Newsroom: (541) 346-5511
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E-mail: editor@dailyemerald.com
Online Edition:
www.dailyemerald.com
Thrusday, November 29,2001
Editor in Chief:
Jessica Blanchard
Editorial Editor:
Julie Lauderbaugh
Assistant Editorial Editor:
Jacquelyn Lewis
Editorial
Dead Week
should be
truly dead
Week 10 of fall term
always seems to be
the most stressful
time of year. With the holidays
looming and finals a week
away, many students on cam
pus are feeling a little over
whelmed. And it’s no wonder,
since many professors have de
cided to cheat students by
scheduling final papers, proj
ects and early finals during
Dead Week.
No exam worth more than 20
percent of the final grade can
be given during Dead Week,
with the exception of make
ups, according to legislation
passed by the University As
sembly. Professors are also re
quired to specify Dead Week
projects on the class syllabus
within the first two weeks of
the term. But many instructors
break these rules and insist on
holding Dead Week finals to
get a jump-start on final grad
ing and their winter break.
Although it is convenient
and nice to start the winter va
cation early, it is taking away
valuable instruction time for
students and professors. Also,
many students stop absorbing
ne w material during the last
week of school because they’re
preparing for the end of the
quarter.
Dead Week isn’t really dead
anymore. Dead Week used to
be a week of studying in prepa
ration for finals, and no classes
were held. It was “dead” on
campus because everyone was
inside studying. Now students
and professors are bustling
around, tying up loose ends.
There is a designated week
for professors to give finals. If
professors don’t want to hold
finals during week 11, the
University should move to
abolish the week altogether.
That way the school won’t
trick itself into thinking stu
dents are learning valuable
new material up until the end
of the term, and we can all go
on vacation early with a clear
conscience.
Editorial Policy
This editorial represents
the opinion of the Emerald
editorial board. Responses can be
sent to letters® dailyemeraid.com.
Letters to the editor and guest
commentaries are encouraged.
Letters are limited to 250 words
and guest commentaries to 550
words. Please include contact
information. The Emerald
reserves the right to edit
tor space, gram mar and style.
Steve Baggs Emerald
An old-fashioned commercial Christmas
Attention, holiday shoppers ... where
are you? While I have lamented the
loss of the luxury of shopping since I
started college, it now appears that even
wealthy Americans are keeping a stingy eye
on their wallets this season.
According to a recent ABC News poll, peo
ple who usually have
spent up to $930 on holi
day shopping by this time
are spending nearly $200
less. It doesn’t seem like
much, but decreased sea
sonal spending is affect
ing all kinds of business
es, from large to small.
Stores nationwide are
being forced to have early
sales, even stores that
normally never offer dis
counts. This holiday
shopping season is pre
dicted to be one of the
longest — but cheapest —
ever. And it’s expected to
be what the U.S. News & World Report calls
“a bargain basement Christmas”: Good for
our shopping lists, but bad for the already
slumping economy.
Whether it’s the pervading gloom-and
doom from the events of Sept. 11 and the re
cent fatal cases of anthrax, or the high unem
ployment rate coupled with the economy’s
dive, who can blame shoppers for being
apprehensive? Some might even argue that a
season of decreased spending will allow us
to get back to a less commercialized, family
based holiday season — the way it is “sup
posed” to be.
I take a different view. Spending money
has become just as much an American holi
day tradition as putting up the Christmas tree
or lighting the menorah. And as much as we
whine that the holidays have become too
commercialized, businesses actually depend
on this season for a large portion of their
livelihood. In fact, most stores rely so much
on holiday shoppers, they begin preparations
as early as summer.
Many people are employed by these busi
nesses and rely on them for their own liveli
hoods. If we decide to skimp on our holiday
shopping or even forgo gift-giving and other
traditions altogether, we may be hurting our
selves more than we realize.
While the state of our country certainly
saddens me, and I have compassion for those
who lost friends and family members in re
cent tragedies, I intend to have a regular holi
day. If we have the money, and understand
ably some of us don’t, we should still make
merry this season. That includes spending
the amount we usually spend on gifts, parties
and other holiday frivolities. After all, this
season only comes once a year.
I’m not suggesting we shouldn’t consider
giving to charities this year, or that those
who are morally, religiously or financially
opposed to excessive holiday spending
should alter their points of view. I also real
ize that the “true” meaning of the season
would still exist if absolutely no one re
ceived a single gift this year. It’s definitely
important to take stock of our real blessings
this holiday season — our families, our free
dom, etc. — but at the same time, we
shouldn’t forget the tradition of an old-fash
ioned American holiday season. It’s the stuff
all my holiday memories are made of: The
fun of eating too much, drinking too much
and most of all, spending too much money;
in short, corporate greed and unchecked
gluttony. Just kidding.
Emerald assistant editorial editor Jacquelyn Lewis can
be reached atjacquelynlewis@dailyemerald.com. Her
views do not necessarily represent those of the Emerald.
Letters to the editor
ASUO leaders are available
As an intern for the ASUO, I have witnessed
President Nilda Brooklyn and Vice President
Joy Nair in action.
Working with them has been nothing but re
warding. They are both supportive and take .an
active interest in the pursuits of the interns.
They are helpful, polite and dedicated. Almost
every time I am in the office, they are available.
In fact, the only time I have been unable to con
tact them was because of the fact that they had
a class or meeting.
In the office, I have witnessed Brooklyn
and Nair working on a variety of projects that
directly affect students. Currently, they are
diligently working to repeal the $30 energy
fee. This is no small undertaking, and I have
been thoroughly impressed with their ability
to launch a campaign in such a short amount
of time.
My experience with Brooklyn and Nair has
been so positive that I will be returning as an
intern next term, and I plan to work with the
ASUO for the rest of my college career.
Lacy Ogan
sophomore
pre-journalism
ASUO is not apathetic
The ASUO often comes under attack be
cause some people believe it is apathetic. I
would like to argue that, in reality, it is quite
the opposite.
The ASUO is running a program tocombat
the $30 energy fee, monitoring energy use in
campus buildings and deciding whether con
servation methods are needed. The ASUO is
also working to establish a housing code for
Eugene. When necessary, campaigns are
always added to protect student rights. Interns
and volunteers are integral parts of the process,
but without the strong leadership of the presi
dent and vice president, nothing would be
accomplished.
Nilda Brooklyn and Joy Nair provide that
leadership. They are professional, open
minded and fair in their positions, and they
inspire hard work and cooperation within the
office, as well as with other organizations.
The ASUO may be many things, but it is not
apathetic.
Jessica Southwick
sophomore
political science