The famous Martin
Luther King Jr. "I
have a dream"
quotation has
been up in the
EMU since
August 1986.
Mark McCambridge
Emerald
MLK’s ‘dream’ awoke
after sexism controversy
King’s “I have a dream” quote
replaced debatable University
statement of purpose
Ayisha Yahya
Freelance Editor
Students rush past them every
day, some oblivious to their pres
ence, others casting a quick glance
before they move on with their day.
Yet, if one takes a minute to reflect
on them, their power is undeniable.
They are the words of a national
hero — the hopes of a man who
dared to dream and had the courage
to fight for his vision.
“I have a dream that my four little
children will one day live in a nation
where they will not be judged by the
color of their skin but the content of
their character. I have a dream.”
Martin Luther King Jr. uttered
these words Aug. 28, 1963, at the
civil rights March on Washington.
They have been repeated many
times, and they now grace the EMU’s
main lobby as a constant reminder
of King’s legacy.
The quotation became a part of
the EMU in August 1986, after a
long, controversial process. The orig
inal University statement of purpose,
written in 1951 by Dean William G.
Jones, embellished the lobby. Select
ed parts of the statement, such as
“The University of Oregon ...
guardian of the noble in man’s aspi
ration ... leader in the quest of the
good life for all men,” irritated uni
versity alumnus Mary Hotchkiss,
who challenged the administration
to get rid of it.
Hotchkiss, who was student body
president in 1984, said she was dis
turbed by the quotation’s sexist con
notations, with its use of the words
“man” and “men” to represent all
campus members. Many women felt
disenfranchised each time they saw
the sign, she said.
“What sense does it make to have a
purpose of the University that doesn’t
have everybody in it?” she said.
Hotchkiss asked former Universi
ty President Paul Olum to support
her petition to the EMU Board to get
the quote painted out. Hotchkiss
said the petition sparked unprece
dented controversy. While some
people supported the quotation’s
elimination, others argued it was a
historical document that should be
preserved. But Hotchkiss did not
want to give up.
“I said, ‘If that was a racist quote,
would you leave that?’ Of course
not,” she said.
According to the EMU’s Director
Emeritus Adell McMillan, the contro
versy simmered until November
1984 when the EMU board agreed to
remove the quote.
McMillan, who was EMU director
until 1991, said the spot remained
empty for a long time as the EMU
Board and student government so
licited views from the campus for a
new quote. She said Olum suggested
a quote by Thomas Jefferson, but the
board decided it was more appropri
ate in another area of the EMU.
Hotchkiss said the ASUO also sug
gested other quotes, including King’s
and one by Susan B. Anthony.
On June 5, 1986, the EMU Board
decided King would have a com
memorative space at the University.
Hotchkiss said she was delighted.
“Each time I walk in the EMU, I
think of how many people feel in
cluded because of that quote,” she
said. “Martin Luther King’s greatness
in my eyes was his inclusiveness. He
wanted everyone at the same table.
... When people walk through (the
EMU), they know they’re part of
that table.”
McMillan said the quote was cho
sen when King was becoming more
of a national hero, and it was an ap
propriate honor to his memory. The
first time that Martin Luther King
Day was celebrated as a national hol
iday was 1986.
“Historically, that quote is one of
the most quoted of any national fig
ure, and it certainly spoke to the
University’s concern for diversity,”
McMillan said.
For Black Student Union member
and senior Dominique Beaumonte,
the quote reminds him of the strug
gles activists like King went through
that enabled his generation to attend
institutions like the University.
“It should be a reminder to stu
dents that we are responsible to
bring (King’s) dream to fruition,”
Beaumonte said.
EMU Director Dusty Miller agreed.
“It signifies the commitment to
the spirit to Dr. King,” Miller said.
“I think his vision is something to
aspire to.”
Contact the freelance editor
at ayishayahya@dailyemerald.com.
Eviction
continued from page 1
anonymous information that Brook
er was dealing controlled sub
stances. At 8:30 p.m. Saturday, the
EPD officers arrived on the scene,
assisted by officer McGuire, three
residence hall assistants and two
complex directors.
Brooker’s roommate said he let
the group into the room, and offi
cers were in the process of issuing
him a minor in possession of alcohol
citation when Brooker came home.
At that point, officers stopped issu
ing the citation and the roommate
wasn’t cited.
