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
Friday
May 26,2000
Volume 101, Issuel 61
EiWerakl
As Chen and
Anoushiravani
move on, they
leave behind a
well-paved path
of good decisions
and, for the most
part, kept
promises
Giovanni Salimena Emerald
Ty he end of spring term sig
nals the passing of the torch
from one ASUO Executive to
another. On Wednesday, the
term of office ended for Wylie Chen
and Mitra Anoushiravani, and it be
gan for Jay Breslow and Holly Magn
Before turning our attention to the
new executive, we should critique
the old. Based on campaign promis
es, character of the office, ability to
deal with surprises and general repu:
tation, Chen and Anoushiravani ful
filled their duties well. With the
Worker Rights Consortium, the
Southworth incidental fee case, Uni
versity President Dave Frqhnmayer’s
absence due to his heart arrhythmia
and Nike CEO Phil Knight pulling his
money, this executive had much
more than daily office duties to han
dle.
Yet despite the distractions, they
worked hard for students, increased
efficiency in the ASUO office and
carried themselves with dignity the
entire year.
The 1999-2000 executive came
into office with a lengthy list of cam
paign goals, and while they did not
complete them all, they put a dent
into the promises and dealt with un
expected issues. Chen and Anoushi
ravani — and their staff, which they
greatly credit — have been one of the
best executives in years.
The original list of campaign prom
ises included such goals as better In
ternet access, better lighting on cam
pus, a tuition freeze, more students at
the University Senate, financial-aid
grants, better childcare, more campus
events, outreach, a more flexible
housing contract and better relations
with the Office of Public Safety and
the Eugene Police Department. Some
of these — flexible housing contracts,
tuition freeze, a film school — proved
just not possible to change or were
out of Chen and Anoushiravani’s
hands.
Others — more child-care assis
tance, better lighting on campus, bet
ter relations with law enforcement —
have been successful in varying de
grees. Anoushiravani especially feels
proud of the improved relations with
EPD surrounding the concern about
possible Halloween riots. And more
money for childcare is possible if
Gov. John Kitzhaber comes through
on a promise this fall. Better lighting
should start being installed this sum
mer.
Where Chen and Anoushiravani
really excelled, though, was in the be
hind-the-scenes management of the
ASUO office. Good working relation
ships with their staff, adding new po
sitions to increase productivity, or
ganizing a Programs Council to
“empower” student groups, saving
money and overall just making the
executive office accountable were all
key parts to their administration. We
felt they were fair, ethical and with
out political motives — as we could
see with their appointing of a conser
vative senator with whom they dis
agreed and by their funding of the un
popular Justice For All.
For the most part, they had good re
lations with University administra
tion. The one administrator with
whom they say they didn’t get along
with is, unfortunately, Frohnmayer.
Communication breakdowns, missed
appointments and other problems
contributed to a feeling of disassocia
tion. Frohnmayer says they all tried
to communicate. Chen and Anoushi
ravani say Frohnmayer didn’t try
hard enough. Regardless of who is to
blame, this is one area that could use
improvement for next year.
Another place for improvement is
outreach, All of the office improve
ments are beneficial, but students
can’t see that kind of behind-the
scenes success. More communication
with students about what the execu
tive was doing — either through cam
pus media or through more forums —
would have been helpful. The execu
tive’s public relations director quit
during winter term, and the position
was not filled. It probably should
have been.
Overall, Chen and Anoushiravani
have left the executive in good shape
for Breslow and Magner. No doubt if
Breslow and Magner follow in this
year’s executives’ footsteps, they will
be well set.
So here’s a thank you to Wylie and
Mitra and a good luck to Jay and Hol
ly. Passing the torch may never have
been so easy.
This editorial represents the opinion of the
Emerald editorial board. Responses may be
sent to ode@oregon.uoregon.edu.
Letters to the editor
Folk festival destroys quiet atmosphere
This last weekend, the University apparently vio
lated its housing contract with several of its stu
dents. I live in Morton Hall, in the Earl Complex. It
is a study hall. Quiet hours inside the hall are to be
in effect 24/7. Not only do the residents agree to
this, but so does University Housing.
But this weekend, the EMU allowed the annual
folk festival to be held on its lawn. This lawn is di
rectly adjacent to Morton Hall. Three days of loud
music is hardly conducive to study.
While I have no objections to the festival itself, I
do object to the University allowing it to be held in
front of a dorm when it agreed to keep the noise
down. There are other places on campus that the
festival could have been held that would not violate
the housing agreement.
Corey Jonas
economic, business
Help fund student-parents
If my mother had not had the opportunity to at
tend college, statistics say that I probably would not
be a student today. It was difficult for my mom to
spend time with me, provide for me and go to school
so that I could have a better future. I am not a student
parent, but I reap the benefits of coming from a home
where my parent had the opportunity to attend col
lege. I stand firm behind the concept of educating
our parents so that they can better provide for their
children and themselves.
One way that we can show our support is by urg
ing our legislators to fund the Child Care Block
Grant, which is aid for low-income parents who
want to get an education beyond high school. Stu
dents across Oregon plan to work hard this upcom
ing legislative session to assure funding for the grant.
If you care about the future of our society, I en
courage you to support student parents. One way to
get involved is to write to our elected representatives
and let them know that you support the Child Care
Block Grant. I know the ASUO is working on the is
sue, so I’m sure that you can get more information
there. Support student parents!
Joy Nair
ASUO intern
CORRECTION
The story “Mixed matters met in senate meeting" (ODE
May 25) was unclear in the fact that the money for
ASUO Student Senate T-shirts came out of uncollected
senator stipends, not the fee surplus.
The Emerald regrets the error.
Thumbs
To stunning the
golf world
University
women’s golf is
currently fi5t
place at the NCAA
National Champi
onships, much to
the delight and
surprise of head
coach Renee
Baumgartner. The
Ducks went into
the tournament
ranked 24th.
Toknowingyour
renters'rights
OSPIRGhasa
renters’ rights
handbook avail
able to students
with tips on how
to deal with land
lords and renter
law. The book can
be a resource to
many students
who want to em
power themselves.
To going down in
the line of duty
A cameraman for
Associated Press
Television News
and a Reuters cor
respondent were
killed Wednesday
in Sierra Leone
when gunmen am
bushed their vehi
cle. Both were sea
soned foreign
reporters.
To poor oral health
being higher in
low income,
minority groups
The Surgeon Gen
eral announced
Thursday that oral
health among low
income and mi
nority Americans is
an “epidemic. ”
Lack of dental in
surance, poor di
ets, tobacco use,
few minority den
tists and lack of
awareness were'
cited as instiga
tors.