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, February 7,2003
-Oregon Daily Emerald
Commentary
Editor in Chief:
Michael J. Kleckner
Managing Editor:
Jessica Richelderfer
Editorial Editor
Pat Payne
Editorial
Businesses
should not
be silenced
by vandals
Early Wednesday morning, vandals attacked
three locally owned small businesses in the
campus area.
Ordinarily, this wouldn’t be a giant news item,
although given the proximity of the businesses to
our area and the fact that students are frequent
shoppers in these stores, it would be newsworthy.
Ordinarily, an editorial probably wouldn’t be writ
ten about it. If we did tackle the topic, it would be
straightforward and easy: Vandalism bad, local
businesses good.
And in this case, we do believe those things. But
the vandalism reported in Thursday’s paper (“Van
dalism victims mull likely connection,” ODE, Feb.
6) seems to have a link adding a terrible dimension
to the story. At all three locations were found
copies of a recent Emerald containing a story
about those same businesses speaking out about
shoplifting (“Businesses hope shame can stem
shoplifting,” ODE, Feb. 4).
At first, we were dumbfounded. Was the perpe
trator someone angry that their “right” to shoplift
was being threatened? Gould someone really get
angry about such a ridiculous idea?
Then we heard that anti-capitalist phrases
were scrawled on the newspapers that were left
behind. Surely, this is a red herring. Anti-capi
talists intent on destruction of the system are
generally planners. They generally do not put
their fists through plate glass windows in the
middle of the night in 30-degree temperatures
and leave blood behind. This act implies intoxi
cation and irrational anger, not ideological (if
misguided) attempts at social change.
In any case, the community should be outraged.
Local businesses are critically important to the
quality of life of any city — and this is especially
true in Eugene, where the culture is one of special
ty and community. Shoplifting and vandalism en
danger small businesses as well as the city’s spirit.
Additionally upsetting, though, is the potential
chilling effect of an apparent tie between a me
dia report and an act of retaliation. If the intent
of the vandalism was to punish the businesses,
then this is an act of terrorism, and the commu
nity should speak out.
So we are speaking out. The original story about
shoplifting was not sensationalized or inflammato
ry, and it could just as easily have been produced
by some other media outlet. At first, we did have a
sinking feeling of being involved, until we remem
bered that no one committed crimes in response
to other stories that could have angered readers:
tuition increases, volleyball players quitting the
team or student group funding increases and de
creases. Why this article?
There is no quick answer, but we hope that
those responsible are caught and prosecuted. We
extend our sympathy to the stores involved. And
we hope that local businesses continue both to be
a valued part of the community and to speak out
about issues that threaten their ability to survive.
Editorial policy
This editorial represents the opinion of
the Emerald editorial board. Responses
can be sent to letters #dailyemerald.com.
commentaries are encouraged. Letters
are limited to 2S0 words and guest
commentaries to 5S0 words, The
Emerald reserves the right to edit for
space, grammar and style,
Letters to the editor
Vandals only hurt
the community
Wednesday morning I arrived at work to
find our pharmacy walk-up window van
dalized, the glass shattered and broken
out. Along the sidewalk were about 10
Oregon Daily Emeralds, including the
story that quotes me concerning
shoplifting, with messages like “Death to
the greedy.”
My feelings are this: We have a seg
ment of our community that believes
anyone who owns a business (providing
jobs to our community) is automatically
evil, greedy and out to smash the work
ing class. This type of vandalism only il
luminates their ignorance. Very soon,
they will find there are no local business
es.
By vandalizing a locally owned, family
operated business, they are actually con
tributing to the growth of nationwide and
multinational conglomerates who truly
don’t care as much about our local com
munity and take the uniqueness from
our city.
We’ve been in business since my
grandfather started a store on the Down
town mall in the 1930s, serving Eugene
with quality merchandise and a unique
shopping experience. The people who
vandalize local businesses that stand up
to shoplifting don’t deserve to live in a
great place like Eugene.
Eugene is known to have a minority
population of people who believe in no
government and dislike for any business
es. While I respect their right to hold
that opinion, it is becoming more clear
that the ideals they stand for are self-de
struction and destruction of community.
Insurance will help us to replace our
window. It will be more difficult to re
place our sense of safety and trust.
Steve Hirons
owner, Hirons
University community
depends on dialogue
The recent events of vandalism in our
community have come as a shock and
disappointment to many of us. As mem
bers of the Associated Students of the
University of Oregon, the greater Univer
sity community and the Eugene and
Springfield area, we are committed to
open and continuous dialogue in a for
THE OHIO HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION'S
LATEST ATTEMPT TO TAKE LEBMM JAMES
TO COURT ENDS FUTILELY.
mat that is fitting for an institution de
voted to higher education.