Brooker said after the EPD and
DPS officers asked everyone else to
leave, they searched his room,
found and seized several pieces of
paraphernalia — among other items
— and spoke with him for more
than an hour. The officers allowed
University officials back in the room
before issuing Brooker a citation for
manufacturing and unlawful deliv
ery of controlled substances, based
on the evidence gathered.
Before he was arrested, Brooker
said officers confiscated an eighth of
an ounce of marijuana, a broken
scale, four pipes, a bong, a gas mask,
gas filters and several small plastic
condiment cups. A box of sandwich
bags was also taken despite Brook
er’s insistence that the bags were for
food purposes. Brooker spent the
night in a Lane County Jail cell and
was released at 12:45 p.m. Sunday.
At the beginning of the week,
Brooker received an informational
letter from his complex director.
Brooker said Associate Director of
Residence Life Sheri Donahue told
him that in all likelihood, he would
be instructed to move out within a
day’s time.
“They recommended that I pack
my things,” he said.
On Wednesday, Brooker received
a summary eviction that clarified it
did “not serve as a formal conduct
hearing or sanction for the alleged
violations” and the decision was
made “based on safety for the resi
dence hall community.”
Schoonover said any suspicious
items confiscated with controlled
substances — whether by EPD or
DPS — affects how seriously the
University takes the incident.
Any time the Office of Housing is
sues a summary eviction,
Schoonover said the Office of Stu
dent Judicial Affairs has the ability
to overturn the decision based on
updated court convictions or addi
tional information. Such action is
rare, however, she added.
“We do not wait for what happens
off campus,” Schoonover said.
When asked about a hypothetical
situation similar to Brooker’s, Assis
tant Director of the Office of Student
Advocacy Anne Davies said the Uni
versity should take convictions — as
opposed to charges — into considera
tion when the student poses no im
mediate danger to the community.
“(University officials) should assess
whether they should be acting so
quickly,” Davies said. “They should
n’t be abusing their discretion.”
Brooker said he is awaiting the
opportunity to set a trial and plead
his case with the expulsion board.
While trying to remain optimistic
about where he will sleep tonight,
he also is trying not to think about
the #9-per-day charge that will en
sue if he is evicted.
“I just can’t believe I’m losing
my home and getting charged for
it,” he said.
Contact the reporter
at caronalarab@dailyemerald.com.
Vietnamese Student Asseeiatinn
EMU Ballroom
March 2nU, 2003
Boors Opeo 5:00 pm
$5 Suggested Donation
School of Music
MARCH CONCERTS
Clip and Save this Calendar
For more information on School of Music events, call 346-5678,
or call Guardline at 485-2000, ext. 2533 for a taped message.
Sat. ON THE ROCKS
3/1 UO Male A Cappella Ensemble 8 p.m., Beall Hall
$8 General Admission, $5 students
Sat. WINTER STUDENT DANCE CONCERT
3/1 Choreography by UO dancers 8 p.m., Dougherty Theatre
$10 General Admission, $5 students & senior citizens
Sun. UNIVERSITY SYMPHONY: Concerto Concert
3/2 UO Ensemble & Soloists 3 p.m., Beall Hall
$5 General Admission, $3 students & senior citizens
Mon. UNIVERSITY PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE
3/3 UO Ensemble 8 p.m., Beall Hall
$5 General Admission, $3 students & senior citizens
Wed. OREGON WIND ENSEMBLE &
3/5 UO SYMPHONIC BAND
UO Ensembles 8 p.m., Beall Hall
$5 General Admission, $3 students & senior citizens
Thu. ST. PETERSBURG STRING QUARTET
3/6 with Paul Galbraith, classical guitar
Chamber Music Series 8 p.m., Beall Hall
Reserved seats $12, $22, $27, available at the Hult Center
(682-5000) or EMU (346-4363)
Fri. A CHORAL TAPESTRY
3/7 UO Choral Ensembles 8 p.m., Beall Hall
$5 General Admission, $3 students & senior citizens
Sat. EVERYONE’S A DANCER!
3/8 Children’s Concert Series 10:30 a.m., Beall Hall
$3 adults, $2 children & students, or $5 for a family
Sat. FUTURE MUSIC OREGON
3/8 UO Music Technology Program 8 p.m., Room 198 Music
$5 General Admission, $3 students & senior citizens
Sun. CAMPUS ORCHESTRA & CAMPUS BAND
3/9 UO Ensembles 6 p.m., Beall Hall
FREE Admission
For our complete calendar, check: music.uoregon.edu
Advertise. Bet Besults.
Oregon Daily Emerald 346-3712