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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (March 8, 2017)
Wednesday, March 8, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon 10.6 percent tuition hike for U of O approved EUGENE (AP) — University of Oregon trust- ees have approved tuition increases for the upcoming school year of 10.6 percent for in-state students and 3 percent for out-of-state students. T h e R e g i s t e r - G u a rd reported that Thursday’s 11-1 decision by the trustees means that the cost of attendance for the 2017-18 school year including fees will be $11,931 for residents and $34,611 for nonresidents. Jamie Moffitt, the univer- sity’s chief financial officer, said the tuition increase is necessary because the state Legislature did not increase funding for schools next year even though next year’s costs are increasing by $25 million. About 40 students attended the meeting, urging trustees not to approve the increase. Freshman Maria Slade said the increase will be a huge burden for her parents and that her father had told her he would have to work until he reaches age 70 for her to stay at the school. “I hated that. I’m unwill- ing to watch my parents make more sacrifices to keep me in a school that, as is apparent with this proposed increase, doesn’t seem to care whether I stay or go,” Slade said. Board member Peter Bragdon said lobbying is needed with state lawmak- ers to ensure better univer- sity funding and avoid future tuition increases. Higher education lead- ers have asked the Oregon Legislature for an additional $100 million over the $667 million that Gov. Kate Brown has proposed for public uni- versities in her budget. The state faces a $1.6 bil- lion shortfall driven by ris- ing costs in the state’s Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) and Medicaid, as well as unfunded directives passed by voters in November. About $7 million of the cost increase is required by the PERS’s demands. Moffitt said that required PERS pay- ment will increase by a simi- lar figure every two years for the next three or four budget cycles. The Legislature has long been looking for a solution to curb rapidly rising costs asso- ciated with PERS. 11 The herd is a-comin’ through... PHOTO BY DICK QUINN Dick Quinn counted 176 elk in a herd that migrated across his property near Sisters late last month. Chorale to begin spring rehearsals The High Desert Chorale will begin spring prac- tice on March 20 at The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration, located at 68825 Brooks Camp Rd. Rehearsals will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Mondays until the spring concert, which is scheduled for May. Church doors open at 6:10 p.m. for singers to get to know each other; then, at 6:30 p.m. they get to sing- ing! Members are asked to bring a plain black three- ring binder, a pencil, and water. New singers are wel- come. You don’t have to be a professional or soloist; this is a community choir, where everyone is welcome to sing. For a sneak peak at the music, visit the chorale website at: http://sistershigh desertchorale.com. GRAPHIC PROVIDED