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E-mail: editor@dailyemerald.com
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Editor in Chief:
Jessica Blanchard
Managing Editor:
Jeremy Lang
Editorial Editor:
Julie Lauderbaugh
Assistant Editorial Editor:
Jacquelyn Lewis
Wednesday, February 27,2002
Editorial
Universal logo
would benefit
UO’s image
A flurry of controversy has sur
rounded the possible change
of the University’s logo since
December, when officials an
nounced the University was re
evaluating the existing emblems.
Students and faculty have criticized
this proposal for a number of rea
sons, but their complaints don’t add
up to much. A universal image
would be a simpler way to repre
sent the University, and refutations
surrounding the proposal are sim
ply much ado about nothing.
Officials have proposed to re
place the images — Donald Duck,
the interlocking “UO,” the Univer
sity seal and the Nike “O” — with a
single representation. Officials are
trying to decide which would best
represent the school and have nar
rowed the choice to either the inter
locking “UO” or the Nike “O.”
ASUO Student Senator Eric Bai
ley has argued that the academic
and athletic side of the University
should be represented by different
images. He also argues that chang
ing the University logo to the Nike
“O” would further the perception
of the University as “Nike U.”
While this argument is valid, and
we certainly don’t want our Uni
versity to be known as a corporate
puppet, it’s almost too late to re
verse this perception. The Knight
Library, Knight Law Center, the
renovation of Autzen Stadium and
pledged matching funds to create
16 endowed chairs at the Universi
ty have all been funded by Nike
CEO Phil Knight. Nike’s influence
is already imbedded into the Uni
versity and the public’s image of
the school. Whether or not the “O”
becomes the University’s new logo
will not have any significant bear
ing on this reputation.
In the end, any seal or logo that
promotes the school will be good
for the University’s image. A con
solidated logo is a good public re
lations device. It helps get the Uni
versity’s name to potential
students and donors, and provides
an image to associate with that
name. If administrators choose to
go with the Nike “O,” we can at
least count on the logo being more
recognizable, thanks to the recent
success of our football team.
The fate of the seal isn’t a crucial
University issue, and we should
devote our energy to more press
ing problems, such as looming
budget cuts.
Letters to the Editor
and Guest
Commentaries Policy
tetters 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
for space, grammar and style.
Experience fails to represent
I am writing as another candidate about
the endorsement of the Pilliod/Buzbee
ticket for ASUO Executive. It is clear that
they have a lot of experience, but it is also
clear that they do not represent the student
body on the whole.
They speak of voter registration and health
care. These might be great goals, but they are
not representative of the average student.
Also, if they are as enthusiastic as the Emerald
editorial board claims, why were they the last
to put up posters and start a campaign?
Our campaign set out to address what we
feel are the issues that the average student
cares about. Students want more seating at
football games, better parking and more
things to do on campus. We know this be
cause this is what students have told us.
Guest Commentary
We have heard complaints about OSPIRG
spending money off campus. Now, we are
not against OSPIRG, but this shows that peo
ple want something tangible from their fees.
Also the editorial board claims, “most
importantly, Pilliod and Buzbee are not
making outlandish promises they will
be unable to keep.” I believe that they
are, in fact, making such promises.
Their issue of health care is something
that they have no control over. If they
get more registered voters, they may
have more pull with one senator and
one representative, but still not enough
lobbying power to bring change.
Lastly I feel that they are mocking
democracy and the intelligence of the vot
ers with their gorilla outfits and chalking.
Are they afraid that a common student
will look at their issues and not see how it
will help?
I don't want to sound bitter. I wouldn't
even have issue with this endorsement if I
felt that the reasoning behind it held water,
but it doesn't. Clearly students don't want
the status quo, as there were seven tickets
running on not being that.
Gregory McNeill, a sophomore majoring in political
science, ran for ASUO president in this year’s primaries.
Letters to the editor
ASUO forecast
calls for no change
I am fully disillusioned by the results of
this recent primary elections.
