Newsroom: (541) 346-5511
Room 300, Erb Memorial Union
PO. Box 3159, Eugene, OR 97403
E-mail: editor@dailyemerald.com
Online Edition:
www. dailyemerald. com
Monday, February 11,2002
Editor in Chief:
Jessica Blanchard
Managing Editor:
Jeremy Lang
Editorial Editor:
Julie Lauderbaugh
Assistant Editorial Editor:
Jacquelyn Lewis
Editorial
Commentator’s
mission is clear,
but PEC’s isn’t
The Programs Finance Committee final
ly approved the Oregon Commenta
tor’s mission statement and budget
after a two-week break in the action to
clear up the issue of “viewpoint neutrality” in
programs’ mission statements. Commentator
staff members came to the rescheduled hearing
ready for a fight and equipped with case law.
Television station KEZI even had a camera and
reporter in the EMU Board Room ready to cap
ture the action. The meeting started, and the
PFC members approved the mission statement
unanimously in one of the quickest, most anti
climactic and confusing moments student gov
ernment has seen this year.
PFC seemingly laid down and played dead on
the issue, giving no specific reasons on the pub
lic record as to what changed since they tabled
the budget the first time. PFC chairwoman Mary
Elizabeth Madden declined to comment on the
passing of the mission statement.
Other PFC members acknowledged that the
committee had sought advice from University
administrators, and logic seems to hold that
they would ask University General Counsel
Melinda Grier for legal interpretation of the
Southworth case, cited frequently by both
sides as to why the Commentator should or
shouldn’t get its funding.
The Southworth decision stated that the
manner in which student fees are allocated
should remain viewpoint neutral to avoid dis
crimination against fee-funded student groups.
Grier said through a spokeswoman that she
could not confirm whether or not she coun
seled PFC because it would violate client
confidentiality.
Both PFC and Grier have a responsibility to
students that must be upheld. Grier ought to
help student leaders make an informed deci
sion. She handles legal issues for the Universi
ty a whole, but “University General Counsel”
should encompass every part of the University,
including student leaders.
PFC needs to state the reasons for its deci
sions on the public record, especially major
decisions that have legal and economic ramifi
cations. The public deserves to know the logic
the PFC uses to allocate student fees. When
discussions and decisions of this magnitude
seemingly happen outside the board room,
more questions arise than answers.
Editorial
Thi
editorial board. Responses can be sen!
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for Space, grammar and style.
Editorial Board Member*
editonn chief
editorial editor
Jacquelyn Lewis
immunity representative " community representative
LeonTovey
newsroom representative
_____
__
Keep on giving
Since the Sept. 11 ter
rorist attacks, more
than $1 billion have
been raised for the vic
tims. With all the donations
and volunteering taking
place, this has proven to be
one of history’s most unified
responses
to a crisis.
It would
seem that
we’re
pulling
together
with a
newfound
pride. Just
look in
any cloth
ing store
and you’ll
see: The
hottest
colors are
red, white and blue, and the
favorite T-shirt logo is “I
Love New York.” Apparent
ly, Americans are taking a
fresh look at life, themselves
and their country — at least,
Debenham
Columnist
Peter Utsey Emerald
that’s the way an optimistic broadcaster
would describe it.
I think it’s great that so many people
have given their money to the relief effort
in New York. But my qualm is why
should it take an attack on our country to
finally give people the initiative to come
together, donate and volunteer? Why just
New York, and why just now? There
were numerous other charities in need
before this happened that are still in
need. But unfortunately, much of the at
tention has been taken away from them.
People like to do things in great herds,
especially when it contains some drama.
We are drawn to the scene of the action.
Blood donations were at an all-time high
in September. Now those amounts have
dropped even though the need for blood
is just as real. Although the attacks on
the United States were extremely tragic,
and many people were hurt or killed, we
need to realize that these people aren’t
the only ones suffering. Since Sept. 11,
donations to Habitat for Humanity have
decreased by 40 percent; this is a charity
that is usually one of the most successful
in the nation. The organization provides
homes for people in need. Fewer homes
being built means more people are being
left without adequate help. The AIDS
Walk in Washington, D.C., has also suf
fered since the attacks, raising less than
half the money it usually does.
