Emerald’s coverage lacking
I was very disappointed with the Oregon Daily Emerald’s coverage of Eugene’s Election Forum ( “Forum fails to clarify plans,” March 12). The article implies the majority of citizens at the forum were concerned only with the complexity of the alternatives offered. This is simply inaccurate. The “journalist” covering the forum was either biased or left early.
Five of the first six citizens did speak about complexity, but by the end of the meeting the majority of citizens spoke in favor of change. Furthermore, one of the latter speakers pointed out that most (if not all) citizens speaking against change were from one organization — the Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber of Commerce supporting the status quo? What a shock.
At the end of the forum, a mock vote was held to see which option those in attendance favored (including the status quo). Instant run-off voting with 8 to 10 wards won by an overwhelming margin. Obviously, most citizens weren’t concerned about complexity.
For an accurate portrayal of the forum, I recommend reading The Register Guard’s coverage in Sunday’s paper. Apparently their journalist stayed through more than the first 20 minutes of the forum.

John W. Herberg

post-baccalaureate student

environmental studies
Ê

Killing varsity sports is a loss for all
I read with interest your article about the club baseball team (“Springtime means baseball for Club Sports,” ODE, March 9). Of particular interest was the synopsis of varsity sports eliminated at the University of Oregon.
To begin with, baseball as a varsity sport was actually dropped prior to 1981, in 1979. Men’s gymnastics was dropped a year or so earlier. On the other hand, women’s gymnastics was dropped in 1986, along with men’s and women’s swimming.
At that time, in order to remain in compliance with Title IX, women’s golf became a varsity sport. All these instances of sport elimination were due, in part, to attempts by athletic directors to persuade the Oregon State Legislature to fund, on some level, intercollegiate athletics at the University of Oregon. In each instance, the bluff was called, resulting in a loss for the athletic community.

Dan Cole

men’s and women’s swimming coach, ’81- ’86