Newsroom: (541) 346-5511
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PO, Box 3159, Eugene, OR 97403
E-mail: editor@dailyemerald.com
Online Edition:
www. dailyemerald. com
Oregon Daily Emerald
Editor in Chief:
Jessica Blanchard
Managing Editor:
Jeremy Lang
Editorial Editor:
Julie Lauderbaugh
Assistant Editorial Editor:
Jacquelyn Lewis
Monday, May 6,2002
Editorial
Experience
makes Kelly
best choice
for Ward 3
In the race for Ward 3 city councilor, incum
bent David Kelly has shown himself to be the
best choice. Of the two candidates, Kelly has
demonstrated the knowledge of both the city
council and the issues faced by Ward 3 residents
— knowledge that is necessary to make his cam
paign promises into realities.
While the editorial board was impressed with
Kelly’s opponent, University student Maco Stew
art, we thought his plans lacked specifics and he
lacked the general experience necessary to ade
quately represent all Ward 3 residents.
While he criticizes Kelly and the rest of the current
city council for infighting, it seems as though Stew
art is continuing to pit students against city govern
ment, instead of urging them to work together. Stu
dents are undoubtedly an integral part of the city, but
are we really going to get much accomplished if we
try to turn it into an us-versus-them argument?
We think it’s great that a University student is
running in this race and bringing more attention
to issues that affect the campus community. But
Stewart is relying heavily on the fact that he is a
student and knows other students to demonstrate
his fitness for office. We agree that he would be
qualified to represent the campus voice, but the
other residents of Ward 3 need adequate represen
tation as well.
To that end, Kelly has a better understanding
of what we’re facing as Ward 3 residents, and as
University students.
We liked Kelly’s ideas about implementing Eugene
housing standards patterned after a sipiilar system in
Corvallis. Simple standards like basic habitability,
heating, insulation and water should already be part
of Eugene’s housing requirements. And Kelly has the
influence to put his ideas into action. We’re still wait
ing for specifics on how to effectively implement the
standards, but his plan has a lot of potential.
Kelly also appears to be sensitive to the needs
of Ward 3 residents. We applaud the initiative he
has shown by working with the ASUO and in
coming ASUO President Rachel Pilliod, and we
would like to see him play a major role in bring
ing together the “ongoing forum” he mentioned
to better represent student voices. It’s true that
students don’t always show an interest in having
their voices heard by the city council, but some
times our representatives need to bring the op
portunity to the students instead of waiting for us
I to come to them. Frequent appearances on cam
pus and town hall meetings involving students
would be an excellent start.
And finally, Kelly has addressed our concerns
about Peace Health’s future move to Springfield.
Although a small number of employees currently
working at the Eugene site will be relocated, a sig
nificant portion of the hospital’s services will be
lost in Ward 3. Kelly has said he will work to find
ways to provide adequate emergency services for
the area.
For these reasons, we urge you to re-elect David
Kelly as city councilor for Ward 3.
Editorial Policy
This editorial represents the opinion of the Emerald
editorial board. Responses can be sent to
letters@dailyemerald.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 rightto edit for space, grammar
AHA: Local ads could be IMPROVED
y older sister warned me before
I came to school that I’d get ad
JL ▼ JL dieted to daytime television.
And I’ll admit, I enjoy an occasional
episode of “Crossing Over with John Ed
ward” or a sinful dose of Timmy on
NBC’s “Passions.”
But I find myself drawn more to the
advertisements that fill the airtime be
tween the drama — especially local tele
vision spots.
Some of the local ads aren’t bad. I al
ways enjoy the “Palm Harbor Homes”
jingle (every time the doorbell rings, I
break into song). But not all of the com
mercials from the Eugene area are as in
teresting — or have the budget — as a
manufactured home megastore.
In fact, some of them suck.
I’ve had enough of whiny Ronny ffon
Ronny’s Stereo. The price of excellence
is not always affordable, Ronny, espe
cially when it comes to home entertain
ment systems. Admittedly, I’ve never
been to Ronny’s store, but I’ve never
wanted to, especially after being en
tranced by Ronny’s sniveling, mono
tone voice.
I’m also frustrated with the Brad’s
Chevrolet in Cottage Grove commer
cials. The spot features a mustachioed
Brad superimposed over his car lot as
though he were a weatherman. Used-car
salesmen are creepy in general, but I
think Brad has a certain former high
school football star-like charisma that is
squelched in the spot.
