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Monday, October 7, 2002
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—-i-Oregon Daily Emerald
Commentary
Editor in Chief:
Michael J. Kleckner
Managing Editor
Jessica Richelderfer
Editorial Editors:
Salena De La Cruz, Pat Payne
Editorial
The community
should not be
screwed anymore
Does the University have a set of community standards?
This question is important to explore, as the city of
Eugene recently accused the University of complicity in
the recent rioting and asked it to pay some of the costs
incurred as a result. As we see it, the University is negli
gent in expressing its community standards, and it
should, indeed, pony up some money to the larger com
munity of which it is a part.
The University does have standards, and these are ex
pressed in myriad ways on campus, from class syllabi to
the ASUO Constitution. Perhaps the most important of
these is the Student Conduct Code.
The code mentions inappropriate behaviors, such as
academic fraud, destruction of University property and
disorderly conduct, and provides consequences, but
only if these activities hurt members of the University
community or University property.
Jt seems odd to us that our community standards ex
tend only so far as the edge of campus property. If it oc
curred off-campus, then, could we fail to turn in our
homework and still get credit? Of course not — our
community’s standards do not end when a student
leaves the property.
This extension exists for a reason. One is not a hap
penstance member of this community. To join costs
money and time, and expectations must be met in or
der to receive the prize of membership: a higher edu
cation. In turn, then, the standards of the communi
ty are higher, and students carry those standards no
matter where they go.
To say otherwise would be foolishness; is it accept
able for a murderer or rapist to continue to be a stu
dent here? No — that would cheapen the membership
and the prize for the rest of us who are not murderers
or rapists.
The problem, then, in the current situation, is that
University standards either are not stated explicitly
! enough or that consequences are not provided for. We
| think both are true.
Here is a quote from Boston College’s conduct code:
“Violation of the laws in the communities surrounding
the campus injures the University, just as it does the
other citizens who reside there, and the University of
fers no tolerance of any such conduct. ... Therefore, the
University reserves the right to refer any student(s)
identified as being involved in this type of behavior to
the Boston College Student Judicial System for discipli
nary action ... including loss of University Housing priv
ileges or suspension or dismissal from the University.”
How difficult is it to say that? By not doing so, the
University has shown a disregard for the surrounding
community. “Education” and “outreach” only go so far.
Riots have occurred near campus five times in the past
six years, and nothing has been done to further specify
community standards and provide consequences.
We’re tempted to update an old saying: Riot once,
screw you. Riot twice, screw the University. Riot three
times, deny the screw. But riot five times, and some
thing is screwy at the University.
In the absence of clear standards and consequences,
the University’s refusal to help pay for the damage feels
like the actions of bad party guests — as long as their
house doesn’t get trashed, who cares?
Editorial policy
This editorial represents the opinion of the
FT: erald editorial board. Responses can be
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' STOP FILMING, ED.
IT ’5 TUSr SOME POOR.
BLACk Girl.
Peter Utsey Emerald
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The black, wktte and
green of media coverage
Americans need a good scandal to
keep them preoccupied in the sum
mer. So with a slew of rapes, abduc
tions and brutal murders for America’s
little girls in the summer of 2002, we
weren’t disappointed.
The inebriated Bush twins sobered
up, the Chandra Levy case was solved
and “American Idol” seemed to be the
only game in town for a while. Yawn.
Instead of something juicy, we have
been inundated with coverage on the
crummy old war on terror for more
than a year.
No wonder America became so
romanced with stories of violent child
abductions — of little, rich white girls.
For months, the media jumped all over
any story fitting this rigid racial profile
faster than you could say “JonBenet.”
Abduction stories of Elizabeth Smart,
Danielle van Dam and Samantha Run
nion were at the forefront of media con
cern for months. The drama in Oregon
City involving Ashley Pond and Miranda
Gaddis gained national attention and be
came water-cooler gossip nationwide.
But Gaddis and Pond didn’t fit the
mold for what is front page-worthy be
cause they were relatively poor. But
their real-life murder mystery was
unique inasmuch as they were class
mates, lived in the same apartment
complex and were eventually buried in
a shed and under a concrete slab in
their neighbor’s yard.
But what about the stories of children
like 13-year-old Laura Ayala, who disap
peared in March when she left her Hous
ton home to buy a newspaper at a gas
station? Or 2-year-old Jahi Turner, who
disappeared in April while playing at a
park in San Diego — the same city
where Danielle van Dam was abducted
and killed? How about Alexis Patterson,
7, who vanished in May on her way to
school in Milwaukee?
These children never made national
headlines. Ayala is Hispanic and Turner
and Patterson are both black. Is race the
only reason why these children were ig
nored? Well, Erica Pratt, 7, a black girl
from Philadelphia, made CNN. But then
again, her story was unique because she
fought off and escaped her attackers.
We splash images of white victims all
over the 5 o’clock news but never ex
tend the courtesy to minorities. Not
only are the abducted boys and girls of
America victims of horrible crimes, but
also they have to contend from the get
go with an inherently racist media to
get out their story.
To solve the problem, why don’t we just
stop featuring abduction stories altogeth
er? The phenomenon is nothing new.
According to CNN, FBI statistics show
child abduction rates have actually de
creased in recent years. In 1998, when
such statistics were first kept, 115 ab
duction cases by someone outside the
family were investigated. In 2001, the
number of investigations dwindled to 93.
So much media coverage has desensi
tized at least me (and maybe potential
criminals) to the severity and horror of
the crimes. With all the attention, it
seems kidnapping, raping and murder
ing little girls is actually kind of popular.
And it’s nothing I haven’t watched on
prime time television for years.
Even though blatantly biased victim
based media sensationalism is perpetu
ating the problem, it wouldn’t have any
dog to wag if there weren’t predators act
ing out in the first place. But their sto
ries — and punishments — don’t make
headlines either.
An exception may be made for sick
old Ward Weaver III. He has been
charged with the deaths of Pond and
Gaddis. But will his near-inevitable death
penalty serve as a deterrent to other
criminals? Chances are, other predators
won’t bother following Weaver’s fate.
They’ll be too busy stalking their next
victim, and the cycle will continue.
You say an 8-year-old white girl was
raped and murdered in her own bedroom
and there are no suspects? After this
summer, I wouldn’t even blink an eye.
Contact the columnist
atjulielauderbaugh@dailyemerald.com.
Her opinions do not necessarily represent
those of the Emerald.
Letters to the editor
Vote for better health care
Are you registered to vote? Your future
health and dental care will be voted on
this month. You have until Oct. 15 to reg
ister to vote. Health Care For All Oregon
at the EMU and the Street Faire will have
tables set up to register.
Health Care For All Oregon has Ballot
Measure 23, which will provide afford
able health care for every Oregon resi
dent. You will have your choice of dentist
or practitioner and be able to pay accord
ing to your ability to do so.
Schools will save millions because of
an 11.5 percent cap on payroll, which
would take the place of today’s more
expensive employer premiums. It will
stabilize the spiraling health care costs.
Too many people in Oregon are without
health care insurance.
A publicly accountable nonprofit, in
dependent, health care finance board will
administer the system. This will provide
you a future with secure and affordable
health care. Register to vote and support
Health Care For All Oregon.
Ruth Duemler
Eugene