Newsroom: (541) 346-5511
Suite 300, Erb Memorial Union
P.O. Box 3159, Eugene, OR 97403
E-mail: editor@dciilyemeralcl.com
Online: www.dailyemerald.com
-Oregon Daily Emerald
Editor in Chief:
Brad Schmidt
Managing Editor:
Jan Tobias Montry
Editorial Editor
Travis Willse
Thursday, March 11, 2004
Brad Schmidt
Of chief concern
Chavez editorial
misconstrues
important point
As I've said before, as I'll say now and as I'll say again, accuracy
and credibility are the most important attributes a newspaper
can possess. Both go hand in hand: Consistent accuracy builds
credibility; Ongoing credibility means readers can believe and
trust what's in the newspaper.
Wednesday, the Emerald Editorial Board presented an opin
ion that, on behalf of the board, I am now clarifying.
In "4J Chavez campaign must look beyond race," the Emer
ald misrepresented Javier Ayala's opinions on the matter of nam
ing the new Southside school. The issue has been contentious,
and about 150 people gathered Friday to encourage the school
board to name the new school after Cesar Chavez. The Editorial
Board based part of its editorial on a news story that appeared
in The Register-Guard on Saturday. Here's a portion of what the
story stated:
"I'm real worried that the message that some of the adults are
sending is that '(school board members) are being disrespectful
of you,' and that is not the intent of the board," (board Chair
woman Beth) Gerot said. "I think that the message that our com
munity needs to hear is that we are listening, we appreciate the
thoughtful input we have been getting from our community, we
appreciate the input and we're trying to make the best decision.
It's not helpful when people tell us that we are being racist that
we are not caring about our community. That's not who we are."
But several people at the rally questioned how deep the
board's commitment to diversity really is.
"It's time that they really walked the talk," said Javier Ayala of
the group Education y Justitia.
Here is what the Emerald Editorial Board wrote Wednesday;
Beth Gerot, the chairwoman of the embattled board, ad
dressed claims of implicit racism, telling The Register-Guard, "I
think that the message that our community needs to hear is that
we are listening, we appreciate the thoughtful input we have
been getting from our community, we appreciate the input and
we're trying to make the best decision."
Javier Ayala, of the group Educadon y Justida, is dissatisfied
with the board's efforts: "It's time that they really walked the talk."
In what is some of the worst rhetoric to date, and one of the
worst plays of the race card the Editorial Board has seen in recent
memory, Ayala effectively equates any board dedsion (other
than the one he favors) to radsm, drawing attention away from
the more meaningful issue at hand.
After receiving calls from Ayala and other community mem
bers Wednesday, the Editorial Board reevaluated its opinionat
ed statements on Ayala's position. It is dear to all five members of
the Editorial Board that Ayala's position was misconstrued in
Wednesday's editorial. The Editorial Board regrets making these
statements because they possibly led readers to draw an im
proper condusion.
Ayala told the Emerald on Wednesday that his statement, "It's
time that they really walked the talk," means this: It's time the
school board be inclusive to everybody in the community, and
be more indusive in curriculum, policy and the naming of
schools. Ayala was not advocating for these things based on race
As with many editorial boards at papers across the country,
the Emerald Editorial Board does not talk to every individual in
volved in a discussion. Rather, the Editorial Board uses existing
materials — verified facts, media reports, Emerald stories — to
form opinions. In some cases, the Editorial Board speaks directly
to individuals and gathers its own facts.
These processes do not prove problematic until an inddent
occurs such as Wednesday's. The Emerald Editorial Board's in
terpretation was incorred, and it could have misled readers'
opinions on the subject. In the future, the Emerald Editorial
Board will take steps to darify opinions that may not be dear es
pedally the opinions of local figures.
We thank the readers who called the Emerald with concerns
about the opinions expressed in the editorial. Accuracy and
credibility are all the Emerald has on which to stand. We work
tirelessly to get things right, and if we don't achieve that goal,
we work to correct the problem.
Contact the editor in chief at edrtor@daiiyemeraki.com.
Learning outside the box
College offers us many unique oppor
tunities but none so valuable as the op
portunity to study abroad. I believe go
ing to another country for at least one
term should be mandatory of all college
students, regardless of major.
