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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 1973)
University President Robert Clark, Congressman John Dellenback, and University Vice-President Gerald Bogen discuss the best ways to Photo by David Pritchard aid students in getting federal money for post-secondary education. Commission formed to study funding Differing opinions on post secondary funding and un certainty as to which financial aid programs are most suc cessful in helping students has led to the creation of a federal commission to study these problems. John Dellenback (R-Ore) and a member of the commission addressed presidents and financial aid people of all the Oregon public and private Universities, colleges, and community colleges on what this committee has proposed so far and where the Congress stands in regard to funding the various financial aid programs such as BOG, and work-study. “The house isn’t frozen or immobile but we are sure of real contentions going on,” stated Dellenback. The house is already far behind schedule on decisions for appropriations which causes problems for university financial aid departments as they must notify students of financial awards early in the spring or summer. So far the congress has awarded considerably less money than was allowed for in the budget. Examples Dellen back gave were the House bill passed on June 27, with a budget of 6.164 billion dollars, which the house approved with a budget of 1.76 billion but the Senate ap proved it for 1.33 million dollars over and above what had been done. This year, with the addition of the Financial program BOG, money has had to be reallocated and certain programs cut or reduced. The distribution of the money was with BOG receiving 600 million dollars, state in centive programs got 30 million, institutional aid received nothing, veterans aid received 50 million, state plan 1203 got 4 million, NIE received only 50 million dollars, a cut from a budget of 1.62 billion dollars. With Congress’ determination to make BOG work, there has been little effort to ready the 75 By LAURA BRENNER Of the Emerald programs which will be ending in 1975. Most of these programs are the post secondary education programs such as work study. Dellenback requested input from the audience on the feasibility of BOG in “real life as opposed to theory.” He felt that one of the major problems in the awarding of BOG money to students was the lack of publicity. The universities and the government were not letting the students know of this extra opportunity for aid. “There is a strong com mittment to BOG in Congress,” commented Dellenback, “Although there are rough edges, it will go forward. With adequate funding it will be a valuable tool.” As funding stands now, BOG scholarships cannot be given a student over a four year period as there is not enough money to make the grant useful so this year the grants were given on a one year basis. Hopefully, with more money, BOG aid will be continued for a second year to those students who received it this year, and a new group of students will receive it also. There were 283,000 applicants and 45 per cent were eligible. The average grant was $260. The amount of applicants was not as large as the government had hoped for and Dellenback urged schools to encourage first year, full time students to apply. Amo de Bemardis, President of Portland Community College commented that for instance in his college “there are not many full-time students. We need aid for part time students.” “This also applies to metropolitan school,” stated University President Robert Clark. He felt that aid could no longer be offered in terms of the old time institution. “It has no bearing on the new student body.” Speaking to the problem of lack of applicants, Anderson said, “It was widely promoted but the people don’t apply. The form is a hindrance. I recommend a reevaluation of the form. Also in terms of the cost of living today, $250 is not overwhelming. Many people may feel it is not worth the effort.” Walter Freauff University Financial Aid director added to Anderson’s statement, “HEW said they’d campaign to spread news of BOG but it has failed so now the publicity rests with the financial aid depart ments. We are now faced with two federal programs requiring massive efforts with no ad ministrative overhead.” We will encourage all students from families of under $15,000 to apply. Because there is no reason not to apply for BOG along with the other programs, many in stitutions will issue statements to the effect that if students don’t apply for BOG aid be.' re Jan. 1, their request for funds will be withdrawn. Many of the administrators were concerned that programs such as work-study would be phased out leaving only programs controlled by the government and putting a burden on students especially of middle income bracket. “I’m sure as a group we will support BOG, stated Me Vicars, President of OSU, “You should get it out pronto; no later than the first of the year. But we favor the con tinuation of existing programs as well. They are in the hands of the institution. BOG ought not to be the only means. They shouldn’t all be under government con trol.” Clark commented, “Tliere is a good deal of agitation by the government to move to loans rather than grants, to let tuition raise and have students carry loans. I would suggest that the (Continued on Page 4) Bargaining opponents pressed by deadline By JOHN KNOWLTON Of the Emerald Opponents of the recently passed public employee collective bargaining bill have until Friday to collect the required 36,000 valid signatures needed to refer the bill to the people, otherwise it will become law. As of last Thursday, several thousand signatures were reportedly still needed. The bill, HB 2263, would guarantee bargaining rights for public employees. If enough signatures are ob tained then the bill would not go into affect for at least a year, during which time an election would be held and Oregon voters would make the final decision, says Irvin Fletcher, executive secretary of Lane County’s Labor Council. ' “The challenge will come from the unlawful use of tax monies,” he said. According to Fletcher, the Oregon School Board Association, which opposes the bill, is run with tax.money and as such cannot lobby for or against any legislation. A one-time teacher, Fletcher holds a graduate degree in in dustrial labor relations and says he has “seen the ins and outs” of the collective bargaining process. “The public has ac cepted collective bargaining for the private sector,” he says, “and I think tjiey will accept it for the public sector.” The biggest opposition to the bill comes from rural legislators, he says. “These people are not ready to face the fact that they are going to have to sit down across the table and negotiate the working terms of public em ployees.” If the bill does become law this Friday, Fletcher predicts a “big flood of public support for the organizing of public employee units in all areas of the state including all the campuses and small cities. “He predicts that if the bill becomes law, 95 percent of the contract negotiations will be settled without a strike. In this issue George Buddy begins a five-part series on Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers at a press conference in Delano, California, site of this summer’s conflicts between the UFW and * £ the Teamsters’ Union. See page 12. Is a U of O day care graduate ready for higher education? £ See page 10. :$ * . . I Eugene City Council and Planning Commission members & continue battle over Montgomery Ward tonight. See page 9.