The Student Insurgent (October 2009)
21 years of thought and action

about us.

The Student Insurgent is based out of the University of Oregon in Eugene. We are a radical publication that seeks to deconstruct the existing social order to facilitate its replacement with one which is ecologically sound and functions on egalitarian lines.

We strive to be an open forum, somewhere the silenced and the oppressed can express their ideas and opinions free from the filters of the mainstream media.

Subscriptions are $15 ayear by mail. The Insurgent is distributed freely to UO students, the community, and prisoners.

submissions.

Submissions...The Insurgent encouragesits readersandsupporters to submit news and feature articles, short fiction and poetry, cultural criticism, theory, reviews, etc. Graphics, cartoons, and photos are more than welcome. Priority will be given to local news and analysis. We reserve the rightto edit anything and everything we recieve for grammar, clarity, or length. All articles, with the exception of unsigned Editorials, reflect the view of their authors and not the rest of us.

staff.

Co-Editors: Chris Pollard, Cimmeron Gillespie, Abby Bluth and Ashley Pennington.

Contributors: Brett Baren, Ashley Young, John Sheehy, Nathan Montgomery, Josh Kennett, and Matt Silbernagel.

this issue contains:

3/4 Letters

5 Lit

7 Art

8 Contest

9 News

12 More News

14 Opinion

18 Commentary

20 More Opinion

21 More Commentary

Letters.

Welcome back to all returning students and incoming freshmen. We here at SI hope everyone had a great summer, but sadly all heat soaked acid tops must come to an end. Hopefully y’all found time for sufficient rest and relaxation to retail in tai form and continue your studies with all that characteristic energy that quickly dissipates into frantic scrambles to find niches and parties to comfort ora aching hearts and minds. Dorit let it happen to you! Find yourself a meaningful way to spend your tune. Be creative! Be free! Develop your community mto a collective based on cooperative action, express your innermost thoughts without fear of censorship! We at SI stive to be a place that encourages and empowers people to do just that, feel free to stop by.

Now to catch up on some small tilings that should not go unnoticed. The tazing of Ian van Omman was found to have been legitimate against all rational observation. The construction of our beautiful concrete structures of indulgence (student athlete center) and pointless entertainment (new arena) on the eastern campus is in full swing. Some friends climbing in trees were so rudely pulled out by fuckin’ Freddies in Eliot state. And last but not least, we have our new overlord of corporate interest; let’s have a round of applause for Richard Lariviere! We know you fully deserve this position of meaningless authority and puppetry! We sincerely wish you well and hope you get to sign lots of papers and speak lots of Sanskrit. Just student culture for capital and personal gam the more you corrupt yourself; we ask you not to be complicit in your own downfall. Anyway, let’s make this year the most resistance laden in recent memory!

Your Insurgent Staff.

Student Insurgent

Nearing the end of growth

People thought the Earth was flat. Now we flunk economic growth is good for us. Both the same: not true.

What is true, besides the roundness of the Earth, is economic growth is good for those at the top of the economic ladder (a mere 10 percent controlling the vast majority of the wealth), but not so for die remaining 90 percent, who are straggling.

To make matters much worse, the environment is quickly getting trashed m the pursuit of growth. Species are quickly disappearing, along with clean water, air and land. It can’t go on much longer.

The wealthy, and those who aspire to be, tell us how good and necessaiy growth is. They control the media shaping our world view to then’ benefit, telling us we all deserve more and more wealth and that we can all get rich together.

It looks bleak to me. We are nearing an end to ora growth, not because we choose to cooperatively manage our combined impact, but because we overwhelm the Earth’s ability to accommodate our massive and destructive growth. We are led by a small percentage of I aggressive people who know the economic benefits of winning.

Together we stand, divided we fall. If we don’t learn to live m cooperation with each other, and all life on Earth, we will cause ora own destruction. Individualism, capitalism and the free market are not sustainable for ora civilization. We need social and economic systems based more upon cooperation than competition.

PATRICK BRONSON

Student Insurgent

Attn: Eugene Free School

Tai Chi Instructor

I am writing to you, in hope that you can and will be able to provide me with information regarding the history of Tai Chi as well as Tai Chi’s use as a health and exercise program.

Please note I am confined in prison and information as described in this request is not available in the inmate general library.

