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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (June 27, 2000)
Editor in chief: Jack Clifford Associate Editors: Jon Allen, Jeff Smith Newsroom: (541)346-5511 Room 300, Erb Memorial Union P.O. Box 3159, Eugene, OR 97403 E-mail: ode@oregon.uoregon.edu Tuesday June 27,2000 Volume 102, Issue 2 Emerald jfe I i .. :;i Did you remember to take your test today? Don’t freak out if you forgot about it. There is no studying necessary for this one and, truth be told, you can always make it up tomorrow, the next day or any day you please. But, unlike some upcoming math tests you may or may not pass, this test can save lives — maybe even yours. If you haven’t clued in yet, the test mentioned here is for HIV, and today is national HIV testing day. Approxi mately 10,000 organizations across the country — including the HIV aliance, the Lane County Health Center, Planned Parenthood and White Bird Clinic, all located in Eugene — are of fering tests to anyone who wants one. The World Health Organization es timates that 16,000 people are infect ed with HIV, the virus that causes AIDs, everyday. Statistics from the American College Health Associa tion show that one in every 500 uni versity students is HIV positive. With an enrollment of nearly 18,000 stu dents at this campus, that works out to be about 36 students. Doesn’t sound like a lot, unless you happen to be one of them or, worse yet, one of the 36 just happens to be your new unknowing partner and the two of you can’t decide whether an HIV tests, before ventur ing into the sexual realm of your re lationship, is worth your time. He or she doesn’t look like they have the virus, you’re saying to yourself. Go ahead then, have sex, take the risk. Or why not make a better choice that can serve two purposes? One, it can give you what most likely will be a clean bill of health when it comes to HIV. And, for some people, taking the test clears the mind of the con stant fear that the test will absolutely come back positive. Remember, chances are much better that it will come back negative. So, what about all of these reports that a cure has been found for HIV? Or the stories about people living longer and longer with the disease, even once they reach the level of contract ing AIDs? It is true that some of the new drug therapies on the market are vastly im proving the lives of those living with HIV but, contrary to any media reports ypu think you heard, no cure for the virus has been found as of today, June 27 you know, national HTV testing day. If you haven’t been tested for the deadly virus, or it’s been a few years since your last one, then why not go by one of the clinics mentioned above, take a few minutes and get tested? The result may surprise you one way or another, but in the end, just knowing could end up saving a few lives. This editorial represents the view of the Emerald editorial board. Responses may be sent to ode@oregon.uoregon.edu Letters to the editor USAS deserves praise I witnessed [Nike CEO and Presi dent Phil Knight’s] punitive actions to withhold $30 million from your school. I witnessed on local TV news in Santa Fe, N.M., one of your school officials going soft on the issue. He should be proud of you all at [United Students Against Sweatshops.] But for the grace of God and/or fate we could be locked up 14 hours a day for the rest of our lives cutting and sewing garments in degrading envi ronments. Yes, that’s right, good peo ple like you and me with hearts and souls and feelings. I also saw [NBC’s Dateline] show on Gap’s practices allowing women from China to be exported to Saipan and locrked up in a manner most Ameri cans would not treat their animals. This is all for greed. How many more fancy steak dinners do we really need in this country at the expense of someone else? I am sending this letter to support you, the USAS! I am a clothing de signer. I cut and sew all my own gar ments. Fortunately for me there is a humane non-profit factory here in New Mexico if I start to do large vol ume. The women are treated with de cency and respect. Karen Eipel Santa Fe, N.M. resident Nike’s legacy needs to return Isn’t it ironic that [Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman], who have made such tremendous contributions to the Uni versity [“Nike’s legacy rooted at Hay ward,” ODE, June 22] are being over shadowed by a organization which will, undoubtedly, have a small and short-lived impact on the overall suc cess and reputation of our beloved University? I have been deeply appre ciative of the dedication both men demonstrated in their efforts to help the University to excel in athletics and academia. I, too, hope Knight will work through the emotional pain in flicted upon him by a short-sighted administration, and continue his magnificent work to improve the physical structures on the campus and achieve a greater national reputa tion for the Ducks. Dan Frank University graduate, 1957 Walk a day in my shoes There are fears just as valid as the fear of physical injury. And some of us live in fear every day. [“Afraid to get along?” ODE, June 20]. I live in fear that the capitalist sys tem is unstoppable, that our lives are actually being reduced to cycles of earning and consuming, that human dignity has no meaning any more un less you’re willing to toe the line and pretend consumption is the end-all be-all of human existence. I fear the degradation to my soul if I continue to play along with the notion that this materialist world is actually valuable to our spiritual development. And yet my fears are given little cre dence in today’s world. When I voice my fears, most people simply stare blankly away, as if to say, “Can’t... un derstand ... paradigm... shift.” And if I were to act out publicly in response to my fears, I would be ridiculed, or worse, if polico were nearby. So while I can understand the fear of Jane and Joe Citizen when they en counter a large group of people who see the world from a radically differ ent viewpoint, I have little sympathy. All I can really say to them is, wel come to my world. Michael j. Kleckner Journalism Editor’s note: Michael Kleckner is the ODE's 2000-01 editorial editor, and is currently working as an intern at The Deseret News in Salt Lake City. Quoted “I die fighting for what I believed in. The truth will come out.” —Gary Graham, who asked that his name be changed to Shaka Sankofa to reflect his African heritage, just before the state of Texas exe cuted him for a 1981 murder. The Register-Guard, June 23. “I hope that my lawsuit will bring about an increased acceptance of peo ple who see their role in life as a par ent and as an aca demician. We all have a dual role to play in this world.” — lisa Arkin, who won $495,000 in the settlement of a sex bias lawsuit against the Univer sity. Arkin, a for mer assistant dance professor, claimed that the University unfairly denied her tenure. The Register Guard, June 23. “That’s why I don’t I ike to do inter views, because of questions like that. Next question.” —John Rocker, in reference to a re porter asking the Atlanta relief pitcher if his team or baseball had asked him to re consider riding the No. 7 subway train, the same one he blasted in a December Sports illustrated article, when Atlanta visits the New York Mets this weekend. ESPN.com, June 24. “My start was hor rible, my transi tion wasn’t very good, but I’m strong enough where I can pull it out at the end." —Marion Jones, after winning the women’s 100 me ter dash at Satur day’s Prefontaine Classic. Jones’ wind-aided time of 10.93 seconds was the second-fastest time in the world this year. CNNSI.com, June . 24.