In fact, study abroad should really be
gin in high school. I think we all remem
ber what high school was like. Those
walls were the boundaries of the entire
world and what was happening between
them was everything, the sum of life.
The epidemic of depression among
teenagers is partly the result of living in
such a small world where the tiniest
heartbreak seems like a mountain.
Spending time in a foreign country is
like taking a trip to the moon: Suddenly
those high school problems, which
loomed so large, are just specks against
the horizon. It is a change in perspective
both physically and emotionally.
Those who are filled with hate and
fear usually never have left their little ho
mogenized communities. We have a lot
of hate and fear in this country; not co
incidentally, America is one of the most
navel-gazing societies in the world.
It's hard to believe, because we also are
also one of the most internationalized
countries in the world, but it's true. And
you realize just how true it is once you
step outside of its borders. Americans
only seem to care about other countries
when our military is being sent there. That
is why so few of us know anything about
the billion people who are living in the
■ David Jagernauth
Critical mass
largest democracy in the world, India.
Since I mentioned it, the military is an
other excellent way to see other countries
and be exposed to other cultures, espe
cially for those who cannot afford college.
Of my four undergraduate years the
experience I cherish the most is my six
months in Sri Lanka. I knew the world
had a second side, but I never really be
lieved it until I was standing there on my
own two feet. Only somebody who has
been outside of their country of origin
would understand the feeling: A place
you have read about, even dreamed
about, suddenly becomes real before
your eyes. It no longer exists in the two
dimensionality of a photograph or a
map. It is thick.
Learning about another culture is only
part of the study abroad experience.
Learning about yourself — that is where
the real learning occurs. While traveling
in Sri Lanka, going through military
checkpoints with guns pointed at my
head, seeing crushing poverty on city
streets, praying in Hindu and Buddhist
temples, talking with villagers in tea plan
tations, etc. — that is when I learned
about my own inner strength. That is
when I learned about life and death and
faith and the meaning of love and friend
ship. And humility. And humanity.
There is no excuse for spending all of
your college years in this country. Mon
ey is no excuse. Depending on where you
go, you might spend less and financial
aid covers your trip in most circum
stances. There are numerous scholar
ships and fellowships as well.
And with the job market lean in the
United States, it is important that we
look abroad for employment. The world
is a great place to work. After all, the ma
jority of us have the one skill employers
in most countries cherish above all oth
ers: We speak English.
So take advantage of the unique oppor
tunity you have as a college student. The
Office of International Programs offers
more than 80 overseas programs in more
than 50 countries. Go to the International
Resource Center and look through their
materials. Then visit the Overseas Study
Programs office at 330 Oregon Hall. You
can call them at 346-3207 or drop by to set
up an appointment with an Overseas Pro
gram coordinator.
Contact the columnist
at davidjagemauth@dailyemerald.com.
His opinions do not necessarily
represent those of the Emerald.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Factory farms mistreat animals
In regard to "Choice of eating meat or
not guided by taste, values, diet" (ODE,
Feb. 25), I can relate to Yiddish Nobel lau
reate Isaac Bashevis Singer, who stated,
"I'm a vegetarian for health reasons — the
health of the chickens."
Animals raised for food on factory
farms are treated like unfeeling machines.
Chickens, for example, are crammed by
the tens of thousands into sheds with
barely enough room to move or flap their
wings. The birds spend their entire lives in
the space equivalent to a standard sheet of
paper. They routinely suffer broken bones
from rough handling by workers, who
grab up eight birds at a time by their legs
to stuff them into crates or shackle them
upside down at the slaughterhouse Chick
ens are often still fully conscious when
their throats are slit or when they are
dumped into tanks of scalding water to re
move their feathers.
As your article pointed out, a vegan diet
is appropriate for everyone and offers
many health benefits, which can add years
to your life. An ethical eater is rewarded
with an extended lifespan, as well as a clear
conscience. For a free vegetarian starter kit,
call 1 -888-VEG-FOOD or visit
GoVeg.com.
Jim Robertson
Norfolk, Va.
Vegan Campaign Correspondent
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals