Oregon Daily Emerald
Friday, March 11, 2005
NEWS STAFF
(541)346-5511
JEN SUDICK
EDITOR IN CHIEF
STEVEN R. NEUMAN
MANAGING EDITOR
IARED PABEN
AYISHA YAHYA
NEWS EDITORS
MEGHANN CUNIFF
PARKER HOWELL
SENIOR NEWS REPORTERS
MORLAH BALINCIT
AMANDA BOLSINGER
ADAM CHERRY
EMILY SMITH
EVA SYLWESTER
SHELDON TRAVF!R
NEWS REPORTERS
CLAYTON JONES
SPORTS EDITOR
ION ROETMAN
SENIOR SPORTS REPORTER
STEPHEN MILLER
BRIAN SMITH
SPORTS REPORTERS
RYAN NYBURG
PULSE EDITOR
NATASHA CHILINGERIAN
SENIOR PULSE REPORTER
AMY LICHTY
PULSE REPORTER
CAT BALDWIN
PULSE CARTOONIST
DAVID JAGERNAUTH
COMMENTARY EDITOR
GABE BRADLEY
JENNIFER MCBRIDE
AILEE SLATER
TRAVIS WILLSE
COLUMNISTS
ASHLEY GRIFFIN
SUPPLEMENT
FREELANCE EDITOR
DANIELLE HICKEY
PHOTO EDITOR
LAUREN WIMER
SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
NICOLE BARKER
TIM BOBOSKY
PHOTOGRAPHER
ERIK BISHOFF
KATE HORTON
PART-TIME PHOTOGRAPHERS
BRET FURTWANGLER
GRAPHIC ARTIST
KIRA PARK
DESIGN EDITOR
DUSTIN REESE
SENIOR DESIGNER
WENDY KIEFFER
AMANDA LEE
BR1ANNE SHOLIAN
DESIGNERS
SHADRA BEESLEY
JEANN1E EVERS
COPY CHIEFS
KIMBERLY BLACKF1ELD
PAUL THOMPSON
SPORTS COPY EDITORS
GREG BILSLAND
AMBER LINDROS
NEWS COPY EDITORS
LINDSAY BURT
PULSE COPY EDITOR
ADRIENNE NELSON
ONLINE EDITOR
WEBMASTER
BUSINESS
(541)346-5511
JUDY RIEDL
GENERAL MANAGER
KATTIY CARBONE
BUSINESS MANAGER
REBECCA CRnCHETT
RECEPTIONIST
AJBING GUO
ANDREW LEAHY
JOHN LONG
HOLLY M1STELL
HOLLY STEIN
DISTRIBUTION
ADVERTISING
(541)346-3712
MELISSA GUST
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
TYLER MACK
SALES MANAGER
MATT BETZ
HERON CALISCH-DOLEN
MEGAN HAMLIN
KATEHIRONAKA
MAEGAN KASER-LEE
MIA LE1DELMEYER
EMILY PHILBIN
SHANNON ROGERS
SALES REPRESENTATIVES
KELLEE KAUFTHE1L
AD ASSISTANT
CLASSIFIED
(541)3464343
TRINASHANAMAN
CLASSIFIED MANAGER
KORALYNN BASHAM
KATY GAGNON
SABRINA GOWETTE
KER1 SPANGLER
KATIE STRINGER
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING
ASSOCIATES
PRODUCTION
(541) 3464381
MICHELE ROSS
PRODUCTION MANAGER
TARA SLOAN
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR
JEN CRAMLET
KRISTEN D1CHARRY
CAMERON GAUT
JONAH SCHROGIN
DESIGNERS
The Oregon Daily Emerald is pu6
lished daily Monday through Fri
day during the school year by the
Oregon Daily Emerald Publishing
Co. Inc., at the University of Ore
gon, Eugene, Ore. The Emerald
operates independently of the
University with offices in Suite
300 of the Erb Memorial Union.
The Emerald is private property.
Unlawful removal or use of
papers is prosecutable by law.
■ In my opinion
Just when I thought I had achieved
the political cynic’s equivalent of Nir
vana - a state in which you are ab
solutely at peace with your utter ha
tred for all politicians everywhere - I
made the mistake of reading conser
vative strategist Frank Luntz’s instruc
tion manual for Republicans on how
they can continue to advance their
right wing agenda. Now I am no
longer at peace.
Luntz’s message in a nutshell: Em
brace propaganda. The 160-page
playbook features some real gems,
like when Luntz advises conserva
tives to dodge questions of fiscal irre
sponsibility by bringing up terrorism.
“The trick then is to contextualize
the deficit inside of 9/11,” he writes.
Whenever I hear a Republican engage
in this kind of rhetorical game it
makes me want to contextualize my
foot inside of his or her ass.
