Letters to the editor
Dialogue encouraged
I am one. of the “ignorant,”
“sassy college students” who
have been protesting in support of
the Worker Rights Consortium.
I’ve also been called “naive,” “an
noying” and “uneducated.” Well,
you can now add frightened.
Disturbing, yet expected, was
the proud apathy and adolescent
cynicism of many University stu
dents, the half-true statements
sent out from University adminis
tration about common goals and
shared governance and the gener
al belittlement of causes such as
those of workers’ rights and
democracy.
But nothing could have pre
pared me for the public response
so far regarding Nike CEO Phil
Knight’s arrogant and bold deci
sion. Instead of denouncing the
personal audacity of Knight and
the greater indicator of how much
control private citizens have in
our institutions of public educa
tion, the concern is that of appeas
ing Knight, finding some sort of
conciliation.
We should be outraged! This is
wrong! In past donations, genuine
philanthropic motivations were
cited for such things as direct con
tributions to University President
Dave Frohnmayer’s salary. Is there
any remaining doubt that these
“gifts” come with expectations?
Please support the decision
made by an entire University com
munity after more than a year of
careful deliberation. We must
stand firm, in the face of this inso
lent gesture, before a dangerous
precedent is set. Stop pointing fin
gers at protesters; we are not the
enemy. I encourage you to attempt
dialogue with me and others so
that we can educate each other. I
can be reached at the Human
Rights Alliance (346-4356, also
phlwoods@gladstone.uoregon.
edul.
Chad Sullivan
music, history
Knight's temper appalling
I have been a student at the
University for almost eight years
now, and I was appalled at Nike
CEO Phil Knight’s temper
tantrum in response to the Uni
versity’s joining the Worker
Rights Consortium. One of the is
sues that the students protesting a
few weeks ago raised was the un
democratic nature of decision
making in the University because
ultimately the University presi
dent has the final word on all pol
icy decisions with the University
Assembly and University Senate
performing a mere advisory func
tion. Well, it appears that Knight
feels that not even University
President Dave Frohnmayer has
the power to make decisions un
less they are first approved by
Knight. It is preposterous and
megalomaniacal on Knight’s part
to apparently assume that just be
cause he has donated money to
the University in the past that he
automatically has some sort of
veto power over policy decisions
made by the University.
It’s time for Knight to grow up
and act his age. As for the Univer
sity, perhaps now it will reqpg
nize that it is dangerous and
counterproductive for a public
university to rely on private
donors to keep it afloat. The dem
ocratically elected state legisla
ture is responsible for funding ed
ucation, and it is time they
assume that role and adequately
fund the Oregon University Sys
tem. To Knight I say, “Good rid
dance; we never trusted you any
way!”
Johnny Schwerk
class of 1999
Mourning Knight’s money
“Not that I loved Caesar less, but
that I loved Rome more. Had you
rather Caesar were living and die
all slaves, than that Caesar were
dead, to live all free men?”
The University is in mourning.
Amongst the street fair revelers,
there hangs a sullen undertone.
Witness the toll that campus
democracy has wrought upon us:
Look at the cost , of our Worker
Rights Consortium membership!
And yet, who has died? Whom do
we mourn? Not Nike CEO Phil
Knight — he lives on. I wish him a
comfortable life, just as I desire for
myself and as do the workers in
his factories. We share these goals
as human beings.
No, we do not mourn Knight,
who was and continues to be an
honorable man. We mourn our
billionaire philanthropist... nay,
his donations... the almighty dol
lar, my fellow students. Knight’s
million dollar donations were our
Caesar, but we did not kill him; he
made one final, tormented speech
and walked away.
University President Dave
Frohnmayer goes to Nike’s court
now, deeply regretting that this is
a “painful issue” for Knight.
Painful indeed — but Knight isn’t
really the one suffering: The work
ers, in short, the those not living
in our beloved Rome.
“Wherein hath Caesar thus de
served your loves? To every Ro
man citizen he gives, to every sev
eral men, 75 drachmas. Moreover,
he hath left you all his walks and
new-planted orchards ... Here
was a Caesar! When comes such
another?”
