Photo by Pal Sul van
A group of state senators and representatives formed an American Civil Uberties Union sponsored panel
Monday night. The legislators varied in their opinions of just how the concept of civil liberties should be
interpreted, but concluded that public officials serve an important function in civil liberty protection.
Legislative panel explores
civil liberties viewpoint
By JANE LEHMAN
Of the Emerald
Protection of civil liberties is an important func
tion served by public officials, concluded a panel of
state legislators Monday night.
The local chapter of the American Civil Liberties
Union brought together Sens. Ed Fadeley,
D-Eugene, and Ted Kuiongoski, D-Junction City,
and Reps. Grattan Kerans, D-Eugene, Mary Bur
rows, R-Eugene, and Bill Rogers, R-Vida to explore
civil liberties issues. The 35-member audience lis
tened to the two hours of discussion held at Harris
Hall.
The panel opened discussion by defining what
constitutes a civil liberty, essentially concluding the
concept can be interpreted in numerous ways.
To Kuiongoski the term refers to any provisions
of the Bill of Rights, such as free speech and press.
Kerans felt the term had to be defined on a “case
by case basis," while Fadeley suggested a civil lib
erty is “anything you want it to be and certainly some
thing you don’t want to have taken away from you."
Both Burrows and Rogers described the role of
legislator as a link between the citizen and the gov
ernment.
“A legislator can call attention to a given situa
tion,” said Burrows, citing the example of Portland
Rep. Jim Chrest’s “personal outrage” that initiated
investigations into the Oregon Liquor Control Com
mission.
Rogers described himself as an “advocate” for
his constituents by detecting “restrictions used to
Pamphlet details rebate process
for Oregon homeowner, renter
The pamphlet gives information
on how to file, who is eligible, what
to do when several people are
paying rent on one unit, what to do
if utilities are included in the rent
and where to go for more informa
tion on the program.
While renters can receive up to
$328. homeowners can get a max
imum amount of $655. The exact
amount depends on the amount of
income.
The pamphlet urges everyone
to file, because the process is
simple and persons cannot get the
refund unless they file a claim for
one.
All Oregon residents should re
ceive income tax packets in the
mail. Packets will also be availa
ble at the ASUO Off-Campus
Housing Office in Suite 3, EMU.
They will also be distributed at
banks, courthouses and post of
fices downtown.
In this case, any one who pays
rent in Oregon is considered a
“resident.” However, one must
have a total household income of
less than $16,000.
If a renter’s landlord pays prop
erty taxes on the rental, the renter
is eligible for a refund.
However, persons living in
dorms, co-ops, sororities and
fraternities do not qualify for re
funds.
If the renter lives with other
folks, he or she must be the only
person in that household to file a
refund claim. The roommate with
the lowest income should file to
ensure the greatest possible ben
efits. That roommate will then re
ceive the entire refund and is re
sponsible for dividing it up among
the rest of the dwellers.
The free brochure, called "Spe
cial Tax Refunds for Oregon
Homeowners and Renters” is
printed and distributed bv the
Oregon Student Public Interest
Research Group.
Applications for refunds must
be made by April 15.
With a new set of tuition pay
ments coming up shortly, students
living off-campus should be aware
that renter refunds up to $328 can
be theirs under Oregon’s Home
owner and Renter Property Tax
Refund Program.
The University Off Campus
Housing office has compiled a
brochure telling renters and
homeowners how to apply for the
1977 tax rebate.
oover-up administrative inefficiency,” or, conversely,
by explaining situations that are correctly handled,
but explained poorly to the people involved.
However, Rogers is worried by government re
sponsiveness to only public officials and not to the
citizenry that is affected.
“Every citizen should have as much of a right to
backsass to any state agency as I do,” he said.
The use of voter rolls to select people for jury
duty, polygraph regulations and computer pro
gramming security topped Kerans’ list of civil liberties
abuses.
The potential of the Children Services Division
(CSD) to violate civil liberties was discussed at length
by the panel. Each of the legislators was able to
relate an experience of CSD taking custody of a child
without ample proof of abuse or failing to inform
parents of their rights.
"Sometimes their (CSD) only justification is that
statistically the parents could have abused the child,”
said Rogers.
“But we never do know if the parent is beating
his kid,” added Burrows. She confirmed that the
CSD and juvenile departments are “the stickiest
part” of dealing with civil liberty infractions.
Civil liberty infringements initiated by the legisla
ture can be blamed on “the time pressure factor” and
an “imperfect government process,” according to
Kulongoski.
“We don't attempt to violate civil liberties," he
said. “But government can love a person to death by
trying to accomplish too much.”
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