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E-mail: editor@dailyemerald.com
Online Edition:
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Thursday, February 14,2002
Editor in Chief:
Jessica Blanchard
Managing Editor:
Jeremy Lang
Editorial Editor:
Julie Lauderbaugh
Assistant Editorial Editor:
Jacquelyn Lewis
Editorial
Church must
perform act
of contrition
for abuse
(U-WIRE) COLUMBUS, Ohio —
1 harges of child molestation within
the Catholic Church have been pop
ping up in the news with increasing
frequency. In Massachusetts two weeks
ago, Catholic priests across the Archdio
cese of Boston read from their pulpits, as
ordered, a letter of admission and apology
from Cardinal Bernard F. Law, the arch
bishop of Boston.
The letter was forced from Law amid
outrage in Massachusetts over the revela
tions that a priest of the archdiocese, the
Rev. John Geoghan, had allegedly com
mitted acts of sexual abuse against
dozens of boys entrusted to his pastoral
care over decades. Geoghan was de
frocked in 1998 and two weeks ago con
victed of indecent assault and battery
against a 10-year-old boy.
This outrage has been covered extensive
ly in The Boston Globe, that Law, his pred
ecessor, Cardinal Humberto S. Medeiros,
and dozens of other church officials had
for decades ignored and/or minimized
compelling evidence against Geoghan.
The church officials discouraged par
ents of molested boys from taking ac
tion, pursued secret out-of-court settle
ments and allowed Geoghan to
remain, his true nature hidden by his su
periors, in pastoral positions.
This is one example of a widespread
and very serious problem. Over several
decades, high church officials have been
increasingly aware that priests under their
control were using their offices to sexually
assault boys in their care.
These church officials have covered
up the truth and refused to report
known offenders to authorities. They
have repeatedly allowed priests they
knew to be molesters to continue in ca
reers of pastoral care that brought them
into contact with children.
Allegations of sexual misconduct span
beyond the Catholic Church. Many leaders
within various religious communities
have been asked to address concerns about
complaints of child abuse.
This is a travesty that must be addressed
out in the open.
Efforts to continually suppress infor
mation and avoid dealing with prob
lems by recirculating known abusers is
entirely inappropriate and unaccept
able. Federal governmental officials
long ago endured the consequences of
an attempted cover-up. The result: It
blows up in your face.
In the case of the Catholic Church, we recom
mend swift action and public condemnation.
This editorial is printed courtesy of the Ohio State
University newspaper, The Lantern.
Letters to the Editor and
Guest Commentaries Policy
commentaries are encouraged. Letters are
Iimifedto250 words and guest commentaries
to 550 words. Please include contact
Information. The Emerald reserves the right to
edit Mfor space, grammar and style.
Don’t SHOOT the messenger!
Valentine’s Day: Little pink hearts,
fluffy stuffed animals and frou-frou
greeting cards. It’s all so cute — it
makes you want to vomit, right? Appar
ently, you’re not alone. Everyone I talk to
seems to think that Valentine’s Day sucks.
Being forced to listen to their cynical
outbursts is so exasperating, I might just
throw my conversation hearts at the next
person who says it.
After that point, I
can’t be held respon
sible for my actions.
Trendy anti-Valen
tine’s Day senti
ments have be
come just as
bothersome and
cliche as that “an
noying” cupid.
I know, I know.
Valentine’s Day
seems like it
was created
to make
single
people
feel like failures. Believe
me, I’ve spent my share of
them alone — and yes, I did
feel like a loser. But the holi
day can be fun for people with
out significant others. Why not go
to a party or a bar? Singles can go
with other unattached friends, and
there will be plenty of others there,
feeling equally desperate (oh-la-la). Or, if
you must wallow in your singleness, write
some sappy love poems.
It’s not just lonely people who abhor the
“Day of Love,” either. Others say their
partners should do special things for them
every day, not just on Valentine’s Day. I
agree. Isn’t it great to have a day that actu
ally reminds us to do these things and
gives us a chance to be mushy, without
our love interest looking at us like we’re
crazy? Sure, being considerate and show
ing your significant other that you care
about them is important to do every single
day, but I’m not passing up a chance for
free candy, either.