But the highlight of the document -
and the part that really screwed up
that whole enlightenment thing that I
had going - is a memorandum at the
very end entitled “The 14 Words Nev
er to Use.” Luntz provides a list of
words that he believes can undermine
a conservative argument, and offers
alternative words to replace them.
“From today forward,” he writes,
“you are the language police.”
For example, Luntz suggests that
conservatives never say “government”
and instead say “Washington,” never
say “privatization” and instead say
“personalization,” and never say “out
sourcing” and instead say “look there’s
Paris Hilton” and then run away. No,
actually he says conservatives should
DAVID JAGERNAUTH
CRITICAL MASS
blame outsourcing on “over-taxation,
over-regulation and too much litiga
tion.” He adds, “Because it rhymes, it
will be remembered. ”
Conservatives must think Americans
are really stupid. Do you know why?
Because Americans really are stupid.
But let’s not use the word “stupid” -
that plays bad in the Midwest - let us
use the word “innocent.” Americans
are so “innocent” that their opinions
about an issue can radically change de
pending on the words used to describe
it. For example, Luntz points out that 10
percent more Americans say they want
to repeal the “death tax” than say they
want to repeal the “estate tax. ”
In other words, if you give some
thing a nice sounding name (i.e. Clear
Skies Initiative) people will be less
likely to care that they can’t breathe.
It is all about the branding.
With this in mind, Luntz tells his Re
publican brethren not to talk about
“undocumented workers” and “immi
gration reform” because that leads peo
ple to believe that Mexicans are people.
Conservatives should instead talk
about “illegal aliens” and “border secu
rity,” he says. These words remind
many “innocent” Americans of the
movie Independence Day. And who
wouldn’t root for Will Smith in his fight
against those lousy space creatures?
Luntz also advises conservatives to
never say “drilling for oil” and instead
say “exploring for energy. ” I think Re
publicans can do better than that.
Here are a few more suggestions:
“Cleansing the earth of its toxins,”
“deep tissue massaging the land for
God’s bounty,” and “finger banging
Mother Nature until she oil-gasms.”
The only problem with the list —
apart from offering a disgusting insid
er’s view of the banality of politics —
is that it only appeals to one side of
the aisle. I would like to see a list for
ultra left-wing liberals. Until that day,
I can offer a bit of advice: If you want
to be as annoying and soulless as Re
publicans — and actually win for a
change — you have to steal their
tricks. Remember to contextualize
everything that is wrong with the
world inside of President Bush:
Never say: “Corporate media.”
Instead say: “Bush’s legions of
propagandists.”
Never say: “Asian tsunami disaster.”
Instead say: “Bush’s new tsunami
weapon of mass destruction.”
Never say: “Environmental de
struction.” Instead say: “Raping the
earth like Bush raped my sister.”
See how that works? It’s simple.
And when in doubt, make sure your
words rhyme, because then people
will remember. For example:
“President Bush / Can kiss
my tush.”
davidjagemauth@ daily emerald, com
■ Guest commentary
Hate speech impersonating satire ?
What was not addressed throughout
the Oregon Commentator’s funding
process is a larger discussion about the
issue of privilege and how it relates to
publishing responsible news content.
As one of the students most frequently
“targeted” by the publication during
the previous school year, I feel inclined
to write this.
Unlike ASUO Senator Toby Hill-Mey
er, I did not feel my physical safety
threatened as the result of what the
Commentator published about me.
That’s because for most folks, I fall
within the following categories: white,
male, and heterosexual. My social iden
tity is represented, reinforced and legit
imized by most media sources and can
be loosely defined as the “norm” of this
society. Because mine is an identity sit
uated within this norm, 1 rarely feel in
secure with this inherited privilege.
Further, anything that potentially
threatens my privilege would take rec
ognizing that it comes at the expense of
others, and “othering” what doesn’t re
flect the norm — say, if you identify as
homosexual, transgendered, colored,
etc. This realization might also lead me
to sympathize, or even identify with
that Other, perhaps, altering my per
spective or behaviors, instead of hiding
behind terms such as “satire.”
There can be little doubt that the
media — advertisement, films, televi
sion, music — is one of the most
powerful socializing tools that exists
within this society. From my own ex
periences with both the staff and con
tent of the Oregon Commentator, it
rarely deviates from this white,
heterosexist model of journalism.
In David Jagemauth's Feb. 4 Emer
ald column, he writes, “Until we have
mastered the technology whereby
printed words are able to leap off the
page and slap you in the face, no story
has 'directly hurt' anybody. And even
so, is 'hurt' now the standard for ac
ceptable and unacceptable speech?”
Yet, words do have an effect, whether
“indirect” or “direct.” The power of
the printed word disseminated across
a large viewing audience does shape
attitudes, and a campus publication
does influence the campus it reaches.
So it is not unexpected that Com
mentator staff members would turn to
the First Amendment instead of tak
ing responsibility for their privilege.
