Commentary
Contract with KUGN amounts to money, not politics
Guest commentary
I’ll be honest: The University’s contract with
KUGN-AM is not something I’m particularly
concerned about. Although the legality of
breaking this contract is still being investigat
ed, it’s also up for renewal in June. The con
tract that really interests me is the one the
University has — or at least claims to have —
with its students and community. This con
tract is called the “Affirmation of Community
Standards,” and it’s been signed by every fac
ulty member, staff member and GTF, includ
ing University President Dave Frohnmayer
himself. Because of the overtly bigoted and in
flammatory remarks made on KUGN talk
shows, the University’s contract with the sta
tion would appear to expressly violate the Af
firmation on Community Standards.
Frohnmayer has said that the University
can’t make contracts for political reasons, a
cop-out answer that amounts to nothing more
than being too scared to take a stand. But if a
stance against bigotry and discrimination is
political, then how can the Affirmation of
Community Standards even exist? It is an in
herently political document, and one that
Frohnmayer has emphatically supported, so
the “we can’t be political” argument is clearly a
tactic to avoid the real issues, and a pretty
transparent one at that.
So, what are the real issues? I’m going to go
out on a limb here and say this has something
to do with money. KUGN pays the University
a million dollars a year. I pay them a measly
$4,000. Oh, and my money doesn’t go directly
to the Athletic Department, either. KUGN’s
does. If you want to see where the real values
of an organization lie, follow the money.
The University professes to have “standards
of non-discrimination” and “standards”
against bigotry, but the failure of the adminis
tration to stand up for its students begs to dif
fer. I guess the University values its contract
with KUGN — and the money it brings in —
more than its alleged commitment to diversi
ty or its students. It’s clear which contract is
more profitable, but which is more important?
Oh, and about censorship. Give me a
freakin’ break. Every time hate speech comes
up, the bigots in question cry “First Amend
ment.” That’s ridiculous. In no way would the
University be attempting to censor the views
or opinions of KUGN’s talk show hosts. We
have neither the power to do so, nor would it
serve the interests of anyone involved. Michael
Savage and Michael Medved can say whatever
they want. We just need to disassociate our
selves from viewpoints that clearly do not rep
resent us or our University-endorsed commu
nity standards.
Finally — and let me be really clear on this
one — the University’s job is to represent its
students and their interests. Not football. Not
basketball. Students. And it’s doing an excep
tionally poor job of this. Because the adminis
tration isn’t listening to us, because it’s ignor
ing our concerns, and because it’s essentially
being paid off so a corporate-owned radio sta
tion in another city can spew hate in our
name, which is very quickly ceasing to be ours.
We are supposed to be “the voice of the
Ducks,” but our voice is being systematically
silenced.
Austin Shaw-Phillips is an undeclared sophomore.
Editor’s note: This piece was submitted
before KUGN’s decision to stop carrying
Michael Savage.
Letters
continued from page 2
keeps the tone day after day, he means it. The
University should remember this when it de
cides whether to renew its contract with
KUGN next year.
Gerry Rempel
Eugene
Editor’s note: This piece was submitted be
fore KUGN’s decision to stop carrying
Michael Savage.
Victim’s rights
take precedence
A statement in “Student contends griev
ance that alleges threatening speech” (ODE,
Dec. 6) left me absolutely appalled. It appears
that our society’s perception of constitutional
rights have swung too far in favor of the indi
vidual over those of the masses.
I’m surprised at how predictable it is to read
about a student admittedly guilty of directing
inflammatory comments and accused of
threatening members of a social group histori
cally discriminated against. With such
statements as were quoted in the article
(“That’s a stark violation of my constitutional
rights”), the subject is allowed to overshadow
his own guilt with petty protestations about vi
olations of his own rights.
Understandably, provisos were imbedded in
the Constitution as safeguards against gross
violations against individuals committed dur
ing the process of investigations and conse
quent legal proceedings. This is interesting in
light of the possibility that the U.S. Supreme
Court might overturn the Miranda ruling.
A confessed rapist was set free due to his at
torney contesting a violation of his rights
which may soon be deemed invalid; how iron
ic. When do the rights of the victim overshad
ow the rights of the perpetrator?
Carla Reitan
senior
music/pre-medicine
Forgiveness may prove
more successful than war
Please read this letter with the understanding
that it was written from the heart, with love and
sincere sympathy for those who have suffered
profound losses. It is not intended to be religious
or aggravating, disrespectful or unpatriotic.
Costs of not forgiving: The costs of not for
giving are immense. The anger and humilia
tion we feel appear to be eroding the values
that make our country great. Our suspicion
may destroy our privacy. Our fear may cause
us to voluntarily trade our democracy for a
dictatorship. Our insecurity may compromise
our economic prosperity. Our lack of self-effi
cacy may cause us to blindly follow our biased
news sources. Our xenophobia may cause us
to forgo justice. Our rage may bring us into an
unnecessary war.
Benefits of forgiving: Fortunately, the bene
fits of forgiving are equally immense. If you,
personally, will make this change of heart, you
will feel a renewed sense of power, trust and
optimism. This country can undermine ter
rorism with forgiveness. This is how we can
win the generic war on terrorism. We can
heal. We can overcome. We are a resilient peo
ple in a free country. Our power is not in our
military defense; it is in our citizen’s willing
ness to defend our nation’s values of democ
racy, independence and justice.
Forgive now: It is time to forgive Sept. 11,
2001. We live in an accelerated world and we
don’t have the convenience of withholding our
forgiveness. We can trade rage and indignation
for peace and clarity.
Randolph Joslyn Sill
Seattle
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