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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 5, 2000)
Speakers ask for democracy ■ The HRA held a teach-in last weekend and advocated a realignment of University configuration By Emily Gust Oregon Daily Emerald In a culture that values democ racy as a given, some students say the University is not holding itself to the same standards. Kicking off a movement to bring democracy to the college campus, the Human Rights Al liance held a teach-in over the weekend that focused on student concerns surrounding workers’ rights and discussion of the Uni versity’s decision-making struc ture. “We’re trying to raise aware ness about the lack of a democrat ic system on our campus,” HRA member Jevon Cutler said. It was not just one or two events that sparked HRA’s ac tions, he said. Instead, the teach in came as a result of many inci dents adding up. One face-off was when several students fought hard to institute Pride Hall, a theme hall for homo sexual students, but the Universi ty administration denied the pro posal. Another duel, spearheaded by University students, was fought over whether the administration would support a boycott of Gar denburger, which it did not. And the most recent battle has been fought over the Workers’ Rights Consortium, which many /^reoooooor students want the University ad ministration to sign. “All these issues represent the lack of autonomy among faculty, staff and students,” Cutler said. “There’s no true democracy.” A meeting earlier this year in Klamath Falls joined the forces of the HRA and students from Southern Oregon, Willamette and Portland State universities. The students formed a student coali tion, which they called Students Organizing for Labor and Democ racy (SOLD), and the group aims to change the way in which deci sions are made on university campuses. The teach-ins are a way for the students to organize and educate themselves on what they are up against. “The focus of the teach-in was [the fact that] every single issue we work on campus is tied to stu dent democracy,” Survival Center worker Randy Newnham said. Approximately 40 students showed up at the weekend teach in to listen to various speakers in several different workshops and plan strategies for the upcoming movement toward demanding more democracy. The first workshop discussed the University’s place in workers’ rights. Representatives from the Oregon Public Employees Union to the Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation spoke to the students and described their personal struggles as workers. A second workshop was more of an educational presentation, with ASUO President Wylie imnnonnonn Chen explaining the way that the University, as well as the larger community, functions when mak ing decisions. HRA member Sara Jacobson said that a big part of the structur al discussion was focused on the Oregon University System. All public universities in Oregon are governed by an 11-member board, of which the members are appointed, not elected. That is an important point, she said, be cause the question arises whether people who are appointed to a po sition are really accountable to the people they are representing. The final workshop was an at tempt to organize for an anti sweatshop campaign. A large part of the discussion overall was determining where the students’ strengths lay as part of the University community. “Our strength is that we act as the moral conscience of universi ties,” Jacobson said, “that we are not tied by other interests.” The workshop’s culmination came Sunday when the students gathered to discuss plans for the future, specifically as to where the SOLD movement is heading. University students and stu dents from the other universities established lines of communica tion, Newnham said, which will ensure that students are support ing each other in their common movement. “As members of this campus community,” Newnham said, “we should have a voice in how it’s run.” @/e/e/@/@/e/ o'er ere' of or Calendar Wednesday, April 5 The EMU Budget Committee vvi!I meet at 4:30 p.m, in the EMU Board Room. The EMU House Committee wil! meet at 4:30 p.m. in the Century D room in the EMU. The Dr, Edwin Coleman benefit dinner lor PCUN will be held at 5 p.m. in the EMU Fir Room. The suggested donation for the event is $8. The program will be followed at 7 p,m. by a speaking engagement featuring Bobby Seale and Edward JamesOlmos in the EMU Ballroom. Don’t just spend your summer. INVEST IT classes » workshops » mini-courses OSU Summer Session offers more than 400 courses in 70 departments. Take a course you haven’t been able to get, lighten your toad before next fall, or get a jump on graduation! And for nonresidents there are no out of-state fees. Call us for a free Summer Bulletin. It’s a good investment, OREGON STATE University Open minds. Open doors. (frexf-pefifft* fan. txfiejrpicz. Don’t miss out. Work for your college paper. For more information on how to freelance for the Oregon Daily Emerald call 346-5511. CRIME WATCH (Reported from March 28 through April 4) March30: Criminal Mischief II, 800 block East 11th Avenue, build ing burglarized . April 1: Theft I (from vehicle), 1600 block East 15th Avenue, win dow smashed, stereo stolen April 2: Disorderly Conduct; Re sisting Arrest, 800 block East 13th Avenue, subject arrested April 2: Burglary 1,1600 block East 15th, items stolen April 2; Criminal Mischief II, 1300 block Agate Street, property dam aged Crime prevention tip of the week from OPS Officer Bob Guse: On the first date, agree to meet that special someone somewhere other than your home, in case the person’s not all that special. Celebrate Spring Sidewalk Sale Thursday, April 6th & Friday, April 7th Gel ready for Ihe /un with I Walk-in Tan/! & TANNING 484-3143 • 609 E. 13th* 2 blocks from UO Bookstore and great deal/ oa tanning package/! * (to appointment/. Hot valid with Prisma bed/. oil retail produet/ (including /uiimuieor)! You’ll be happy a/ a dog in Ihe Springtime when you /ee all of our free fluff! Hours M-F 9am-8pm, Sat. 9am-7pm
