There are two opinion pieces in the Ol’ Dirty today about Duck wrestling getting the ax. From the editorial:

The clearest explanation of why wrestling won’t be back next year is that there is no clear reason.

From a sports column by Doug Bonham:

Out of the research I’ve done, interviews I’ve conducted, and everything I’ve seen surrounding the end of the program, not one of the athletic department’s arguments holds much water.

My initial reaction was “isn’t Title IX a clear reason for having to cut wrestling?” But then I read this ODE feature from last week that reported:

Contrary to common belief, the decision to remove wrestling is not a Title IX issue; Oregon qualifies for Title IX under history of expansion of opportunities for women, which doesn’t require removing men’s sports.

I contacted Joe Giansante, associate athletic direct — external communications, asking if Title IX actually isn’t connected to cutting the sport. He said that Title IX was a factor in the decision, but only because it is a factor in every decision the department has to make. He said that Title IX and money have incorrectly been pointed to as the sole reasons for the sport being eliminated. From an e-mail: (more…)

The following is a letter to the editor by Sen. Diego Hernandez that will (probably) be printed tomorrow morning in the Emerald.   (more…)

Last Friday, as I was reading the ODE’s editorial and interview with Sue Jakabosky, Co-Chair of the Fairmount Neighborhood Association, regarding the construction of the new basketball arena near the Fairmount neighborhood. THe article made me a little upset. For I have lived amongst the Fairmount neighborhood for two years, enjoying the pleasant geography, citizens, and fellow Fairmount brethren.

It’s a fact that doesn’t sit well with some neighborhood residents, who have voiced displeasure over feeling left out of the negotiation process. Fairmount Neighborhood Association Co-chair Sue Jakabosky has been especially vocal. Throughout the negotiation process, she has cited land value concerns, adverse traffic conditions, litter and disorderly conduct as problems that will arise in the wake of the arena’s construction.

I do not know Ms. Sue Jakabosky, my so-called “voice” in the community as it pertains to the new basketball arena. However, one thing that was overlooked in the editorial, as well as Sue’s complaints, is that everything being complained about already exists! Every game day, whether it be football or men’s basketball, there is grandiose flaunting of automobile traffic, public drinking, trash, noise, and good ol’ fashion carrying on. Moving the arena a few blocks east of where it currently sits will barely change the logistical dynamics of a bunch of people getting together to cheer on Oregon sports. If anything, moving the arena closer to the new EMX will create less traffic. The use of the public transport system will likely increase substantially during events at the arena.

From one neighbor to another, “Keep it Down Out There!”

The Oregon Commentator isn’t known for its superb copy editing, but I am sure we would never print the opening line to an opinion by Matt Petryni in today’s ODE. (This was caught by my functional alcoholic roommate.)

So recently I was in a bar, which shall remain nameless for its own defense, and I ordered one of the standard gin cocktails (think: the “martini” or the “Manhattan,” for example).

Bourbon, Matt, a Manhattan is made with whiskey and/or bourbon.

President George W. Bush’s final State of the Union address last night was awesome! He even quoted Bruce Springsteen’s “Born In The USA.” How cool is that? Well, he said “made in the USA,” but we all know “W” was rocking out in his head while he spoke.

Highlights at a glance: shedding 151 bloated government programs totaling $18 billion (harrumph); trust people with their own money (harrumph, harrumph); Al Qaeda is on the run in Iraq and this enemy will be defeated (harrumph, harrumph, harrumph); and a well-deserved ovation for Bob Dole. Of course, the nit-picky democrats just had to respond indifferently. (more…)

On Tuesday, the Emerald featured a front page article and a two-page spread inside on the Oregon Students Public Interest Research Group, titled, “The OSPIRG you can’t see.” One could certainly receive better insight into the program by perusing through the OC archives, but the ODE hits the main points. The Ol’ Dirty mentions the “Nader Raider” beginning of the group, the Emerald’s 1971 editorial calling the group “the most powerful weapon ever held in the hands of students,” and the opposing forces through the years, which includes the OC on numerous occasions and recently Portland State’s student government.

“It’s just not fair,” [former Portland State OSPIRG member Claire] Tripeny said. “We’re paying people’s salaries who are not on campus … I just haven’t seen any of the results affect my campus, and if we’re paying for it I’d like to see it.” …

University of Oregon members say the funding model is fair. Wih the professional conglomeration that comes from paying salaries off campus, OSPIRG is able to “run with the big dogs,” and “magnify the voice and impact of the average student,” according to papers filed to the PFC.

