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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 11, 2000)
CampusI.com Check school email Anywhere! Campus Icon "Frog" has a Pulse. Do you have one? Check your Pulse, the Oregon Daily Emerald's entertainment ^ section, every frl Thursday. li I Bm v ^ w jXA W Mm mrngm WgM 010161 Pick up an Emerald at 93 campus & community locations. Columbus no hero to many ■The Native American community puts forth its view that the explorer was the leader of a “holocaust” By Anna Seeley For the Emerald Christopher Columbus has tradi tionally been cast as a hero in American history. He has a nation al holiday dedicated to his memo ry and accomplishments. But today, the Native American Student Union and Native Ameri can community are sponsoring the Anti-Columbus Awareness Day to present their message tWbt Colum bus is not the hero that history has traditionally presented him to be. “We want people to understand that Columbus isn’t an American hero. It is time to take a stand and get the message out that what hap pened to us was indeed a holo caust,’’ said Zelda Harow, co-direc tor for the NASU. The main goal with the event is to raise awareness of issues that are still affecting Native Americans to day, as well as present to the public their version of what Columbus did to the Native Americans. %% We want people to un derstand that Columbus is n’t an American hero. It is time to take a stand and get the message out that what happened to us was indeed a holocaust Zelda Harow Co-director Cindy Solberg, a kindergarten teacher at Awbrey Park Elementary School, said she doesn’t necessarily reach that Columbus was a hero, but rather, was a famous explorei who faced extreme obstacles in dis covering America. She teaches hei students why American history honors him on Columbus Day, and what the word “explorer” is and how it contributes to our history. “The books I use to teach the sub ject say the Native [Americans] were friendly to him," Solberg said. “I would assume the children got the impression he was a good man.” NASU representatives said they feel Americans celebrate Columbus Day with blinders on, assuming Columbus was a good man. An nelia Norris, a member of NASU, said it is a slap in the face that the government still celebrates this day. She said she feels it is an insult to Native Americans. “This event [the Anti-Columbus Awareness Day] gives us the feeling that we do have a voice,” Norris said. “We want to set an example for future generations to keep fight ing and not let our culture die.” Debate continued from page 1A debates to hear the candidates’ po sitions on issues important to the campus area, such as the cost of higher education and the environ ment. However, Unger said it’s still im portant for students to listen to the platforms and not watch the de bates as if they were auto races, where the spectators just wait for a crash. “People get wrapped up in what [the candidates] look like. 1 did. But you have to look at the issues,” Unger said. Jeff Hoyt, the chairman of the Lane County Republican Party, said he watches the debates to compare his political opinions to those of the candidates. “I sort of answer the questions myself and compare my answers to the answers the candidates deliver up,” he said. He said he hopes the difference between the candidate’s stances on government spending, rax cuts and fuel prices become more apparent during tonight’s debate. He said he will also listen closely to what the candidates have to say about the re cent Supreme Court ruling allow ing the Boy Scouts of America to prohibit gays from becoming Scoutmasters. He said he hopes most Ameri cans take the time to iearn about the candidates. “It’s important for people to edu cate themselves about political is sues, but I don’t think the debate is the best way to educate oneself,” he said. “If you’re waiting until the de bates to get your information, you’ve waited too long.” Unger agreed, and compared the debates to convention speeches that rarely stray from the party lines. “They’re used to gain votes ... and are not always completely truthful,” she said. It’s important for peo ple to educate themselves about political issues, but I don’t think the debate is the best way to educate oneself Jeff Hoyt Chairman Lane County Republican Party Phil Barnhart, a Democratic can didate for the State House of Repre sentatives seat representing the Eu gene area, said the debates are still a good opportunity to learn about candidates’ platforms. “The debates show the really dramatic difference between the two candidates on a variety of is What: The second debate between presidential candidates Vice Presi dent Al Gore and Gov. George W. Bush When: Airs tonight at 6 p.m. on ABC, CBS, NBC and PBS. Where: The debate will be held at Wake Forest University in Winston Salem, N.C. Format: A panel discussion. The last presidential debate will air on the major networks Oct. 17. sues,” he said. “The key thing peo ple should pay attention to isn’t the candidate’s debate style, but what the candidates want to do.” Barnhart, who got his start in politics serving on his area’s school board, said he hopes the difference between the candidates’ education plans are addressed during the de bates. He said he will also pay close attention to the candidates’ plans for dealing with the national debt and changing the tax system. George Alvergue, president of the Rubicon Society, a Republican organization, agreed that the de bates are important, but said there isn’t enough time devoted to specif ic issues to adequately inform vot ers. However, “the debates are obvi ously better than 30-second sound bites,” he said. Emerald reporter Jeremy Lang contributed to this article. Response fee continued from page 1A tying but wasn’t intended tc discour age responsible partying. “The goal isn’t that nobody can have a party in Eugene any more,” McDermed said. “The goal is to re duce the numbe:’ of disorderly par ties and police responses.” The ordinance, drafted by the EPD, is part of the department’s larg er effort to curb raucous parties and underage drinking. That effort also includes a “zero-tolerance” policy toward underage drinking and the formation of a “Party Patrol,” which consists of six officers trained to handle out-of-control parties. McDermed said that disorderly parties are just as common this year as they were last year. Last week end, the EPD responded to 26 alco hol-related complaints, she said. “I understand that partying in this area is an issue that needs to be addressed,” Christa Shively, ASUO community outreach director, said of the current draft of the ordinance. “But 1 don’t feel this is the best solu tion.” After receiving the Executive’s draft, several city councilors said they would consider the suggestions. “We’re looking for partnerships to better the relationships that have eroded between students and the If you fine me $1,000 I will transfer to another school and leave Eugene. We would rather you help us and the community as a whole and come up with something other than a fi nancial burden. Joe Weber Sophomore Journalism n police department,” ASUO Presi dent Jay Breslow said. “[The current ordinance] will tear down relations and hurt relations between the stu dent body and the police depart ment.” A handful of University students also spoke against the ordinance, in cluding sophomore journalism ma jor Joel Weber, who said he “despis es” the proposal. “If you fine me $1,000, I will transfer to another school and leave Eugene,” he said. “We would rather you help us and the community as a whole and come up with something other than a financial burden.” Three property managers sup ported the current draft of the ordi nance at the hearing. “This ordinance will be an effec tive tool for Eugene and for property managers to control the ever-in creasing cost of responding to large gatherings,” property manager Bob Siegmund said. City Council will vote on the or dinance Oct. 23. A vote was origi nally scheduled in June but was postponed, at the request of the Ex ecutive, until this fall so students re turning from summer break could offer input.
