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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 29, 2004)
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 Thursday, April 29,2004 Oregon Daily Emerald COMMENTARY Editor in Chief: Brad Schmidt Managing Editor: Jan Tobias Montry Editorial Editor: Travis Willse EDITORIAL Quacks & smacks Quacks to the University's in-planning "signature re search center." The new facility, which will be located in the Riverfront Research Park, will focus on nanoscience and microtechnology research and should bring the Uni versity prestige and revenue alike. Smacks to the slashed funding to the District Attorney's Office. Thanks to the cuts, dozens of misdemeanors, in cluding theft under $750, will go unprosecuted by the Dis trict Attorney's Office beginning May 1. Quacks to Professor Emeritus of chemistry Ray Wolfe, who created and now hosts "In the Public Interest," a Community Television of Lane County program dedicated to local issues. Wolfe helped organize, too, a series of CTLC interviews for mayoral and City Council candidates, some of whom might not be able to afford much television time, helping advance the spirit of democracy of the up coming election. Smacks to the 57 percent of Americans who still believe that Saddam Hussein and al-Qaida were substantially con nected, despite a near-total lack of evidence. Quacks to Oregon Circuit Court Judge Frank Bearden, who ruled April 20 that same-sex marriage licenses al ready issued by Multnomah County are valid, but man dated an end to licensing until the Oregon Legislature can tackle the issue. The smooth compromise pushes the conflict away (at least temporarily) from an ideological tug-of-war into a representative body, where cooler heads will hopefully prevail. Smacks to the (continuing) downward spiral that is the war in Iraq. As of this week, 115 soldiers have died this month — the same number who gave their lives in the embattled nation's invasion. Quacks to the sun. While its biological and astro physical benefits are obvious, its glowing return to Eu gene skies makes for a good afternoon break on the Memorial Quad. Smacks to the audience of American Idol for voting off some of the show's top contestants. Despite Elton John's faulty assertion that the votes are racially motivated, we're convinced that the majority of the American Idol viewers simply have horrible taste in music. Quacks to ice creameries Ben & Jerry's and Baskin Robbins for their free ice cream fund-raisers. Cool treats at a fair price and for a good cause (especially for pen niless college students) is a win-win-win arrangement of which the Emerald Editorial Board wholeheartedly approves. Smacks to the Pentagon for withholding images of dead soldiers' coffins until a Freedom of Information Act request forced their release. The limits imposed on the press are downright Orwellian and violate the spirit of open government when it's needed most. Quacks to the EMU Board for banning tobacco sales in convenience store Erb Essentials. Students who smoke can refill at the nearby 7-Eleven, but the University need no longer implicitly condone behavior that harms both smokers and those near them. 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. EDITORIAL BOARD Jan Tobias Montry Managing Editor Ayisha Yahya News Editor Travis Willse Editorial Editor Jennifer Sudick Freelance Editor Steve Baggs Illustrator AH KECWrt. I'll to L TH\5 VAPftSIW Message of love gets lost in fights I've been staring at this empty Word document, trying to figure out where to start. There are more debates going on than I know what to do with: Gay marriage, religion, the war in Iraq, the environment, whether President Bush is an alien — you get the idea. Growing up, I always thought I was well-read. I knew politics, literature, film, art, poetry and all thewon COMMENTARY derfulcom -. plexities of the world and I could eloquently (for a 15-year old) discuss them all. When I arrived on campus this fall, honestly, I was excited. Come on, you know you were too. I had, for the time being, reached my destination. All the years prepping for graduation with CIMs, SATs and AP exams were final ly over and the result was: College. Away from my family, I could live "in dependently" and I finally chose the direction of my education and my life with only minimal interference from the administration. I always adored talking with people who were different from me There are many different kinds of people here in Eugene: Old hippies, post-teenybop pers, progressive environmentalists, religious and/or political conserva tives, intellectuals, etc. I more or less assumed this interest in other people was natural and shared by others. Now I'm not so sure. I attended the recent PunkVoter ral ly and thought it was entertaining. The speakers were funny, though not the most qualified people to discuss politics. They related to the majority of the University population. I en joyed listening until they began throwing insults at the Bush-adoring group gathered near University Spe^t. To clarify, I'm not a fan of Bush and 1 GUEST don't support his politics. However, I'm not sure I'm a fan of the Democ rats or "liberals" either. Politics have truly turned into a frightening ring match, with