Decision about Linda Dievendorf belongs to students
It is truly a sad day for the University of Oregon and our community. Very recently the University administration, without notice, terminated the contract of Linda Dievendorf, employee of 21 years in student administration. She was a represented worker for 19 years and was then forced, as are many others, out of her bargaining unit and into a position as officer of administration with no protection.
Linda Dievendorf, who is director of the Cultural Forum, is one of the finest individuals I have worked with at the University. She excels in all areas and is greatly admired by the students. Professionally, she ranks among the superior student advisors nationwide. Her position is 100 percent funded by student fees, and student leaders were not informed about this decision.
I have taught at the University for 14 years, and I remain very committed to our institution. However, this event is one of the most groundless actions I have witnessed, surpassing even the firing of past University President Paul Olum. In the end, power over Olum’s position belonged to the state. Linda Dievendorf belongs to the students who, in a unified manner, reject the administration’s decision. I firmly believe that the faculty, staff, most administrators and the community do, too.
The administration gravely overstepped their bounds in this matter and it is time to rectify it. When this happens, the University will have protected the basic integrity of our mission.
Bryan Moore
senior Spanish instructor
romance languages
It’s true: Dead men don’t rape
The Emerald never fails to make me ashamed to be affiliated with the University. Your latest editorial (“Subtle alienation still an overt wrong,” ODE, May 30) regarding the woman who held the sign reading “Dead men don’t rape” was full of patriarchal garbage!
I happen to be a friend of the woman who held this sign, and I support her wholeheartedly. Guess what? It’s true, dead men don’t rape. In my eyes, when a man rapes a woman, she has the right to fight back against this incredible injustice in any way that she so chooses. In some cases, she may choose to kill her rapist, and I say more power to her.
Maybe if more rapists (the vast majority are men) were killed, men would be less inclined to keep raping women in epidemic proportions. I agree that the underlying issues of sexism and patriarchy are what truly need to be addressed to stop rape for good, but in the meantime, women aren’t just going to sit back and put up with the abuse.
It’s typical that yet again an issue concerning the violence perpetuated on women by men has been warped into a “blame-the-woman, feel-sorry-for-the-man-who-felt-alienated” game. It’s also typical that the Emerald has chosen to “side with the man.” I’m sorry that a man was upset by the sign. I’m sorry that he felt alienated by a piece of cardboard. But guess what? This entire society alienates women, and we are more than a little “upset” about the constant violence that is perpetrated upon us.
We are incredibly angry, and we will fight back in order to reclaim the night, reclaim our freedom and reclaim our lives!
Liz Simmons
freshman
philosophy