Next Friday, the University Assembly will meet to hear and possibly vote on a resolution opposing war with Iraq. The meeting, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Student Recreation Center, is something of a historic occasion. Rarely before has the assembly called itself together with legislative authority to take up an issue of critical importance to the world, the nation and each of us individually.
In recognition of the importance of this event and the need for critical discourse between those in favor of such a resolution and those opposed, all next week the Emerald will open the Commentary page to opinions about the resolution and the meeting.
Whether the assembly should take a stance on the issue and whether opposition to war is the correct stance to take are important questions in which every member of the campus community has a stake. Let the community know what you think — this decision needs dialogue. Guest commentaries can be short or long. Please just keep in mind the Emerald’s limitations.
Submissions can be no longer than 550 words, and opinions of 250 words or less will be run as letters to the editor. Writers must include name, address and phone number for verification purposes. Submissions dropped off in person will need a legal form of identification for verification purposes. If you submit something and we call you to verify it, please return the call quickly so that we have a better chance of getting it in the paper by next Friday.
To get you started, a guest commentary and a letter to the editor on the topic are printed in today’s paper. Additionally, here’s my opening salvo.
The assembly absolutely should pass the proposed resolution. I’m opposed to this war because it won’t achieve disarmament, and instead it will lessen our national and personal security by encouraging those who see America as a violent bully.
It’s because of this contradiction and threat to our safety that the University must stand against this war. And I don’t think such a resolution will change the tenor of discourse in the classroom any more than any other stance taken by the University has.
The state of Oregon’s position that universities can consider nothing other than cost when choosing outside contractors is overtly political, and it could create a “hostile environment” for those opposed to sweatshop labor. But it doesn’t and it hasn’t, because our professors, by and large, value discourse and a diversity of thought.
That’s my opinion; please tell us what you think.