Newsroom: (541) 346-5511
Suite 300, Erb Memorial Union
P.O. Box 3159, Eugene, OR 97403
Email: editor@dailyemerald.com
Online Edition:
www.dailyemerald.com
Friday, January 31, 2003
-Oregon Daily Emerald
Commentary
Editor in Chief:
Michael J. Kleckner
Managing Editor.
Jessica Richelderfer
Editorial Editor
Pat Payne
Editorial
Buzbee’s citation
shows students
how not to host
responsible party
The University of Oregon. A fraternity member. A
toga party. Angry neighbors. Does “Animal House”
come to mind?
We have to admit, it did for us. When we heard the
news that ASUO Vice President Ben Buzbee had thrown
a toga party at his private residence that was busted by
police after complaints from a neighbor — and that he
and his roommates received citations for furnishing to
minors — the opportunities for humor, cheap jokes and
stereotyping were plenty.
Unfortunately, this isn’t a funny situation. It isn’t hu
morous to Buzbee, who will be in court today contest
ing the citation on the grounds that the police entered
unlawfully. It surely isn’t a joke to the minors at the par
ty who were cited. It isn’t funny to the police or the
community, who have to deal with this situation much
more often than they should have to.
On its face, this news story might not seem worthy.
Sure, everyone has parties. Sure, minors drink, and
they go to parties where people allow them to drink. It’s
just a natural part of college life. College kids will be col
lege kids, after all. What’s the big deal?
The big deal, in this case, is that Buzbee is elected
to represent us. To students, to police and to the com
munity, Buzbee is one of the faces of the University.
Last term, in the wake of the riots in the West Univer
sity neighborhood, the ASUO Executive — led by
President Rachel Pilliod and Buzbee — headed an ag
gressive campuswide campaign to prevent both riots
and police incidents at parties. This included town
hall meetings, advertisements published in the Emer
ald and posters explaining how to throw a responsible
party. All of these efforts included details such as
avoiding loud noise, keeping partvgoers inside and
cooperating with neighbors.
So it is a big deal when an elected official represent
ing students can’t follow his own relatively simple in
structions. Students don’t need more tarnish on their
reputation, and the relationship with the community
doesn’t need to be more strained.
Don’t get us wrong — we understand the realities of
college students and partying. Members of the editorial
board have hosted parties where laws may or may not
have been broken. We’re not necessarily saying we
agree with the drinking age, or with any other laws that
pertain to partying.
But we aren’t elected officials, and we haven’t been
cited by police for furnishing. Mainstream politicans,
who disagree with laws need to work to change them,
not just break them. At the very least, keep the music
down so you don’t get busted.
So Buzbee will be in court today fighting the citation,
and if the police didn’t have the right to enter his house,
we hope an appropriate judgment is made. But to date,
he hasn’t denied disturbing his neighbor or furnishing
to minors.
We all deserve more than Buzbee’s brief statement. If
he didn’t furnish to minors, he should say so. If he did
break the law, however, he owes the community an
apology — or his resignation.
Editorial policy
This editorial represents the opinion of the
Emerald editorial board. Responses can be
sentto lette rs #dai lye me raid, co m . Letters to
the editor and guest commentaries are
encouraged. Letters are limited to 250 words
and guest commentaries to 550 words. Authors
are limited to one submission per calendar
month. Submission must include phone number
and address for verification. The Emerald
reserves the right to edit for space, grammar
and style.
Steve Baggs Emerald
Letters to the editor
No room for weakness
in anti-war resolution
I found Tuesday’s forum on the impending war in Iraq and
the University’s role during wartime informative and interest
ing. I was impressed by the eloquence and knowledge of the
speakers. However, the issue of a possible Faculty Senate reso
lution regarding the war requires clarification.
In response to a question regarding the possibility of the sen
ate enacting an anti-war resolution. University President Dave
Frohnmayer stated that he did not believe it is within the sen
ate’s purview to issue a resolution not directly relating to the
University and its educational mission. That seems like a rea
sonable explanation to me.
However, one thing the senate president said concerned
me. In response to a question about why OSU’s faculty senate
passed a resolution opposing the war and ours did not. he
stated, in part, that we need to be “cognizant” of the “budget
realities” of the state legislature and aware of the “political
ramifications” such a resolution would cause. I took that to
mean he was afraid an anti-war resolution would have nega
tive political consequences for the University in the Republi
can-controlled legislature.
If the Faculty Senate truly felt motivated by a consciousness
ot role, that’s one thing. But it it failed to act because they feared
recourse from the legislature, it smacks of cowardice. This war
debate is too important for weakness of will. OSU’s faculty sen
ate had the courage to condemn the Bush administration’s
march toward war. Why doesn’t ours?
Chuck Slothower
sophomore
pre-journalism, political science
Meeting allows discussion
of Iraq issues
At the request of the University Senate, University President
Dave Frohnmayer has called a University Assembly meeting for
Friday at 3 p.m. in ISO PLC. This meeting “may only under
take discussion; it will not have legislative power.” The meet
ing is open to everyone.
It is an opportunity to speak and be heard. For example,
those attending will seek answers to the following questions:
Since the Constitution declares that ratified treaties become
the law ot the land, would President Bush be in violation of the
Constitution if he ordered an invasion of Iraq without either
U.N. authorization or convincing evidence of immediate threat
to our country?
Do the violations of our Constitution that have been threat
ened by the present administration represent a danger to free
inquiry in universities?
Does the money spent on the military result in a perilous
strain on funds available for education? Will invasion of Iraq
exacerbate that strain?
According to The Washington Post on Jan. 25, federal authori
ties have begun enlisting campus police officers in the domestic
war on terror. Thus, consequences of rampant militarism are,
clearly, of immediate concern to American universities. Will the
University community be informed when the Department of Pub
lic Safety starts working for the FBI? Will actions taken by officers
be openly declared so that they may be examined for compatibili
ty with University regulations and values?
It’s important to attend — it’s an opportunity to influence the
University’s stand on the impending invasion!
Franklin W. Stahl
professor
molecular biology
Racial quotas
should not be used
I would like to applaud President Bush’s stance against the
University of Michigan’s admissions system, which uses racial
quotas to determine who will be accepted. It is simply wrong to
use race at all as a factor when reviewing an application.
Let me say that as a white American, I am deeply ashamed of the
way my country has treated blacks and other minorities in the
past. I lowever, we cannot fix the errors of our past by committing
new injustices. My belief is that people of all ethnic backgrounds are
equal. When a university uses racial quotas, even if for noble pur
poses, what happens is another instance of racism. Racism should
not be tolerated anywhere, especially in our universities. What is
happening at Michigan and other places is legalized racism.
If a white applicant is more qualified to attend a certain
school than a black applicant, then there is absolutely no rea
son that the black applicant should be given preference over
the white applicant. To do so is racist and unfair; plus, I think
that the system is patronizing to African-Americans since they
are being held to a different standard than whites.
When applying to college, people should not be judged by
their skin color, but rather by their abilities and accomplish
ment. The University of Michigan needs to realize that by us
ing racial quotas, they are simply perpetuating the racist forces
which exist within America.
Zachary White
sophomore
history
..... . yj