TO THE EDITOR
complish that goal.
Want to volunteer, contact the local cam-
paign at 342-0639, or visit www.lanecounty-
fordean.com, and/orwww.deanforamerica.com
Munir Katul
Eugene
BIKE RULES
Thugs harassed me last night while riding
my bike home at 3:45 am. I was pedaling at a
quick pace, my head up, bike light blinking,
noticing the lack of traffic activity, logically,
at that time of night. I failed to stop my bike at
the four-way stop intersection of 8th and
Monroe. That is when the thugs pounced.
Yes, our fine Eugene Police were so bored
that they needed two of their shiny units to in-
terrogate me, inform me of my illegal activity
(gasp!), and slap me with a $140 ticket for my
failure to stop on my bike. I am a female in my
early 20s, and I feel like these two men in
black were bullying me unreasonably. Why is
it that every time I simply see an officer, I go
into a cold sweat and feel sick to my stom-
ach? I know I am not alone in this and that
many other cyclists in town have had the
same experience.
The laws need to change for cyclists. Also
logic, and might I say, compassion, needs to
play a role in the minds of officers. I know that
is a long shot though. I am thankful that I know
my rights, so when I was asked to recite my
Social Security and phone number, I could re-
fuse. So, in conclusion, know your rights and
make sure there are no cops waiting to pounce
when you ride on past those stop signs.
Meghan Quinn
Eugene
KESEY’S CASE
I was happy to see the statue of Ken Kesey
on the cover of EW (12/4), and even happier
to see it at the head of the EW ’s Winter
Reading feature. So imagine my dismay
when I discovered that neither of the latest
books by and about Kesey were included in
the reading list.
Kesey’s Jail Journal is, in my opinion, one
of his (three) finest works. An illuminated
manuscript, it was originally written by
Kesey in 1966 while a prisoner in
California’s first experimental minimum se-
curity work camp, where he served six
months on a marijuana charge. He reworked
the journals near the end of his life, making it
to date the only published work that traversed
the greater part of his writing career. This hi-
larious and insightful work is a testimony to
what is most admirable in the indomitable na-
ture that was Kesey’s. What a film this will
make (if only Johnny Depp can grow a big
neck)!
Spit in the Ocean 7: All About Kesey is a
well-crafted and very special tribute
to the man. Edited and compiled by Ed
McClanahan (Famous People I Have
Known), the book includes a couple score
classic tales about Kesey. Well-known icons
like Tom Robbins, Hunter Thompson, Gus
Van Zant, Robert Hunter, and others regale us
in their honoring of the Kesey spirit. Of par-
ticular note are the many fine pieces by local
friends and acquaintances of Ken. “The
White Tent” by South Eugene High School
teacher Eileen Babbs is a beautiful example
of the precious wealth of emotions that
Kesey’s life (and death) engendered in our
DECEMBER 18, 2003 5