Some of this setback in charitable do
nations has to do with the slowing econ
omy. As people cut back their budgets,
the first thing to go is usually giving to
charity. But it’s not only citizens who are
cutting back. The government is cutting
back as well. Now that $329 billion has
been requested by the Department of De
fense, we can all say goodbye to Bush’s
promised reforms of Social Security and
Medicare. Everything from infrastruc
ture to environmental programs will be
feeling the squeeze on their budgets.
Now, more than ever, is a time to reach
out and help those in need, whether that
be through money donations or — for us
empty-pocketed college students — a lit
tle precious time.
Although I have been ranting on the
United States as a whole, I ought to con
gratulate the people of Eugene. We are
probably doing a better job than many
other cities, considering St. Vincent De
Paul said that donations have actually
gone up since Sept. 11. But that doesn’t
mean we should pat ourselves on the
back and call it good. It’s easy to give
when everyone is giving, but a lot harder
after the hubbub is over. Just think how
much society could benefit if we always
reacted with concern toward the welfare
of our citizens, in the U.S. as well as
abroad. Donating money didn’t just start
with Sept. 11, it is an ongoing process
— one that should never stop.
E-mail columnist Tara Debenham
at taradebenham@dailyemerald.com. Her opinions
do not necessarily reflect those of the Emerald.
foil Results:
Every week, the Emerald prints the results of our
online poll and the poll question for next week. The
poli can be accessed from the main page of our
Web site, www.dailyemerald.com. We encourage
you to send us feedback about the poll questions
and results.
Last week’s poll question: Should the Oregon
Commentator be forced to change its mission
statement?
Results 8'nmiji .. tea
■Yes, if the Oregon Commentator uses student
fees, it should follow ASUO rules—33.7 percent,
■ No, the Oregon Commentator does not promote
any political affiliations—60.2 percent or 50 votes
* ' -
This week’s poli question: How will you be
hf ,g ■ : ■ n '■ 5a U
The choices:
■ Eating chocolate
■ Studying
■ Hanging out with friends
■ Buying Hallmark stock
■ Wondering where it ali went wrong
■Nothing
» * ***.*»♦♦* * * ' Ur x . ♦ . . ..
Mi
Letters to the editor
Fans should show more class
As an Oregon alumna (1977), foot
ball season ticket holder and former
band member, I was extremely embar
rassed and disappointed when I logged
onto CNN Sports Illustrated’s Web site
and saw that one of the college basket
ball articles was about how Oregon
fans/students accosted USC coaches,
including making personal insults at
the head coach, after the USC game. I
was similarly disappointed at the Fies
ta Bowl, when a large group of fans in
the endzone started taunting the Col
orado fans near the end of the game.
It is unfortunate that many Oregon
fans apparently do not have a fraction
of the class that the coaches and mem
bers of Oregon sports teams have
— and I hope the University will take
strong action to try to prevent this type
of behavior. Not only is it embarrassing
to the school, but it can result in retal
iatory behavior against Oregon players
and coaches when they are on the
road, putting our own teams and
coaches in danger.
Kathy Fowler
. Hillsborough, Ore.
Education should be a priority
Currently, the Oregon Legislature is
getting ready to go into Special Session
to discuss the future of funding for
Oregon students. They, instead of en
couraging and supporting students,
seem to be cutting more and more of
our funding. So much for “our chil
dren are our future!” Whatever hap
pened to prioritizing education? How
much more can they possibly take
away from us before they realize that
we have textbooks that date back to the
1900s? Don’t they realize how many
people depend on government grants?
One of the proposed cuts is to the
Childcare Block Grant. If they are suc
cessful with these cuts, 1,200 to 3,000
students will lose the resources to go to
college. That means 433 student fami
lies will be left without education!
They want us to make something of
ourselves, but then they turn around
and take away the only opportunity
some of us have for higher education.
State legislatures need to prioritize
funding — prioritize what’s important
to society and its future.
01a Duzha
freshman
international studies