Two letters to the editor were printed this week in favor of OSPIRG, so I wrote this guest commentary, which was in the Emerald today:

If you go to the Web site of the Oregon State Public Interest Research Group and the Oregon Students Public Interest Research Group, you will notice that contact information for the two groups, which claim to not be tied together, are the same: 1536 SE 11th Ave, Portland, OR; (503) 231-4181 … For all we know, the rent could be a convenient way to launder money to the state OSPIRG, which could then use student funds to lobby its campaigns in the state agenda. …

Don’t worry, students. If you don’t like OSPIRG’s history of political tactics, it does not mean you hate the environment (they will probably tell you that to get support).

Despite a little negative press here and there, however, UO OSPIRG chapter received a 2.89% budget increase, the executive recommendation, last night by the Programs Finance Committee. The group’s 2008-09 budget will be $117,244.

I would have an in-depth coverage of the hearing, but I was doing research on the atmosphere of Mac Court during the Oregon-UCLA basketball game. The Emerald’s Robert D’Andrea told me the discussion was tabled once and took about three hours total. Several PFC members were not supportive of OSPIRG’s funding, but ASUO Senator Nick Meyers was the most outspoken. He was harshly told by ASUO President Emily McLain and ASUO Accountant Lynn Giordano to leave politics out of the discussion and focus on the numbers. Leave politics out of an OSPIRG discussion? That’s like leaving booze out of an OC staff meeting.

The opposition mounting at Portland State could lead to a huge blow to OSPIRG. The campus chapter there received $128,235 this year, about two-fifths of OSPIRGs budget. With this type of momentum, it may be time for another vote at the U of O to decide if students still believe they should be paying for OSPIRG.

The Emerald ran an article on PathwayOregon [see below] today, along with an editorial that says the program “will work effectively, albeit incrementally, toward reversing the University’s sub par levels of access to low-income and minority students.” The University estimates 400 incoming freshman will qualify for free tuition.

The average Pell Grant given nationwide is roughly $2,400. The University website says in-state tuition plus fees is $5,613, minus $2,400 equals $3,213 per student on average, multiplied by 400 students, equals $1,285,200 in grants and scholarships that PathwayOregon will give next fall, not counting the room and board promised to the top 25 eligible students. However, this may not be accurate. I don’t know if PathwayOregon covers the mandatory fees separate from tuition, which leads into another ODE front page story.  (more…)

Today the Daily Emerald ran another smarmy, biased story about making the campus smoke-free. If you’re wondering just how smarmy and biased, check out the lead:

Like other University students, Kira Fonarow worried about deadlines, classes and time management. But for her, the few minutes she spent walking across campus between classes were the most stressful.

Fonarow’s sensitive lungs and vocal cords could not function efficiently when she inhaled cigarette smoke, and it took a toll on her daily life.

Way to go, ODE. Way to go. Next time, why don’t you put a three-legged puppy in the lead? Better yet, why not just let the Clean Air Project write the article for you?

Like I said before, I don’t even smoke, but this whole idea is absurd. Barring people from smoking next to building entrances is at least justifiable in some way, but making acres and acres of open space smoke-free? Bitch, please! It’s starting to sound like this is going to be the Stupid Pet Project of the Year, with the Daily Emerald leading the charge.

In today’s Emerald, Opinion Editor Elon Glucklich wrote a piece titled “Who sucked all the masculinity out of politics?” that sounds strikingly similar to the entire Man Issue. Glucklich writes:

Where have all the cowboys gone? Singer/songwriter Paula Cole wanted to know in 1997. Now I’m asking. Once upon a time this country was imbued with a survivor’s mentality: either kill, or be killed. And while I don’t mean going as far as to advocate pillaging or murder, the idea of taking your neighbor’s land because you have a larger rifle/musket/pitchfork harkens to truer times.

First, what kind of call for manhood starts with a Paula Cole reference. She sang the theme song for Dawson’s Creek. Plus, real men do not have a kill or be killed mentality. For a real man, there is no choice. The only option is kill. (more…)

Forgot to post this very untimely story in last Friday’s Emerald about Econ professor Bill Harbaugh getting the brush off by University Administration.

While Martinez said he didn’t necessarily agree with an approach of not talking or asking questions, he said the University has a responsibility to move forward with what has already been decided. Community involvement has been emphasized from the beginning, he said.

“I think it’s been essential, probably at every phase of the process,” Martinez said.

Of course you may have heard about this from the OC blog when it happened in June.

