Official discusses
protesting rights
■ A former federal mediator
will speak at the University
about conflict mediation and
free speech this week
By Amber Fossen
for the Emerald
Richard Salem, a former U.S.
Community Relations Service fed
eral mediator known for his role in
mediating a potentially violent
confrontation between a group of
neo-Nazis and American Survivors
of the Holocaust in 1976, will
speak at the University Wednesday
about his experiences and the is
sues they raised.
Salem’s speech will address the
topic, “Should We Mediate with
Neo-Nazis?”
The University law school’s Ap
propriate Dispute Resolution pro
gram (ADR) is sponsoring the free
event in an effort to explore alter
nate ways for communities to han
dle group conflicts.
“These issues come up a lot in
terms of hate speech,” said Lisa
Kloppenberg, director of the ADR.
The 1976 dispute began when
Frank Collin, the leader of the neo
Nazi National Socialist Party of
America, was denied the right to
protest in a Chicago park without a
$350,000 bond. The group decided
to relocate its demonstration to the
small town of Skokie, 111., causing
distress among the thousands of
Holocaust survivors living in the
community. The village of Skokie
contacted the Community Rela
tions Service of the U.S. Depart
ment of Justice, which assigned
Salem and Werner Petterson to
mediate the dispute.
“I think the ‘Skokie-neo-Nazi
Conflict’ was special because it at
tracted worldwide attention, rais
ing issues that people discussed
over the next several years,” Salem
said.
The conflict reached the
Supreme Court in 1978, when the
court ruled that requiring a bond
interfered with the neo-Nazis’ con
stitutional right • to freedom of
speech. Just days before the
demonstration, Salem persuaded
the group to conduct its rally at a
free speech plaza in Chicago, thus
avoiding a potentially violent situ
ation. Conflicts over free speech
“force us to examine our commu
nity and diversity and how to han
dle them,” Salem said.
The rights of both groups in
volved had to be considered be
cause of the clash between free
speech and personal rights.
Jane Gordon, assistant dean at
the Knight Law Center, said,
“What we can learn from him
[Salem] raises a lot of critical ques
tions concerning how we ap
proach the community.”
Salem will address the events
of the Skokie-neo-Nazi Conflict
and the issues it raised. The
speech will cover whether con
flicts should be mediated and
whether demonstrations should
be banned when there is potential
for physical or emotional harm.
The lecture will begin at 7 p.m.
Wednesday in Room 175 of the
Knight Law Center.
Peace Corps
continued from page 1
been in 26 years, Peace Corps
spokesman Jim Aguirre said.
Through intensified recruitment ef
forts on college campuses, Peace
Corps officials hope to increase that
number by 25 percent this year.
“We have more requests for vol
unteers than can be filled,” Aguirre
said. “This year, we’re doing a big
ger push all around to get more
people involved.”
With more volunteers, Aguirre
said, the Peace Corps can make
more progress toward goals that in
clude fighting hunger, stopping the
spread of AIDS, bringing clean wa
ter to communities, starting new
businesses, and educating children.
The demand is particularly great
for English teachers, Aguirre said.
To teach English in the Peace Corps
doesn’t require any special certifi
cation — all that’s needed is a col
lege degree and a basic knowledge
of the English language.
For students who choose to go
into the Corps after graduation, the
rewards can be great, said Skye
Mendenhall, the Peace Corps repre
sentative at the University.
Mendenhall, a former Peace
Corps volunteer, said the two-year
term provides an opportunity for
graduates to try out what they want
to do before committing to a specif
ic career path.
“It's a great stepping-stone in get
ting more real-world experience,”
Mendenhall said.
Cooper knows firsthand what
“real-world experience” in a devel
oping country is like. As a teacher
in the West African country of
Liberia, she not only had to deal
with obstacles in her work such as
crowded classrooms, a lack of sup
plies, and inadequate technology,
she also nearly lost her life after
falling ill with malaria.
Despite all the hardships, the
contributions she was able to make
and the friendships she formed
made it all worthwhile, Cooper
said.
Her work in the Peace Corps
made a difference in the lives of the
people she was trying to help, but it
also left a lasting impact on her
own life. Cooper said she left
Liberia with a new perspective on
the world.
“Having your eyes opened like
that is incredible,” Cooper said. “It
was a life-changing experience.”
Students who are interested in
becoming volunteers should call
Mendenhall at 346-6026.
OUS budget
continued from page 1
“They can do anything,” Unger
said. “Whether the fee thing goes
down or not, Wednesday is an in
credibly important day.”
The ASUO is offering transporta
tion for students who want to speak
or simply show support for the
budget. Vans will leave from out
side the ASUO office at 11:15 a.m.
Wednesday and return about 4:30
p.m.
Vans will also go to Salem next
Monday and Thursday at. the same
time and same place for legislative
work sessions. Unger said if the fee
is debated, it will happen in those
sessions.
Although the work sessions are
not open to testimony, members of
the committee can ask for input
from the audience.
Erin Pursell, a former ASUO intern
and OSPIRG member, said she will
go to Salem to show support for the
fee, which she said is one of the most
powerful amplifiers of student voice.
“It’s the biggest political tool stu
dents have,” she said.
Student Special: $11.95 large 2-topping & soda
Student Buffet: $5.95 All you can eat
1 lam-2 pm, Monday—Friday
“Two Topping Tuesday” $9.95 large 2-topping
4pm-l2am
FREE DELIVERY!
ww\y. tracktownpizza. com
I 1809 Franklin Blvd. • 484-2799
The New york Timcs
DELIVERED TO YOUR
CAMPUS DOORSTEP.
THE UNIVERSITY OF
OREGON BOOKSTORE
Take advantage now of special low campus rates for
subscriptions to the $cn> ^ork Hmtsi and have your
paper delivered to the Bools tore for pick up Monday
through Friday. The rate is 40 cents daily!
For delivery beginning April 9th and ending June 8th:
Sign up at the Bookstore by Friday, April 6th, 10am.
Only $17.60
For delivery beginning April 16th and ending June 8:
Sign up at the Bookstore by Friday, April 13th, 10am.
Only $15.60
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON BOOKSTORE
On the corner of 13th Avenue and Kincaid Street • www.uobookstore.com
541-346-4331 • Open Daily. M-F 7:45-6:00 / Sat 10:00-6:00 / Sun 12:00-6:00