Wednesday
Editor in chief: Jack Clifford
Managing Editor: Jessica Blanchard
Newsroom: (541) 346-5511
Room 300, Erb Memorial Union
P.O. box 3159, Eugene, OR 97403
E-mail: ode@oregon.uoregon.edu
EDITORIAL EDITOR: MICHAEL
KLECKNER opededitor@journalist.com
he question is not, ‘If I stop to help
pen to me?’ The question is, ‘If I do
JL. not stop to help the sanitation
workers, what will happen to them?’ That’s
the question.”
The above quote is from Martin Luther
King Jr.’s final speech on April 3,1968. The
next day, 33 years ago today, King was shot
on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in
Memphis, Tenn. He was pronounced dead
at 7:11 p.m. Four years earlier, he had been
awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The most
renowned civil rights leader in America,
King forged a path that would change race
relations in this country forever.
King’s assassination that night is somewhat
ironic, however, in that he wasn’t in Memphis
to march for civil rights. In 1967, King had
begun broadening efforts to help his people
by focusing on poverty and worker rights. He
was in Memphis in support of 1,300 striking
sanitation workers. King was asking his
supporters to stand up for the rights of
workers who were being treated unfairly.
One year ago today, University students
began protesting on the lawn of Johnson
Hall, demanding that University President
Dave Frohnmayer sign on with the Worker
Rights Consortium. The goal, they claimed,
was to end the use of the University’s logo
on apparel made in foreign factories where
workers are subjected to inhumane
treatment, wages and living conditions.
The Emerald editorial board certainly
recognizes the inadequacy of the
comparison. The Johnson Hall protests last
year are obviously not the same as King’s
struggle and sacrifices. But the issues are
comparable, and students should take this
opportunity to remember King’s work and
to find out more.
There are many complicated issues
surrounding the WRC and University apparel
licensing. There are many complicated issues
involved in poverty, race relations and worker
rights in America and worldwide. But there
are many ways to be involved, there are many
ways to make a difference, and not all of them
require sit-ins or speeches.
“We don’t need any bricks and bottles; we
don’t need any Molotov cocktails. We just
need to go around to these stores and to
these massive industries in our country, and
this man in need, what will hap
say, God sent us by here to say
to you that you’re not treating
His children right. And we’ve
come by here to ask you to make
the first item on your agenda
fair treatment where God’s
children are concerned. Now if
you are not prepared to do that,
we do have an agenda that we
must follow. And our agenda
calls for withdrawing economic
support from you.’”
We’re not advocating any
specific action. King, in his
words above, called upon his
supporters to change the
dynamics of the problem
economically, by using public
pressure with money. That may
be a good solution for some
people. Sit-ins may be a good
solution for others. There are
also business concerns that
need consideration when
examining worker rights. But
maybe the students protesting
last April weren’t just rabble
rousers looking for an excuse.
Perhaps the WRC is bad and the
Fair Labor Association is good;
maybe it’s the other way
around. You won’t know if you
don’t get involved and get the
facts.
The issues of worker rights,
poverty, race and gender
relations are important and
interconnected. King worked on
these issues, and whether their methods
were right or wrong, students last year
worked on them. What follows is a list of
Web sites that you may find useful in getting
more information. There are also groups on
campus that are involved in these issues;
take the time to stop in the ASUO office in
Suite 4 of the EMU and ask about them.
In closing, here are the haunting last words
of King’s final speech on April 3,1968:
“... I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not
get there with you. But I want you to know
tonight, that we, as people, will get to the
Promised Land. And so I’m happy tonight.
I’m not worried about anything; I’m not
fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the
glory of the coming of the Lord.”
Giovanni Salimena Emerald
• www.smnrora.eau/group/King/ is the
Web site of the Martin Luther King Jr. Papers
Project at Stanford University, filled with
full-text speeches, biography, chronology
and more.
• seattletimes.nwsource.com/mlk/ is the
Seattle Times Web site dedicated to King’s
life, with stories and photos.
• www.infoplease.com/spot/mlkl.html is
a Web site explaining the official version of
events of King’s assassination.
• www.parascope.com/mx/lutherl.htm is
a Web site explaining the various alternate
theories of King’s assassination.
• www.workersrights.org is the WRC Web
site, which explains the independent,
student-organized monitoring group’s
mission and structure.
• www.nlcnet.org is the Web site of the
National Labor Committee, an organization
dedicated to worker rights that works with
non-governmental Organizations to promote
change in corporate labor practices.
• www.fairlabor.org/ is the Fair Labor As
sociation Web site, which explains the joint
industry- and government-organized moni
toring group’s mission and structure.
• www.laborrights.org/ is the Web site of
the International Labor Rights Fund, an non
governmental organization working for la
bor rights worldwide.
This editorial represents the opinion of the Emerald
editorial board. Responses can be sent to ode@ore
gon.uoregon.edu.
Letter to the editor
Stand up for conservative views
Kudos to}. Thomas Gombos (’’Keep Your Opinions
To Yourself,” ODE, April 2). Most public and many
private college faculty are well to the left of center po
litically. Further, they typically are not bashful in pro
moting their leftist views in the name of “tolerance and
diversity.”
Last year, I attended a class session with my daugh
ter. The professor went out of his way to blast Chris
tianity. At one point this professor stated that “Jerry
Falwell was worse than Hitler.” That was quite a state
ment, given that the professor also referred to his Or
thodox Jewish heritage. This professor was essential
ly saying, “Don't confuse me with the facts, because
I've made up my mind!” Sadly, this is an all-too-com
mon occurrence in the academic world, with no dis
senting argument from equally qualified people.
Gombos is quite right. Students and parents are pay
ing a lot of money for instruction, not to listen to an in
structor’s unsubstantiated opinion. The student is the
consumer; the instructor is hired to teach the subject
to the best of their ability. If opinions are discussed,
then both sides should be presented.
By the way, when was the last time that a conserva
tive perspective was presented in a university-wide fo
rum and given respect? Tolerance and diversity run
both ways. All views must be given equal value and
respect, including conservative values.
• I would encourage Gombos and other like-minded
students to stand their ground and speak up. After all,
it is your money.
jim Hallwyler
Class of 72
Eugene
CORRECTION
A story about the Giustina Resources Dexter Sort Yard fOSPIRG, NEDG forge envi
ronmental lawsuit," ODE, April 2) incorrectly stated that the two organizations
are also suing the Department of Environmental Quality. The DEQis not named
in the suit against Giustina.
The Emerald regrets the error.
CLARIFICATION
In the story “Students travel to OUS hearing” (ODE, April 3) the Oregon Student
Association wasmisidentified as strictly a lobby group. The OSA also offerstrain
ing and other educational services to student governments at state universities.
In the same story, it was reported that ASUO President Jay Breslow testified
about the incidental fee during a March 29 legislative work session. Breslow was
in attendance at the session and answered questions, but was not officially testi
fying before the committee.
The Emerald regrets the errors.