$1.5 million spent annually
IFC makes effort
to inform students
In an attempt to better inform students about the $31 paid
each term in incidental fees, the Incidental Fee Committee (IFC)
inserted an information card in every registration packet this term.
“I would guess that less than 10 percent of the current student
body understands any relationship between tuition and the stu
dents having control over part of that money,” says IFC member
IFC member Scott Bassett,
who instigated the card.
Yet, Bassett is optimistic
about the effect the card may
have.
He says, "The fundamental
assumption underlying this
project is that students are not
apathetic, but they are ignor
ant. Students cannot be called
apathetic if they are not informed.”
Through the card, students will perhaps find out student gov
ernment "has some power and is worth being involved in,” Bas
sett says.
The card details the amount of money taken in incidental fees
yearly, $1,458,264.78, and how the money is spent. The IFC and
ASUO executive determine which groups should get how much.
Their decisions are then subject to the University president’s
judgment.
In the 1977-78 academic year, the EMU obtained the most IFC
support, $512,579, or 35.2 percent of the total funds. EMU prog
rams were next in line with 18.6 percent followed by inter
collegiate athletics with 15.2 percent of incidental fees.
IFC members have already been through one set of budget
hearings to determine next year's fee allocations. In the first set
members decided on appropriate goals for each group request
ing money. The next hearings, scheduled for April, will set actual
dollar amounts for the groups.
Oregon law forces
fee assessment
Like it or not, students are stuck with paying incidental fees.
Oregon statute 351.070 delegates the authority to assess stu
dent incidental fees to the State Board of Higher Education, which
in turn gives that power to each University president, who then
has the option of allowing a student group to assess the fee and
determine where the money should go.
The statute says the "State
Board of Higher Education
prescribes incidental fees for
programs under the supervi
sion or control of the board,
found by the board, upon its
own motivation whereupon
recognition of the recognized
student governments of the in
stitutions concerned.”
Last term a student called the IFC asking for a voucher to waive
the incidental fee since he didn’t participate in any of the fee
funded groups. The student was referred to Office of Student
Advocacy and his request was denied under the statute.
Students in California are testing the validity of student fees in
one school. About 50 students filed suits against one University of
California School in small claims court to recover their fees.
The suits, filed in mid-March, claim the university does not have
the right to collect the money. Students there pay $12.50 in fees
each quarter. Earlier, the students sbnt petitions to the university
chancellor demanding the return of their money, but the petitions
were denied.
There may be some hope for the California students, but this
University is faced with the $31 fee every term by law. Take
heart; at least the University of Oregon fee is the lowest of the
seven major Oregon colleges and universities.
Stories by
CAROLYN BEAVER
Of the Emerald
Budgetary ills
plague colleges,
explains Boyd
SALEM — University Pres. Wil
liam Boyd says budget problems
have replaced student rebellions
as the top problem facing college
leaders. Boyd spoke Monday be
fore the Salem Rotarian Women.
He said an enrollment decline is
causing closure of the UO School
of Librarianship after next summer
and forcing the budget of the Col
lege of Community Services to be
cut in half.
While the number of teachers
drops off, the number of adminis
trators rises, Boyd said.
With government regulation in
creasing on campuses, so does
the number of regulators.
“Sometimes I think they multi
ply like coathangers in a dark
closet,” he said. “Every time you
look there are more of them.
“Even when Gov. Bob Straub
declared war on forms, each
campus came up with a commis
sar of forms. It’s hard not to be
come cynical about the whole
process.”
Boyd said tuition and state ap
propriations will have to be in
creased. But he said he advo
cated higher tuition only if it is ac
companied by increased aid to
lower and middle income stu
dents.
The University’s budget pro
cess should be more open to the
public, he said. This spring, Boyd
said, Eugene area legislators will
meet with University officials to go
over the University’s $41.8 million
budget.
“I submit that society can’t af
ford to lose its love affair with
higher education,” Boyd said.
1978-79
Cultural Forum
Position Openings
One coordinator will be selected for each of the following areas:
• Popular Concerts • Heritage Music
• Contemporary Issues • Film and Literature
• Visual and Performing Arts
Pick up applications forms in the Program Office, Suite 2, EMU
(Deadline for applying is 5 pm, April 14, 1978)
These are non-salaried positions.