With help from Vyilliam Shake
SDeare...
Todd Blevins
chemistry, German
Let's not place blame
It is easy for us to chuckle at
those students who protested Uni
versity President Dave Frohnmay
er’s reluctance to act in favor of the
Worker Rights Consortium. I my
self had to wonder how many of
them scrutinized Hanes and Gor
tex (to whom they owe thanks for
their underwear and camping
gear) for potential sweatshop la
bor and ask myself if their former
hippie/current yuppie parents are
footing the bill for these (and oth
er) essential items for the protest.
At the same time, there are lim
its to my cynicism. I was sad
dened by how quickly some stu
dents blamed the student
protesters for the holding back of
funds by Nike CEO Phil Knight.
One of the most cherished myths
of capitalism is that those who
profit from it will give back to the
community; if this is true, we
need not initiate collective action
to make sure social justice is
served. We only need have faith in
the generosity of those with the
means to give. In many cases, the
myth translates into reality; I am
thankful to Knight every time I
study in the peaceful fourth floor
atrium of the library.
But I also wonder how many
hours of underage, underpaid la
bor went into each ornate tile be
neath my feet.
We may live in a cynical age —
but that doesn’t call for misplaced
blame, or the complete commodi
fication of academia. Let’s keep
this in mind before we automati
cally blame conscientious stu
dents or refuse to compel men and
women in power to affect social
change with the resources they
have.
Shyla Osborn
comparative literature
Olsen impressive candidate
I am very impressed with cam
paign efforts of Eugene City Coun
cil candidate Tracy Olsen for Ward
3. He is a true professional who
will truly represent every person
and all viewpoints in his ward. I
am impressed at how responsible
he is, how courteous he is and how
much he truly cares about Ward 3.
He has been very present and very
active in his ward.
Examples are his efforts*in
working with Counselor Bobby
Lee and local business owners to
find funding for the LTD police
sub-station and working directly
with senior citizens in the ward.
He is constantly branching out and
talking to residents in the ward —
and actually listening to their re
sponses! Olsen cares about Ward 3!
He is a true competitor and gentle
man that extends his hand to his
fellow running mates after a debate
— that is running a positive grass
roots campaign — and listens to
the people of Ward 3.
Ward 3 needs Olsen. Ward 3 is
Olsen.
Robb Passon
sales and marketing manager
Computer Systems West, Inc.
Olsen: the right choice
I have been a Eugene native most
of my life. While out of state and
overseas, I worked for years as a
professional for governments. I
have also been an active volunteer
and a fund raiser for programs for
children, families, the elderly, uni
versities and the homeless. I have
known Tracy Olsen for the 10 years
that I have been back in Eugene.
During that time, I have witnessed
council, committee and commis
sion sessions in my hometown. It
is clear to me that Olsen is the right
choice for the city council seat rep
resenting Ward 3. He knows our
city and the University and is the
clear choice to represent all of us.
Olsen combines the energy, in
telligence, vision and team player
characteristics that we must have
on our council to make our city
work into the future. We have
many tough issues to face. We
need council members who will
listen to their constituent, develop
constructive ideas and plans for
the city and work with the rest of
the council team to achieve our
goals. It is vital that we pull togeth
er to make our downtown and
University district a place where
all of us feel safe — a place where
we want to go on a regular basis to
enjoy our town and great campus.
Olsen can help make this happen.
Olsen is the right choice!
Ron Darling
Eugene resident
Ecopledge beneficial
I am glad to see that OSPIRG is
promoting global warming aware
ness through Ecopledge.com. I en
courage OSPIRG and other Univer
sity students to join the Kyoto
Now! campaign of colleges in the
northwest, begun in spring of 1999.
University students should push
forU.S. Senate adoption of the Ky
oto Protocol to reduce global emis
sions of greenhouse gases. Stu
dents at Oregon State University,
Reed College, Portland State Uni
versity, Lewis and Clark, Evergreen
and University of Washington
have been forming strategy, lobby
ing and educating the public along
with non-profits Green House Net
work, Oregon Green Energy and
Climate Solutions this past year.
