Commentary
We mast allow free speech—even offensive photos
Guest commentary
I’ve been around the University of
Oregon campus since 1996, and I
remember when the EMU Am
phitheater was opened and dedicat
ed in the name of freedom of
speech. Since then, I’ve seen the
space used for many things includ
ing Student Alumni Association
events, rock concerts, folk concerts,
corporate-sponsored sports market
ing campaigns, political campaigns,
religious messages, Holocaust re
membrance and various presenta
tions for or against different causes.
I've seen my share of famous people
come to the amphitheater, as well.
In what seems to be an annual
event, people demonstrating
against abortion have come hold
ing large photographs of fetuses.
There’s no doubt that these photos
are intended to shock and spark
debate. The debate should be
about opposing or supporting the
choice to have an abortion. Every
year, the debate deviates to one of
censorship and free speech.
Some argue that the large photo
graphs should be shielded from gen
eral view because it might offend or
traumatize innocent passersby.
They say (and from what I’ve wit
nessed, adhered to) that if people
want to pass through and see the
photos, nobody will stop them.
Why are photographs, these in
particular, held to a higher stan
dard than other events at the am
phitheater? Nobody “warns” me
when I’m walking through that
there’s going to be music played
when I walk by. It “might” offend
me to hear your political views or
to see your favorite speaker up
there (it doesn’t, but it might).
Thanks for thinking about me. But
I’m an adult, and I can decide for my
self which views I support, what im
ages I find offensive and what music I
want to hear ... but only if you allow
it to be presented to me.
Please, please, please, share
your views. If you oppose the mes
sage sent by those who hold pho
tographs of abortions, tell me why.
Don’t tell me it’s gross. I can judge
that for myself, and it doesn’t help
your argument.
Finally, I’m sure somebody will
argue that children may see these
images. I don’t see many unsuper
vised children running around on
this college campus. Supervised or
not, the parents of these children
should know that at this institute of
higher education, where free speech
and challenging thoughts are sup
ported — there’s a chance their
children may encounter adult is
sues or something that offends.
If it’s truly going to be an am
phitheater of free speech, then it
must apply to all who choose to
use it. Short of breaking laws, no
body should qualify what we see
and hear at a free speech forum.
Even if it offends.
Erik Talbert is a Class of'01 alumnus.
Campus attacks need to be revealed
Guest commentary
I wanted to respond to Julie
Lauderbaugh’s column (“Attack
ing Assault,” ODE, May 1). Her ar
ticle could not have been more
pertinent to the needs of many on
this campus.
I’m currently taking a women’s
self-defense course at the Univer
sity and cannot believe all of the
statistics I have been learning
about unreported incidents. If
only all of the victims out there
who feel alone and helpless knew
how many others shared their
dilemma.
I think Lauderbaugh’s column
should be followed by another giv
ing specific information to men
and women who decide to seek
help or simply report their assault.
Maybe someone was inspired to
speak up after reading the column
but doesn’t know where to go. The
point about not being informed of
the hate crimes and rape on cam
pus during IntroDUGKtion be
cause of campus ignorance of the
subject was a good idea to point
out. I wouldn’t have a clue about
some of the things that go on at
this campus if I wasn’t in the
women’s self-defense course.
By the way, the paragraph
about Measure 9 seemed a bit ac
cusatory. Who’s to say that those
who voted for Measure 9 are not
open-minded? Maybe many of
those voters were parents who
thought it best to inform their
children about homosexuality is
sues on their own. How is a parent
to know that the teacher giving in
formation to their child is not ho
mophobic themselves, giving bi
ased opinions/facts?
It’s not fair to judge the way
someone votes. Each person has
reasons for their motives. Also, it
would have been a good idea to
give a little background on Mea
sure 9 itself in the column. I
doubt those who need to be edu
cated about the subject matter
have a clear sense of what Mea
sure 9 entails.
In terms of valuable informa
tion, I thought this column was
quite wonderful. I agree that it will
take time for the majority of peo
ple on campus to become educat
ed about assaults that occur. I look
forward to seeing more columns
like this one getting the word out!
Bronwyn Corry is a sophomore
biology major.
Oregon Daily Emerald
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Letter to the editor
Non-traditional student
attack is unfair, incorrect
As a non-traditional student, I feel
obligated to respond to DJ Fuller’s
commentary (“Counting down to
graduation,” ODE, May 6). He lists
gripes with the University and other
odd crap that is mostly the same old
garbage most graduating students feel
the need to vent.
The point that irked me is the at
tack on non-traditional students. I am
not old, and I am not that stupid
geezer in class who doesn’t remember
anything from high school. As a mat
ter of fact, you wouldn’t even be able
to pick most of us out as your stereo
typical non-traditional students.
Some of us are married or have kids,
others are returning students or sim
ply transfers from other two- and four
year institutions, among other factors.
I think the stereotype of the annoy
ing old person in class is the No. 1
hardest thing to overcome when iden
tifying yourself as a non-traditional
student. Every time you ask a ques
tion, you wonder if it is appropriate
enough because you are under a mi
croscope just by being you. The fact
that the Emerald even printed this
shows a gross insensitivity to a minor
ity community.
If they had allowed an editorial say
ing that African Americans on cam
pus are all gangsters and annoying,
they would be driven out. That analo
gy is about as accurate a portrayal of
that group as the annoying old person
is to the non-traditionals. Before cast
ing judgment on a very diverse group,
I ask that students take a closer look.
Gabrielle Guidero
junior
geophysics
345-8575 • 2486 Willamette St. • Eugene, OR 97405
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