Thank you for any assistance and attention given to this request.

Sincerely,

Willie
Texas

Clear-Cut

Dee Allen

For Steve Jacobson

Born on the McKenzie

Devlin Jones

Have you been feeling the creative urge lately? Too much time on your hands?

Then why not be part of the Insurgent’s supra-fantastically awesome coloring contest!

How does it work, you ask? It’s simple:

Step 1: Tear out the page with the mandala graphic (the trippy looking line sketch on the opposite page)

Step 2: Color within/without/across the lines to your heart’s content. Entries will be prized primarily on their general creative awesomeness.

Step 3: Bring your entry to Student Insurgent HQ in the Survival Center (Emu Suite 1) where it will be reviewed by an international panel of art critiques, journalists, and other high profile elitists.

Winning pieces will be published in our next issue!

G-20 Protesters Capture Headlines

Ashley Pennington

Twenty of the world’s most industrialized nations gathered in Pittsburgh last month to discuss tire failing global economy. Protesters also gathered outside the David L. Lawrence Convention Center much to the dismay of tire local police force.

The Group of Twenty, otherwise know as the G-20 stands in place of the G-8 which is made up of the finance ministers and central bank governors of nineteen industrialized nations, as well as a rotating Council presidency and the European Central Bank which stand as representation for tire European Union.

As the world leaders voted top ledge 1.1 trillion dollars to help the financial crisis, the news media’s attention was drawn towards the streets where the clash between police forces and protesters turned violent.

The first day of the meeting, as protesters began to march toward file convention center, squads of police officers outfitted with plastic shields and batons fired sound cannons at the group. Shrill beeps emitted as the marchers were stopped in their tracks, forced to cover their ears in pam. Tear gas and stun grenades were also filed at the protesters.

Their offense? The group didn’t have a permit.

The city of Pittsburgh released 300 people who had been arrested on minor parole violations, in order to free up over 1,000 jail cells to prepare for the event.

By the end of the Summit, police arrested 190 people, hr total, 50,000 dollars worth of damage was done to the surrounding area. Twenty thousand of which was attributed to one individual who was accused of breaking 20 windows and doors.

Two people were also arrested that Thursday for allegedly directing protesters using Twitter, tins is tire first time anyone has been arrested in the United States, for using die social networking site.

There has been a call by University’ of Pittsburgh students for an investigation into police behavior after the police wrong- fiilly arrested and brutally heated the University students.

The G-20 Fact-Finding Committee will publish its findings with regards to these investigations by May 2010.

CDLC Files Tort Claim Against City of Eugene

Eco Advocate

On Friday, August 7, Josh Schlossberg and attorney Lauren Regan ofthe Civil Liberties Defense Center filed a tort claim notice against the City of Eugene regarding a March 13, 2009 incident where Schlossberg was falsely arrested, injured, and jailed by Eugene Police Department Officer Bill Solesbee while Schlossberg was legally distributing broclimes from file edge of a public sidewalk m front of Umpqua Bank m downtown Eugene. Schlossberg, a local forest activist, was civilly infonning bank customers of the irresponsible logging and haimfiil pesticide practices of Umpqua’s chairman ofthe board, Allyn Ford.

This incident of unlawful police misconduct is another hi a growing list of alarming incidences where EPD officers have violated basic first amendment constitutional lights of Eugene citizens, while using excessive force, seemingly directed at chilling free speech mfe politically charged, left-leaning city of Schlossberg’s lawsuit is based on claims of deprivation of civil lights, interference with constitutionally protected activities, false arrest and imprisonment, failure to tram and supervise law enforcement, intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, negligence and gross negligence, as well as claims based upon deprivations of federal and state constitutional lights, including ciuel and unusual punishment. As expected, acting Chief of Police Pete Kenis once again rubber- stamped the actions of Officer Solesbee by failing to admonish or collect the flagrant unconstitutional conduct of this pohce officer. Schlossberg continues to suffer acute and chronic pain and discomfort from a neck injury brought on by Solesbee during the arrest.

The charges of‘intercept- ing communications” and “resisting anest” were dropped after prosecutors viewed Schlossberg’s confiscated digital video footage clearly showing him legally standing at the edge of a public sidewalk. The tape shows Officer Solesbee illegally demanding he leave-which Schlossberg is in the process of doing, while stating to Solesbee that he believes the officer is inenor for forcing him to leave the public sidewalk. Solesbee falsified police reports and attempted to file unwarranted charges against Schlossberg as a result of this incident; and the Clief of police has ratified this dishonest conduct once again.