The two worst tickets are now in the final fray,
while the other “good” candidates are eliminat
ed. Why are these two tickets inferior? Lets look
at the worst out of the two. (Sean) Ritchie and
(Jason) Babkes have no viable platforms! In feet, I
don’t know anybody who is aware of what their
policies are. Their campaign made me extreme
ly nauseous, especially when they employed lit
tle children to pander for votes. I won’t even
delve into that full-page advertisement on the
back of last week’s Emerald, no how much mon
ey they wasted. This ticket is dangerous for the
ASUO because of their unawareness of the is
sues on campus. However, we will not have to
worry about this, because they certainly won’t
win the general election.
The real winners will be Pilliod and
Buzbee, unfortunately. They are experienced
and seem to be aware of the issues on cam
pus, but they will have the stigma of their
predecessors, Brooklyn and Nair. Their ad
ministration has been by far the worst in re
cent memory, especially on public relations
and the apparent gender bias in their office.
Pilliod and Buzbee, who support this admin
istration, say they will not make too many
changes in the ASUO, which could only
make me skeptical of their future at the
ASUO. When government is bad, it should
n’t remain the same! Next year the ASUO Ex
ecutive will remain the status quo, as always.
Steven Lockfield
sophomore
history
United Way supports
Bush’s call for volunteers
President George W. Bush, in his State of the
Union address on Jan. 29, called upon every
American to commit at least two years during
a lifetime to volunteer service, to prepare for
and respond to emergencies, rebuild commu
nities, mentor children and extend the com
passion of our country to the rest of the world.
The United Way of Lane County is delight
ed by the president’s remarks. As Lane Coun
ty’s leading advocate for and authority on vol
unteering and part of the Points of Light
Foundation and Volunteer Center National
Network, together we have been dedicated to
engaging more people more effectively in vol
unteer service for more than 100 years.
Our first-hand experience suggests that the
“new culture of responsibility” described in the
president’s speech can and must engage citizens
and organizations at all points in the community
and from all walks of fife who are dedicated to
making a difference in the fives of others.
United Way’s Volunteer Connection main
tains a large database of volunteer opportu
nities in local nonprofit organizations that
includes a wide variety of ways to get in
volved: from mentoring a child to maintain
ing nature trails, fund-raising to gardening,
providing meals on wheels to helping fix
computers, and many more.
By calling 741-6000 or visiting www.unit
edwaylane.org/volunteer, potential volun
teers can learn more about local volunteer
opportunities or ideas to match various in
terests and schedules.
Ellie Dumdi and Chris Pryor, co-chairs
United Way Volunteer Connection
Steering Committee
Arctic Refuge
more than a chunk of ice
In post-Sept. 11 America, it is easy for
the media to overlook another one of
America’s landmarks that is under siege,
and like the World Trade Center, may
soon be destroyed.
In the far northeast corner of Alaska
lies the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
— 19 million acres of beautiful pristine
wilderness currently free of roads and in
dustrial development. Within weeks, the
Senate will debate on energy legislation,
and Sen. Frank Murkowski, R-Ala., will
offer an amendment to the Senate energy
bill that would open the refuge up to oil
and gas drilling.
Despite its name, the Arctic refuge is
not a big chunk of ice. In the spring it is
green, and it is a year-round home to cari
bou, polar bears, and thousands of other
animals, some of which are endangered.
The refuge is sacred land to the native
Gwich’in people, the “people of the cari
bou.” Drilling in the Arctic would harm
not only animals and habitat, but the
Gwich’in culture as well.
The estimated six months worth of oil
in the refuge would not reach us for
about 10 years. Rather than using up the
last of our natural resources, we Ameri
cans should focus on a cleaner, smarter,
more efficient energy future. No other
place in the United States is like the
Arctic refuge. We simply cannot afford
to lose it.
Vivian Vassall
freshman
pre-journalism