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Oregon Daily Emerald
COMMENTARY
Editor in Chief:
Brad Schmidt
Managing Editor:
Jan Tobias Montry
Editorial Editor:
Travis Willse
Monday, November 17, 2003
EDITORIAL
Committee
co-operation
key in arena
site selection
University professors, administrators and student repre
sentatives converged Wednesday for the monthly Universi
ty Senate meeting. But something was amiss; in a rare criti
cism of University administrators, senators passed a
resolution condemning the process that sited the Universi
ty's new sports arena. The bill asserted that:
"Be It Resolved that, the University of Oregon Univer
sity Senate
Hereby expresses its strong opposition to the siting
process for the arena and associated facilities that has taken
place to date, and
1 lereby urges and expects the University administra
tion to submit its proposal to the Campus Planning
Committee for review, and to follow other established
campus planning procedures for the siting of the arena
and associated facilities."
Biology Professor and former Senate President Nathan
Tublitz echoed the resolution's concerns:
"When one group decides that they can circumvent
processes, it alienates the entire University community."
While Tublitz's accusations are strongly worded, and
while the resolution wields no actual policy-making pow
er, the Senate's pithy message is nonetheless a most im
portant one.
The site selection process violated the University's Pol
icy Statement 7.000, titled "Facility Improvements Fi
nanced from Donations": After the relevant administra
tor approves plans for donated funds, he or she must pass
plans to the appropriate vice president, who will "forward
(the plan) to the Campus Planning Committee for analy
sis and recommendation in accordance with established
procedures the statement of need, project description,
and budget."
The Emerald Editorial Board strongly approves of the se
lection itself: the location is easily accessible, the siting costs
should be less than a quarter of the cost of building the
arena on land not currently owned by the University and
the arena will bring along with it (in according with city
code) badly needed expanded parking. Faculty members
said they were not necessarily opposed to the site, either.
And while administrators did consult the committee "on, I
think, two occasions," University Vice President for Ad
ministration Dan Williams said, the selection process large
ly violated the University's longtime and critically impor
tant tradition of shared governance.
In the larger scheme of things, it's fortunate that the
arena siting issue, rather than a more controversial one,
prompted the discussion about shared governance. The
University decision was a logistically sound one, and the
Campus Planning Committee would likely agree with
it, anyway.
Better yet, the administration has already resolved to
better integrate the Campus Planning Committee, and
thus, by representation, an appreciable fraction of cam
pus voices.
"What the president is trying to do is include the Cam
pus Planning Committee from this point forward,"
Williams said.
And any plans for even tighter shared governance is
good news for everyone in the campus community.
EDITORIAL POLICY
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Quack/
|UVE AmMALSl
Steve Baggs Illustrator
Waterfowi on the wish list
The holidays are fast approaching. As
you search for the perfect gift, I offer this
newly discovered tidbit for your amuse
ment and edification: You can send ducks
through the mail.
That's right. The United States Postal
Service accepts live ducks. Be they crested,
canvasback or mallard, just slap a stamp
on their butt and drop 'em in the slot.
Just kidding. Had you going there did
n't I? I'm sure those of you with any com
mon sense realize that the stamp has to go
up front with the — drumroll please —
bill of lading.
(Brief pause for groans to subside).
So rather than dump a fortune at Val
ley River Center getting them something
from a list of suggested presents, redefine
the phrase "flying south for the winter"
and send the folks back home something
really special this year — you know, kind
of a "Ducks from the Duck" theme.
Imagine the cries of delight and sur
prise as they open the door to the post
man and he hands them their very own
feathered friend. Mind you, that feath
ered friend will have just spent several
hours cooped up in a pet carrier and,
upon release from its confines, may har
bor enough of a grudge to commit an
indiscretion on the carpet. So, be
thoughtful and send along a package of
paper towels too — festively wrapped,
of course.
■K.___
Jessica Cole-Hodgkinson
Huh? What? Really.
While not quite in keeping with the
theme, your choices are not limited to
waterfowl alone. Should a nice chicken
or goose catch your eye, you may send
those as well. I haven't checked on
turkeys yet — but then, perhaps it
would be in poor taste if you're plan
ning on having a close relative roasting
in the oven?
For reasons I have yet to fathom, the
folks at the post office are also willing to
let you ship snakes. So, here's your
chance to get that budding herpetologist
in your life a brand new boa constrictor.
And, what dad wouldn't want a reticu
lated python? Don't forget mom.
Wouldn't a colorful king snake draped
over one shoulder really add that some
thing special to the Christmas pictures
this year?
With all continuing concerns over an
thrax being sent through the mail, 1
can't help but wonder if this shipping of
live animals has something to do with
the continuing discoveiy of white pow
der in post offices throughout the na
tion. I'd bet you a nickel (if I had one)
that no one has thought to check these
substances for the presence of dried
duck droppings.
Come to think of it, I'll bet the postal
worker's union hasn't fully investigated
the potential workers' compensation
claims that could arise out of inhaling the
airborne effluvia of the various animals
winging their way to and fro. Am I the
only one who sees the potential for a
great lawsuit here?
That's not even the only cause of ac
tion. Despite their willingness to trans
port fowl and reptiles, the people at the
post office inform me that they are stead
fastly unwilling to accept their canine
and feline counterparts. Can you say
"discrimination"?
So, while you can't send anyone a
new Labrador or a Siamese, there is a
whole world of critters out there that are
sure to make your gift the talk of any
family gathering and guarantee your
place in familial legend for generations
to come.
But do me a favor and keep all the credit
for yourself. Really. I don't mind a bit.
Contact the columnist at
jessicacolehodgkinson@dailyemerald.com.
Her opinions do not necessarily
represent those of the Emerald.
ONLINE POLL
Each week, the Emerald publishes the
results of the previous week’s poll and
the coming week’s poll question.
Visit http://www.dailyemerald.com to
vote.
Last question: Will the draft be
reinstated?
Results: 92 votes
• No, it would never happen; it's too
politically costly: 44.6 percent or 41
votes
• Yes, it is consistent with President
Bush’s agenda: 22.8 percent or 21 votes
• No, the U.S. military is large enough to
handle any future conflicts: 19.6 percent
or 18 votes
Yes, if the Iraqi conflict sharply
escalated: 13.0 percent or 12 votes
This week: What does the Civil War
football game mean to you?
Choices: A chance to party; A chance to
show school spirit; A chance to watch
some great football; A chance to remind
Beaver fans of the Ducks’ obvious
superiority; Football is meaningless to
me, I’m here for an education.