Stein cares about the environment
This state is at a crossroads. Our current governor is term-limited, and we have three
Democrats from whom we must choose to
replace him. All three are good candidates, but Bev Stein stands out as the person who will bring our environment back to its former health.
Oregon has some of the most polluted waterways in the country, and they are getting worse every day. Bev Stein is committed to cleaning up our state’s water and putting the bill on the biggest polluters.
Stein won endorsements from the Sierra Club and the League of Conservation Voters for her record as Multnomah County CEO and for her plan for our state. She intends to reduce our
dependence on polluting energy sources as well. Under her leadership, Oregon will buy more “green” power, which is electricity generated from wind, solar and geothermal resources. She will also require state agencies to reduce their use of raw materials by 25 percent and reduce waste by 50 percent.
Stein knows that the use of hybrid electric cars will reduce pollution, and as such, her plan includes replacing the state’s cars with hybrid cars as the older cars rotate out of service. She will also eliminate the double registration cost for these cleaner cars.
The next governor of this state needs to fix our economy, but not at the expense of our environment. Despite what many people think, we can, in fact, have a stable economy with a clean environment, and Bev Stein will prove this.

Samantha Bouton

sophomore

political science and Japanese

Tympanic cut a rug; article didn’t
I am writing concerning the article published in the May 9 issue about the local band Tympanic (“Tympanic skips between towns — and musical styles”). I saw Tympanic for the first time during fall term, and I have been hooked since my first experience.
I was disappointed in this article because it was blatantly obvious that the reporter, Jen West, had never seen Tympanic play. If she had, there likely would have been reference to the numerous people, many of them University students, who come out to cut a rug on the dance floor at every show.
Or maybe West would have delved more into what exactly makes this foursome have such a blast on stage. All in all, after going to a Tymp
excitement that was not at all shown in her article.
Maybe next time the Emerald will plan ahead and actually send a reporter to a show. That way, they can come back with the full story and a huge smile.

Eric M. Wilson

junior

business

“Beer Bellies” are a myth
In John Muir O’Brien’s letter (“Fraternities offer framework for obesity, depression,” ODE, May 7) on the subject of alcohol consumption in fraternities, he implied that by allowing alcohol consumption, fraternities are “encouraging a framework for obesity and depression later in life.”
O’Brien is, in this matter, misinformed. Beer is not really an obesity-causing substance. The “beer belly” is actually a myth. Beer is relatively low in calories but does stimulate the appetite, which
often leads to what marijuana enthusiasts refer to as “munchies” — from which one acquires the calories that lead to unsightly “beer bellies.”
If one eats healthy and moderately and — after one too many beers — thinks twice before having a large pizza delivered, one can enjoy quite a bit of beer without putting on those extra pounds.
In regard to his argument against alcohol in fraternities, I would add that banning alcohol completely seems to me rather childish. Could one not simply make a pledge against extreme binge drinking, beer bongs and the like?

William Moglia

senior

German and international studies