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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 25, 2022)
letters REMEMBER THE MAN IN THE GREEN FEDORA? Regarding your Slant column of 8/18: The University of Oregon and Eugene need a university president “who has a passion for the arts and humanities.” Not long ago we had one in Richard Lariviere (BA History of Religion, doc- torate in Sanskrit). During his too-brief tenure (2009 to 2011), Lariviere boost- ed UO faculty salaries, brought some much-needed accountability to the ath- letic department (an unforgivable sin here in Nike town) and envisioned a new UO governing board that would be inde- pendent of the old Oregon State System of Higher Education. Remember what he got for his ef- forts? An erratically behaving Gov. John Kitzhaber fi red him in a grandstanding public fi t of bruised ego. Former sup- porters at UO kicked him on his way out the door and badmouthed him after he was gone (perhaps eager to appease the ranting governor and save their own hides). Then, once he was in a new job in a far-off state, the UO established the independent governing board he pushed for (no credit given to him for the idea, of course). Like you, I favor a UO president with academic roots in the arts and humani- ties. But based on how we treated the last one we had, we deserve less. Dana Magliari Eugene PROUD TO BE PART OF PRIDE I admit it: I am a senior and I am a re- cluse. The older I get I fi nd most of what I hear is poppycock and balderdash. Our time is short; let's not waste it. Saturday, August 13, was Eugene Pride Day and, like most public events, I avoid like the plague. It was my 31st wed- ding anniversary and my wife suggested we go. It was a wonderful experience. Those who attended could not have been more polite or supportive. I heard “please” and “thank yous” and “excuse me”s more there than any previous events I've attended. The attitudes were freely shared and sincere. We learn everyday. My generations E U G E N E W E E K LY . C O M were like old getting together 'cause they could. I got my AIDS test and my free T-shirt. We should walk a mile in their shoes, but walk with them. We can be friends if we want. George G. Brooks Springfi eld FIGHT INEQUITY ON MANY FRONTS Congratulations to those responsi- ble for the Black Cultural Festival, a spe- cial time for healing of Eugene’s scarred history (“Healing History’s Wounds” by Irene Rasheed, EW 8/18). On the na- tional scale the Infl ation Reduction Act is beginning to address some inequities in health care and the dangers of cli- mate change. Sadly, the expanded Child Tax Credit was not a part of it. Hunger and aff ordable housing were exacer- bated when this tax credit failed. Un- fortunately, it is always the poor and mi- norities who are aff ected most. So let’s make sure we elect candidates that will continue to put America on the road to equity, a healing in itself. Willie Dickerson Snohomish, Washington WE’RE STAYING HOME TO SAVE MONEY In Slant 8/11, EW writes, “Eugene’s live music scene is active, but we wonder where everyone is?” Perhaps the problem is with the huge surcharge ticket agencies add to the cost of tickets — often 20 percent or more. This is outrageous, especially since it’s all done by a computer with little or no human in- volvement. Furthermore, this money goes to companies outside our community. I didn’t go to the Oregon Country Fair this year as the fees were excessive. I’ve also avoided some concerts for the same reason. I noticed that the McDon- ald Theatre no longer sells tickets, and you must purchase them from Tickets- West. For example, a $60 ticket will wind up costing you a $6.50 fee and a $3.50 processing fee. This is basically a 16 per- cent tax that only benefi ts TicketsWest. Brad Stewart Eugene A U G U S T 2 5 , 2 0 2 2 3