And although Emporium is not a loca
chain, its commercials sure make it
seem like mom and pop are running the
show. The “Clean Sweep” spot is amon£
the most ridiculous, featuring guys in
khakis pretending to drum on upside
down buckets while women in khakis
flit about their drumming circle, swing
ing brooms. What the ad has to do with
anything besides housecleaning sup
plies is beyond me.
Other irksome ads include Guaranty
RV in Junction City (where eggs are
cheaper?) and a car commercial with
spokesman Joey Harrington delivering
an insincere pitch.
I don’t know the advertising budgets
for these local businesses, and I don’t
know how difficult it was to undertake
production to begin with. But producing
goofy spots only undermines the intent
of the commercials in the first place —
to persuade people to buy a product.
So I’d like to offer a suggestion to all of
the Ronnys, Brads and Emporiums of
Eugene and Springfield: Check out
Allen Hall Advertising.
AHA is a student-run advertising firm
on campus that is under-utilized by lo
cal businesses. The students involved in
AHA are dedicated to creating new and
innovative advertisements and could of
fer insightful tips for improving local
ads. With help from budding advertise
ment executives, the level and quality of
local commercials would go up, and
consumers might be tempted to buy that
new Tahoe from Brad or order a home
theater system from Ronny.
With a little brainstorming from the
young minds at AHA, local commer
cials could be as effective as their na
tional counterparts. Local businesses
may not have the funding to promote
themselves effectively, but AHA
could create budget-minded spots that
would be much cheaper than an out
side agency.
At least it would make the three
minutes between John Edward’s com
munication with the dead a little more
interesting.
E-mail editorial editor Julie Lauderbaugh
at julielauderbaugh@dailyemerald.com. Her opinions
do not necessarily reflect those of the Emerald.
Letters to the editor
Students support
new Eugene library
Eugene area students came to the site
of Eugene’s growing new library on
April 30 to celebrate reading in a pub
lic setting. University athletes Rasuli
Webster and Kourtney Shreve joined
kids from Jefferson and Spencer Butte
middle schools, Adams, Family
School, Magnet Arts, and Santa Clara
elementary schools, SMART tutors and
community members in reading
throughout the day.
Eugene’s new library will serve
everyone, and it was exciting to see stu
dents of all ages ready to come down
town and watch the building under
construction. When the doors open in
the winter of 2002-03, everyone will be
able to use the services in an exciting
new space.
Thanks to all of the young people
who came to the Lane Transit District
plaza on April 30 to show support for
the library.
Barbara Dellenback
executive director
Eugene Public Library Foundation
Stein stands behind students
I was amused by your recent inter
view with Ted Kulongoski. I even
laughed out loud when I read the ques
tion, “How are you campaigning to in
crease student turnout?” The answer is
nothing. Only one candidate is making
any kind of effort to get out the vote in
the student population, and that candi
date is Bev Stein.
When I attended the Democratic de
bate at the University, Kulongoski had
sent a representative in his stead. I
would have been utterly dumbfounded
at this, had it not been for Kulongoski's
history of absence from campus events.
Bev Stein is the only candidate who
has a plan to improve the public educa
tion system. The other candidates,
while at the same time claiming that
education is a top priority, are not even
mentioning higher education.
Kulongoski also fielded a question
in your interview about how he would
make himself accessible to students if
he wins the election. He said he
would come down to campuses and
meet students — a slightly misleading
answer. I can count on one hand the
number of times he has visited the
University. Stein has been here more
than a dozen times.
I don't believe Kulongoski to be a bad
person — far from it, in fact. However,
when he tells us that he is the candidate
who has our interests at heart, I don't be
lieve that to be true. On the Democratic
ticket, Bev Stein is the candidate that
shines when it comes to education.
Britt McEachern
sophomore
Lane Community College
history/business
Poll Results:
Every week, the Emerald prints the results of
our online poll and the poll question for next
week. The poll can he accessed from the main
page of our Web site,
.com.
and results.
This week’s poll question: The last day to
registered?
Total votes: 60
■ In Lane County -—46 7 percent, or 28
votes
■ Elsewhere — 36 J percent, or 22 votes
■ Not registered—15.0 percent, or 9 votes
■ Don’t know — 1.7 percent, or 1 vote
Next week’s poll question: Howdoyou think
University housing could make residence
halls more welcoming to the LOST
community?
Hie choices:
■ Add "queerfriendly" to roommate
matching questionnaire
II Create a separate residence hall
■ No change
■ Don’t know
■ Don’t care