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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 29, 2002)
Newsroom: (541) 346-5511 Suite 300, Erb Memorial Union P.O. Box 3159, Eugene, OR 97403 Email: editor@dailyemercdd.com Online Edition: www.dailyemerald.com Tuesday, October 29,2002 ——-Oregon Daily Emerald Commentary Editor in Chief: Michael J. Kleckner Managing Editor Jessica Richelderfer Editorial Editors: Salena De La Cruz, Pat Payne Editorial Prozanskibest candidate for District 8 voters Students seeking a state representative with experi ence representing their interests should vote for Floyd Prozanski for District 8. Prozanski can boast seven years in the Oregon Legis lature as a member of the House of Representatives. His opponent, while a student, can claim only a failed run for ASUO Executive. While we feel that a student’s viewpoint would be wel come in the House, Greg McNeill has no experience in office, and his ideas sound unformed. Some experience on Eugene City Council committees and then the Coun cil itself would be good first steps. Prozanski has staked out his position as a champion of higher education, and especially of students who don’t have wealthy parents. He has said that he will in troduce legislation to freeze tuition, something that can’t come fast enough given that tuition may rise next term if an income-tax increase ballot measure doesn’t pass in January. Further, Prozanski will work to revitalize the state’s higher education funding system. Although a sales tax may be anathema to many in Oregon, after the budget crises of the summer, anything, even a radical solution, has to be considered. Elected representatives must be answerable to the people they serve, and we heartily endorse a candidate that has concrete ideas that represent students — not just a candidate who is a student. Pass Measure 25 to improve lives of state’s neediest More than 100,000 workers in Oregon haven’t seen a wage increase since 1996. We have one question: In six years, has the cost of rent, food or electricity increased? Of course the cost of living has risen since 1996, and it only makes sense that the bare minimum the state allows workers to be paid rise along with it. We recom mend that the University community vote yes on Mea sure 25, which would increase the minimum wage by 40 cents in January and then tie it to annual cost-of living increases beginning in 2005. Some people might think that the only people earning minimum wage are teenagers living at home. That is sim ply not true. Currently, more than 60 percent of minimum wage workers are women. And 25 percent are single parents who have children to feed. Seventy-three percent of stu dents over the age of 20 earn minimum wage. These peo ple are the ones that need an increase the most; as it is, they are barely sliding by. Most workers in Oregpn aren’t earning minimum wage, so this measure wouldn’t affect them — or put their em ployers out of business, as opponents like to claim. The people most affected by this bill are the people who need the most help just to survive, including stu dents confronted with ever-increasing tuition and cost of housing and books. Tying minimum wage to the actual cost of living makes sense and would avoid us having to write this editorial again in a few years. Vote yes on Measure 25. Censoring the revolution Last Tuesday, one of the most brilliant, talented and politically motivated women came to speak at the Univer sity. Sarah Jones performed her one-woman show to a filled 180 PLG, and she demon strated the bril liance of using comedy to make a politi cal state ment. It is a shame that most women do not know of Sarah; while she is tall, ath letic, and represents the epit ome of strength, women such as Sarah still represent a mi nority of voices in the every day lives of women. Instead, we are barraged with images of anorexic models, movie stars who carve, pump and starve themselves into “per fection,” and musicians (read: corporate performers) who simply “sing” the lines fed to them. Our society allows women to subject their bodies to end less scrutiny for magazine ads — only to have them air brushed over — and then wonders why anorexia and bulimia are such problems for teenage girls; MTV loves Brit ney Spears and Christina Aguilera, both of whom sing, as Jones calls it, “the illegiti mate child of hip-hop: hip pop.” And yet, they ignore a strong, multitalented woman like Jones. All Sarah had to do was dip her foot into the same spot light to criticize, not to con form, and sne was censored. What does this imply about what we want women to see Meghann Farnsworth Just think about it and hear, about what we want them to say? We condemn women who “go against the grain,” so to speak, and sup port those who conform. The Portland station KBOO was slapped with a #7,000 fine from the FGG for playing Sarah’s song, “Your Revolu tion.” The FGG claimed the song “intended to shock and