Commentary
Sports, religion connection foals outat University
Guest commentary
As a lawyer who defends individual
constitutional rights, and as an indi
vidual concerned about my own free
doms of religion and expression, I
read with interest the article entitled
“Pastors provide outlets for athletes’
faith” (ODE, March 14), describing
the close relationship between two lo
cal churches and the Duck men’s
football and basketball teams.
Coach Mike Bellotti “holds two
separate chapel services for Christ
ian and Catholic athletes before
every game. A Christian pastor
“runs pre-game chapel services for
the basketball team players” and
rides along on the bus to away
games. According to a previous arti
cle (“God’s squad?” ODE, March
12), every basketball game is pre
ceded by and ends with a team
prayer session.
Did the sports editor and author
of the article ask the coaches or
their team’s pastors why they think
it is appropriate for an athletic pro
gram at a public university to spon
sor religious programs? Were they
asked to comment on whether the
prayer sessions and Christian coun
seling described in the articles are
consistent with the rule, announced
by the U.S. Supreme Court just
three years ago in Santa Fe Indepen
dent School District v. Doe, that per
mitting even student-led, student
initiated prayer at athletic events
violates the Establishment Clause of
the First Amendment? Or with the
constitutional requirement that
public institutions refrain from
sanctioning official prayers?
In deciding numerous, politically
sensitive cases regarding the rela
tionship between public educational
institutions and religious obser
vance, the court has recognized that
“school sponsorship of a religious
message is impermissible because it
sends the ancillary message to
members of the audience who are
nonadherents ‘that they are out
sides, not full members of the politi
cal community, and an accompany
ing message to adherents that they
are insiders, favored members of the
political community.”’
The athletes involved certainly
have the right to their individual reli
gious beliefs, and if religious devo
tion makes them perform better ath
letically, more power to their formu
la for success. The University’s im
primatur on such observance is
troubling, however. While exclusion
of those outside the faith is certain
ly not the intent of the coaches in
volved, one has to wonder: What
message does this state university,
sports-religion connection send to
non-Christian members of the ath
letic squads involved, potential re
cruits for those squads, and the spec
tators and fans who support and
cheer for them?
Mark Weintraub lives in Eugene.
Oregon should follow rural war attitude
Guest commentary
Greetings from small-town Mis
souri, where we don’t fruitlessly
protest the war, but we support the
troops who give us our freedom. We
Missourians always have, and I
strongly suspect we always will.
I am pleased to see Eugene was the
place of a troop support rally, but am
disappointed, while not surprised, that
Portland was the scene of an anti-war
protest. I don’t care that people protest;
that is our right as Americans, but I can
not see why people waste their time
protesting a war they cannot stop.
I spent a little more than a year in
Oregon, and after a while in your beau
tiful state, I realized I had to get out. I
came thinking I would find a state of
open-minded acceptance but what I
found was narrow-minded ignorance.
For the most part, the consensus of
Oregonians I came in contact with il
lustrated their obliviousness to true
America and the way this great nation
works. I ask for any Oregonian who
thinks the country feels the way they
I-——
do to hop on a plane and visit small
town U.S.A.
Take a trip to a state that falls be
tween the Atlantic and Pacific
Oceans, where there are no illusion
ary college students and faculty mem
bers. By doing so, Oregonians might
capture the true essence of America,
the spirit that has led us this far.
I’m sure you lofty university students
believe you are smarter than the red
necks and inbreds you will find in these
rural locations, but perhaps that small
town ignorance is why we are here to
day. I mean, you couldn’t be too smart
to storm the beaches of Normandy,
with German bullets slamming into
your fellow soldiers’ heads.
But then again, thousands did take
that beach, and thousands of small-town
men and women continue to fight for our
freedom today. America was built by the
farmer and the factory worker, not the
ideological college student.
I know there are Oregonians, as evi
denced by the troop support rally, who
realize the purpose of our being in Iraq.
I am not naive enough to believe we
should believe everything our govern
ment tells us, and I am actually quite
cynical. But there comes a time when
you have to choose between what is
beneficial to society and what is not.
Anti-war protests, at this point, do
nothing to raise the bar for which our
society should be measured. This is not
1969, and we are not in Vietnam.
Just over a year ago we witnessed
an attack on America like we had nev
er seen before, and that forced me to
realize we here in the states are no
longer immune to hatred and bigotry.
Forget the reasons why we are hated
-1 can do nothing about the past and
neither can you.
You say we should not let fear fuel a
thirst for blood, but I say enough is
enough. When do you protesters be
lieve America is justified in going to
war? Would we have ever fought
World War II if thousands had not
died at Pearl Harbor?
Pacifism breeds death, death for a na
tion and a people. I, for one, enjoy my
life, and am proud to support those who
are willing to die so that I may keep it.
Nick Barron is from Missouri.
Letter to the editor
Melton, Morales to improve
housing contracts
I’m writing this letter in support of Maddy Melton and Eddy
Morales, who are running for ASUO Executive. I believe they are
the most qualified candidates for this position because of their
prior experience in the ASUO office.
One of the issues they will work on next year is to create fair
University Housing contracts. Currently, when students sign a
housing contract, they are unable to get out of the contract unless
they pay $9 per day or have someone buy out their contract.
Often students enter the University unsure of their living op
tions. Sometimes students decide that living in a greek chapter
house may be a better option for them, but were uncomfortable
with temporary housing.
Aside from greek chapter houses, students may feel that the
residents in their hall are not welcoming to their personal beliefs
and identities.
While Maddy and Eddy believe the responsibilities of contracts
are important, they also feel the University should foster a posi
tive learning environment. When students are unhappy in their
living situation, studies are compromised.
Maddy and Eddy have a solution: a three-week grace period
during which students can decide if the residence halls are the
best option for them.
Lacy Ogan
Kappa Delta
junior
journalism
1
WHAT_
Four-hour American Heart Association CPR Certification class following
the Heart Saver protocol. It is designed to teach lay rescuers to
recognize and treat life-threatening emergencies including cardiac
arrest and choking for infants, children and adults. Participants will
receive a CPR certification card, which provides two years certification,
upon successful completion of the course.
WHEN__
Mondays: April 14, April 28, or May 12 at 5:00-9:00p.m.
HOW___
Students may register by calling the University Health Center at 346
2770. Space will be limited to the first 8 UO students. Minimum class
size is 5.
WHERE__
Cafeteria on the second floor of the UO Health Center.
WHO___
Class taught by nursing staff from the UO Health Center.
-COST
$30, which can be charged to UO account or paid in cash. Registered
students must cancel 24 hours in advance of class for full refund.
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON
University Health Center