Solesbee’s police report claims Schlossberg was “concealing” a videocamera (“intercepting coinmumcations’ j, yet Schlossberg’s audio/video footage shows Solesbee verbally acknowledging being filmed.

Solesbee is shown on the video footage demanding Schlossberg’s camera. When Schlossberg refused to give him the camera (video footage ends here), Solesbee charged Schlossberg, wrenched his aim behind his back, forced him to Are ground where Schlossberg lathis head, and proceeded to place a knee on Schlossberg’s previously injured neck, while handcuffing and arresting him. Solesbee’s police report states he charged Schlossberg with “resisting arrest” simply because Schlossberg ‘tensed” dining the arrest Schlossberg was lodged in solitary confinement in the Lane County Jail and was refused the right to contact his attorney until being released from custody later fliatnight.

In July of 2008, Schlossberg filed a citizen complaint against Officer Solesbee after witnessing a May 30 anti-pesticide demonstration, where Schlossberg mamtains that Solesbee used excessive force while arresting Ian Van Omiun whereby the officer deliberately slammed Van Omum’s skull into the pavement.

Schlossberg says: “I can’t say with absolute certainty that Officer Solesbee specifically targeted me as retribution for filing a complamt against him last year, or for my role as an outspoken political organizer, but there’s no question in my mmd that Solesbee and other members of the EPD have shown a blatant disregard for the constitutionally granted, first amendment rights of Eugene citizens, and that little has been done by tire City of Eugene to discourage tins disturbing criminal behavior.”

Attorney Lauren Regan added, “We have seen a disturbing trend regarding police response to activists and their constitutionally protected activities. By utilizing a militarized presence, heavy-handed tactics, tasers, and unjustifiable anests against nonviolent citizens, law enforcement is attempting to scare people into silence and apathy. This case will determine whether the citizens of Eugene still have the constitutional right to lawfully convey thoughts and ideas to their fellow citizens in public forums—a quintessential principle of our democracy.”

-From portland indymedia.org

Cascadia Free State, Oppressed

Cimmeion Gillespie

This summer, Earth First!, Cascadia Summer and other affinity groups blockaded and occupied a logging road in Elliot State Forest. They were asking that tire Oregon Department of Forestry “buyback all sales m Elliot state forest, namely because we need to save this carbon and biodiversity reserve”, says Jasmine Zimmer- Stucky, a spokeswoman for Cascadia Summer. Cascadia Free State created a blockade of logs, an overturned van and roughly 45 persons.

Also constructed were a tri-pod, a bi-pod and a sky-pod. As one Cascadian said, “The structures are complicated and tire people are dedicated.” After two days, the group was issued an eviction notice horn tire Oregon Department of Forestry (ODE). All in all, the blockade held off loggers for four long days. One ODF agent is said to have remarked ofthe blockade,‘This is impressive, what are we gonna do?” The answer to that question came the next day, when the state called in some 80–90 persons. There were 40 State Troopers, decked out in green camo and ‘less than lethal’ 11 insurgent weapons; 10 black-clad Sheriffs aimed hke a SWAT team; 10 Special Forces agents who hiked in the back way; ODF members; engineers, who cut the blockade; Sheriff’s marine patrol in a black SUV; high angle rescue ‘aerial patrol’; National Guard; state detectives; plain clothes forest seivice members; local sheriffs and deputies in brown; video crews; and other liaisons. Traveling on windy gravel logging roads, tire entourage arrived at 9:40am, their attitude that day was summed up dining a press conference when Sergeant Stone said, “I don’t care about the earth, I am just here to exploit it and enjoy it.”

On the morning when the law enforcement group arrived, the Cascadians were in the midst of their morning routine- breakfast, dishes, creation of a monopod, and maintenance of the pods already in place. Amassive and collaborative undertaking was taking place. All were carrying on with theft duties when the shrill whistle of warning told Cascadians of the impending police confrontation.

