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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 10, 2000)
August 10,2000 Thursday Editor in chief: Jack Clifford Associate Editors: Rebecca Newell, Jeff Smith Newsroom: (541) 346-5511 Room 300, Erb Memorial Union P.O. box 3159, Eugene, OR 97403 E-mail: ode@oregon.uoregon.edu We didn’t need to go to Jenny Jones’for this make-over Emerald’s re-design takes a little bit of explaining, but don’t worry, we’re still the source to kill a few minutes here and there No, you haven’t picked up the wrong newspaper. OK, maybe you did, that is if the Oregon Daily Emer ald wasn’t your true choice for reading pleasure during bites of that tasty lunch, while enduring slow spots of your inter minable staff meeting or as you, um, let’s just say, take a potty break. If we were your preference to pass the time, the Emerald has undergone a change in its look, in case you didn’t notice. Katie Miller, the ODE’s graph ic design editor for the 2000-01, first suggested a re-design for the newspa per in May. Her objectives were to “better reflect the readership of the Emerald” and to “better^reflect a con crete personality of the paper.” In true Katie form, she was also blunt about the paper’s readership. “Why do people really read the Emer ald?” she asked, the question typed out on an 11x17 sheet of paper. “Be cause they’re bored,” “For the classi fieds/horoscope/crossword” and “To scrutinize our every mistake and in accuracy and therefore give p*eople something to complain about and de bate in class.” Maybe that last point makes us sound more important than we actual ly are — certainly students have more meaningful tasks to carry out in class, such as furiously doodle while pre tending to take notes. But, Katie's thoughts are funny, if not 100 percent accurate. Back to the re-design then. The Emerald has seen a few changes, even in the past 10 years, as you can see by the reproductions placed on this page. The decision to change your look doesn’t come easy to newspapers, however. Did you know that the big wigs at The New York Times dis cussed the pros and cons of using col or photographs for almost four years before finally deciding “yes” several years back? I’m in no way, shape or form com paring the ODE to the NYT, but all publications take changes under seri ous consideration. We at the Emerald took a fair amount of time and en gaged in several discussions before deciding to take our plunge. So, what’s different? The front page obviously. No more “Flash,” that left-hand strip of news or blurbs referring readers to inside stories. More type and art just below “Oregon Daily Emerald.” On section fronts, the type style for the section names has changed, in ad dition to a few other minor tweaks. Other than those few things, not much has changed. We’re still the newspaper to read when you’re bored in class. We’re still the newspaper to pick up to read what your horoscope wants you to do on that particular day. And yes, we’re still the newspaper that will make mistakes and inaccura cies for you to scrutinize and com plain about. We would never claim to be perfect, nor would any other news paper or publication, for that matter. It’s why we all have a correction poli cy. Take our re-design for what it is, however, an attempt to mildly shake up our operations. While we won’t reach perfection, we want to limit our screw-ups to ones that barely cause a blip on your reading radar. We want to start fresh this fall term in the year of 2000, which some people say is the true end of the millennium. We also want to work out the kinks now, see what does and doesn’t look good in print before we begin Mon day through Friday publication on Sept. 25. Which brings me to the final point of this piece. Today’s issue is the final one for the summer term. We print our special Law School Edition on Aug. 23 and then won’t be on the stands again until our Back to the Books behemoth on Sept. 18. We hope you enjoy the Emerald’s new look. If not, we hope you still read us to call us every time we make a misteak. Jack Clifford is the Oregon Daily Emerald’s editor in chief. where we ve been Tuesday: You haven’t forgotten already? 1998-99: Our 100 year anniversary flag 1997: Hey, that looks familiar 1990: Yes, that is Jerome Kersey Tell two people to tell two people, and then they’ll... vvnen win non MaDon ana tne ure gon Citizens Alliance take the hint and in the wise words of Bart Simp son, get bent? The OCA has put yet another ballot measure in front of the state’s voters, and this one is perhaps even more in sidious than its previous efforts. Then again, when one is talking about Mahon’s track record, the continuum doesn’t range from bad to good,it just stops at horrible. The measure — disgustingly titled the btudent Protection Act by the OCA — would prohibit Oregon’s public schools from promoting or sanctioning anything in the curricu lum or program regarding homosexu ality or bisexuality. The OCA has put forth such narrow minded, mean-spiritied initiatives be fore of course. In 1990, the effort was to ban abortions. Another anti-gay meas ure — this one nearly ripped apart the state — made the ballot in 1992. Then in 1994, another shot at banning the use of public dollars to promote hofno sexuality hit the ballots. All