Letters

SFC zero-funding OSA

Let’s not deny the power of the purse of the SFC. This year, its application has been far less benign than it has been since the years of Tracy Earll. It is more than the fulcrum of campus vibrance. The ultimate end to this coercive tactic is greater representation for those that have larger bodies to consider while voting and participating on the OSA board. Nevertheless, no one has denied the good the board promotes for students, only that the distribution of power currently seems unfair. To redistribute said resource by adding more seats seems reasonable. However, this alteration of the structure makes it similar to that of OSPIRG, who allows campuses to buy representation in their assembly.

[Jesse] Bufton’s anger, understandable for being an advocate of the two student-run non-profits under fire this year, is unreasonable because it assumes the ignorance of ASPSU in how the OSA functions. One only needs to look at the entrenchment of the OSA in the processes of ASPSU and the history of the relationship since the 1970s to quickly realize the contrary is true. The OSA exists to give students the “opportunity to practice the democratic process.” Is it unreasonable for larger universities to get the representation for their respective size? Surely not. However, let his frustration not go unheeded, for the consequences redistribute power unevenly, potentially leading to the rampant inequalities found in OSPIRG, unless ASPSU finds a way to balance the precious ideals we have in a liberal democracy: liberty and equality.

Jesse Anderson

SFC’s power grab

I’m not surprised at Jesse’s [Bufton] reaction to the SFC’s decision. He’s dead on when he says that the SFC has no idea how the OSA operates.

“How will this affect students across the state?” asked SFC member Kit Seulean about the SFC’s decision. “It won’t,” said SFC Chair Amanda Newberg. “It won’t have any affect on students, really.”

At least, she hopes it won’t. Of course, if the OSA decides not to accept the proposal, then PSU will effectively withdraw from the organization and could lead to a further disruption of an organization that has done the students of Oregon a great deal of good. This turn of events is entirely within the purview of the SFC, but the question isn’t about ability, it’s about reason. Is it reasonable to screw over the rest of the state in an unnecessary power grab?

Admittedly, we have no idea what the overall ramifications of this will be in the end, nor can we predict entirely the OSA’s reaction, but even the risk may not be worth the reward. Of course, if the OSA capitulates to PSU’s demands, then there will be no problem, right? The OSA will just change from an advocacy group for students to a mouthpiece for PSU, OSU and U of O.

Anonymous

A question of research and ethics

One of my kids gave me this to read. [“WTF? Insane fan fiction,” Jan. 18 by Stover E. Harger III] I was under-whelmed.

I was a bit concerned about the complete lack of both research and anything resembling ethics in this piece-oh and the pesky little act of linking without anything resembling permission. I thought perhaps a note to the editor might be in order–but lo and behold–guess who the online editor is. Personally, I wouldn’t accept this from one of my first years and yet you’ve given this kid the responsibility of an editor?Shame on both you [the editor in chief] and Harger. Aside from the fact it’s barely worthy of a third-rate high school paper, this little ditty is barely an op-ed, never mind an actual article. It also has the potential to get the university hit with a libel suit or a C-and-D order.

No, I don’t want a reply, or to go into this in any depth. Honestly I don’t care: it annoyed my son, and as a teacher, it offended me (and no, I don’t mean the content of the article). I would like to think that somewhere out there is a journalism professor with authority giving this twit a metaphoric slap upside his head with a copy of Suarez v. Meeks.

[Editor’s note: Suarez v. Meeks was one of the first Internet libel suits ever brought to court. Benjamin Suarez sued Brock Meeks, an Internet journalist, in 1994 for writing that Suarez’s Internet company was a scam and for causing Suarez to lose business. All charges were dropped before the case went to court and Meeks only paid $64 in Suarez’s court fees while issuing “…no apology, no retraction, no correction and there was no admission of liability,” according to Meeks Web site.]

L.C. Beckett

Just a thought

Why do people have to make such a huge deal about slash fan fiction? If the writers get enjoyment out of it, then who the hell really gives a rat’s ass? It seems that you’ve done quite a bit of research… should I feel as though you see the hypocrisy? And should this article be progressing your writing? If you wanted to be a true writer, you wouldn’t be composing articles about fan fiction. Just a thought.

Celeste

A fan fiction writer speaks

The world of fan fiction gets a bad reputation from the media who grasp onto it as a “new story” and then does no research to get any real information on the subject matter.

There is a great deal of fan fiction writers who have written stories ranging from drabbles (100 words) to novel length stories (100,000 plus words) that are on par with, if not better than, the original work. Fan fiction has been around for many years and there are many essays written on the subject that are far more informative than this. I would suggest that in an effort to promote actual journalism or even editorializing, you do further research on the subject of your next article should you write one.

I am a fan-fiction writer and reader and have been since the age of 15. I have been in a multitude of fandoms: some experiences were good and others not so much. There are really good stories out there and there are really, really bad stories out there. For me, fan fiction is a way of experiencing further creative efforts in shows, books and movies that I enjoy.

Your article shows a hastily slapped together judgment condemning a group of people without having ever made a concerted effort. I may not be part of the Harry Potter fandom but I find the terms “stupid fucktards” to be incredibly insulting and arrogant. If journalism is a discipline of gathering, writing and reporting as according to Wikipedia’s description, you’ve failed utterly in your attempt. Perhaps in the future, prior to writing something and posting it without thought, you’ll manage to do some actual research into the subject.

Anonymous

The worst ‘fan fic’ you could find

The complete and utter lack of research into this subject matter is rather obvious. No matter the subject, there is always two sides. This article is rather one-sided. It seems to me that you only took the time to research the worst fan fiction you could find. If you would have taken a more objective approach, you would’ve come across a plethora of great writing for these characters as well as others.

There are several fan fics out there that don’t pertain to sex at all, that stick much to the same concept that the show’s writers and producers had in mind. Be it the CSI’s from Vegas investigating another mind-bending murder, or the boys from Supernatural chasing another spirit gone wrong, these stories are true to the content and characters they are writing about. And the other fics that focus on the intimate relationships between the characters don’t always focus on the sexual aspects of said relationships either.

Unfortunately, these probably weren’t that interesting for someone with such a limited scope, as you seem to have. Maybe the next time you decide to criticize an entire genre of creativity, you will at least have the guts to look at it with an open mind. Reading this article made me recall one of my favorite Edna Ferber quotes: “A closed mind is a dying mind.”

Carina S.