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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 21, 1976)
Vol. 77, No. 81 Eugene, Oregon 97403 Wednesday, January 21,1976 Drawing By GrxJy Sato Hershey bars from heaven? Who would believe that manufactured goods came from some god? According to an Australian anthropologist it was perfectly logical for this group of natives See story on Page 6. Graduate Teaching Fellows move closer to unionization, bargaining The drive to unionize the University s Graduate Teaching Fellows (GTFs) has moved one step further, according to Jerry Lembcke, one of the movement’s organizers. Last December, Lembcke and other organizers circulated a petition to gain collective bargaining rights, naming the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) as their intended bargaining agent. When signatures from the necessary 30 per cent of the GTFs was obtained, the petition was forwarded to the Oregon Employment Relations Board (ERB) for certification. The petition was accepted as valid,” said Lembcke, "and we re now in the 10-day period in which the University has the opportunity to consider the bargaining unit." He further said that after the 10 days, the drive organizers and the AFT will get together with the University to confirm the bargaining unit and to set a date to vote on accepting the AFT as the GFTs’ representative. Other unions may still attempt to secure the bargaining rights for the GFTs, according to Lembcke, by circulating a petition of their own and getting signatures from just 10 per cent of the unit. This action would have to be taken before the 10-day period expires. According to the organizing committee, the issue which has generated the most interest thus far is health insurance. The main stance is that since GTFs are University employes, they should be entitled to the same health insurance benefits that faculty, staff and their families receive. They are also interested in stopping the "under-the-table" agreements which they say currently exist in some departments. These agreements require GFTs to work extra hours in order to receive their appointments. The organization of the GTFs does not directly interfere with the current effort by the University faculty to organize. The GTFs are not included in the faculty bargaining unit, because "faculty" in that case is defined as those with rank of instructor and higher, which GTFs are not. “We re different than the faculty in responsibilities and in our relation to the University," said Lembcke. “Were supporting the faculty in their efforts, and they will be stronger because we re organized. We will cooperate with the faculty where we can." Lembcke said an AFT local for the GTFs is currently being formed and organizers are conducting a membership drive. Interested persons should contact Lembcke at 343-4022. State board addresses residency, equal rights By PATTY FARRELL Of the Emerald Dissatisfaction by university presidents over a revised budgeting system persuaded the State Board of Higher Education Tuesday to approve basically the same budgeting system for the next biennium that it used for 1975-77. Committee recommendations from December s board meeting had endorsed a new system of budgeting which would place heavier emphasis on programs. But modifications by the board's staff suggested that the new system only be used to figure program improvement within the budget. Approving those recommendations and adopting the new in a Portland meeting, the board still made no basic change in the method for figuring higher education s base budget. The method used last year for figuring the board s request for higher education funds from the state Legislature was based primarily on full-time equivalent (FTE) count. The new system, though it will be used only for figuring program improvement for the board's next request, takes into account qualifications other than just enrollment. Some of these considerations include non-sponsored research. Iibranes, and public and student services. At the meeting, ASUO Pres. Jim Bernau argued against putting more money into non-sponsored research. The new budgeting guidelines mean non-sponsored research would get 50 per cent more money than now. It may be very hard in the future to maintain the instructional role,'' Bernau said. Roy Lieuallen. Chancellor of the State System of Higher Education, disagreed with Bernau that the new guidelines placed too much emphasis on research. “Research is an appropriate, and extremely important role for a university to play,” said Lieuallen. “When society declines to commit some of its resources to the unknown, the society is in deep trouble." The board also changed the residency requirements for out-of-state students, eliminating marital status and age as factors in granting Oregon residency. Previously students over 21 and all marned students could be dependent on parents who live out of state. Now all out-of-state students must be financially independent in order to become residents of Oregon. Upon the prompting of Mark Cogan, ASUO administrative assistant, the board delayed making the residency changes effective until fall term 1976. Also in response to Cogan's doubts, board member Robert Ingalls pointed out that any student who presently has Oregon residency will not be affected by the new rules. In other business, acting board chairer Philip Joss would permit only legislators and the Affirmative Action director of the governor s office to speak on the new discrimination ruling before the board. Harold Williams, state Affirmative Action director said that the committee recommendations on discrimination grievance proceedings were unfair to students. “The proposal benefits the institutions and is a dreamland for the attorney general s office because it gives students little opportunity for redress,” he said. Williams also argued that the recommended proceedings were too “in-house," since grievances would be handled by the institutions and could be appealed only to the chancellor s office. He said that his office should be brought into the evaluation process. We should be involved in the initial stage with the institutions since we are responsible for seeing that the institutions as well as the students are protected. State Rep. Norma Pauliss. R-Salem. attacked the board, saying it has shoved onto the citizen the board s responsibility for eliminating discrimination in higher education. Pauliss stressed that House Bill 2131. a bill passed in the I975 Legislature which outlawed discrimination in higher education, was not a fly-by-night piece of legislation." She argued at the grievance proceedings under board consideration violated legislative intent. “The law requires that you set the rules, besides just grievance proceedings, by which the institutions can be self-evaluated,” Pauliss told the board. "And you have not done that.” “Were not trying to set up an administrative nightmare,” she added. Pauliss warned the board of possible lawsuits and militant action if it did not take more positive steps in eliminating discrimination. She asked that the board again send the rules back to committee requesting more specific ( Continued on P age 5) Beef box beats confusion Got a gripe? Have a hassle? Itching for info? Try the Beef Box! The Beef Box will answer (or attempt to answer) any and all questions you might have as a member of the University community. Problems with administration, housing, campus and city issues, on and off-campus organizations and authorities, or any other queries you might come up with shall be dealt with by our dedicated staff to the fullest of her ability. Drop off your beefs at the Emerald office in 301 EMU, and let us take a little weight off your shoulders. (Note: All questions dealing with the problem of existence shall be turned over to the philosophy department; at least we know our limits!) V y