three failed, thankfully, but Mabon and his minions refused to re turn to the Stone Ages, from where apparently they emerged. Now Measure 9 promises to gener ate another rancorous battle between the OCA and the fair-minded people who will step up and battle the group. At least that’s what we hope hap pens. It’s scary to think that the meas ure even attracted the 66,786 re quired signatures to make the ballot. That’s the reality, however, and now it’s up to the rest of us to make it sure the measure goes no further. If you do nothing else the rest of the summer, leading into the fall, tell two people to tell two people about this measure and that it needs to be de feated. Let’s just call it the Protection From the OCA Act. This editorial represents the view of the Emer ald editorial board. Responses may be sent to Letters to the editor Consideration for out-of-town fans Parking for the out-of-area fans needs to be addressed in the [Autzen Stadium parking code amendment]. (“Autzen plans move one step closer,” ODE, Aug. 1.) More park and ride availability or also include better serv ice through Amtrak. In the past the train has gotten in just before the game. I think the schedule could be changed to allow it to arrive earlier, as many fans from around the state like to come together and visit before the game. Craig Evans Portland resident Gore doesn’t need Slick Willie’s endorsement Whatever one thinks of the man known as Slick Willie (even as far back as 1992), the reasoning behind Bret Jacobson’s “Similar to Monica, President Clinton sucks at politics” [ODE, Aug. 3] is preposterous. Clinton’s genius has always been about survival, about getting caught for destructive behavior — “if it feels good, do it” is the appropriate phrase — and then deftly extricating himself, succeeding where others (Richard Nixon, Bob Packwood) have failed. After Gennifer Flowers, he got elect ed President. After Whitewater, he won in a landslide. After he was im peached, his approval ratings soared. This is the man who sucks at politics? True political failures usually end up as low-level, small-town city offi cials, or in public university student governments — not as President of the United States of America. Jacobson is correct in asserting that Clinton is “his own worst enemy,” but it’s fairly obvi ous that Clinton’s Dr. Jekyll usually prevails in the end. Clinton’s ability to answer questions without “answering questions,” and apologize without “apologizing,” is mesmerizing. Moreover, Jacobson’s assessment that “it is clear that Americans do not want to change direction” is indefen sible — nor does he bother to explain just how he extracted this stunning revelation from the collective mental process of the American electorate. Jacobson apparently believes Gore would be a shoo-in was it not for Clin ton’s meddling, which is absurd. Gore would be a shoo-in were he not losing his ideological base, hemorrhaging campaign staffers and facing criminal indictment. Maybe. First, Gore’s unpopularity has noth ing to do with Bill Clinton’s recent comments. Second, Ralph Nader’s surging popularity proves that even Gore’s own party is shifting — away from him, to be sure. Third, Bush’s tri angulation — nominating Cheney to secure the conservative Republican base, then running to the center for the moderate and independent vote — is so “Clintonian.” The putative vast right-wing conspiracy can’t complain about the putative liberal media bias “t i '* f i Vi i t > . i t i this time: the mainstream media has all but declared that November is Bush’s to lose. Sure, Mr. Hyde reappears in Clin ton’s remarks, and he can only hurt Gore’s chances, but this relatively in significant mistake is by no means “ensuring Gore won’t be elected.” President Clinton is one of history’s great political survivors, and Gore is go ing to lose this election all by himself. William Beutler Editor in chief, Oregon Commentator LETTERS POLICY The Oregon Daily Emerald will attempt to print a 111 etters co nta i n i ng com ments on topics of interest to the Uni versity community. Letters must be lim ited to 250 words. The Emerald reserves the right to edit any letter for length, clarity, grammar, style and li bel. Letters may be dropped off at EMU Suite 300. s'i ; i \ r4 Vi Thumbs To low teen births Teen girts are hav ing babies at the lowest rate in at least 60 years. Ana lysts agree that the low rate is because teens are more ter rified than ever of sexually transmit ted diseases, and they are putting off starting a fami ly to go to school or get a job. To halting interest rate rise Due to a surge in American produc tivity— the fastest pacein17years— while labor costs have declined should prevent the Fed from raising interest rates in this month. Unem ployment fell to the lowest it has been in over three decades. To indecision BlazerforwardBri an Grant better make up his mind about where he wants to play next year and get on with it. New York. Portland. Cleve land. Miami. We don’t care any more Brian, just as long as your trade helps the Blazers get something bet ter in return than Shawn Kemp. To CD prices Twenty-eight states are filing suit, insisting that record companies should payback millions of dollars in illegal profits collected by forc ing discount stores to raise CD prices.