The Daily Emerald, in their infinite wisdom, continues to push for more police on campus. In an editorial today, the Emerald cites that the University of Oregon only has one EPD officer per 5,000 students. According to the Emerald, Oregon has the lowest ratio of officers to students when compared to schools of similar size.

While the Emerald complains about a lack of police, they fail to mention why we need more officers on campus. No stats are given about a rise in crime, and the editorial does not mention any recent emergency where DPS failed to respond.

DPS can barely keep itself together, and adding more officers to mess things up isn’t going to help. The Emerald should attack DPS for being inefficient and mismanaged before it starts calling for more officers.

Kudos to the Ol’ Dirty Editorial Board for taking the position that the ignorance (or theft) shown by former Con Court justice Jereme Roberts, who “forgot” to repay a stipend he was given while not a student, is unacceptable.

The Green Tape Notebook - made up of the ASUO Constitution, rules and governing documents of all ASUO bodies - states that court justices must be current students. This is the very document justices are charged with upholding. If even one member serving on the court is unaware of such a basic rule, it is a sign that something is severely wrong.

Sen. Nate Gulley was disgruntled that the Emerald printed a story last week bringing to light that Roberts had yet to pay back the money. Those polecats in the Emerald had this to say:

A common joke among reporters is that if your story makes a politician angry, you’ve done your job. It is not our job to be friends with elected officials; it is our job to tell the truth. And the truth is, it is unacceptable for this debt to go unpaid.

You read that headline correct. It’s not terrorism, the war in Iraq or even Lex Luthor that is destroying America. According to the Ol’ Dirty’s Elon Glucklich, it is Japanese cartoons.

“In a society dominated by excess and two-second attention spans, cartoons play a significant role in preparing us for the world. Each can be thought of as a 30-minute babysitter, instilling the kids who watch them with certain values and life lessons. But the landscape has changed”

Glucklich goes on to cite examples of how Anime has led to America’s downfall.

“So what is Pokemon teaching the next generation of kids? The virtues of capturing exotic animals and making them fight for your amusement? I already learned that from Michael Vick.”

Now, I am no anime defender. I find it annoying and pointless. But, is it any better than American Idol, Survivor or Grey’s Anatomy? The answer is no. TV has long been the medium for cheap, pointless entertainment. Networks only care about shows that bring in advertisers. It’s all as high-minded as that.

Is Anime dumb? Yes. Were the cartoons of our generation better? Of course, they were our cartoons. Please check out the comments section for this editorial. Anime fans unite to defend themselves.

On Monday, the centerpiece feature in the Ol’ Dirty was about the alleged under staffing of public safety on campus. There are 14 DPS officers and four sworn EPD officers - three officers and one sergeant - that cover the University campus. The feature highlights the administrations goal to create an official police department on campus. The article, of course, uses the Virginia Tech shootings for leverage.

The ODE followed this up with a article about rising bike theft on campus. Good. Great. Grand. Nice “unbiased” news reporting. Today, however, the Ol’ Dirty Editorial Board had this to say:

“The state should recognize the importance of providing adequate police on a campus of 20,000 and give the University the right to have a fully-functioning police department on campus.”

Is it too hard to understand that creating a full-fledged police force will increase violence on campus? A good majority of University students feel safe walking on campus at any time of the day or night as it is. Furthermore, most students don’t like police figures.

But hey, I say bring it on. It’s been a while since we’ve had a good ole fashioned riot. Let’s bring in a couple dozen ego-driven, trigger-happy authority figures who will eventually get on a power trip and mishandle a situation - and you know it will eventually happen - leading to serious abuse to a student or a group of students. Then, the students can retaliate by rioting and smashing the windows of the police cars. Then, the EPD can join the campus police to stop the surge with tear gas and rubber bullets. Then, more students will be outraged and join in the carnage. Then, the National Guard can be called in. By the end of it all, the scoreboard will be: 53 students hospitalized; 2 students dead; 2 officers hospitalized; $375,000 of damage; 2,780 broken or chipped teeth; 1 embarrassed University; and one hell of a bar tab at Rennie’s Landing. Trust me, my Magic 8-ball told me so.

Also, check out the illustration. It depicts the University campus as Gotham City. Ridiculous.

Happy Columbus Day! And to our friends at the Longhouse, Happy Indigenous Solidarity Day! The Ol’ Dirty had an article focusing on today’s event put on by the Native American Student Union and the MCC. For some reason Chuck Hunt is speaking at it.

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