Newsroom: <541) 346-5511
Room 300, Erb Memorial Union
RO. Box 3159, Eugene, OR 97403
E-mail: editor@dailyemerald.com
Online Edition:
www.dailyemerald.com
Wednesday, May 15,2002
Editor in Chief:
Jessica Blanchard
Managing Editor:
Jeremy Lang
Editorial Editor:
Julie Lauderbaugh
Assistant Editorial Editor:
Jacquelyn Lewis
Editorial
Jim Hill, Jack Roberts
have essential skills,
goals to be governor
Two gubernatorial candidates
stood out from the rest of their par
ty’s nominations this year for a
plethora of reasons. Jim Hill, a De
mocrat, and Jack Roberts, a Republi
can, are both qualified candidates
with enough vision and political
sway to present ideas that can win
the primary election May 21.
On the left: Jim Hill
Hill appealed to us as the front
runner of the three Democratic can
didates because of his dedication to
education. The other two governor
hopefuls also have a rich history in
public office, but we believe Hill’s fi
nancial experience, coupled with
his political experience, make him
the best choice. Hill has two decades
of public office skills to
offer Oregonians — he has served as
a state representative in the Legisla
ture, in the Oregon Senate and most
recently as our state treasurer.
As treasurer, Hill proved his dedi
cation to preserving quality public
schools. He created the Common
School Fund for K-12 schools and
the School Bond Guarantee Act. Hill
also implemented the College Sav
ings Program to help parents save for
their children’s higher education.
We were impressed by Hill’s
practical “sin tax” idea to help sta
bilize K-12 school funding by rais
ing taxes on tobacco and alcohol.
Hill has the insight to know that the
state will not allocate sufficient
funding to public schools during
budget crunches. His proposed
“Rainy Day Fund” will help combat
education cuts and ensure public
schools don’t get caught in a budget
crisis as they were earlier this year.
If elected, we think Hill would be
the best champion of higher educa
tion. We liked his proposal to rein
state college scholarships that were
cut during the budget crunch. He said
restoring the scholarships was one of
his top priorities if elected, and we
hope Hill can fulfill his promise.
He also impressed us with his
ideas to issue bonds for infrastruc
ture projects on campus. Long-term
bond sales would give universities
more cash on hand and allow free
dom for the schools to allocate
where we need it.
We believe Hill has the political
sway and connection with the
needs of Oregonians to make an
effective candidate for governor in
November. As an advocate for high
er education needs, we believe he
would be the most successful can
didate, and we advise students to
vote for Hill as the Democratic can
didate for governor.
From the right: Jack Roberts
Roberts caught our eye because he
appears to be the most moderate of
the three Republican candidates,
and his experience in state govern
ment is extensive. Roberts is current
ly serving his second term as state la
bor commissioner and served as a
Lane County Commissioner for five
years. Because the state has such a
diverse group of voters, with pockets
of both conservative and liberal
voices sprinkled throughout, we
believe Roberts would appeal to
most Oregonians as the Republican
gubernatorial candidate.
Roberts is not only honest about
possible tax jumps, but he’s also
frank about likely tuition increases
across the state. He knows both
Oregon residents and students
coming from out of state won’t at
tend a school that isn’t affordable,
and he seems committed to keeping
tuition economical.
As a University of Oregon gradu
ate for both of his undergraduate
and law degrees, Roberts has a
unique understanding of our
school’s needs. If elected governor,
we believe Roberts’ affiliation with
groups such as the College Republi
cans — as well as the fact that he is
a Eugene resident — would keep
him accessible and connected to
students locally.
Roberts has a proven track record
of fighting for the University during
budget crises. He also supports Bal
lot Measure 10, which would allow
the University to receive equity
from private companies to compen
sate for publicly created technology.
Overall, Roberts is an excellent
Republican candidate. If elected
governor, he would serve Oregon
well. We support Roberts’ ideas and
tenacity, and we urge students to
vote for him in the primary.
