Voter pamphlet is necessary

for low-income individuals
The 2004 election will be the 100th anniversary of the Oregon Voter Pamphlet being published and provided for all eligible voters. The $1.2 million publication cost, which was previously provided by taxes, has first lost funding and second lost support to become self-sustaining through boosted fees on parties and candidates.
While the Internet will have a free Web site available with the voter pamphlet, all those without Internet access are simply out of luck. While national average of Internet usage has increased, minorities and senior citizens will be among those representing declines in Internet usage. Those voices of lower income families, minorities and senior citizens will be muffled as Internet access stigmatizes the right to equal representation through educated voting. As one of the trailer states in economic stability, and in light of the $800 tax increase due to be on the next ballot, Oregon of all states needs to have this resource because the working and lower classes need to be heard as tax reform continues.
If voter turnout decreases, which is inevitable, our already consumer-oriented society will hear merely those voters who are able to pay the Internet bill every month. Those citizens affected most by tax cuts and increases will have the least input on issues that affect them more than comfortable, high-income families. The Internet is not an essential requirement for citizenship, last I checked. Maybe the University could donate the necessary funding from the pool of $90 million to $130 million headed for the new basketball arena.

Nicholas Wilbur

sophomore

pre-Journalism

A reminder for smokers
This is just a little reminder to all of the students on campus who smoke. There is a reason why there is a ban on smoking 10 feet from a building entrance, and it is not so that you can smoke 11 feet from a building entrance.

Will Backner

junior

psychology