OREGON DAILY EMERALD
Opinions expressed on the editorial page are those of the Emerald and do not necessarily
represent the opinions of the ASUO or the University. Opinions expressed in signed columns
are those of the writer.
CHUCK BEGGS, Editor
LOUIE ABRAMSON
Business Manager
MAXINE ELLIOTT
News Editor
BOB CARL
Managing Editor
PHIL SEMAS
Associate Editor
WILBUR BISHOP, JR.
Advertising Manager
ALLEN BAILEY
Associate Editor
JPage 6
University of Oregon. Eugene. Friday. January 7, 1966
Unfair Taxation
Freshman Dame Tax' Objections Are Valid
Even traditions are bound to change from
time to time. This is especially true on col
lege campuses, where each new student
generation concerns itself with different
interests. What was “in” on campus during
the 1930's is often unheard of today, and
vice versa.
Another example of this trend away from
Ihe legacies of the past was evident at the
University earlier this week, when the
freshman Class Dormitory Council at
tempted to levy a 50 cent tax on all fresh
man dormitory residents to pay for the
Frosh Snoball. annual class dance.
The same thing was tried last year and
drew angry protests from certain dorm
groups that they were being unfairly taxed.
It’s happened again this year, and we agree
with the protesters.
To begin with, the Council has no official
power to levy any such 'tax’' upon a group
of students, since it was created purely for
discusion of problems pertaining to the
dormitories and their residents. The group
is not officially recognized by the Univer
sity.
Moreover, the tax is eminently unfair be
cause it excludes nearly 30 per cent of the
freshmen, those who live in co-operative
houses or with their parents in Eugene. The
dormitory residents shouldn’t have to fi
nance a dance that can be attended free by
those students who don’t happen to live on
campus.
Hal Kingslien. president of DeCou Hall
and leader of this year's opposition, said
that he had suggested selling tickets to the
dance but was told that, because of lack of
interest, the dance would lose money by
this method.
What. then, is the need for having a
dance at all? Or at least a dance financed by
all dorm residents for only those interested?
Last year the tax, then at 55 cents, was
imposed after the dance was held at a cost
of $900. This was obviously shabby plan
ning since the event’s organizers had gone
ahead with their plans without worrying
about how to pay their bills until after the
money was spent. This year’s planners ad
mit to lack of interest but still apparently
feel they must have a dance.
The whole point to this is that each dor
mitory’s social fee is its own use as its resi
dents see fit. The students of a given living
unit contributed to the fund and they
should decide how it is to be used, whether
for a dance, a party, or a scholarship fund.
Mrs. Marge Ramey, freshman class advisor,
drew a poor analogy when she compared
the dance tax to the taxes paid by private
citizens to support projects of their various
governments. Everybody pays government
taxes and, theoretically, everyone is en
titled to share in the benefits accrued there
from. Everyone would not pay the dance tax
and, although all freshmen could theoret
ically attend the dance, compulsory support
of social functions is hardly comparable to
public services supported by government.
Those dormitory residents who want to
have a dance could easily contribute their
social fee to the financing of same. Those
who don’t could choose to use their money
in other ways, such as to support a publica
tion, contributing to charity, or to estab
lish a scholarship fund. The social fee has
been used in all of these ways in the past
with success.
It is clear that many students don’t re
vere traditions such as the Snoball, and
choose to channel their money into other
areas There is little sense in keeping a
tradition simply for the sake of tradition.
Other Editors Say
No
Demonstrations
From the Redlands (Calif.)
Bulldog
At Wayne State University an
anti-draft teach-in examined the
history and operation of the
draft with emphasis on how
students could avoid it.
At the University of Wiscon
sin the “Student-Faculty Com
mittee to End the War in Viet
Nam” has lined up 100 students
who will attempt to be arrested
for sitting-in on the runways of
Truax Field (a base for the
state Air National Guard).
At Redlands—nothing.
Last week the L.A. Times
had an article on student dem
onstrations.
In it Redlands was mentioned
as one of the only two schools
in Southern California which
Oregon Daily Emerald
Rande Wilmartb, Sports Editor
Nonii Boren stein,
Assistant Managing Editor
Larry Lange, Assistant New* Editor
Dave Butler, Feature Editor
Shota CsTiio, Photo Editor
Steve Dimeo, Entertainment Editor
Mary' Ann Wakasugi,
Religious News Editor
Editorial Board: Chuck Beggs, Bob Carl,
Maxine Elliott, Phil Semas, Allen
Bailey, Pam Bladine, Karen Winn,
Cliff Kaufman, Gene Sokolski, Notui
Borenstein.
failed to have Viet Nam demon
strations in recent weeks.
We haven’t figured out yet if
this is supposed to be good or
bad.
Most of the students at other
schools (who constitute the fa
mous committed, activist gener
ation) no doubt regard us as
apathetic and unconcerned —
reminiscent of the goldfish
swallowing generation of the
’50’s.
A majority of the older gen
eration view us as patriotic
Americans.
The problem is now that we’re
not even pro-American. We have
relinquished our positions to
the Hell’s Angels—for they be
lieve that “America should be
for Americans and those who
don’t like it should get the hell
out.”
