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 J. KLECKNER opededitor@journalist.com
Giovanni Salimena Emerald
%
Take Back the Night, as a whole,
is a great event, and this year’s
May 17 occasion was quite a
success. The Emerald editorial
board has praised the organizers and
those in attendance before, and many
more boards are sure to agree with that
opinion in the future. But the event has
historically been controversial in terms
of men’s participation, and this year
was no different.
True, no students camped in front of
Johnson Hall, so the walk through Eu
gene’s streets doesn’t stir emotions the
same way as some campus controver
sies. Still, at least one man was upset
by a sign carried by a woman at the
march, which read “Dead Men Don’t
Rape.” He wrote a guest commentary,
which we published (‘“Dead Men Don’t
Rape’ sign hinders cooperation, sup
port,” May 22), and a woman wrote a
response, which we also published (“A
man loses his right to life when he
rapes,” May 23).
The general idea was this: The man
felt that the sign implied all men are
potential rapists, and it made him feel
unwelcome at the march. The woman
said that rape victims need to express
their pain, and the sign simply meant
that if rapists are killed, they won’t
rape again. We have to side with the
man here. At a community event in
tended to include everyone in the fight
to stop sexual violence, the sign is un
welcome.
Earlier this month, we wrote of the
need for more events talking to men
about sexual violence (’’Are women
nothing more than victims?” May 2). In
the vast majority of cases, after all, men
are the perpetrators. Men need to stop
the violence. Men need to be taught
about consent and reciprocity, as well
as the overt and subtle forms of objecti
fication and exploitation that occur
every minute in this country.
But men are sure to feel alienated if
the premiere event taking a stand
against sexual violence is off-limits to
them, either outwardly or subtly. And
that sign sent a “you’re not welcome”
message to some men.
The woman writing in defense of the
sign suggested that the man was being
defensive. The sign didn’t mean all
men, she wrote. If that’s the case, then
the sign should have read “Dead
Rapists Don’t Rape Again.” The very
scope of the word “men” implies all
men. It does not only apply to those
who rape. The meaning of the phrase
“Dead Men Don’t Rape” is sexist and
threatening. That is inappropriate at an
event meant to end sexism and threat
ening environments.
The woman also wrote that men
shouldn’t “presume to tell a rape victim
what she can and can not say to express
her pain.” In private, no, certainly not.
At an event organized specifically for
women to express their pain, no, cer
tainly not. However, at a community
event during Sexual Assault Awareness
Week, which the Women’s Center billed
as “a coordinated community response
to support survivors and hold perpetra
tors accountable,” it’s a different story.
Again, the scope of the word is in
volved; “community” means “a unified
body of individuals,” according to
Webster. It does not mean simply “fe
male survivors in pain.”
We have no problem with women
coming together to share their outrage
and anger at rapists, or even their anger
at all men, if that’s where they’re at. But
an event intended for expressing anger
at men should perhaps say what it is
and specifically not invite men. From
all indications, including a discussion
the next day involving men who had
participated in Take Back the Night,
men were specifically invited to this
event.
Yes, rape creates outrage, pain and
humiliation for survivors of that
heinous act. But how does an inflam
matory sign do anything to stop rape?
Society could kill every man who
rapes; that won’t stop the violence. Or,
society could work together to address
the underlying causes of rape, both in
dividual and cultural.
From the Emerald editorial board’s
standpoint, we’re all in this together.
Could we please all be in this together?
This editorial represents the opinion of the
Emerald editorial board. Responses can be sent
to ode@ore.gorx. yojggpn.edu.
Letters to the editor
University “ombudsman” tells it like it is
To George Beres:
I have read your two articles ( “Runge v. public
opinion: a conspiracy theory?” ODE, April 5, and
“University's integrity is suffering,” ODE, May 9}
regarding the Runge situation. You were right on
when you stated in your first article that the
groundwork was being laid for a dismissal or re
quest for resignation — it happened.
Your integrity article was right on point. The
University is selling its soul for money. Witness
the shelving of “Dead Week” and the stonewalling
in regard to the outside consultants report.
There is currently an athlete complaint on the
softball coach. Will we see the same process ap
plied that was applied to Runge? I have not read
any comment from The Register-Guard’s Ron Bel
lamy yet.
I have followed Oregon women’s basketball
since Runge arrived. I thought that she did a
great job.
Keep writing. The University needs an om
budsman.
Rich Traynham
Class of’57
El Dorado Hills, Calif.
Ignorant and/or insensitive people
use“coon”
As a recent graduate and non-traditional stu
dent (a senior citizen), I would like to comment on
the use of the terminology “in a coon’s age.” My
interest in this matter started with some amuse
ment, which quickly turned to disgust. My per
spective, as I stand on the sideline and read of the
controversy over this expression is that the de
fenders of the term live in a bubble and have not
experienced the bigotry and hatred connected
with it.
Two letter writers have rightfully been upset by
this slur. The writers of other letters show their ig
norance and/or insensitivity in understanding the
issue. I, too, looked up the meaning and the histo
ry of the use of the word “coon.” Its earliest refer
ence was in the 1830s and was specifically desig
nated as demeaning and derogatory. Nothing has
changed since then with the exception of those
who live with their heads in the sand and fail to
realize a slur when they hear one.
Have either Mark Baker or Earl Gosnell ap
proached an African-American and said, “I
haven’t seen you in a coon’s age”? Or have they
asked a person from the Middle East, “How is
your camel?” In this day and age, the use of the
words in the centext discussed above is offensive.
Melvin Cahill
Class of ’00
Veneta
Editor's note: The Oxford English Dictionary
first cites the use of “coon ” in 1742, meaning a
raccoon. The next use cited is in 1832, meaning a
“sly, knowing fellow” of any race. In 1839, the
word was used to refer to a member of the old
Whig party, which used the raccoon as an em
blem. The first source the OED cites using “coon ”
as derogatory slang for an African-American is in
1862 in “Songs for the Times. ” On the other hand,
the OED and numerous other sources list “in a
coon’s age” as simply meaning “in a long time. ”
No sources could be found which identified “in a
coon’s age ” as a derogatory phrase.
CORRECTIONS #
Urban Moore, owner of the Eugene Skydivers
Association, was misidentified in an Emerald
photograph from the Memorial Day observance at
the West Lawn Memorial Park and Funeral Home
("Crowd remembers fallen US. patriots,"
ODE, May 29}.
In Friday’s editorial, “Kudos to Ducks for preserving
Bucks," the amount of moneyspent by the EMU
on electricity was incorrect. The EMU has budgeted
nearly $250,000 for all utilities next year, nearly
$80,000 of which is for electricity.
The Emerald regrets the errors.