Newsroom: (541) 346-5511
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Email: editor@dailyemerald.com
Online: www.dailyemerald.com
Thursday, July 10,2003
Oregon Daily Emerald
COMMENTARY
Editor in Chief:
Brad Schmidt
Managing Editor:
Ian Tobias Montry
EDITORIAL
& smacks
Quacks to pop star Britney Spears, who in the new issue
of W magazine finally admitted that she and former
boyfriend Justin Timberlake did the nasty. At first we
thought about chastising the sex symbol for lying all this
time, claiming she was a virgin. But apparendy Spears got a
memo from the music industry saying sex is cool again
(what else could cause the about-face?). Dirty, dirty pop.
Smacks to the all-but-certain tuition increases scheduled
for next year. Yes, students benefit from college education,
but tuition hikes suck.
Quacks to the Iranian twins who, after being joined at
the head for 29 years, attempted a complicated surgery to
be separated. It is unfortunate that the two women died,
but we commend their courageous goal of independence.
Smacks to more American deaths in Iraq. The longer we
stay, the more soldiers will die.
Quacks to the near-completion of the Lillis Business
Complex. Should all students be so lucky as to major in
business.
Smacks to President Bush for his assertion in the State
of the Union address drat Iraq tried to buy uranium from
Africa. TUms out it wasn't true at all. One would think that
in the president's annual address, he could at least double
check the facts before misleading millions of Americans.
Quacks to Luke Ridnour for making it to the NBA.
Smacks to the Oregon Legislature. The 2003-05 biennium
started July 1, and we still don't have a budget. Figure it out.
Quacks to the ASUO Execudve, which committed itself
to providing a safe way home for drivers of state-owned ve
hicles like Saferide and Nightride. If the state decides the
University's policies are problematic, ASUO has vowed to
"make sure that anyone that needs to be taken home will
be taken home."
Smacks to talks of sending troops into Liberia. It hasn't
yet come to this, and it shouldn't. What happened to pick
ing battles wisely? 'Ihe Bush World Tour really doesn't need
to stop in Africa.
Quacks to summer school and lazy days of reading.
Smacks to crappy, legal fireworks in Oregon. Bright,
noisy fireworks that don't leave the ground aren't enjoyable
in the least
Quacks to the city of Eugene for seeking to name a street
after Martin Luther King Jr. Too bad things got so ugly.
Smacks to the Portland Trailblazers. Trying to clean up
the team's image? On July 3Damon Stoudamire was ar
rested — for a third time — on pot charges. Tuesday, the
Blazers canned nearly a third of their 280-person staff. We
presume the former employees have less legal trouble than
Stoudamire — all 88 of them combined. Let's just say the
chances of the Blazers turning it around are highly suspect.
IntroWELCOME
As hundreds of students flock to campus today for the
first installment of IntroDUCKtion, we'd like to take this
opportunity to extend a warm greeting to our newest class
mates and their visiting families.
The Emerald strives to educate the community about
issues pertaining directly to the University campus.
While new students will be able to utilize our services,
we would also like to point out that the families of new
students can as well.
The Emerald — published Tuesdays and Thursdays in
the summer and on weekdays during the school year —
can be read online at www.dailyemerald.com.
Also, the Emerald provides news and sports updates to
interested individuals via e-mail. Find out what's going on
in your student's community by registering for the Emer
ald insider at www.dailyemerald.com.
Oh, and again, welcome to the University.
EDITORIAL POLICY
This editorial represents the opinion of the Emerald
editorial board. Responses can be sent to letters
@dailyemerald.com. 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.
Fiery# explosive karma
It was a day to celebrate independence,
pride in America and the freedom to en
joy things that explode. But my celebra
tion on the Fourth of July was tainted
when someone infringed on my right to
personal safety. Let me explain — and
vent — so I can avoid clinging to the bad
memory for years to come.
I spent most of the holiday in pleas
ant fashion. I went to my father's house
for a barbecue and enjoyed live music
from three teenage blues musicians who
are sure to have excellent futures. I shot a
roll of Film for a photography class and
chatted with family and friends for a
few hours.
After the barbecue, a friend and I drove
to Rooster RocJ< State Park on the shore
line of the Columbia River. We spent the
afternoon resting in the sun, enjoying
conversation and watching escapades on
the river.
It was on the drive back to Portland on
Interstate 84 that a bizarre and frustrating
event transpired.
A live firecracker came spitting out of a
nearby car window and flew toward my
Mazda. In a split second it exploded with a
burst of noise and red fire as my car sped
over it. I shrieked with surprise and confu
sion; I didn't immediately realize what
had happened.
My friend was driving and he quickly
accelerated and chased down the culprit of
the prank, the driver
of a silver PT Cruiser
with an easily iden
tifiable custom li
cense plate. We
pulled even with the
harasser and the
driver leered at me,
then spontaneously
switched lanes and
zoomed off an exit,
nearly crashing into ■
another car.