both sides exchanging blows regarding values and parentage. There is anger in both groups, and righdy so. Terrorism, unemployment and budget shortages are terrible things. However, personally attacking a group of individuals is unacceptable behavior for a political debate. If you want to fix something, come up with a plan with points, a timeline and feasi ble means of support. Blanket statements by both groups are only creating tension and frustration. God has been mentioned quite a bit lately in these debates. There has always been a God struggle. One group saying He supports them, an other group lashing back, playing an eternal tug-of-war with the Almighty. Perhaps there is nothing there at all, and we're simply fighting over the idea that we are better than someone else. Both sides are forgetting an im portant message, one that not only Christianity, but all world religions support: Love. Not romantic, lovey dovey love. Love of humanity — friendship and support. As it says in the Bible, "Love is pa tient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not eas ily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails; And now these three remain: Faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." Allison Blass Is a freshman journalism major. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Office of Multicultural Affairs needs support The recent years of enrollment at the University demonstrate an increase of students of color in at tendance, so why is the University decreasing im portant resources for students of color on this cam pus? The Office of Multicultural Affairs is an important tool in retaining these students of color. If the University does not provides services such as the OMA, there is nothing to make them feel like they are part of the campus community and keep them in attendance on this campus. The OMA does not limit its services to just students of color; they welcome anyone, as well as provide their services. The services and resources the OMA provides for students are overwhelming: advising, classes, schol arships, grants, and programs like the OMA Fall Re treat and Reach for Success. General advising in oth er areas of Oregon Hall limit appointments to 15 minutes; the OMA is willing to spend as much time with you as you need. The OMA offers a variety of math and writing classes; these classes are generally smaller and provide a more intimate learning envi ronment and personal tutoring if needed. The OMA is responsible for the Diversity Building Scholarship offered to undergraduates, graduates and law students. This scholarship is a vital piece in ensuring the University meets the educational di versity needs of its students. Students all across campus benefit from the OMA and the services they provide, Let's make sure that the OMA is given the support needed to keep giving all of those services. Desirae Gines junior ethnic studies, sociology Local hero should be recognized, honored Getting into her car after shopping in Veneta, Bonnie Talbot, 87, was kidnapped by an ex-convict with seven prior felony convictions. She punched him on the nose but said he didn't even blink. For more than an hour he terrified her by speeding along back roads until skidding into a ditch. He forced her to put rocks under the tires and made her try to push the car out of the ditch. With night falling, he stole her money, left her alone in the car and walked away. Leaving a note describing her ordeal, Talbot walked about half a mile and fortunately was given a ride by two loggers to a market where she came face-to-face with her assailant. Shaking so badly it was difficult for her to stand up, she told the owner what had happened. The kidnapper was arrested. At his sentencing despite nightmares and a linger ing fear of getting into her car, she said, "Now it's up to me to see if I can forgive and forget what oc curred. And I'm going to try." False national heroes are routinely manufactured by the sports and entertainment industry — and by White House myth-makers (President Bush, for ex ample, strutting about in his flight suit on the deck of the aircraft carrier declaring "Mission Accom plished"). Let's wash the gum from our eyes to recognize and honor a true local hero. Bonnie Talbot Courage de spite fear, intelligence under pressure; the uncommon decency to tty to forgive Now there's a hero. Jerome Garger Yachats CORRECTION In "DJ Spooky mixes it up today at Lillis and tonight at WOW" (ODE, April 28), the dates of DJ Spooky's concert and lecture were misidenti fied. The correct dates and times are as follows: The lecture on disc jockey culture ("Rhythm Sci ence") will be held today in 182 Lillis at 2:30 p.m. DJ Spooky will perform this evening at the WOW Hall, located at 291W. 8th Ave. Tickets are $6 in advance for University students and $12 for the public; at the door, tickets are $8 for stu dents and $14 for the public. Doors open at 8 p.m.; the show begins at 8:30 p.m. The show and lecture are sponsored by the UO Cultural Forum. In "Budget issues will influence prosecutions" (ODE, April 27)," the Emerald misidentified less than an ounce of marijuana as a misdemeanor that will not be prosecuted starting next month. Thatcharge will remain unchanged. The Emerald regrets the errors.