And as the microcosmic vanguard for
white, patriarchal America on cam
pus, the law fully supports the publi
cation’s position. Of course, “feelings”
aren't considered within a system of
law that prides itself on supposed
“rationality” and “objectivity.”
After all, if we were to consider
feelings in our decision-making
process, how it feels to have your pri
vacy invaded might count. For exam
ple, how I felt when staff members of
the Commentator carried on a debate
about my physical appearance, or my
choice of notebook paper in class on
their Web site’s blog. Or, when re
sponding to one of my articles about
Valentine's Day, one staff member re
ferred to me as a “rock fucker.” We
might also consider that one of the
first times my writing was repub
lished in the Commentator (volume
20, issues 7 and 8), they were juxta
posed with pictures of bound and
gagged women. We might also ques
tion why a publication claiming not
to promote hate speech entitles their
quintessential, year-end issue “The
Hate Issue.”
I hope for a continued presence of
conservative and liberal journalism on
campus. But the challenge for all con
cerned is to look beyond this spectrum,
and even the rules themselves, to take
responsibility for creating a safer cam
pus and a more tolerant community.
Aaron Shakra is a former Pulse Editor
for the Oregon Daily Emerald
OREGON DAILY EMERALD LETTERS POLICY
Letters to the editor and guest commentaries are encouraged, and should be sent to letters@dailyemerald.com or submitted at the Oregon Daily Emerald office, EMU Suite 300. Electronic
submissions are preferred Letters are limited to 250 words, and guest commentaries to 550 words. Authors are limited to one submission per calendar month. Submissions should
include phone number and address for verification. The Emerald reserves the rigit to edit for space, grammar and style. Guest submissions are published at the discretion of the Emerald.
■ Out loud
“He was full of life. He was vivacious. He was
optimistic. He was really future-oriented, even in
the face of really naughty problems, like Cher
nobyl. ... That was one of the reasons I really en
joyed working with him. I’ll miss him.” — Uni
versity landscape architecture professor David
Hulse remembering his friend and co-worker,
University Planning, Public Policy and Manage
ment associate professor John Baldwin, 54, who
died in his sleep at home Monday night of
unknown, natural causes.
“The commitment we made today is that these
won’t just be strategic plans laying on a shelf but
actually be action plans that will guide work that
we will accomplish. They’re going to take some
time; they’re going to take some resources, and
they’re going to take keeping this a priority over
time. ” — City Manager Dennis Taylor at the City
Council meeting on Tuesday reviewing a report
with 57 recommendations to improve the Eugene
Police Department.
“Out of crisis comes opportunity.” — Police
Chief Robert Lehner, answering questions
Wednesday at City Hall about the recent audit
of the Eugene Police Department.
“What I’m worried about... is that it affects
who has the ability to run for ASUO president in
the first place. ” — ASUO President Adam Petkun
expressing concern about a planned reduction of
the ASUO Executive’s stipend from $700 to $175
in next year’s budget and noting that the planned
decrease might make the ASUO a “place where
only the privileged can work.”
“It was talked that the money that's in re
serves was waiting for a rainy day — at 12:01
it's about to pour.” — Amalgamated Transit
Union Division 757 Vice President Jonathan
Hunt on Sunday just before union members
went on strike.
“This is a sad day for Lane County. We are
out on strike, and we will stay out on strike
until we can get a fair contract.” — Hunt
on Monday about the ensuing Lane Transit
District strike.
“People are not comfortable with change.
That’s why our profession exists — we’re here
to manage change.” — University Planning Di
rector and Architect Chris Ramey on University
land acquisition and development.
“A fight for environmental justice is really a
fight for the protection of all of us. Pollution
doesn’t stop at a particular street. The air blows
everywhere.” — Beverly Wright, founder and
director of the Deep South Center for Environ
mental Justice at Xavier University in
Louisiana, at a weekend University conference
on environmental law.
“He was the kind of student that I saved
stuff for. I would see something and think
‘Oh, Tim would be interested in this.’ He
found everything interesting, he was a really
fun student.” — Renee Irvin, assistant pro
fessor in the University Public Policy, Plan
ning and Management department, on
University senior Timothy D. Buras, 22, who
died Saturday after falling down a chimney
shaft in Portland.
“She lived life her own way.” — Eugene
Police Officer Randy Ellis at a memorial for
Hatoon Victoria Adkins, a longtime campus
resident, who died last week.
“It would have been much easier to keep
us in the door in the first place than to get us
back in the door.” — Carol Allred, executive
board officer for ATU Division 757 and LTD
driver, at a union rally Monday night at the LTD
downtown station.
“My personal opinion is rules can sometimes
be completely useless in finding a good solution
to a problem.” — Dan Kieffer, former PFC
member, in response to the ASUO Constitution
Court’s Monday ruling.
— From Daily Emerald news reports