Kleckner
continued from page 2
stop Eminem. The problem is, I’ve
actually listened to and read all of
Eminem’s lyrics.
I’ve heard what Eminem says in
context, and I think he’s brilliant. He
is simultaneously skewering vi
cious, violent rap (and it’s accept
ance in our society) while he’s per
forming it. He at once explodes
America’s dark secrets (and its love
affair with other people’s dark se
crets) and participates in them. He
mocks the hypocritical, shallow
rock-star system while receiving its
blessings. Eminem’s music is much
richer than simply gay-bashing or
woman-bashing, and people who
can’t recognize this are either being
stupid or disingenuous. So get over
it, left wing.
Finally, why can’t the Greek sys
tem simply announce all of the val
ues it really believes in and be
proud of them? Let me say first that I
know members of the Greek system,
and I have no ill will against them.
Many of them are good people
.whom I like. But I have problems
with hypocritical elements of the
system (to be fair, there are other or
ganizations on campus that have the
Same problems, but none illustrate
the point with such clarity). Out of
one side of their mouth, fraternities
and sororities say they’re about
good, clean upstanding Americana.
This image is legendary.
But then I have personally over
heard more than one (but certainly
not every) member describe the way
Select 2000 is made fun of during
drinking parties, and the way vari
ous “immoral” vices are considered
the norm by some Greek members. I
don’t know the names involved, but
I spend my waking hours on cam
pus, and I listen to interactions. I’ve
seen more than one instance where a
fraternity or sorority member has
looked down on people who don’t
embrace extracurricular excess. This
image is maybe more legendary (al
though perhaps overblown by
stereotype). And what further both
ers me is that the Greek system can
host boxing and gambling events
and out-of-control shindigs, but be
cause the events are for charity, it’s
all OK. Somehow it’s still “clean liv
ing.”
Pardon me, but that’s a bunch of
crap. The members that want to par
ty like it’s 1999 should do so openly.
The Greek system should decide
which values it really endorses and
purge the bad apples or accept them
all. I mean, I’m all for raising money
for charity. I don’t claim to be pure
and untainted compared to fraterni
ty or sorority members. But at least I
accept and embrace what I do. I
have pride in my behaviors, because
I believe in them and can account
for my actions in a moral frame
work.
I think that’s the real thread tying
these items together and the mes
sage I’m comfortable leaving you
with after this long and fruitful year:
Get over it, hypocrites of all persua
sions. We won’t have a real, produc
tive “culture war” in this country
until we all own up to the values we
really believe in and the behaviors
we act out. That’s part of Eminem’s
message, it’s hidden in the way
“conversion therapy” zealots want
gays to repress their real identities,
and I’ve seen it in Greek behavior.
Find out who you really are, and
be it. And then have pride in it.
Then we can all get down to the
much-needed business of arguing
about who we are as a society, what
that means and what we do now.
Just don’t tell me your values
don’t include your actions, because
I won’t buy that crap for a second.
Peace and Joy,
Mike
Michael J. Kleckner is the editorial editor for
the Oregon Daily Emerald. His views do not
necessarily represent those of the Emerald.
He can be reached at opededitor@journal
ist.com.
Review .
continued from page 2
Jill Dieringer’s death
Well, the presidential election is
over. Nothing more can now be
done. The majority of voters can be
bitter if they like, but everyone needs
to stop focusing on December 2000
and start focusing on fixing our elec
tion processes, including the elec
toral system. Momentum was high
immediately after the election for
making corrections -— such as elimi
nating punch ballots with those darn
hanging chads—but it seems to
have slipped. Election reform
should be pushed back to the top of
priority lists so that America never
has to repeat the miserable events of
last year’s election. Oh yeah, and
there is one editorial board member
who is dealing with Bush’s election
by covering his or her eyes and pre
tending the whole thing is a bad
. »*iream. It’s only four years; it will be
ovef soon enough.
' Jill Dieringer’s life and death have
' affected a large portion of the Uni
versity community. The circum
stances of her death may have been
tragic, but the effects of her life were
not. May she rest in peace.
4. ASUO Election
Wow. What do we say about this
one? In the aftermath, we have seen
that communication needs to be bet
ter between the three branches of
student government and within the
ASUO Executive. Stronger relation
ships and more attention to dead
lines and appointments will help
avoid a repeat of this year’s mess. As
usual, there was some criticism of
the Emerald this year for its coverage
of the election. In response, we
promise in the future to cover all the
positive stories about the election, as
soon as there are some. The Emerald
would have been fabricating news or
relying on candidates to dictate its
coverage in order to run positive sto
ries this year. And in closing, per
haps the all-online voting will get a
better turnout in the future if a better
marketing plan is developed. Yes,
online voting is the way to go. But
people need to know about it.
3. WRC/FLA debate
We said plenty about this issue
this year. What we can say now is
that we’re glad the issue received the
ongoing attention it has. This is im
portant; labor rights and human
rights need to be addressed in rela
tion to producing goods in the
world. Now, new proposals are be
ing made and a new breed of ac
tivists is ready to take the issue fur
ther. Kudos.
2. Oregon football season
It was a great year, even if the
Beavers stole the Ducks’ thunder at
the end. Everyone should be proud.
And while a bowl game would be
nice next year, we really only have
four words to say: Beat Oregon State
University.
1. Jody Runge’s resignation
Here, again, we have written ex
tensively about this issue. What we
can see now—regardless of who
was the bad person and who was the
good person—is the University ath
letics and administration did a really
poor job of dealing with their em
ployees. Runge was treated like crap,
even if she is as bad as The Register
Guard’s headlines made her out to
be. As Runge learned, so should the
Athletic Department: Communica
tion is key! Problems between em
ployees, or between coaches and
players, or between assistant coach
es and coaches, should be handled
quickly and openly. The way the
whole issue was handled, we fear,
will have a chilling effect on other
University employees. The lack of
communication exhibited by the
University makes employees unsure
of what they can say and what they
can’t, and this is very troublesome.
CORRECTION
The phone number for the EMU
Main Desk is 346-4363. The wrong
number was published in Friday's
Graduation supplement.
The Emerald regrets the error;
the culprit has been shot.
li
Dancing 10-2
■■ .
•• ' 3g ^ \ s' >5sSW-XoS.v«-.
No Smoking
mWmm
009437
Locally owned
LUBE, OIL, FILTER
DOWNTOWN
1320 Willamette
485*2356
2975 West 11th
344-0007
Chassis Lube • New Oil Filter • Up to 5 Qts.
10W-30 Kendall Oil • Clean Front Window
• Vaccuum Front Floor Boards
_ Kendall
■ ■Cm MOTOR OIL
POOR IN THE PROTECTION
3/4 or 1-ton &
Extra Cab Trucks
Additional •+
No
Appointment
necessary
Most light cars
& trucks
OPEN Sundays
/06UO
flDEOS FOR S
•Media Services is taping Commencement in Mac Court on June 16.
•Call (541) 346-3048 to order your own copy!
•The cost is $26.50 (includes shipping).
•To mail a check/money order, please send to
Commencement Video, Knight Library Media Services,
1299 University of Oregon, Eugene Or 97403.
Make check payable to Knight Library Media Services.
•For credit card orders and additional information, call the number above.
•Orders taken in Mac Court on Commencement Day...Look for our table!
42 Beers on tap
• Full-service bar
•8 Pool tables
• Full menu 'til dose
"Summer Special"
Free Pool in June • Open everyday at 5pm
21 & over see bar for details
£ Oreqon D a i I v E m e r a l d
your source for exclusive online polls • www.diiilyemernlii.com