Because the editorial board
is charged with giving dynamic
leadership to the student body,
we have given some thought to
ways in which the UR can prove
it is truly committed.
We have narrowed the pro
posals down to two. After re
jecting sit-ins, teach-ins, and
think-ins, we arrived at an idea
we think may work at the UR:
a “bitch-in.”
The bitch-in originated at
Colorado and is patterned after
a teach-in. Each student who
attends will have the opportu
nity to speak for five minutes on
(Continued on paye 7)
Why Hide
Hotel Loss
From the Ohio Wesleyan
Transcript
Ohio Wesleyan University's re
cent approval of voluntary chap
el attendance shows an increas
ed respect for the maturity of
OWU students.
However, it was demonstrated
last week that this attitude has
not entered all areas of the Uni
versity’s dealings with students.
Robert W. Meyer, vice - presi
dent for business affairs, refus
ed to release information on the
financial loss the University is
taking in housing 34 freshmen
in Delaware Inn. Meyer said, “I
don’t think this is the business
of kids.”
The implication that college
“kids” are unfit to know how
much of their continually rising
tuition is being spent in this
area is an insulting one. Stu
dents, especially those operating
on marginal budgets, have a
right to know just what they’re
paying for.
The loss the University is in
curring is probably not over
whelming and, in view of the
men’s housing shortage, is un
avoidable. Certainly the loss can
not be so great that revealing
its amount would discredit the
University more than trying
to hide it. (ACP)
BJ, Carl
New Oregon Resident
Can Now Visit Parents
Talking with a student the other day, 1 learned that he had gotten
the opportunity to visit hi.s home in another state for the first time
in several years—three to be exact. .
He said that he had really enjoyed seeing his family and noted
that he had been looking forward to going home for a long time.
However, this Christmas vacation was the first time he was allowed
to visit his family since his second year at the University.
Didn’t he have enough money to travel the almost 1.200 miles to
his parents' home? Or was it just that hi.s family didn't want to sec
him’’ Maybe he had to work and couldn't get any time oil for a
vacation?
The answer to all of these questions is the same: NO.
The simple fact is that this student, though his family resides in
southern California, wishes to make his home in Oregon aftei ho
graduates; so he has been attempting to obtain residency in Oregon.
NOW HE CAN VISIT FOI.KS
Last fall teim his request for residency was granted So, now he
can visit his parents. ... .
Before last fall term he couldn't afford to visit them because
then hi.s request for residency in this state would have been denied.
It seems that if a student travels outside the state of Oregon—
especially to visit his parents for a few weeks he jeopardizes his
chances for getting Oregon resident status
However, it docs seem just a bit ironical that this student, while
he was officially a California resident, could not take the chance of
visiting his family, and now that he is a resident of Oregon he gets
the opportunity—for the first time in years to see his folks.
Of course, obtaining residency for this student wasn't easy, even
though he tried everything He registered to vote in Oregon; he
obtained an Oregon driver's license; he bought a car in Oregon;
he paid his state income tax; he listed his permanent resident as
being in Eugene; he was entirely self-supporting.
TWO YEARS TO GET RESIDENC Y
And despite all of this, it took him more than two years to obtain
residency in the state.
On top of the above measures that he took, he was refused the
opportunity to visit his family. (Right on the form that an apphrant
for residence has to fill out, there is a place to report if you have
been out of state in the last year, and why.)
Certainly this student may have had ulterior motives for desiring
residency in Oregon -that $300 per term out-of-state tuition is
pretty steep However. I think it is time for Oregonians to realize
that many non resident students will make their homes in Oregon
after they graduate Surely, the state will benefit from such an
influx of college graduates in the lung run. Yet it is like pulling
teeth for a student to obtain residency in this state-—unless he
happens to own some real estate in Oregon.
And 1 wonder how many students -especially those out of-state
students who have to pay one of the highest tuition rates for a
public institution in the country—can afford to purchase property
in Oregon.
The above case is just one of hundreds 1 know of many other
students who fully intend to make their homes in Oregon after
they finish their education; yet the way they are treated when
they attempt to establish residency, it seems that many students
might get disgruntled and decide to go elsewhere after they
graduate; rather than go through all of the ngainarole in this state.
SOME IMPROVEMENTS LATELY
Supposedly there have been some changesTn the past few years
to make it easier for students to obtain resident status in Oregon.
However, the procedure is still long and tedious.
And as the student who just got his residency last term can tell
you. a person soon gets discouraged trying to fight his way through
the red tape to obtain that residency. A recognition that out of
state students—if they remained in Oregon after graduation—will
contribute much to the development of the state in the future is
needed.
In other words, although it will cost the state a little more to
educate such new residents now, in the long run the state will
realize great returns compared with its initial investment
All that I am saying is that there ought to be some set criteria
with which all resident applicants must comply before they are
granted residence. Then residency ought to be granted auto
matically.
And I don’t think that a person should be penalized for wanting
to visit his folks. After all, parents arc one of this country's oldest
institutions.
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