and simply undemocratic to kick can didates for public office out of an election unless those candidates commit a violation that will sub stantially affect the outcome of the vote. I do not believe the alle gations against C.J. Gabbe and Pe ter Larson, even if proven true, fit this criteria. Further, sponsoring an International Students Associ ation coffee hour to encourage general voter participation does n’t mean these candidates were soliciting votes and doesn’t mean they did anything wrong. Voter education strengthens the demo cratic process and talking about the issues is just good politics. At the sacrifice of choice and built on shaky allegations, this decision was made. Be assured that kicking them out is serving someone’s political agenda. It would seem the ASUO Constitu tion Court agrees the student body should be permitted to weigh in on this issue, and we ap plaud them for their careful con sideration and adherence to the public process. We want to make it clear that Gabbe and Larson aren’t the only “lambs” in the ASUO political slaughterhouse; it’s the right to choose your leaders on the chop ping block today. I believe it is the very integrity of your campus democracy in question here. I just hope your student body will get to answer the question before stu dents like ASUO elections coor dinator Ken Best so clumsily an swer for you. Tim Young Portland State University student body president Chocka Guiden PSU student body vice president Election rule ambiguous For providing some snacks to the International Students Asso ciation coffee hour, C.J. Gabbe and Peter Larson were accused of offering “a thing of value” to stu dents, and therefore they should be punished. Well, what do you consider a “thing of value”? If your answer is “potato chips and chocolate chip cookies,” then I will definitely question your val ues. I agree that candidates should follow the ASUO election rules. This “thing of value” rule, how ever, seems unclear and ambigu ous to me. Again let me remind you that during Gabbe and Lar son’s speech during coffee hour they never asked people to vote for them, instead they encour aged students to vote. So why punish and offend them by call ing them “corrupt” and “dishon est”? Don’t you think this is too rash? Obviously the people pointing their fingers at Gabbe and Larson never had a chance to go to the coffee hour. Yes, Gabbe and Lar son sponsored the coffep hour, but for us being a coffee hour sponsor is an act of courtesy, not a bribe. International coffee hour is r a place for all students to interact informally and to be informed about what is going on campus. Several candidates who “care” about students’ votes have been there. Actually we would like to encourage all other candidates to come introduce themselves to the international community (we are 10 percent of the student body). We never had any problems lis tening to all information and de ciding what we want. We never had any problems listening to all information and deciding what we want. Alberto M Albuquerque co-director for ISA Make your vote count With the ASUO primary and general elections upon us again, you have to ask yourself one question: Are you going to sit idly by and complain about your stu dent government, or is your voice going to be heard this year? Each year we have two elec tions; yes, that is correct, two. One to narrow down our candi date pool and second to choose our campus leaders for next year. Students do not realize that both of these elections are important. Now is your chance to be in formed and choose the leaders for our next year. These are the stu dents who are going to represent us in almost all aspects of the big ger picture inside and outside the University. Students are constantly com plaining that they don’t have a voice or a say in what the ASUO or the Student Senate are doing; well here is your chance. And this year it could not be easier; you can do it from the comfort of your own home. Log onto Duck Web and vote. In the end, my voice will be heard. Will yours? Greg Danielson ASUO programs outreach director Voice your opinion: vote As you may or may not know, the ASUO elections are happen ing now. This may only interest some of us, but it should interest everyone. On February 23 and 24, and again on March 1 and 2, every student will have the op portunity to vote. February 23 and 24 are the primary elections for candidates, and March 1 and 2 are for ballot measures and the final election for candidates. We will be able to voice our opinions on issues ranging from continu ing our LTD funding to maintain ing membership in the United States Student Association, as well as who shall represent us as our elected officials next year. In Jean Anouilh’s “Antigone,” he writes, “A person must do what a person can do.” YOU CAN VOTE ... and it is your duty to the entire campus community to do so. The outcome of the ASUO election does matter, even though some cynics may have you believe otherwise. Take it from someone who’s been in of fice for almost an entire year: Our votes do count and the issue we’re voting upon have an im pact. On election day we can vote, and it is our duty to exercise our voices, opinions and right to be heard. Mitra Anoushiravani ASUO vice president Raw Talent The Oregon Daily Emerald is always looking for young writers who want to learn and grow at a real newspaper. For information on how to freelance for the Oregon Daily Emerald call 346-5511. Born's Ski Bum (o Willamette Pass. 111. Bachelor \ Hoodoo! RECYCLE 1 * Call for Nominations for Faculty Awards for Distinguished Teaching Deadline for Nominations: MARCH 1, 2000 Faculty, staff, students, and alumni are invited to submit nominations for any faculty members, tenure or non-tenure related, who have taught at the University of Oregon for a minimum of two (2) years. The Ersted Award and Thomas F. Herman Award are presented annually at Spring Commencement to University of Oregon faculty members for distinguished teaching. Each award will be accompanied by a recurring monetary award. [Please note that Graduate Teaching Fellows have their own competition and are ineligible for these awards.] Eligibility for Awards i r i Ersted Award for Distinguished Teaching The late Mr. A. J. Ersted established the Ersted Award for Distinguished Teaching so the University of Oregon could annually honor faculty members “who have taught comparatively short periods and have demonstrated exceptional abilities to induce students to reason and not merely memorize.” The Ersted Award is presented only to faculty who are early in their teaching careers. This teaching may occur at the undergraduate or graduate level. Thomas F. Herman Faculty Achievement Award for Distinguished Teaching This award honors senior faculty members who have achieved outstanding records as teachers. The Thomas F. Herman Award is presented only to faculty members who have academic rank at the University of Oregon for at least seven years, and who have demonstrated long-standing excellence in teaching and have contributed significantly to student learning at the undergraduate or graduate level. Nominations will be accepted either through submissions of the following form or by e-mail. If your nomination is by e-mail, please make sure that you include all the information contained on this form. Send your nomination form to: Lorraine G. Davis Vice Provost for Academic Affairs 207 Johnson Hall, University of Oregon E-mail your nomination to: Gwen Steigelman Asst. Vice Provost for Academic Affairs gwens@oregon.uoregon.edu I nominate (print clearly) for the (Please check one) □ Ersted Award □ Thomas F. Herman Award My reason(s) for nomination are: (You may attach a separate sheet, if necessary.) 005632 Signature of nominator____ Address____ Telephone__E-mail -- Please check your status □ Faculty □ Student □ Alumni □ Staff Bf w-r*i Pick lip an Emerald at 03camPus & community locations.