As reports from Cascadians claim, “First the state troopers wandered around grabbing anyone who was not locked down, gradually dragging and pulling people out of thebrush, or who had been away from camp when thewammg came. Then they spent ten minutes staring around looking confused, until one ofthe officers began directing the removal of people — those in arm bars, U-locks, cutting out barrels, and the overturned van....Then the police targeted a sunken barrel which one Cascadian was locked to, taking some two hours. Next officers seemed to prioritize getting down tire pods... ignoring two lockdown barrels. They offered several plans of increasing bravado, all of which were severely dangerous and potentially deadly. Those who were locked-down explained the disadvantages and risk of pursuing some of tire proposed plans. The officers eventually called in the National Guard. The Guard arrived and began their work to get access to tire pods. All the while, the police were filming tire dismantling of the whole setup, as part of a training video.”

The small state army arrested some 27 persons, 16 of which were in lockdowns. There was one woman in a sky-pod, a man each in a bi-pod and tri-pod, four people in banels, and nine in ‘black bears’ (arm covers winch can’t be pulled apart). When asked if they were effective, one member ‘Badger’, of the lockdown replied, “If we weren’t effective, they wouldn’t be here. We stopped them yesterday, we will today and must tomorrow!” One Cascadian, ‘Spindle’, said, “It would cost them less money to just buy back tire timber sale; not to mention tire associated risk.”

The ODF also detained every Cascadian not locked down, as well as a medic, a hiker nearby, and all direct support persons. “My handcuffs were too tight, 9 hours I had to wait in that van. My arms were swelling and I was only let out to relieve myself once. No food or water was given. By the time we got to the police station, other people, who I had never met, commented that my hands were swollen,” says ‘Kodiac’, a person who had come to see the goings on in public land, but was arrested for being in the area. The public land also had barricades, with state troopers and sheriffs. However, the operation had a price tag, the Register-Guard claims that the Sheriff’s department spent $50,000 on the operation.

Why was ‘The Elliot’, as opposed to other sites, selected for blockade? One member in the Cascadia Free State, ‘ Mulleri, replied, “It is a destructive practice, logging. We saw large frees coming out of the Elliot, ODF has a history of destructive pracices, especially here in the Elliot and in Tillamook. We needed more than litigation, or pro- testing, I wanted to do tilings that really made an impact. ’“Another Cascadian‘Wulf’, said, “There is only twenty percent of native forest remaining in Oregon. We must preserve whats left.” Trying to prevent another area from be- mg covered m mono-cropping or replacement frees, Earth First! and Cascadia Summer took a stand. Another Cascadian, ‘Phoenix’, offered an articulation of the Forest Defender’s position: “We need to live with the earth, and treat it with the respect it deserves. We need to live sustainably, off the land and with the land. Without a competitive hierarchy.” For more information on Cascadia Summer and Forest Defense, visit: www.forestdefensenow org.

A Clog in the Drain of Democracy

Devlin Jones

The Obama administration has offered solutions to a plethora of problems. They have promised to: keep the broken promises to rebuild New Orleans; to federally fund advancements in science and technology; to build clean energy jobs; to increase fuel economy standards; and to stimulate economic standards via job creation, access to refinancing and financial accountability and transparency. The list is a long one, tire spread so fantastic- it is a dream of renovations. Yet, these promises are like putting a new layer of wallpaper on a rotting wall.

In addition to tire hailing hst of promises, the healthcare proposal offered recently by the president is a farce. It is an insurance plan for uninsured Americans that claims to offer protection. The proposal is a great intention, but effectively ignores the problems of the existing system. It offers to cover those without coverage, but coverage is still only an insurance policy- chronic medical issues will still cripple the policy holder’s savings. Further, the policy ignores the fact that private companies, whose primary motivation is the acquisition of money, simply cannot offer genuine care oi service. The companies, who are looking out for then profit margins, are largely unable to reducing the scope of services provided.

The Obama administration’s plan is flawed, but even still, it cannot make its way through Congress. The plan is stifled by fears of socialism and interference with the free market- as though socialism would leave people paying medical bills. In Socialist theory and practice, if everyone is fundamentally equal then they are given equal care and treatment based upon them needs. In comparison, un- der the capitalist system, everyone is unequal and struggling. Failure under Capitalism, even if it is from sickness or injury is considered one’s own fault. That is the difference between communal responsibility and individual accountability.