The northwest is in a great posi
tion to become a model for alterna
tive energy. University students
should join this effort! To find out
more, join the e-mail listserv Ky
oto Now! News <Majordomo@
kyotonow.org> by sending a mes
sage: subscribe kyotonow-news, or
e-mail info@kyotonow.org.
Beth L. Newberry
4C0L0RS list manager
Good riddance to Knight
Fact: Nike CEO Phil Knight is a
rich man. [Whether he’s great or
not], you can make up your own
mind.
Although the majority of the stu
dent body probably doesn’t care
whether its University attire is
made under “sweat-free” condi
tions so much as what flavor of
Frappachino to have, there was a
near-unanimous vote by the Uni
versity Senate in favor of joining
the Worker Rights Consortium. In
dependent of anyone’s thoughts on
the ridiculous nature of politics on
campus or in the White House, a
democratic consensus was
reached. It was this vote that di
vorced the University from our
misbegotten corporate bedfellow
Knight. Good riddance! This Uni
versity doesn’t need Autzen Stadi
um expanded — it needs to be able
to pay its people decent living
wages.
If Knight is willing to only fork
out money that he’s guaranteed to
see come back to him or that will
put his name on more buildings,
then may every school in the world
join the WRC! People are more im
portant than business, despite
what you will be told by anyone
and everyone with money for the
rest of your life. And we’re not mar
ried to you, Knight.
Lucas Thurston
linguistics, romance languages
University made right choice
I noticed that the article on Nap
ster (ODE, April 25) included state
ments by music industry employ
ees and University staff, but lacked
any commentary by University
students who use or support Nap
ster. Of course, this in no way re
flects upon the author of that excel
lent article — users who will go on
record about Napster use are in
deed very difficult to find because
of legal concerns. However, I think
the issues raised by the Napster
controversy are important enough
that someone should convey the
side of Napster supporters and
users.
On behalf of University students
who use MP3s and Napster, I
would like to thank the University
for its wise decision not to ban
Napster. Several universities
across the country have chosen to
ban Napster, citing mainly two rea
sons. One is that MP3s, along with
many other Internet applications,
may present technical bandwidth
issues, especially for smaller, less
“wired” universities. The second
reason that universities have
banned Napster stems from the in
tense pressure the recording indus
try has put on them to implement a
ban. Some universities, after refus
ing to implement a ban, have been
slapped with lawsuits — a situa
tion that is analogous to universi
ties being sued because they give
dorm residents a telephone, since a
telephone could be used to make
threatening calls. I’m proud that
the University has not infringed
upon students’ rights to free
speech merely to protect a corpo
ration’s right to revenue.
Cory Coleman
computer science and psychology
009244
Join the campus
award-winning
newspaper
The Oregon Daily Emerald is now accepting applications
for the following positions on next year’s news staff:
APPLICATION DEADLINE: MAY 12th
t IN-DEPTH DESK
New Reporter Position
t COPY EDITING
Night Editor/Copy Chief
Copy Editors
Sports Copy Editor
f STUDENT ACTIVITIES DESK
Editor
Reporters
t COMMUNITY DESK
Editor
Reporters
t HIGHER EDUCATION DESK
Editor
Reporters
t SPORTS
Editor
Reporters
t EDITORIAL/PERSPECTIVES
Editor
Columnists
t FREELANCE/SUPPLEMENTS
Editor
Features Reporters
t PULSE
Editor
Reporters
} GRAPHICS AND DESI6N
Design Director
Graphic Artist/Page Designers
Editorial Illustrator/Cartoonist
t PHOTOGRAPHY
Photo Editor
Photographers
Darkroom Techs
t AH UM EDITION
Editor
Webmaster
Applications are due 5:00 p.m., Friday, May 12, 2000. All positions are paid.
Applications can be picked up at the ODE office (Suite 300. EMU) or visit our
website at www.dailyemerald.com (click on “Employment”). Relevant work
samples should be submitted with each application.
Questions? Call 346-5511
Also hiring for summor torm
The Oregon Daily Emerald is an Equal Opportunity Employer
and is committed to a culturally diverse workplace.