The diversity of opinions and differ
ences of perspective are what makes us
stronger, despite any of our differences.
However, the strength and ability that
our environment enables is dependent
upon a responsible method of interac
tion and dialogue.
Our hope is that this violence is not
seen as a reflection of 6ur students or in
stitution, and that we can continue to fo
cus on the behavior and activism that
has given us a quality reputation and op
portunity for safe discussion.
Rachel Pilliod
ASUO president
Thanks for NeXturf
The members of the Student Advisory
Board for the Student Recreation Center
would like to express our gratitude to the
Department of Intercollegiate Athletics for
the gift of the new NeXturf artificial turf
playing field.
We are aware that this gift was a way for
the Athletic Department to thank Univer
sity students for their support during an
amazing 2001-02 athletic season. We are
proud to be part of a student body that en
thusiastically supports its athletic teams.
We are also grateful that our athletic teams
do a wonderful job representing the Uni
versity, and its students, across the nation.
The NeXturf field is now completed and
— even though it is the cold, rainy winter
season — the field is hopping with activity
every day. Having this second artificial-turf
field that is playable in all weather condi
tions and lighted-for night activity; adds a
tremendous boost to Intramural Sports,
Club Sports and informal recreation oppor
tunities for University students.
We are aware that athletics paid for all
materials and labor for site preparation,
underground drainage, fencing, retaining
wall, red rubber field border and NeXturf
fabric, and that all of this cost in excess of
$1 million.
As you look out and see the constant
recreation activity on the new NeXturf
field, consider that as the greatest evi
dence of our appreciation.
SRC Student Advisory Board
Jon Lucchesi, board chair
Jill Robertson, vice chair
and seven co-signers
Selective euthanasia can save the world
Guest commentary
After more than two decades of observ
ing and interacting with others, I have con
cluded that society is fundamentally flawed
and in dire need of reform. Otherwise, hu
manity has no chance of surviving in the
near future. We cannot sit by idly and
watch as we become victims of our own
success. As we hurtle headlong into the
new century, it is time to solve the in
tractable problems that have bothered us
for decades.
Our streets are overcrowded. Unem
ployment is rising and the economy is in
the tank. The cost of medical insurance
and social security is becoming prohibi
tively expensive. We are destroying our
environment. Our natural resources are
dwindling. Political dissent has reached
levels unseen since the Vietnam War. Obe
sity, drugs, alcohol and tobacco are killing
us by the millions and costing us billions.
The world has gone to hell, and we can do
nothing about it.
Or can we? I have stumbled upon an
idea so profound, so revolutionary, that it
can solve all the above-mentioned prob
lems and return America to its glory days.
I am surprised that nobody has thought of
it before.
I propose, in the name of lifting America
to new and unprecedented levels of peace,
freedom, security and prosperity, that we
begin a program of merciful euthanasia for
the lesser members of society.
Now before you begin to whine about
how unethical such a program might be, I
urge you to look at the facts. Overpopula
tion, although it is not a problem by itself,
brings together a whole host of issues, the
burden of which is placed on the produc
tive members of society.
Is it really fair to have a sizable amount
of our hard-earned paycheck withdrawn to
support a class of people who ceased to be
contributing citizens long ago? What about
the millions in jails and mental institu
tions? What have they done to thank you?
How much happier would they be if, one
day, they suddenly no longer existed?
My program would go like this: A com
mittee of concerned citizens would identi
fy what kinds of people are most distasteful
to society. The federal government would
then move these people to the nearest hos
Dital or prison courtyard, and that would
the end of it. The infrastructure for this
Drogram is already in place, so it would be
mplemented at a minimal cost. The bene
;its, however, would be enormous.
Imagine a nation free of Parkinson’s dis
ease, leprosy, osteoporosis, arthritis, scurvy
ind other undesirable elements. It sounds
ike a utopia. But why stop there? Current
y, population control is limited to abortion,
ind even that doesn’t discriminate between
vho might turn out good and who might
:um out bad. My program, which is much
nore narrowly targeted, only removes
:hose who are identified as bad. Everyone
dse will benefit.
The program works because it would
3urge the nation from all kinds of ills that I
laven’t even mentioned yet. Is our nation
lome to a certain unwanted ethnic group?
iVhat about an unpopular religion? We
xrnld easily rid ourselves of the Gommu
lists and the Greens. And once we imple
nent this program, we could remove any
3ody who protests against it. I’m sure that
\ttomey General John Ashcroft will back
ne up on this one.
Jeter Sur is a junior journalism major.