Another excuse, especially for college
students, is not having enough money to
pay for dates or buy gifts on Valentine’s
Day. People in this situation still have
plenty of options. They can take their date
out to look at the stars or make them a
valentine. Last year, I made my boyfriend a
collage, using old magazines. It sounds
cheesy,
but it actually
turned out to be really special.
For those who have exhausted all excus
es, yet still hate Valentine’s Day, there’s an
attractive option of the anti-Valentine’s Day
party. You can get drunk or eat chocolate, or
both, until you puke, all while spewing
forth obscenities expressing how much you
hate Feb. 14. As a bonus, the other party
guests will share in your misery.
Those who complain about Valentine’s
Day should also remember one thing:
They don’t have to celebrate. But at least
they have the option to participate in the
holiday if they want to, without the risk of
violence or punishment. Imagine living in
a country where officials confiscate that
bouquet of roses before you can deliver it
to your sweetie. This actually happens in
certain parts of China. Picture conserva
tive protesters vandalizing stores that sell
Valentine’s Day merchandise — small
Steve Baggs Emerald
groups
in India
tried that
two years ago.
Indian right-wing
leaders also pushed for a
ban on the increasingly popular
“indecent” holiday.
So, if we’re griping about anything, it
should be more consequential than a few
pink hearts and flowers. Maybe we should
complain that there are still places where
citizens must put themselves in danger to
observe the holidays they choose to cele
brate. After all, what’s wrong with love?
If people still can’t get over how terrible
Valentine’s Day is, they should just be
grumpy in silence and let the rest of us en
joy it. No one is forcing them to celebrate.
So happy Valentine’s Day. The world
needs all the love it can get right now. And
I need all the chocolate I can get.
E-mail assistant editorial editor Jacquelyn Lewis
at jacquelynlewis@dailyemerald.com. Her opinions
do not necessarily reflect those of the Emerald.
Letters to the editor
Pilliod and Buzbee outshine
other candidates
With an extremely large number of tick
ets for the ASUO Executive positions, it
can be difficult to distinguish between all
the candidates’ qualifications and plat
forms. My complete support for Rachel
Pilliod and Ben Buzbee is summed up in
two words: experience and vision.
Rachel and Ben’s combined experience
has put them through almost all avenues
of campus life, as well as the representa
tion of students on a state and national
level. From the ASUO to the Student Sen
ate, the EMU Board to Constitution Court,
Rachel and Ben are knowledgeable about
all issues that affect students. Not only
are they both adequately qualified, they
have a vision for the coming year that will
positively benefit all students, not just a
select few.
They will be committed to working on a
leadership development program, health
care access and education on campus as
well as in the government, voter registra
tion and education, as well as lobbying in
Salem for student rights. Furthermore,
they wish to continue the campaigns of the
current ASUO Executive, such as the
housing code, the energy fee and issues
concerning social inequality.
My endorsement of Rachel and Ben for
ASUO Executive also stems from a cer
tainty that they are deeply committed to
the campus and its entire community. I be
lieve they will work for students tirelessly
and have the knowledge and experience to
do so effectively. They have my absolute
confidence, and I hope the rest of the cam
pus community would also support them
on election day.
Jessica Southwick
sophomore
political science and Spanish
Invest in a housing code
I am a first-year student at the Universi
ty, living away from home for the first
time. I was shocked when I first heard Eu
gene was the largest city on the West Coast
without a housing code, and as a fresh
man, this has many implications for me.
As we approach spring term, I, as well
as thousands of fellow freshmen, will be
looking for off-campus housing for the
next school year. For the majority of us, it
will be our first time renting and looking
for suitable living arrangements. I have no
doubt it is something we are all capable of
accomplishing. I just wonder how our
choices will be made and where we can go
when we have questions or problems con
cerning housing issues.
The students here at the University are
making a big impact in the school’s, as
well as the community’s economy. The
University is Lane County’s largest em
ployer, and each year students spend
more than $93 million locally. By decid
ing to come to the University, we have
decided to invest in Eugene. Don’t you
think it’s time for Eugene to invest a lit
tle in us?
I would like to invite the city of Eugene
to work with us in heading toward the di
rection of a housing Standard. This is not
just a student issue. A housing standard
would be beneficial to the community as
a whole.
Kendra Wessels
freshman
pre-psychology