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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (April 3, 2003)
ZINN IN EUGENE Dr. Howard Zinn, noted historian, politi- cal scientist, peace and justice activist, and author of several books, including A People’s History of the United States, will lecture on “Terrorism and War” in Eugene on Friday, April 4, at 7 pm at the McDonald Theatre. For nearly a half-century, Dr. Zinn has been both chronicler of and participant in major U.S. peace and justice movements. A Jewish American whose working-class im- migrant parents labored in poverty all their lives, Zinn does not suffer from the delusion that hard work is all that’s required to realize the “American Dream.” Likewise, he is keenly aware how past and present U.S. po- litical leaders and institutions preserve our nation’s wealth for the few and perpetuate for tens of millions of Americans the concomi- tant violence of poverty, hunger, and igno- rance in service to so-called national inter- ests. Nevertheless, Zinn remains hopeful. In his writings, teachings, and activism, Zinn bears witness to the indefatigable spirit of or- dinary people who successfully overcome their oppressors. “How often in this [past] century we have been surprised,” Zinn proclaims, “by the sud- den emergence of a people’s movement, the sudden overthrow of tyranny. We are sur- prised because we have not taken notice of the quiet simmerings of indignation … of protest … of resistance that, in the midst of our despair, portend the excitement of change.” Zinn adds, “Isolated acts begin to join. Individual thrusts blend into organized ac- tions, and one day, often when the situation seems most hopeless, there bursts onto the scene a movement.” Ultimately, Zinn con- cludes that to be hopeful “is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kind- ness.” Tickets for Zinn’s lecture are available at the EMU ticket office ($6/stu., $8/public). Call 346-0634 for further information. — Bo Adan, UO Concerned Faculty for Peace and Justice RUDDERLESS COUNCIL Eugene City Councilors met Feb. 8 for eight hours to set a “shared, future-focused strategic policy agenda” for the city — but failed. “I don’t think any of us would disagree that the session did not meet its objective,” Sue Diciple, a Portland facilitator hired to run the meeting, wrote the council. “The dy- namic of the council, as it exists now, is not such that a collaborative process will work effectively.” After new members are elected every two years, the city council traditionally meets to set its high priority goals for the city. This is the first time in at least a decade that the council has failed to reach consensus on what broad goals the city organization should pursue. Diciple pointed to “process guidelines” handed out to the council to facilitate the BY PAUL NEEVEL JAN CUNY For the past three years, UO computer science professor Jan Cuny has served as a volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for abused and neglected children. “They have a terrific training course,” she reports. “After that, you’re appointed to a case.” Each CASA volunteer is assigned to a child in foster care and remains with that child until a safe and permanent home is found. The advocate attends fami- ly meetings, talks with teachers and case workers, and writes reports for the court. “Kids have a lot of different care providers,” Cuny notes. “No one has the total picture except the CASA.” A New Jersey native, Cuny vol- unteered in a big-sister program as an undergrad at Princeton and worked with abused kids while in grad school at Michigan. She and her husband, Steve Robinson, adopted three older children while she was teaching at UMass. They moved to Eugene in 1993. “Kids benefit from seeing the same face in different situations over a period of years,” Cuny says. “It’s one of the most rewarding things I do.” CASA of Lane County advocated for 148 children last year. More volunteers are needed. Inquire at 984-3132. 8 APRIL 3, 2003 failed meeting. The guidelines included such advice as: “be willing to listen;” “focus on the good of the group;” and “manage your own disappointment.” Diciple said “none of those guidelines were successfully met by the group as a whole.” “I don’t think the guidelines are unrealis- tic,” Diciple said. “Some councils, even some that can be quite contentious, are largely suc- cessful on all six points when conducting their goal-setting business.” Mayor Jim Torrey said at a March 12 council meeting that he found the fractious meeting embarrassing. “I was [embarrassed] as the facilitator was as I’m sure most of you were. I’m glad we weren’t on television that day.” “I didn’t feel real good about the way it came out,” said Councilor Nancy Nathanson. “We’re going to produce flawed goals for the next two years,” said Councilor George Poling. City staff developed a list of four possible council goals from the Feb. 8 meeting that they felt might have majority support on the council. “I didn’t perceive there was consen- sus around any of the four issues,” acting City Manager Jim Carlson said. The four pro- posed goals included: “Strengthen relation- ship with University of Oregon;” “Address the needs of the community’s most vulnera- ble members;” “Address the needs for out-of- school educational and recreational activities for children and youth;” and “Ensure effec- tive, efficient local government services.” Possible actions under the goals included such things as: privatizing city jobs; giving free library cards to low-income Springfield kids; and working with the UO to site a new basketball arena. “I’m really disappointed” with the list staff came back with, Councilor Scott Meisner said. “I don’t think it matches what we discussed at all.” Councilor Betty Taylor faulted the facili- tator for wasting half the day with staff pre- sentations rather than council discussion. She said Diciple had focused on her own goals rather than the council’s. Taylor questioned whether siting a bas- ketball arena was an appropriate goal of the city council. “It would be embarrassing to say that’s one of our goals,” she said. Councilor Bonny Bettman said the city should not subsidize the UO basketball arena with city land and staff time as it did with the Autzen Stadium expansion. Taylor said many of the goals are sup- ported by only four councilors but, by new council rules, at least five councilors must vote to even schedule a discussion topic at a council meeting, adding, “I find it very ironic.” It’s not clear how the council will con- tinue to work on its goals. Some suggested another goals meeting after Dennis Taylor, the newly appointed city manager, takes of- fice this month.
