Quacks to the University’s in-planning “signature research center.” The new facility, which will be located in the Riverfront Research Park, will focus on nanoscience and microtechnology research and should bring the University prestige and revenue alike.
Smacks to the slashed funding to the District Attorney’s Office. Thanks to the cuts, dozens of misdemeanors, including theft under $750, will go unprosecuted by the District Attorney’s Office beginning May 1.
Quacks to Professor Emeritus of chemistry Ray Wolfe, who created and now hosts “In the Public Interest,” a Community Television of Lane County program dedicated to local issues. Wolfe helped organize, too, a series of CTLC interviews for mayoral and City Council candidates, some of whom might not be able to afford much television time, helping advance the spirit of democracy of the upcoming election.
Smacks to the 57 percent of Americans who still believe that Saddam Hussein and al-Qaida were substantially connected, despite a near-total lack of evidence.
Quacks to Oregon Circuit Court Judge Frank Bearden, who ruled April 20 that same-sex marriage licenses already issued by Multnomah County are valid, but mandated an end to licensing until the Oregon Legislature can tackle the issue. The smooth compromise pushes the conflict away (at least temporarily) from an ideological tug-of-war into a representative body, where cooler heads will hopefully prevail.
Smacks to the (continuing) downward spiral that is the war in Iraq. As of this week, 115 soldiers have died this month — the same number who gave their lives in the embattled nation’s invasion.
Quacks to the sun. While its biological and astrophysical benefits are obvious, its glowing return to Eugene skies makes for a good afternoon break on the Memorial Quad.
Smacks to the audience of American Idol for voting off some of the show’s top contestants. Despite Elton John’s faulty assertion that the votes are racially motivated, we’re convinced that the majority of the American Idol viewers simply have horrible taste in music.
Quacks to ice creameries Ben & Jerry’s and Baskin-Robbins for their free ice cream fund-raisers. Cool treats at a fair price and for a good cause (especially for penniless college students) is a win-win-win arrangement of which the Emerald Editorial Board wholeheartedly approves.
Smacks to the Pentagon for withholding images of dead soldiers’ coffins until a Freedom of Information Act request forced their release. The limits imposed on the press are downright Orwellian and violate the spirit of open government when it’s needed most.
Quacks to the EMU Board for banning tobacco sales in convenience store Erb Essentials. Students who smoke can refill at the nearby 7-Eleven, but the University need no longer implicitly condone behavior that harms both smokers and those near them.