titillate” the youth of Ameri ca. Good gracious! The titilla tion of young people — what a shameful endeavor never before attempted by any oth er artist! The lyrics in “Your Revolu tion” are a reworking of lyrics already used in common rap songs, and I’m hard-pressed to find similarities between lyrics such as those in Em inem’s “Kill You” — “Shut up, slut! / Just bend over and take it like a slut / You’re goddamn right, bitch and now it’s too late /1 invented violence you vile venomous vomital bitch es,” and those in Jones’ song: “Your revolution will not be you smacking it up, flipping it or rubbing it down / Nor will it take you downtown, or hump ing around / Because that rev olution will not happen be tween these thighs. ” While I certainly believe in free speech, even if it means men like Eminem become popular, progressives such as Jones are still silenced by the almighty dollar. Eminem was censored for a short period of time, but his record company put up such a stink and gath ered together enough money that the decision was over turned. However, Jones does not have that kind of power and, consequently, her song remains censored. Our society has become so bent on “entertainment,” whatever that means, that real dialogue about prevalent issues are lost in the chatter of “that thong,” “it’s getting hot in here,” and “even when I’m with my boo”-type garbage. As long as female entertainers fit with the common percep tion of womanhood, they are allowed to speak; America is completely comfortable see ing women “shake that ass” across the screen as long as they don’t say “Think I’m gonna put it in my mouth be cause you / Made a few bucks / Please brother please.” Don’t talk back, women, just “take it.” As long as women such as Sarah Jones cannot speak their mind without getting censored, and talentless men such as LL Cool J, Puff Daddy (or is it P-Diddy?), and Sisqo can use women’s bodies to promote their “songs,” our so ciety will remain in its unbal anced state where men who come from women’s bodies refuse to respect them. Contact the columnist at meghannfarnsworth@dailyemer ald.com. Her opinions do not necessarily reflect those of the Emerald. Measures will bolster student interests Guest Commentary Today you are being asked to partici pate in a campuswide special election. This election has been organized to al low you to vote on changes to the ASUO Constitution that cannot wait until the general elections held later in the year. In the election today, you will be cast ing your ballot to ensure that our gov erning process will allow for students’ interests to be prioritized. The follow ing ballot measures will affect the ASUO incidental fee allocation process and the timing of the general elections, and I strongly encourage you to vote yes on all four ballot measures. Ballot Measure 1: This ballot measure is asking for an ex ception to the limit on the percentage of increase that ASUO programs will receive in the allocation process this year. This is an important measure, as it will allow for the Programs Finance Committee to en sure that there is funding for equipment at the Recreational Center which has been supported by student fees in the past. It also will allow for the growth and develop ment of more than 140 ASUO programs. This ballot measure will also give stu dents an opportunity to look at the stipends that students receive and to eval uate if there is a fair level of pay for student workers. This is a one-time allowance. Ballot Measure 2: This ballot measure is also asking for an exception to the limit on the per centage of increase for the Athletic De partment Finance Committee. This committee works to secure the football and basketball tickets that students re ceive. In the past, the preseason games have been paid for out of the ASUO Stu dent Senate budget; however, this year, there are not sufficient funds, and the ticket costs have increased. Voting yes on this measure will allow the ADFC budget to grow so that we can guarantee that students will have tick ets at the preseason football games. This is a one-time allowance. Ballot Measure 3: This ballot measure is asking that the usual 7 percent increase for the EMU budget not include the ASUO or EMU building reserves. This measure will al low for necessary improvements to the EMU building, including a septic problem and a leaky roof, but will not limit the amount of growth that EMU programs, such as Club Sports and the Graft Cen ter. This is a one-time allowance. Ballot Measure 4: This ballot measure will extend the timeline for holding student elections. As we do not have the referendum process, it is no longer necessary to have elections during only winter term. This measure will allow the ASUO elections coordinator to use discretion in setting the timeline for general elec tions, allowing for more preparation, greater voter turnout and increased student participation. Rachel Pilliod is the ASUO president
