Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 18, 1972)
Staff position reductions affected only through turnover Any reduction in positions of classified staff for next year will be affected through “turnover,” University Personnel Director Jack Steward hopes. “Rumors about mass layoff are not true, and do not serve any purpose except to create unrest and confusion,” Steward says. Steward’s comments came in a personnel bulletin addressed to all classified staff employees at the University dated Monday. Some secretaries, grounds keepers and other classified staff have expressed fear during the past few weeks that their jobs will be cut off through the recommendations of the Hearing Panel of University Priorities (HPUP). HP UP is a body of six ad ministrators, six faculty and three students, assigned by University President Robert Clark to assess the University’s total priorities and recommend to Clark what University depart ments should be cut and strengthened for the 1972-73 school year. The University must make up a $1.5 million 1972-73 deficit in the budget it submits to the State Board of Higher Education this spring. Clark “has tried several times to assure us all,” Steward said in the bulletin, “that every effort is being made to avoid actual layoff, and to minimize disrup tion to employees. “Our employe turnover is around 25 to 30 per cent. “Given sound planning and good administrative direction, we can accomplish any reduction that will be required very smoothly through turnover.” Steward said he “honestly believes” classified staff are getting the “planning and direction” which is necessary from HPUP. “If classified positions are eliminated,” Steward said, “classified employees will be relocated through transfer. If layoff is necessary, it is in ac cordance with the legal layoff procedure, which is in order of least service credit, with trial service employees laid off first.” Steward emphasized the ap peal process in the priority review—after HPUP’s initial recommendations, the vice presidents, budget units and deans, an ad hoc board and HPUP again may consider changes in the initial recom mendations. “The President is aware of the importance of adequate staff employees,” Steward said. “The impact on classified staff is a consideration when any action is contemplated. “In turn, the classified staff should do what they can to be helpful not add to the problem.” Steward emphasized that any classified employe with questions can see him at the University Personnel Office, 255 Emerald Hall. OSU freshman assaulted By DEAN WHEELER Of the Emerald The Benton County District Attorney’s office issued a statement Thursday which said there had been “an unconfirmed assault” on an Oregon State University freshman woman student Wednesday night. Jim Brown, district attorney, said Deb rah Aasun, 19, of Corvallis, was “allegedly struck on the head in the rest room in the northeast corner of Gill Coliseum.” The coliseum is the headquarters of the campus security and the team of officers investigating two previous assaults and one murder on the OSU campus. Ms. Aasun was attending a practice of a university dance team, the Raindrops, in Gill Coliseum before the incident. Brown said the matter was under investigation and refused to make further comments. In a second statement released by Brown, it was reported that a previously reported strangulation attempt on a male OSU freshman, Michael Stimson, was “unfounded.” Brown stated that the Feb. 9 incident was an attempted suicide. He said wounds seen on Stimson’s neck were “seif inflicted” by a razor. At a press conference im mediately after the event, then district attorney Frank Knight, said the marks were caused by a wire or cord. Brown’s statement continued with Stimson’s comment “that his actions were the result of per sonal problems” and that the investigating officers are satisfied “that Mr. Stimson had no involvement in the prior assaults or homicide.” OSU freshman Nancy Wyckoff was stabbed to death in her dormitory room Feb. 8, and Brown reports there are no further developments in that investigation. Security on the campus will not be tightened as a result of the “unconfirmed attack” on Ms. Aasun, said OSU president Robert MacVicar, nor will it be loosened, he said. A midnight curfew is in effect on the campus, and dormitories are being locked at 7 p.m. All persons entering and leaving the dorms are required to sign in and out. Feb. 19 and 20 is Dad’s Weekend on the Corvallis campus, and all dormitories are being opened for visitation, but family members of dorm residents will also be required to check in and out of the residence halls. Alliance planned OSEA chapter votes on bargaining The University faculty chapter of the Oregon State Employees Association (OSEA) voted Thursday to send a report urging an alliance to study collective bargaining on the state headquarters for ratification. A subcommittee of the group presented their report. It urges joining forces with the local chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) to study ways in which the two organizations could sponsor a collective bargaining agreement. OSEA Chapter 77 president Robert Nye read the report, which states since the two organizations have overlapping membership, they should com bine their strengths toward collective bargaining. The joint OSEA-AAUP subcommittee report also specified there must be an initial turnout of 30 per cent of the members in order to elect the bargaining representative. Those organizations that have shown an interest in acting as a representative include the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the AFL-CIO and the National Education Association (NEA). Nye stressed that neither AAUP or OSEA have formally endorsed collective bargaining. He said a poll taken last June revealed that only one in every four faculty members wanted collective bargaining. However, he added, “We’re out of the do-it yourself stage. We need professional help.*’ The group also discussed a proposal dealing with merit pay raises that will be presented at a state committee meeting Feb. 26. Nye said all state institution faculty support a motion requiring at least 50 per cent of available salary increase funds to be allocated on the basis of years of service, instead of strictly for merit. The proposal, passed at the October General Council, would essentially restrict university ad ministrators to only distribute half of salary in crease funds via the age-old merit system. Currently, Nye said, the universities have great freedom in distributing the extra pay and it is often applied on a personal basis. “There have been some paternalistic decisions made and they are still being made. They have nothing to do with the work we’re doing,” Nye said. He added that the majority of faculty feel frustrated and this proposal is “an attempt by the faculty to make the rules of the game more stable.” Nye added that the majority of persons polled last June at the University favored the 50-50 system. School support base attacked in suit The opening salvo of what may ultimately shake the foundation of public school support in Oregon was fired Thursday as a law suit testing the con stitutionality of Oregon’s property tax system for financing public education was filed in Lane County Circuit Court. The Committee for Fair Taxation and Equt.1 Educational Opportunity, chairmanned by State Representatives LeRoy Owens and Larry Perry, is filing the suit. At a morning press conference in Eugene, Owens and Perry said the suit contends that the present tax system is inequitable and a regressive form of taxation. The suit names two plaintifs; Shauna Olsen, 7, who attends first grade at Creslane Elementary School, and Van McDaniels, an 11th grade student at South Albany High School. The Committee spokesmen said they had two goals in filing the suit. “First, the suit is aimed at providing greater equity in educational opportunity for Oregon youngsters. Tlie present reliance on property taxes to support schools doesn’t do this. Instead, in Oregon, a youngster’s educational opportunity depends on the property value and wealth of his neighborhood.” Secondly, the great reliance on property taxes for school support has been unfair not only to students but homeowners as well. It is a regressive means of taxation that has been exploited to an intolerable level." The suit, if successful, would have a tremendous impact on the funding of public education throughout the country as many states rely on property taxes for such funding. Six other states have had similar suits filed in their courts. The first such case was the Serrano vs. Priest case in California. At least 20 other states are anticipating tests of their present property tax systems for school support in the future. The committee said that as well as bringing the test case, they are working to develop alternative tax structures for state financing of education. Special purchase of juz, pop, classic, and country albums *1* t. *2“ Chrystalship Many out-of-print records still in demand, such as Deep Purple Book of Taliesyn. 837 Willamette 342 6932 Open daily until 10 p.m. including Sundays * * |--COUPON-1 j HAMBURGER j i Ic SALE reg. 19c Now 2for20* Good only at the Campus Bob's with this Coupon Wednesday, February 16 thru Friday, February 18. I COUPON I pranlii Toiigkl 8:11 p. ii mixed media What Time is it’ I WONDER IE GOD KNOWS HOW TO DANCE” - THE GIRL M. 17. Id. IS, a, u. a, a IIKVI THM1U $1.51 L Tickets Now On Sale!