Newsroom: (541) 346-5511
Suite 300, Erb Memorial Union
P.O. Box 3159, Eugene, OR 97403
E-mail: editor@dailyemerald.com
Online: www.dailyemerald.com
Monday, February 23 2004
-Oregon Daily Emerald
COMMENTARY
Editor in Chief:
Brad Schmidt
Managing Editor:
Jan Tobias Montry
Editorial Editor:
Travis Willse
El 01X0 RIAL.
EPD 'undercover
policy is absurd
The Eugene Police Department took aberration to a new
level during Valentine's Day weekend, opting to use under
cover officers to prevent rioting. This is perhaps the most nau
seating use of tax dollars and services by EPD in some years,
and it goes without saying that any future use of covert cops
for the purposes of party busting should be on its way out in
the same fashion as the one-too-many tequila shot.
EPD's new policy — which, unfortunately, is legal — is so
nonsensical that it must stem from a bout of late-night drink
ing itself, for it seems irrational any sober person or persons
could arrive at such a procedure.
Here goes: Undercover officers may now be used to inves
tigate parties where alcohol sales are suspected. But how is
one supposed to determine when and where alcohol-related
sales occur? Suppose someone has bought 10 cases of beer
and plans to sell each can for a dollar or two. How is EPD go
ing to know?
OK, so maybe that's a bit of a stretch. Maybe plain-clothes
officers will instead go to residences where kegs are registered.
But how does possession of a keg lead to the supposition
that one intends to charge others for alcohol? How does pos
session of a keg lead to the supposition that alcohol will be
sold? Does the registration of a keg clearly imply that one in
tends to charge others for alcohol? The possibility is there,
sure. But it does not mean that sales will occur, and surely
does not justify intrusion into one's home
Next, undercover officers could be used to investigate par
ties where minors are suspected of drinking. OK So, a cou
ple of clandestine cops come to a party; are they going to ask
for people's IDs? No! Their ever-so-important cover would
be blown. So, then, an undercover officer could enter your
house with an assumption of underage drinking, leave with
nothing more than that same assumption, and then call for
the calvary. How is that an efficient allocation of time? That's
creating twice as much work, and officers are still working
without sufficient evidence.
inese veiy same cioaK-ana-aagger omcers couia also De
used to infiltrate residences that receive complaints. Say a par
ty receives a complaint for noise or people in the streets. If
such is the case, then wouldn't it be blatantly obvious to offi
cers when they arrive on the scene? If not, then what justifica
tion would undercover officers have to enter someone's
house? How could a neighbor complain of activities or noise
that isn't audible or evident to the average observer?
Despite all the questions that arise from this fantastic plan,
there must be a point. And here it is: "Ihe whole idea is to
prevent riots," EPD Sgt. Terry Fitzpatrick said.
So, a party with 50 people will start a riot? Fitzpatrick said
one-third to one-half of the people in attendance at the Feb.
14 party were minors. Under Fitzpatrick's estimates, with 17
minors cited — the entire underage-party total, surely, be
cause underage drinking is such an epidemic that they must
have all been breaking the law — that means only 51 people
were in attendance
Well, despite size, this was one of the parties where rioting
was a possibility. So how, then, does sending in undercover
officers do any good? If it is fact that minors are drinking, that
alcohol is being sold and that complaints have been lodged,
then why doesn't the entire department show up with pen
and alcohol-related-citation after citation in hand, prepared
to "protect and serve"?
Most absurd is not EPD, however. Mark Jaehnig, an in
vestigator for the Oregon Liquor Control Commission,
said the agency seized up to $15,000 worth of band and
computer equipment. The justification: The items were "al
cohol-related."
Enough is enough. EPD seriously has its priorities out of
line if it has nothing better to do than expend energy — twice
that of normal — to seek out parties where trivial offenses
may or may not occur. What about the property crimes EPD
Chief Robert Lehner speaks so worriedly about?
Well, here's a little something for both agencies, which
seem ever-so-eager to fine students, invade privacy and con
fiscate property Ihe Emerald is going to have a party this year,
but the date has yet to be determined. There will be cups, per
haps filled with alcohol. A staff member will play us songs
on his bongos. And the editor will do a striptease to the fine
tune of "Ten Rounds With Jose Cuervo."
EPD, come on in. And bring OLCC, too. Confiscate
the cups, bongos and the editor's clothing (alcohol-re
lated, of course).
Notwithstanding a common-sense hangover, it's impor
tant that this you two pillars of the community live up to
the absurdity set forth.
KWVA has strong fiscal record
Back in 1989 students had a vision.