This American system is overrun by futile debates of socialized agenda. It is amazing how tire richest country in tire world sill reckons with tire simplest problems like how to care for one another. Congress continues to bicker wide tire people suffer. And while the debate continues as to how to patch the failing system, the fault lines keep getting bigger. Private industry is only effective for small groups, thousands perhaps millions who have similar interests. However, when billions of people require unique and specialized care, industry cannot meet their needs without letting large gaps ‘fall through the cracks’. In the health industry, letting people fall is tantamount to letting people die and this is simply unacceptable.

Free Expression Rocky in Mexico

The Government of Criminals

“Este Gobierno De Criminates.”

-Hernandez Castillo

Attacked for writing ‘graffiti’ on the subway walls in a Mexican subway. Hernandez Castillo was shoved and beaten for expression and so beleaguered and backed into a corner he took over a subway and held it for some time. The repressive regime which limits fee expression, then called Castillo mentally unstable. When Mexican authorities began to assault Castillo, tried to ran away, the authorities threatened to shoot him and so he pulled a gun on them and they fired back. State escalation caused the deaths of several citizens and the wounding of several more in a subway on 9/18/09. The next day, over a thousand Mexican troops crowded the subway and furthered the state repression. It can be no surprise that repression when faced with resistance offers no alternative but further repression. This example of regression under tire guise of civility is indeed a “government of criminals.”

Remembering the Struggle

Cimmeron Gillespie

Do you remember Shaandin Garcia? It the answer is ‘yes,’ then the name is probably accompanies with high emotions. Four years ago, she was a doctoral student at the University of Oregon, College of Education and a woman of color. She was attending classes at the U of O and noticed that there was little in the way of ethnic diversity among faculty and even less among courses or content. She soon related the situation to department officials, and in an article the Register Guard she recounted her conversation with them. “She has been advised to drop out if she’s unhappy with the situation and she has been told that advocating for change is unprofessional” (5/12/06).

How did the situation get so bad? Well it began with Oregon’s history. During the 19^th century, US civilians were encouraged to participate in a ‘colonizing’ of tire military-occupied Oregon territory. The Oregon territory became Ml of the pioneers, who trekked long distances over mountainous terrain. Due to this resource intensive move, slaves were prohibited. “Oregon was geographically predisposed to be a fee state, but ideologically was predisposed to be a slave state”. However, a few minorities did make the journey or were already in the tenitoiy, so a small population of central-south Americans, Asians, members of the indigenous population, and American Africans settled there, as well. Their presence became a thorn in the side of ‘The State of Jefferson’ and the idea of an all white nation. This sentiment bom of racism, gave use to exclusion and ‘Sundown Laws’ which prevented minorities horn owning property in cities, or being out past dark respectively. Shanty towns such as the area of Glenwood between Eugene and Springfield were created as a result.

The racist mentality also fueled Irate groups. In 1920, Eugene had the highest Ku Kluk Klan to population ratio m the nation. When the sundown and exclusion laws were finally erased from tire books at the end of tire 20^th century, nearly 1/3 of the state voted against tire change. So even in recent history, hated and prejudice remain a prominent part of the historical culture of Oregon. Needless to say the environment in the area is relatively less than friendly to people of color.

This discrimination affects the University, because there are respectively fewer persons of color than in other states, which makes tire qualified personnel almost necessarily from out of state. When individuals of diverse backgrounds are attracted, tire cultural environment can be unwelcoming or at least overwhelming. To have a significant majority of colleagues and community of one racial-ethnic background and one person ‘different’, presents a sihiation of isolation. Many persons of color have encountered this problem, so many that a list of ethnically diverse business professionals who have left Eugene for that reason was assembled — the ‘eXit-Files’. But before persons of color can begin work, there are difficulties in recruitment.

The University faculty is not unionized, so attracting faculty from out of state is difficult, especially when searching for qualified and competitive instructors, among institutions offemig higher pay and better benefits. Though much of the situation may have arisen because the university had what was then considered a top-notch program, receiving lots of grant money for special education research, this facade of large giants and a nationally recognized program may have allowed the program to overlook a serious lack of ethnic diversity. Tins however was not good enough for Ms. Garcia, who decided to take on tire system and try to make the College of 5insurgent Education a better facility for learning. She tiled to teach the school and community about the necessity of diversity. For her it was everyday life, working m classrooms that didn’t provide adequate training.

