problems. The library has the few textbooks the
department uses, and Zweig, in fact, suggested the
library drop a couple of minor philosophy periodicals. He
says he would like to use more films to make up for the
lack of speakers.
He explained he had the opportunity to rent a film
called "Oxford Philosophy" which, according to Zweig,
"presented six of Great Britain's best philosophers." But
with a rental fee of $300, "we can't even think of con
sidering that." He appealed to a state commission for
financial help "but we came away empty-handed."
Feeling somewhat empty-handed themselves are the
graduate students who have suffered the brunt of the
department's cuts. Last year, the department offered 10
graduate courses. This year, there are four.
Nye explains: "The idea at the University is that you get
as much money as you have undergraduate students in
your department. They have some formula."
According to people in the department, the emphasis is
put on getting undergraduate enrollment up. That means
professors have to teach more undergraduate courses
which in turn means they have to get the additional time
by lopping off graduate courses.
The graduate offerings are now so slim the students
have banded together in an effort to find out for them
selves what is happening. "The graduate students are
really upset," said Nye. "The professors are appalled."
As in undergraduate courses, the quality of education
ir graduate programs has suffered. Last year, students
could, through independent study, spend time with a
professor. But, as one graduate student put it, "They're
running so hard just to keep things going in their un
dergraduate classes, they haven't got the time to sit
down with us."
Dave Tiktin and John Thomas, graduate students, met
Tuesday with professor of history Paul Holbo in an effort
to find out why graduate students were getting low
priority. What they found out was "not too en
couraging," said Tiktin.
He said Holbo told them there is some latitude for
change in the philosophy department. He told the
graduate students that to get more graduate courses
would require increasing the class load of the professors
or dropping some low-attendance undergraduate
courses. Tiktin believed because professors are almost
embarrassed at the dismal shape of the graduate school,
they would accept a heavier class load.
But the professors themselves can only shudder at the
thought of increased work loads. Zweig says large classes
are difficult to teach. There are five with over 100
students attending.
Because of the school's poor financial shape, the
department is hiring "cheaper" professors to replace
those who leave. Zweig said many of the best
philosophers at the school "would be impossible to
replace." One professor said the philosophers don't
complain too much about low salaries. "As long as
working conditions are congenial and there are good
people to work with, we'll accept just about anything."
He pointed out the poor job market prevents most
professors from moving on. "No one has offered me any
more money," he quipped.
People in the philosophy department said statistics
don't really tell the story of declining quality of education.
They do provide a measure of how poorly the department
fares money-wise.
Replacing those who leave, though, has caused an
erosion in the standards. Said Nye, "The department
might be sacrificing standards to provide some people
appealing to undergraduate students." Levi, too, noted
that decisions on staff appointments "are made under the
worst possible conditions. We're walking a tight rope."
Over the past four years, the department has lost three
Drawing by Jill Herrigel
and a half staff positions and now has only seven and a
half professors. Teaching assistants ranks have been
thinned 50 per cent from 12 to six. With those declines
has come a 25 per cent increase in enrollment in the pas*
year alone. Department leaders shudder every time they
think about the numbers.
The future looks no more promising. Holbo told
graduate students the department could lose one more
staff member. Any additional cuts beyond that would
mean the elimination of the graduate program.
Zweig says he sometimes feels like a professional
fighter when wrestling for more money. He would like at
least two more staff members. "I'm vigorously arguing
with the people who are close to the source of money,"
he says.
He says even with all the bad news, the department
tries to attract good students. Smiling wryly he noted, "I
try not to be too discouraging when I talk to them." But
the facts and comments tell a story that is anything but
encouraging.
Fast today
( Continued from Page 18)
participating, will be used to
supply food and encourage
agriculture in Bangladesh,
Northern Ghana, and Niger. Since
OXFAM relies on a small, mostly
volunteer staff for distribution, a
minimal percentage of the total
funds raised will be spent on
administration.
"All the money's well-used, says
Daniel Judd, spokesperson for
Eugene-OXFAM "It's not like
foreign aid where they dump
millions of dollars in some
bureaucratic machine...they're
working in areas where it's
possible to raise the level of
specific programs."
OXFAM asks that checks be sent
to OXFAM-America, 302
Columbus Ave., Boston, Mass. A
vigil will be held on the EMU
terrace today from noon to 1 p.m.,
at which contributions will also be
accepted.
Hunger is a problem which not
many in the United States h jve to
deal with. According to OXFAM,
the average Indian consumes 200
pounds of grain in a year. The
average American consumes
1,700 pounds per year, much of it
in the form of livestock. The
amount of good which one day's
abstinence can do is open to
question. But, as Judd put it, "It
really is a drop in the bucket, but it
is a really easy thing to do...If it
keeps five people or even one
person, from starving, it will be
worth it."
OREGON TYPEWRITER
Stereo Loft
30 E. 11th Downtown 342-2463
FREE AMPLIFIER CLINIC
FREE AMPLIFIER CLINIC
Are you still getting what you paid for? . . .
Bring your amplifier, receiver and preamplifier any make or
model no matter where you bought it
Bring your amplifier or receiver to our Free
Clinic. While you watch, McIntosh engineers
will measure it. You will receive a free labora
tory graph of the performance of your equip
ment. The analysis is done on $5,000 worth
of Hewlett-Packard laboratory equipment.
While you're here, ask the McIntosh engi
neers any technical questions-their know
how may help solve your problem.
November 25-26
Monday - Noon
til 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday - Noon
til 7:00 pm.
KIT BUILDERS...
Make sure you're getting ail the per
formance you should. Bring your kit
to this clinic.
The Amplifier Clinic will measure compon
ent Hi Fi or Stereo Amplifiers, Receivers and
Preamplifiers. All musical and non standard
amplifiers cannot be measured. Sorry, we are
not equipped to test tuners.
HAVE IT MEASURED PROFESSIONALLY
°lease be prepared to wait for your unit to
be tested. We can give you the best possible
service if you are present when your unit
s being tested. Only one system per customer
dease.
THIS OFFER WILL NOT BE REPEATED THIS YEAR!