The whole incident took place in less
than a minute but left me pissed for hours.
Even more irritating is that the car actually
got back onto the freeway a few miles later
to further taunt my little Mazda. The driver
pulled alongside my car and laughed as he
watched my outraged reaction at his re
turn. He then sped off to another exit, his
business finished.
What did 1 do to warrant this nasty
attention? Maybe mister smarty-pants was
offended by my liberal, feminist bumper
stickers, but I suspect I was probably just a
random target, probably one of many on
his Fourth of July.
It occurred to me
to report the danger
ous pest to the au
thorities but I didn't
know the phone
number for the non
emergency reporting
line. I refuse to dial
911 for non-life
threatening emer
gencies, something
instructed by family
members who work tor emergency servic
es. So the culprit remained free on the day
of freedom, unless another unlucky victim
reported him.
I don't even like fireworks in the first
place. They're loud, they spit flames un
controllably in all directions and they are a
waste of money and resources. 1 don't see
them as pretty or exciting and they don't
convey celebration of freedom in any way
that I can gather.
Adelle Lennox
Rant-o-licious
I'm not a total Fourth of July bummer
just because I don't like fireworks. And I
don't mind large controlled firework dis
plays put on by responsible organizations;
they provide a great opportunity for snug
gling under the brilliant night sky. But I'm
no fan of personal fireworks, especially
when they're coming toward me.
Maybe my feelings result from my up
bringing. My stepfather was the assistant
fire marshal for the city of Portland and he
definitely instilled in me a cautionary ap
proach to fire and explosives. But should
n't one be extremely careful with explo
sives? They explode!
I don't want to take away anyone's right
to celebrate with fireworks, but I don't
want to suffer injuries because of their
right either. If fireworks are part of your
holiday tradition, do everyone a favor and
play nice. Keep the firecrackers off the free
way and avoid the bad burning karma that
is certainly coming to Mr. PT Cruiser.
Contact the design editor
at adeiielennox@dailyemerald.com.
Her opinions do not necessarily represent
those of the Emerald.
Peter Utsey for the Emerald
SB 10 misunderstood; would be helpful
Recent commentaries ("Illegal aid,"
ODE, July 8; "Illegal aliens would up tu
ition costs," ODE, July 8) have only perpet
uated misconceptions about Senate Bill 10.
By allowing undocumented graduates
of Oregon high schools to pay in-state tu
ition, Senate Bill
10 would break
down a barrier 1LJ* 1CL <22^ s
that prevents COMMENTARY
some highly _
qualified stu
dents from going to college. These are stu
dents who have grown up in our state,
while attending our K-12 schools and —
despite what naysayers would have you be
lieve — making vital contributions to our
state economy.
It is important, then, to clarify the im
plications of Senate Bill 10.
People could not just come to the state
looking for lower tuition rates. Students
would have to attend an Oregon high
school for three consecutive years in order
to be covered by the bill. They would also
have to prove that they are working toward
legal residency.
Senate Bill 10 would not raise costs for
students — or for anyone else. The Ore
gon University System has submitted an
official statement attesting to that fact. In
actuality, Senate Bill 10 would more likely
add tuition money to university accounts.
Students who were previously unable to
afford an education (and thus paid uni
versities nothing) would be paying in
state tuition.
Senate Bill 10 does not take anything
away from other students. Students cov
ered by the bill would not be eligible for fi
nancial aid. Further, the Oregon University
System has repeatedly and publicly testi
fied that our universities can absorb the
projected enrollment increases without
negative effects on current students or fu
ture applicants. In total, Senate Bill 10
would add only about 20 to 250 students
to a university system of nearly 80,000.
Opponents of Senate Bill 10 perplexing
ly suggest that its ideas should be enacted
through a law change. That is exactly what
the bill would do: change Oregon law.
According to the legal counsel for the
Oregon Legislature, Senate Bill 10 does not
conflict with federal regulations. This legal
opinion agrees with similar findings in
other states that have already implement
ed legislation like Senate Bill 10.
And while we're on the subject, policies
similar to Senate Bill 10 have been passed
not in three states (as suggested in a recent
guest column), but in seven: Washington,
California, Oklahoma, Texas, New York,
Utah and Illinois.
All in all, Senate Bill 10 would increase
access to college and benefit Oregon stu
dents. Thus, the Oregon Student Associa
tion and the Associated Students of the
University of Oregon are well-justified in
their support for this bill.
OSA and the ASUO work hard to ensure
student access to higher education. Part of
ensuring that access is making higher edu
cation is affordable to would-be students,
which is why both groups have supported,
currently support and will continue to
support Senate Bill 10.
Senate Bill 10 is not about taking from
students; it is about giving to students. I
urge you to call your representative and
voice your support for increasing college
access through Senate Bill 10.
Maddy Melton, a senior majoring
in sociology and women’s studies, is ASUO
president and chairwoman of the Oregon
Student Association.