So she had meetings with the Mayor, the University president, and held town halls and public meetings. It was necessary to begin “managing change”. Jefferson, one local school, refused to hire students or graduates, because of “cultural incompetence”. This added economic pressure, so that if other schools deemed the university was putting out unequipped students, it might shed light on inequality in other departments. There was a great deal of talk with little action, until under pressure the university caved and paid for an outside audit of the College of Education. The audit became the linchpin of action, suggesting rapid and radical changes to the curriculum and nature of the school. “The College desperately needs a well-conceived, realistic, clearly stated diversity plan”(Rankin Report.)

Carlos Cortez, a noted ethnic studies figure in academia, came to the University of Oregon and wrote what came to be known as ‘The Rankin Report’. This paper outlined some grave concerns and recommendations, “the college [of education] curriculum, in general, seems, to lack coherence in the way they address diversity. Moreover, some faculty’ seem to feel inadequate about addressing the issues academically or dealing with the topics of diversity when it arises in their courses or other aspect s of campus life.” (Rankin Report). Cortez called for three main points of focus:

1. More faculty of color who feel a sense of security

2. Development of diversity into courses and programs

3. The faculty must incorporate the theme of diversity throughout then coursework

The recommendations were extensive and clearly worded. The plan was something of an indictment of the situation m the College of Education and therefore the University slowly began con- sideling reforms. Shaandin Garcia continued to press the issue seeing its first steps undertaken. A student movement was built, reinforced by one paragraph in the Rankm Report, “be proactive, not re-active. [The re-active steps] do not always communicate effectively concerning those steps. As a result, what gets noticed are reactions to a specific situation, making their actions seem like band-aids rather than measured actions taken witliin a clear diversity vision.”

As a struggle, tins succeeded, empowering students to reform their conditions using concerted social pressure. Though the University was not entirely pleased to have their hands forced, the Iris- torical background and contemporary sihiation is no excuse for injustice. The College of education has been changed for the better, although then transfonnation is far from complete. Diversity continues to be an issue of struggle, its institutional roots run deep all over the system. Not just ethnic diversity needs reform, but fights for departmentalization of international studies, women’s studies and yes, ethnic studies have been slow coming. But through concerted efforts and proactive approaches, we, as students, and the university, as an institution, can be improved.

As for Shaandin Garcia, when she applied for her degree, tire university sent it to her before she took the test. So she graduated, knowing that her hard work won an improvement m the educations of all future students in the College of Education and empowered students all over the campus to stand for justice. As long as we remember her struggle, we can cany on our own with joy of success in our hearts.

Nobel Peace Prize

Ashley Young

As everyone has most likely heard, Obama was recently awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Since the announcement of the award, there has been much uproar throughout the nation and the world as questioned the surprising turn of events.

The Nobel Peace Prize is engrained into our society as a piize that is awarded to those who have done amazing tilings towards moving tire world to a state of peace, yet it has had a tumultuous past. The Prize has been awarded to deserving people such as Martin Luther King, Jr, Mother Teresa, and Nelson Mandela. It is obvious why these people received the prestigious award-- they DID things, they changed the world.

But why does Obama deseive tire award? Has he made a significant change, left a mark, solved a problem? The official reasoning behind his awar d is “liis extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples” (noblepeacepnzes.org). This flowery language turns me off and makes me suspicious. He is also the first recipient to be awarded the prize with the adjective “extraordinary”. That seems superficial to me.

The mam objection to the award is that Obama has laid out plans for tilings, he has made promises, he has said things, but nothing has come of it. The Iraq and Afghanistan wars are still going on. Obama himself recently deployed more troops even though he had promised to pull out before entering office. As president of an Economic and Military super power, and as one with as much international popularity as he, I expected more. I expected things to happen, problems to be solved, promises to be kept.

Another little known fact, that seems to be the cratch of tire nay-sayer’s argument, is the fact that Obama was nominated for the prize after he had been m office for only twelve days. In order to be considered for tire prize one must be nominated before February first.

