Today’s crossword solution
FT'1.1,1! mm
Community
Center far the
Perfuming Arts
8th &
Lincoln
- Friday.
WAR with ABAKADUBI
Soul/Funk
S:oo pm, tit advance, $20 door
.Sunday .
Dance Disaster Movement,
AnbotRodriod
Indie Rock
S:oopm, $5 door
. Monday •
Stopstynyo!, Boys Nifht Out,
Paii Paint By Numbers
Pop-Punk
8:00 pm, $6 door
■ Tuesday -
Three Melancholy
Gypsies: Efc[h,Murs£
Sonub (of Uvm; trends),
Hanif E Fury, Stran^efolks
Hip-Hop
8:30 pm, $12 advance, $1; door
- Wednesday .
Mirah,
Tara lane O’Neil, liaribird
Singers-Songuriters
8:00 pm, $8 door
All Ages Welcome
687-2746
Advertise in the ODE classifieds
346-4343
Local activist uses mic to reach masses
Don Goldman, a self-titled former
hippie and left-wing activist, wants
his daily speeches to inspire action
By Natasha Chilingerian
Pulse Reporter
If you've ever walked past the EMU Amphitheater
at noon, you've seen him. Long white hair, glasses
and holding a microphone, Don Goldman always
has something to rant about. From helping the
homeless to getting President George W. Bush out
of office, Goldman voices his opinions with vigor
and not a shred of intimidation.
Goldman has spent nearly a lifetime concerned
with the well-being of the United States and found
the courage to do something about it a few years ago.
The Chicago native first became aware of the
country7s social problems during childhood.
"Chicago has a white upper-class neighborhood
surrounded by a giant ghetto with deplorable con
ditions," Goldman said. "I was always conscious of
how badly people in society were treated."
As a young man in the 1960s, Goldman joined
the hippie bandwagon with diligence and partici
pated in Vietnam War protests. Although he said he
was "never a leader" in the demonstrations, he
fondly remembers partaking in the party-esque ac
tivism during the years of peace and love.
"In 1969 I grew my hair long and everyone was
turning into a hippie," he said. "I thought it was
great. The 1950s were really gray and dull."
After going through many different jobs, which
he refers to as "mostly crummy," he decided to at
tend college in the Northwest. Beginning in 1990,
he attended Portland State University, the Universi
ty of Washington in Seattle and finally the Universi
ty of Oregon. He is currendy studying classical lan
guages and plans to graduate sometime during the
next academic year.
Goldman said political events in the past five
years are what modvated him to take to the EMU
Amphitheater stage.
"I was appalled when Bush stole the election, and
about Sept. 11 and the passing of the USA PATRIOT
Act," he said. "These were serious, major events in
history, and no one was doing anything about
them. I thought, 'What could I do to stop this?' and
I realized what I could do best was speak — speak
loud, and hopefully, intelligentiy."
Goldman said it took him a few months to gath
er up the nerve to speak in the amphitheater, but in
April 2002 he made his debut. He began speaking
three times a day, seven days a week — once at
noon, once at 6 p.m. and once at midnight — but
he gradually reduced his public speaking to the time
he currendy speaks — once a day at noon, Monday
through Friday. Though his speeches sound like
pure improvisation, Goldman writes a few notes on
his hand each time to help him remember what he
wants to cover. He said he consults a variety of
sources for his arguments, including mainstream
newspapers such as The Oregonian and The Regis
ter-Guard, alternative publications and radio pro
grams, including right-wing radio shows.
Lauren Wimer Senior Photographer
Don Goldman gives his daily speech in the EMU Amphitheater at noon on April 28.
In terms of political alignment, Goldman said he
is "way out on the left edge and about to fall over
the edge." He lists some of his top concerns for the
country as conservation of the environment, seeing
that everyone has a decent place to sleep and fair
ness to racial minorities in courts.
"The more I study and the more I learn, the more
liberal I get," he said.
When asked what his idea of a "perfect country"
would be, he described a pre-Christopher Colum
bus America.
"Based on historical sources, the Native Ameri
cans were beautiful in many ways," he said. "I'd like
to see this country before it got all screwed up."
Goldman, who identifies himself as gay, said he
was not as excited about the legalization of gay mar
riage as some homosexuals were.
"When gay liberation started in 1969, gays want
ed to tear down the institution of marriage," he said.
"Now there are all these conservative gays who just
want to be married like everyone else. On one hand,
I'm glad to see (the conservative party) fighting a
battle they're sure to lose, but marriage isn't what
gay liberation is about."
With so many different views floating around
campus, Goldman's speeches have undeniably
stirred up reaction in students, both good and bad.
Political science major Yuka Murai said she ap
preciates Goldman's opinions, especially as the
2004 presidential election approaches.
"Young people should be interested in this kind
of political debate and activity," Murai said. "This
year is especially important with the elections com
ing up. I'd really like to get a group of people to
gether for a debate (in the amphitheater). (Gold
man) knows lots of things, and students could ask
him questions."
Of course, there is a fair share of students who
take Goldman's words far from seriously.
"I think people listen mostly for humor," Univer
sity College Republicans Chairwoman and political
science major Laura Jenkins said. "Most of the
things he says are based on faulty information. The
people who believe him and listen to him are igno
rant to the truth. What he says is so out there, far
from reality and far-fetched."
Goldman's speeches tend to stir up controversy,
and one incident in October 2002 led to his arrest.
While giving what he calls his "Fuck speech, * a reli
gious group began yelling, "You're going to hell!"
through a megaphone. He received a Eugene Police
Department citation for disorderly conduct; the
charge was later dropped.
In addition to speaking to the University commu
nity and taking classes, Goldman writes for The Stu
dent Insurgent and creates his own comedy, artwork,
poetry and songs. He is currently putting together a
film of local poet performances that he hopes to air
on television. He said by participating in a breadth of
creative activities, he hopes others will see him as
more than just "a crazy, wild-eyed radical."
"I make a big effort not to be a dreary, ranting
guy," he said, adding he wishes students would fol
low his suit and take the mic to voice their opinions.
"Other people are worthy of doing this, and I
don't want to be the big star," he said.
Above all, Goldman hopes to reach people. He
said he wants society to realize that atrocities are oc
curring in the world and to cumulatively help make
changes for the better.
"1 want to get people so upset that they finally do
something," he said.
Contact the Pulse reporter
atnatashachilingerian@dailyemerald.com.
Help
cover
Hiring for summer
and fall terms
APPLICATION DEADLINE:
Friday, May 14, 5:00 p.m.
Applications and job descriptions can be
picked up at Suite 300, EMU.
Questions? Call 346-5511
Hiring for summer and fall terms.
All positions are paid.
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