They worked very hard to gather support
and find funding. They stuck by their vi
sion as it mate
M jg» mmwi rialized, and
UP fe» 1 they brought
COMMENTARY forth a product
- for all to enjoy.
Today that vi
sion and product is still manifest in KWVA
Eugene, 88.1 FM, Campus Radio — the
student-owned and -operated radio sta
tion. KWVA is the only outlet on campus
where students can gain real-life, first
hand broadcast experience.
Though there have been trying times in
KWVA history, recent years have looked
up. Particularly last May, when KWVA re
ceived a grant from the Associated Stu
dents of the University of Oregon for
$118,498 to upgrade the ancient analog
technology into a digital environment.
KWVA has been operating with equip
ment that was donated when KWVA first
started broadcasting.
Though KWVA has been fortunate to be
able to maintain that equipment as it
aged, repairs have became more and more
difficult as the radio industry has taken a
turn to digital, much like the television in
dustry. Change for KWVA was imminent.
Well before May 2003, and the
$118,498, KWVA was looking for ways to
make this digital upgrade possible. When
funds were finally secured, the project got
underway. KWVA worked with University
administration, the business office, ASUO
and other departments and individuals to
ensure the equipment being purchased
would serve the greatest purpose possible.
Equipment was ordered and installa
tion began. Setbacks and unexpected ex
penses, such as restructuring electrical ac
cess and the need for additional cables,
slowed the process down and created a fi
nancial pinch. Funds were spent accord
ing to that which was allocated, and in
cluded the unexpected, necessary
expenses. KWVA has a strong fiscal record.
That fiscal responsibility has shown
KWVA's ability to manage funds, even un
der tight conditions, and was influential
when KWVA requested the funds to make
the upgrade.
Despite the setbacks, unexpected ex
penses and the many stresses, KWVA is
confident that the upgrade progress, deci
sions and efforts have all been in good
faith, for the greater development of the
educational environment of the entire
student body and those yet to come.
Thousands of students have participated
at KWVA, and there are surely thousands
yet to come. KWVA involves these stu
dents and provides a learning environ
ment, but it does much more.
Each individual who turns on 88.1 FM
is imparted by the funds that were allocat
ed. KWVA's signal reaches beyond the
campus area into the community and
thus serves an even greater population.
KWVA appreciates all those who helped
with the development and acquisition of
the funds necessary to complete this proj
ect. Look for open house announcements
and your chance to see the completely up
graded studios in coming months.
Charlotte Nisser
law
general manager, KWVA
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Fuss over Jackson hides
deeper problems with U.S. media
The Super Bowl brouhaha centering on
the breast seen 'round the world would be
titillating if it weren't such a convenient
cover-up, so to speak, for a more signifi
cant issue: the censorship of ideas in a sup
posedly free society.
CBS previously caved in to Republican
whining by withdrawing its prime-time
drama on the Reagans. They would not
accept a People for the Ethical Treatment
of Animals ad "out of concern about of
fending viewers." And they refused to
run "Child's Pay," MoveOn.org's nation
wide contest-winning ad critical of the $ 1
trillion deficit caused by President Bush's
bizarre reverse-Robin Hood economic poli
cies. The Bush White House, by the way,
promotes the FCC rule changes that would
allow networks to own more local stations,
increase market share, and, of course, maxi
mize profits. Big dividends for CBS.
A flatulent horse, a groin-chomping ca
nine and more erectile dysfunction ads
than you could shake a stick at met CBS
Super Bowl guidelines. A thought-provok
ing ad based on fart did not.
It's obvious that extraordinarily wealthy,
self-serving, greed-addicted corporate elit
ists work relentlessly against the public in
terest through sophisticated right-wing
propaganda and media censorship. And
it's even more obvious that anyone who
still believes their outrageous claims about
the dominance of "the liberal media" is a
clueless, dare I say it, boob.
Jerome Garger
Eugene
ONLINE POLL
Each week the Emerald publishes the
results of the previous poll and the coming
week’s poll question.
Visit http://www.dailyemerald.com to vote.
Last week's question: Do you feel the
University should have postponed
construction of a new sports arena?
Results: 100 votes.
• No-It’s in the best interest of the
campus to build a new arena: 42 percent.
• Yes — It’s the fiscally responsible thing
to do: 27 percent.
• Yes - The University is doing fine with
Mac Court: 26 percent.
• No — We’re wasting donor allocations:
5 percent.
This week: What’s your vice?
Choices: Cigars; Gambling; Gossip;
Knitting; Meat; Music; My pets; Online
porn; Reality TV; Shopping; Starbucks;
Violence; Other.