Newsroom: (541) 346-5511
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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.