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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (June 11, 2015)
LET TERS DE-GREENING EUGENE I haven’t read anything about the trees downtown that are slated to go down this summer. The one by the Eugene Public Library on Charnelton is doomed, but there are 10 trees on 11th and Olive, across from The Kiva, that will go when the bulldozers come to demolish Musgrove Mortuary. One of them has already been dug up and moved. Maybe the community missed the architectural drawing of the Hilton that's going on that property. No trees or landscaping are in the plan. I can see the tops of some of those trees from two blocks away. That’s a lot of pollution filtering that will be missed, besides the shade advantage. We're losing a lot of our urban landscape. If you've ever turned left at 13th and Charnelton in the afternoon on a sunny day and had your window down, you would have felt the heat radiate from the new Capstone student housing project. Not a lot of noise was made over the proposal for that project either. I recall that there was a huge outcry when the city wanted to take down the trees beside the WOW Hall. Maybe you could have one of the staff writers do an article on the possible demise of the trees (e.g., the “de-Greening” of our town) or suggest that the Mighty Eugenean Placard Carriers and Marchers do their magic thing to save the trees of 11th and Olive. Maybe the plans for the Hilton could be modified to retain the patch of green by the sidewalk and the lovely trees. Yeah, sure, I know that's a stretch, but Mr. Hilton doesn't live here and we do, so we need to step up and let our needs be heard. Shadra Lewis Eugene RESOURCES AVAILABLE In response to the May 28 cover story “Dragged Through the Mud,” I want to share with readers important information about the free legal services offered by UO School of Law’s Domestic Violence Clinic. The clinic has an attorney, funded by the federal Victims of Crime Act, who provides legal representation to student survivors of sexual assault, dating/ domestic violence and stalking. The attorney can represent a student survivor in the student conduct code process, help the survivor obtain a civil protective order, inform the survivor of her rights as a victim of a crime and provide other emergency-related legal services such as providing assistance with housing or employment issues. Students’ conversations with the lawyer are protected by attorney-client privilege, and the attorney is not subject to mandatory reporting under Title IX. The student’s information is not disclosed to anyone without the student’s consent or a court order. Any student survivor who would like a consultation with the attorney can call 346- 8619 or email dvattorney@uoregon.edu. Kasia Mlynski, staff attorney Domestic Violence Clinic Eugene ARTSHOUND ENFORCING A BAN? The problem, as I see it, with Mardel Chinburg’s call for a tobacco-use ban in all public areas of Eugene (she wasn’t entirely specific) is two-fold [Viewpoint, 6/4]. First, tobacco is a legal product, established, taxed and sold around the city in literally hundreds of locations and used by thousands of users. Banning its use indoors/outdoors in any public location will be onerous in the extreme for the local police. Secondly, one need not wait until the new pot law goes into effect to encounter the smell (hence smoke) of marijuana in many public locations in Eugene now. In fact, one is far more likely to encounter the smell of the ganja than tobacco already. Are we to believe it will magically disappear in July? Of course not, and I’m certain Chinburg is not so foolish as to think so either. While I certainly sympathize with Chinburg’s call for an end to tobacco smoke in public places where that smoke can reach into another’s breathing space, I seriously question any ability to enforce an effective ban of both it and marijuana citywide — not without a very draconian police force dedicated to doing little else. I am also quite certain this is not what the good people of Eugene, on both sides of this issue, want to see happen to their city, Chinburg included. I guess it’s one of those things that sounds good but is entirely impractical. No disrespect to Ms. Chinburg, but unless the ban can be equal and effective OCAL UR L RT YO ! s t s i t Ar SUPPO Join us in promoting Eugene’s rising artists. We are seeking sponsorships from local businesses and private donations to support fi ve artists. Each artist will create a unique ArtsHound edition of an EW distribution box as part of downtown’s First Friday ArtWalk. 4 June 11, 2015 • eugeneweekly.com TRIGGERING IMAGE Your cover story for the May 28 issue (“Sexual Misconduct”) draws much- needed attention to an absolutely vital issue facing students on college campuses across our nation. However, I fear that you neglected to consider the impact of your cover photo on those directly affected by sexual violence. Such images can be triggering (provoking an unwanted emotional response) in persons who have experienced sexual and/or violent trauma, and it is inconsiderate to place this image in public view, without warning of any kind. I would suggest that, when/if you choose provocative cover images in the future, a different cover be displayed in the glass front of your paper boxes, so that readers can choose whether or not to expose themselves to potentially triggering material. Wouldn’t your readers be just as intrigued by the promise of a cover image that was too powerful for casual view? There are many in our society who have lived through traumatic events, such as military veterans and those in emotionally abusive relationships, and it tomorrow exchange buy * sell*trade •UNLEASHED• For more information on sponsorship packages, contact the ArtsHound Marketing Coordinator, Greg Butler: greg@eugeneweekly.com 541.735.6205 on all forms of offensive smoking odors, any law to ban tobacco not inclusive of other objectionable and unhealthy odors would be unfair and most likely ineffective pitting otherwise peaceful citizens against their own city government and law enforcement agencies. Pete Stingley Ash Valley, Oregon 131 E. 5th Av. • 687-2805 Buff aloExchange.com
