Two dynamic women for ASUO
Nilda Brooklyn and Joy Nair are the most qualified candidates to lead the ASUO in governing the University of Oregon student body. The experience of these two dynamic young women far outdistances their competition’s, while both maintain an element of humanity that allows them to be approachable.
I have had the privilege of working side-by-side with these two during the OSCC racial profiling Week of Action and found it refreshing to converse with candidates whose contact with student groups did not come only during their election bid. They know the inner workings and technical aspects of presiding over the student body and the ASUO, but realize that communication and human interaction are the best tools for solving the problems that confront the student body.
No candidate represents the entire student body, but the two on the 2001-2002 presidential ticket who are willing to listen and act on the concerns of the students, in addition to asserting a strong personal position, are Nilda Brooklyn and Joy Nair.
Dylan Domaille
freshman
undeclared
OUS policy incoherent
The recent OUS policy requiring the University to conduct business in a “straightforward and impartial manner” seems to have created unwarranted fatalism among the media and some activists with respect to the University’s membership in the WRC.
I disagree with the notion that the new OUS policy necessarily ends conduct codes and the University’s affiliation with monitoring groups. The OUS policy states that the University and other schools can refuse business with contractors engaged in illegal activities. This may preclude cracking down on multinational corporations that do not pay a living wage, have unsafe working conditions and/or engage in union-busting activities.
However, the University may still hold businesses accountable for not complying with the laws of the countries in which they produce (no matter how weak these laws are). As such, a monitoring organization would be highly consistent with the OUS’s new policy, even if it means watered-down conduct codes and accountability standards.
Of course, it is also worth noting that the new OUS policy is logically incoherent: It simply compels universities to conduct business in a different, thinly-veiled political manner.
Max Brown
GTF
political science
OSPIRG full of empty promises
I am a student at Portland State University, and I am becoming familiar with OSPIRG on this campus. Some of the same problems apply to OSPIRG at the University of Oregon.
OSPIRG claims to be for the environment, but who wastes more money on posters than OSPIRG (at PSU, they don’t even appear to be on recycled paper)? OSPIRG also claims to support campaign finance reform, but when it’s on the ballot, it outspends the opposition four times over!
OSPIRG likes students to think they are the last hope for environmental causes, and lots of students think that giving OSPIRG money equals doing something good. But when was the last time OSPIRG actually proved it was effective?
There are many environmental groups that are funded voluntarily and are much more successful than OSPIRG, such as the Audubon Society, Sierra Club, Oregon Trout, the Cascadia Forest Alliance and the World Forestry Center. Do you see those groups misleading students about how their money is spent? Those groups don’t require students to pay for them.
OSPIRG likes to say it involves students, but the groups I’ve mentioned will gladly take student volunteers. Why doesn’t OSPIRG let students make that decision for themselves?
Simply, they are afraid that people will realize that OSPIRG is full of empty promises, and that if students paid more attention, they would realize OSPIRG is not what it claims to be. Students should vote no on OSPIRG, because they are being taken for a ride.
Ken Oke
Portland State University
freshman
speech communications
OSPIRG: a fighter and a winner
If there is any issue that calls you to vote in the general elections next week, it should be to vote yes for OSPIRG. OSPIRG is always on target in its campaigns. I am from Alaska, and preserving one of the last real areas of wilderness in the country — the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge — is one of my top environmental concerns.
OSPIRG is making protection of the refuge its top national campaign. The other big issue that it is working on is cleaning up the Willamette River. Progress on this issue is going to take more than kids cleaning up trash on the stream walks; it’s going to mean hiring staff to work with students to uncover the root causes of the pollution and then finding solutions to those root problems. OSPIRG gets results by having staff work on these issues year-round.
I want that, and so I am going to vote to fund the work that OSPIRG does. I want the Willamette cleaned up. I want the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to be protected. I want a group to focus on hunger and homelessness in Eugene. I want OSPIRG because it will not stop working on these issues until they are solved.
I am voting yes on OSPIRG because these battles need fighting, and OSPIRG is in the business of winning them.
Erin Pursell
junior
political science
MCC’s doors are open to all
The Multicultural Center is on the ballot this year for the first time. Our support can really make a difference for the MCC and everyone on campus. The MCC represents a strong community that welcomes everybody, not just students of color. Its goal is to spread “diversity” and awareness of other cultures through events, workshops, guest speakers, etc.
It is very important for students to see different people’s perspectives on issues, and without the MCC, this would be very difficult. Many student groups come to the MCC when they need money to finance an event. The MCC sponsors these groups but usually cannot contribute enough money because of its small budget. These events are almost always free and are always open to everyone. If this ballot measure passes, the money would not go only to the MCC, it would also go to many student groups.
MCC is asking for a mere 37 cents per student per term, which would yield about $18,000 to allocate to student groups, such as the Black Student Union, APASU and MEChA, for events next year. This money will support events that are open to everyone. Just as our game tickets are open to everyone, the MCC is open to everyone.
I encourage every student to support the MCC and pass this measure on the ballot. It’s our duty to this university and society to keep the MCC properly funded and running.
Give the MCC a chance to show what it can do by voting!
Nicholas D. Madani
freshman
business
OSPIRG: a statewide leader
It’s again that time of year in which students jockey over support for or against certain ballot measures in the ASUO elections. I’d like to add a fresh perspective to the OSPIRG debate.
If you don’t read the paper e
very day, then it can be hard to see th
e work that OSPIRG performs not only on this campus, but in our community and across our state. Last fall, OSPIRG was an invaluable ingredient in an ASUO recipe that registered more than 5,500 students to vote.
In addition to motivating students to exercise their democratic rights, OSPIRG is a leader across the state. By hiring staff and reaching out to the community to work with citizens to clean up our waterways, protect the air we breathe and for consumer protection, students here improve the quality of life for the community as a whole. These actions demonstrate that University students are invested community members, and we should be invested community members, as it’s our duty to create a positive future for Oregon.
For many, including myself, OSPIRG has taught valuable skills outside of the classroom. These skills have provided students a foundation to make an impact on the world we live in. Support the OSPIRG ballot measure.
Brian Tanner
senior
political science
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OSPIRG effective for students
I am writing to strongly endorse the OSPIRG ballot measure. Through my involvement with statewide and national student organizations, I have seen the effectiveness of OSPIRG.
Whether it has been registering students to vote, advocating for higher Pell Grants, fighting ATM fees or protecting student fee control, OSPIRG has achieved concrete victories that benefit students.
OSPIRG is a non-partisan organization that brings students from universities and community colleges together to work on issues students care about. This has resulted in a very positive reputation for OSPIRG on campus, statewide and national levels.
I encourage everyone to find more out about OSPIRG and vote yes for OSPIRG in the ASUO election.
C.J. Gabbe
student senator
senior
planning, public policy and management
