dailflmerald
Vol. 79, No. 101
Eugene, Oregon 97403
Wednesday, February 15, 1978
Skill counts in ‘financial aid game’
“I can’t afford it” is no longer a valid
reason for staying out of college, says
Edmond Vignoul, University director of
student financial aid.
”1 honestly believe the situation
doesn't exist anymore where a student
isn’t going to school because he can’t
afford it,” says Vignoul .
“If, according to the rules and regula
tions (of student financial aid), a student
is not eligible,” he says , "we can sug
gest viable alternatives,” such as
guaranteed student loans or part-time
jobs.
By MARY BETH ALLEN
Of the Emerald
In some educational circles, the "fi
nancial aid officers claim the amount of
federal money a school receives is di
rectly proportional to how well the aid
officer can manipulate the system and
how politically adept he or she may be.
"The application process itself has
lent itself to being subject to the best
manipulators — they get more funds,
admits Vignoul. However, recent
changes in the University’s aid applica
tion process will help equalize the sys
tem, he says.
"The application process, now in par
ticular, is not going so much on project
ing how much you're going to need, but
how much you’ve utilized in the past,” he
says. “I happen to feel pretty comforta
ble with the application process.” The
new system “precludes anyone from
being more aggressive than they can
justify,” he adds.
Throughout the school year, between
55 and 60 percent of the University
population will receive some kind of aid
through the aid office, estimates Vig
noul. Both the National Direct Student
Loan program and work study program
provided more than $1 million to stu
dents, and the Supplemental Educa
tional Opportunity Grant program con
Play it right or feel the bite
tributed more than $700,000 to the aid
pool.
In order to apply for financial aid, a
student (and a dependent’s parents)
must fill out an aid form and submit it to
the college scholarship service, where a
need analysis is done. It is necessary to
provide an income tax verification and
statement of taxable income.
If aid is denied on the basis of the
scholarship service analysis, or by the
University aid office, a student is not
without recourse.
“Anybody can appeal the decision of
the financial aid counselor,” says Vig
noul. The first step is to contact the aid
counselors who work in the office.
“They explain how the analysis is
computed,” he says. “If the counselor
can't resolve the issue, it is appealed to
me.” If they want to go beyond that, the
next appeal is to the state financial aid
appeals board.
“The number of people seeking finan
cial aid has increased dramatically over
the past three or four years," he ob
serves. He attributes this fact to “rising
college and living costs and to the fact
that more and more federal dollars are
available.” Since 1972, the amount of
dollars has increased significantly," he
says.
The financial aid office staff includes
four full-time workers and three half-time
employees, plus Vignoul. The aid coun
selors account for five and a half posi
tions. The staff works at full capacity,
especially now, Vignoul says, since
there is a recent increase in the number
of students applying for aid.
While some people have the impres
sion that students from certain ethnic
groups are given preferential treat
ment, “this is simply not true,' according
to Vignoul. In fact, under the stipulations
of the federal money funds, it is illegal to
set aside funds for certain groups.
“All we look at is financial eligibility,”
he says.
Vignoul says the “ultimate respon
sibility of funding the education lies with
the student and his family.” But at the
same time, he stresses, “If students
have the potential and desire, we don’t
feel he should be denied a higher educa
tion because his family can’t afford to
‘buy’ it.”
“Our primary concern is equal access
to higher education,” Vignoul says. His
main concern is his office can provide
aid in a consistent, equitable and effi
cient manner.’ He says, “That’s what
we re striving for.”
Title IX deadline confounding University
By RICHARD SEVEN
Of the Emerald
A quickly approaching deadline for meet
ing federal sex equality requirements has
college administrators and athletic direc
tors turning circles trying to comply — or
determine what compliance is.
July 21 was set as the final compliance
date for Title IX, passed in 1972 to ensure
women the same athletic pleasures as
men.
In effect, Title IX says no one may be
subjected to discrimination on the basis of
sex, under any educational program or ac
tivity receiving federal funds. This, of
course, means the government will use the
familiar bludgeon of withdrawal of federal
funds to make sure Universities comply.
However, the University will probably not
be in total compliance by July, according to
Ray Hawk, vice-president for finance and
administration. “It would be unfair for the
federal government to punish us. We've
made more than a reasonable effort,” says
Hawk.
Despite strides for athletic equity, the
University does have some sore points —
grants-in-aid, facilities and coaching staffs
provided for women.
The number one roadblock in total com
pliance once again seems to be the elusive
dollar.
To comply with Title IX the University has
to match the proportion of men (52 percent)
getting scholarships with the 52 percent of
the 200 women participating in athletics.
This totals approximately $230,000.
Yet, Becky Sisley, director of women's
athletics, says full scholarship funding for
the first year isn't reasonable nor desirable.
She insists, “You don't give all your
scholarship money in one year, obviously;
our coaches are not experienced in evaluat
ing talent and recruiting athletics, and in
some cases the talent is not worthy of scho
larships.”
As a result, the women have proposed
$100,000 to be appropriated for this year.
With the full amount scheduled for three
months from now.
Finding adequate facilities is another
concern. The women are currently looking
for a softball field on which to play. Also.
capital construction to provide adequate
locker room facilities for women is becom
ing essential to comply with facilities equity.
“There is a lot of pressure on me to im
prove the facilities at Mac Court for
women,” said University Pres. William
Boyd in a recent Register-Guard interview."
But I will not put University money into Mac
Court when there are two capital building
projects on campus that are more important
than the entire Athletic Department."
So where does the University expect to
find the probable $300,000 needed to com
ply with Title IX, when women's sports does
not generate any income, the state Legisla
ture refuses to appropriate any money and
(Continued on Page 6A)