This brings up a legitimate question, at the time of his nomination, what had Obama done to deseive it? He had been in office for TWLEVE DAYS. I cannot stress that point enough it, the idea is so ridiculous to me. He, for all likely purposes, hadn’t even moved in yet. Had he saved a falling intern while rearranging the oval room? Had be broken up an argument between his girls concerning the nuclear weapons of the world? I mean these speculations sound ridiculous but honestly they are well founded questions. If he had done something prior to office that would warrant this a war’d I would shut my mouth and accept it but he hasn’t. He was awarded the piize for his actions while in the office, for twelve days. A CB S newscaster was quoted saying that Obama was awarded this prize for not being Bush.

Did president Obama deseive this award? Do lus actions show that he is trying to make the world a better place? No.

The Truth About Psychiatric Drugs

Steve Berk

Living in a developed country is a ‘strong predictor’ that a person newly diagnosed with schizophrenia will never My recover.” This statement was made in 1992 by the World Health Organization. It’s a statement that seems surprising to many of us. After all unlike poorer countries, the west has institutions specifically designed for dealing with mental health. But it is true. It’s also just one piece of evidence which supports the disengagement of medication towards treating people with psychological labels.

When these studies were first completed, they resulted m huge outcry in the western psychiatric field. Many psychologists argued that the people studied m poorer countries had not been schizophrenic, but had some lower degree of psychosis. The WHO responded with a two year study m 10 countries. This time participants were people who meet the criteria for schizophrenia by western standards. The results were that 63% of patients in poor countries had good outcomes, in comparison witli only 37% in rich counties. The difference is that doctors in poorer counties don’t usually use medication due to lack of access.

As we look back at tire history of mental health, many would frown on practices from the late nineteenth, early twentieth century. Practices such as refrigeration therapy (consisting ofkeepmg patients m cold temperatures till they lost consciousness), the spinning table, or the infamous frontal lobotomy seem barbaric in our eyes. But how will history look back on treatments from oiu own tine towards people with psychiatric labels? When one really looks at the situation, it seems hard not to conclude that contemporary practices are just as harmful and disturbing.

Now, psychiatic drugs are marketed by the drug company as effective ways of treating mental illness despite strong evidence to the contrary. One of the most cited studies showing the effectiveness of neuroleptics, (psychiatic medications) was conducted inthe early 1960’s by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). The study lasted six weeks and found that 75% of those treated with medication were either “much improved” or “very much unproved.” However after three years the one year results were published winch showed that medicated patients were more likely to be re-hospitalized. Further studies showed that 7% of patients who had taken the placebo relapsed and that there was a positive correlation between dosage intake and relapse. The biggest dosage group, patients takmg more then 500mg, had a 65% relapse rate.In response to these findings, NIMH researchers began once again to ask the question about how people labeled with mental disorders can be treated without medication. Once agamstudies showed more success for those not takmg medication. A1977 study found that 45% of those treated with neuroleptics were likely to relapse in comparison with 35% of those not treated with neuroleptics.

One theory to explain this comes from Guy Chouinard and Barry Jones at McGill University’ in Montreal. They argue that the brain responds to the dings by physically changmg its chemical compound. Because neuroleptic drags block dopamine, the brain responds by becoming increasingly sensitive. It in effect returns to its own relative state of equilibrium. Only now it is dependent on the drag to maintain that equilibrium. People build a tolerance to the drag just like any other drag user.

Today many studies show tie same tiring about atypical or second generation antipsychotic dings. Most studies winch supported second generation drags were fabricated or influenced by tie pharmaceutical companies. In 1995aftertlrisgenerationofneu- roleptics had come to be widely used, studies showed relapse rates for schizophrenia to be 80% Irigher then in the pre-neueroleptic era. In the next few years repeated studies came out linking neuroleptics to early death. Then in 2005 NIMH reported newer neuroleptics to have‘few if any” benefits in comparison with the older generation.

As you can see, numerous studies have all pointed to tie same thing: psychiatic dings m the long mu do more harm than good in treating people diagnosed witli mental illness. I am not suggesting people on psychiatric dings stop takmg them. That is a decision only the individual can make, but to make that decision in the best manner possible, shouldn’t the public know all the facts?

The Insurgent is an independent publishing louse on the University of Oregon Campus, which is dedicated to providing an open anc safe environment for expression, Its staff meets every Monday at 6:15 in Suite 1 of the Erb Memorial Building, Meetings are open to everyone,

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