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
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