Knight’s money can’t buy decisions
w
e were disappointed
to hear Nike CEO
Phil Knight’s repu
diation of the Uni
versity’s decision to join the
Worker Rights Consortium. We
stand firmly behind the decision
of University President Dave
Frohnmayer to join the WRC. We
believe it is the right decision
made in the right way. The entire
process of joining the WRC took
more than a year, as Frohnmayer
took counsel from a student vote,
the faculty and the recommenda
tions of a research-based commit
tee. All members of the campus
community were represented in
this decision, even the alumni, as
an alumnus sat on the committee
who gave the unanimous recom
mendation of support for the
WRC. The decision to join the
WRC was also the closest act of
shared governance this campus
has ever seen.
There was much time, thought
and research put into this deci
sion, and we caution against tak
ing the word of Knight in identi
fying the fundamental flaws in
the WRC as he certainly has a
very vested interest in having to
adhere to our code. Would one
ask a chef for a fair and objective
review of his own food? Of course
not, so why is Knight so opposed
to having someone not appointed
by Nike reviewing his factories?
The vested financial interests of
Nike are certainly integral to his
opposition to the University’s de
cision to join the WRC.
Knight also seems to be upset
because he was not consulted in
the decision-making process. Our
Commentary
Wylie
Chen
&
Mitra
Anoushiravani
concerns focus on how this situa
tion sets up a slippery slope for
interactions with donors in the
future. If the University starts to
incorporate donors into their de
cision-making process, where is
the line drawn for who has donat
ed enough to have a seat at the
table? Does the threat of losing
private dollars override the in
tegrity and autonomy of our Uni
versity community? We have
been grateful for Knight’s contri
butions, including a remodeled
library and a new law school;
however, if the conditions put
upon Knight’s dollars include
making him a part of the deci
sion-making process at the Uni
versity, Knight has unreasonable
expectations for the University.
Having corporate interests in
fluencing University leaders
through a backdoor process
thwarts the inherent independ
ence of any university. We are
aware that Knight’s generosity
will be missed at the University;
however, no single donor should
expect to make decisions for an
independent institution of higher
education. There is nothing phil
anthropic about asserting a strong
corporate influence at our univer
sity, which is devoted to inde
pendent inquiry and learning. We
are proud to be members of a Uni
versity that believes in shared
governance and integrity. The
University is lucky to be led by a
president with strong ethics. The
University cannot bear sole re
sponsibility for the politics of re
lationships with large donors.
That burden must be shared with
the legislature, whose budget de
cisions force educators to become
fundraisers. Maybe it’s about time
that Oregon’s public universities
are adequately supported by pub
lic funds.
Wylie Chen and Mitra Anoushiravani
are the president and vice president, re
spedively, of the ASUO. Their views do
not necessarily represent those of the
newspaper.
Letters to the editor
Frohnmayerdid
the right thing
As a professor at the University,
I realize that we do need contribu
tions from people such as Nike
CEO Phil Knight to remain com
petitive and to build on the excel
lent educational programs we
now have at the University. Still, I
fully support University President
Dave Frohnmayer's decision,
made with the backing of faculty
and student representatives, to
join the Worker Rights Consor
tium. I am disappointed by
Knight’s statement that “The
bonds of trust, which allowed me
to give at a high level, have been
shredded.”
What kind of bonds of trust was
he thinking of? Did he think he
had an unspoken understanding
that he would give money to the
University, and the University
would refrain from any criticism
of him and Nike? If so, then he was
trying to use his association with
the University to help legitimize
his company and his views on
economic globalization. I trust
that no such understanding ever
existed.
Michael Raymer
professor, physics
Students should
attend International Night
For the last two years I have had
the great privilege to attend Inter
national Night. Both times I have
been astounded at the quality of
the evening’s entertainment and
the delicious food. The interna
tional community on our campus
is extremely diverse and abounds
with talented, enthusiastic stu
dents eager to share their rich tra
ditions and cultures through food,
music and dance. What a gift they
give us.
This year I was especially taken
by the performance of the African
students, who represent many dif
ferent countries from the African
continent. As Joyce Mmari, this
year’s co-director of International
week, put it, each African country
is unique, with different histories
and traditions. It’s important to re
member that. But the overall
theme of their love of family and
music weaves its way throughout
their cultures. I could feel that
love during their performance.