Editorial Policy
This editorial represents the opinion of the Emerald editorial board. Responses
can be sent to letters@dallyemerald.com Letters to the editor and guest
commentaries are encouraged. Letters are limited to 250words and guest
commentaries to550 words. Please include contact information. The Emerald
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Jessica Blanchard
editor in chief
Jeremy Lang
managing editor
Editorial Board Members
Jacquelyn Lewis
assistant editorial editor
Peter Hockaday
newsroom representative
Jerad Nicholson
community representative
Letters to the editor
Stein cares about the environment
This state is at a crossroads. Our current gov
ernor is term-limited, and we have three
Democrats from whom we must choose to
replace him. All three are good candidates, but
Bev Stein stands out as the person who will
bring our environment back to its former health.
Oregon has some of the most polluted water
ways in the country, and they are getting worse
every day. Bev Stein is committed to cleaning up
our state’s water and putting the bill on the
biggest polluters.
Stein won endorsements from the Sierra Club
and the League of Conservation Voters for her
record as Multnomah County CEO and for her
plan for our state. She intends to reduce our
dependence on polluting energy sources as
well. Under her leadership, Oregon will buy
more “green” power, which is electricity gener
ated from wind, solar and geothermal resources.
She will also require state agencies to reduce
their use of raw materials by 25 percent and re
duce waste by 50 percent.
Stein knows that the use of hybrid electric cars
will reduce pollution, and as such, her plan in
cludes replacing the state’s cars with hybrid cars
as the older cars rotate'out of service. She will
also eliminate the double registration cost for
these cleaner cars.
The next governor of this state needs to fix our
economy, but not at the expense of our environ
ment. Despite what many people think, we can,
in fact, have a stable economy with a clean envi
ronment, and Bev Stein will prove this.
Samantha Bouton
sophomore
political science and Japanese
Tympanic cut a rug; article didn’t
I am writing concerning the article published
in the May 9 issue about the local band Tym
panic (“Tympanic skips between towns — and
musical styles”). I saw Tympanic for the first
time during fall term, and I have been hooked
since my first experience.
I was disappointed in this article because it
was blatantly obvious that the reporter, Jen West,
had never seen Tympanic play. If she had, there
likely would have been reference to the numer
ous people, many of them University students,
who come out to cut a rug on the dance floor at
every show.
Or maybe West would have delved more into
what exactly makes this foursome have such a
blast on stage. All in all, after going to a Tymp
excitement that was not at all shown in her article.
Maybe next time the Emerald will plan ahead
and actually send a reporter to a show. That
way, they can come back with the full story and
a huge smile.
Eric M. Wilson
- junior
business
Editor's note: Emerald reporter Jen West attended Tympanic’s
show at the EMU Amphitheater on April 19.
“Beer Bellies” are a myth
In John Muir O’Brien’s letter (“Fraternities offer
framework for obesity, depression,” ODE, May 7)
on the subject of alcohol consumption in fraterni
ties, he implied that by allowing alcohol con
sumption, fraternities are “encouraging a frame
work for obesity and depression later in life.”
O’Brien is, in this matter, misinformed. Beer is
not really an obesity-causing substance. The “beer
belly” is actually a myth. Beer is relatively low in
calories but does stimulate the appetite, which
often leads to what marijuana enthusiasts refer to
as “munchies” — from which one acquires the
calories that lead to unsightly “beer bellies.”
If one eats healthy and moderately and — after
one too many beers — thinks twice before having
a large pizza delivered, one can enjoy quite a bit
of beer without putting on those extra pounds.
In regard to his argument against alcohol in fra
ternities, I would add that banning alcohol com
pletely seems to me rather childish. Could one
not simply make a pledge against extreme binge
drinking, beer bongs and the like?
William Moglia
senior
German and international studies
CORRECTION
LGBTQA office manager Kristina Armenakis was
named in a photo caption in Monday’s paper (“Chalk
It opto Pride,” ODE, May 13}, but she was not pictured.
The Emerald regrets the error.