I will sincerely miss Interna
tional Night after I graduate and
move on to graduate school in a
different state. I hope that more of
the University community takes
the opportunity to attend next
year’s International Night. It’s a
wonderful celebration that does
much to increase one’s apprecia
tion of the similarities we all share
as well as the unique way we ex
press our diversity.
Paula DeBell
Senior PPPM
Anti-abortion display
no picnic
I support any woman’s right to
choose how to prevent and termi
nate pregnancies. If a woman
needs to get an abortion, she'll get
one anyway, putting her life in
danger.
It is not OK, though, for Justice
For All to judge others, especially
on the basis of religion. And who
equates a picnic with anti-abor
tion theology anyway? Does God
approve?
The Genocide Awareness Pro
ject was brought to campus by
people who were desperate, and
now they want to bring it back
yearly. I work in a child-care facil
ity, and I know that several chil
dren had to walk past the terrible
pictures. Few knew it was going
to be in the EMU Amphitheater.
Instead of letting the others cover
the pictures for those who did not
want to see, they hiked the pic
tures even further up!
Way to go! (Sense the sarcasm.)
Anna Peterson
Students for Choice member
sociology, women’s studies
Ryan not the focus
of the week
I write this letter in response to
umdailgenmld.eotn
Groovy Weekly Reader Polls
Vote online See results instantly.
the short letter titled “Jesus vs.
Ryan" (ODE, April 25). I would
like to offer more insight on Ryan
and the campus-wide event. The
letter stated that Jesus was a revo
lutionary, and Ryan is a business
student and football player,
enough said. I agree 100 percent.
In fact, there is more to be said.
This week of awareness is not
about Ryan. The groups sponsor
ing the event do not compare
Ryan to Jesus, nor do they worship
him or follow him. The people
that agree with Ryan are saying,
“Like Ryan, I am a person who be
lieves in God, and Jesus as the son
of God.” Most of these people be
lieve that Jesus is the only way to
know God personally and live
eternal life in heaven. These are
the fundamental beliefs of Chris
tians all over the world. Ryan ac
tually has nothing to do with this
belief. Ryan is a representative of
hundreds of students around
campus that believe the statement
above. It could have been Ryan,
Mark, Christy, Jon, Sara or any
number of students that follow Je
sus Christ.
This is a week of awareness, do
you agree with Ryan? Now that is
enough said.
Jeff Martens
senior, business
DOE CLASSIFIEDS 346-4343
.009123
Sarah Dougher J
009120
mrWednesday,Wj
f April 26 \
Dianne Dugaw
a venue for queer
scholarship on
WW 'I'll tie back my hair,
W men's clothing I'll put on' l|J
Warrior Women in ’
Folksongs and History ^
4:00 pm, Gerlinger Lounge
This program made possible by the Oregon Council for
Humanities, an affiliate of the
National Endowment for the Humanities
Will Roscoe
What's all the LOCO-motion ?.
Art, Sanity, and Gender
7:00 pm, Gerlinger Lounge
This program made possible by
the Dept, of Anthropology
Elizabeth Reis
Brown-bag Presentation
You can teach a whole class on this?
12:00 pm. LGBTA, Suite 34, EMU
Alpha Kappa Psi presents I
salsai
merengue
Friday, April 28\ "7A*
at \ C<(
Agate Hall
(corner ©f 18th S Agate)
8:30pm-iyiidnight
Beginners' Lesson
7:30-8:30
$3 students
$5 general
PRICE DINNER
Buy any combination dinner at regular
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combination dinner of equal or lesser
value at 1/2 price.
6©©d at D©n Juan Jalisc© offer exDires
these 2650 River Read 30*15 W. Ilth
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Advertise. Get Results.
Oregon Daily Emerald 346-3712
presents ...
OPALOOZA
★ The Murmurs ★ Aux Dobkin ★ Sarah Dougher
★ Madigan Shive ★ Deb Cleveland Band
★ The Culottes ★ Stephan
★ Tracy + the Plastics
AGATE HALL, APRIL 29, 2000
Cates open at 1:00. Show 1:30 to midnight
Tickets available at EMU ticket office;
Mother Kali's Books, 720 E. 13th; Students Si5, General $20
For more information call 346-3360 or e-mail lgba@gladstone
This event is wheelchair accessible. If any other accommodations are needed due to a disability,
please contact the above number at least 48 hours prior to the event.