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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 26, 1978)
Grad grievance guidelines granted By ANNA C. HOYT Of the Emerald Chalmers explained his objection to the Scholastic Deficiency Committee was that students were heard. He also felt a fourth step should be added, where the student’s case could be reviewed by someone out side of the department. The second part of the outline concerns students accused of cheating or plagiarism. This procedure is used only when the fa culty member does not file a complaint. It is recommended the student try and resolve the problem with the department head or file directly for a hearing with the department grievance committee. The stu dent can further petition the Academic Standards committee for a hearing. Chalmers explains that he’s not really sure if it’s appropriate to sit down with the department head. It would be better to sit down with the professor. The third part of the outline is for the student who has a grievance against a fa culty member or administrator not solely connected with a grade or examination. Faculty biases target of outline The council suggests that after the stu dent tries to solve the problem with the fa culty member or administrator, he should then try to resolve it with the department head, or file directly for a hearing with the department grievance committee. The stu dent could then consult with the Graduate School or Student Services, or file a com plaint with the Student-Faculty Grievance committee. Chalmers explains, “We’d (OSA) like to be added to this procedure.” The fourth part involves students who be lieve they have been discriminated against on the basis of race, sex, handicap, national origin, or marital or parental status. The Council suggests trying to resolve the problem with the grievance counselor (Office of Affirmative Action). After forward ing the complaint to the compliance direc tor, the student could then try to appeal the complaint to the Chancellor of the State System of Higher Education. Chalmers explains that this is a simple procedure regardless of graduate status or not. The fifth section informs the students who feels their rights have been violated that the University uses a student conduct committee for administering the student Conduct Court, and also has a University appeals board as the final appeals body in this area. Details of the operation of these groups are shown in the “Student Hand book” which is printed in the back of the Time Schedule of Classes. The sixth part concerns graduate student employees regarding employment grie vances. It is suggested they meet with their supervisor, or try to resolve the problem with department heads. If a student has a grievance, they should find out from the graduate school exactly what the procedure is. Where can graduate students go if they question a grade or are accused of cheating or just have a complaint? The Graduate Council recently approved an "Outline of Grievance Procedures” for graduate students. Students can obtain in formation concerning the outline from the graduate school office. Don Chalmers, Office of Student Advo cacy director, explains that the most com mon grievance graduate students have is failing the comprehensive exam. They often believe there was some sort of unfair reason for their not passing, such as a per sonality clash with a professor. "Departments are reluctant to make any kind of exceptions,” Chalmers explained. “We re trying to work out a cooperation be tween the student and the department.” Chalmers also added that policy is needed, providing for student reviews of exams where there is suspicion of bias. “The stakes are so high,” he said. The grievance procedure set up by the Graduate Council consists of six parts. If students question their grade in a course or their examination, they should first try to resolve the problem with the instructor, de partment head or file for a hearing with the department grievance committee. They could further petition the Scholastic Defi ciency Committee for a hearing. Uhrhammer says Arizona Project reporter’s ‘life insurance’ By MARY BETH ALLEN Of the Emerald Jerry Uhrhammer, investigative reporter for the Eugene Register-Guard, called the Arizona Project “life insurance for reporters," in an informal speech to about 25 journalism students and faculty Wednesday evening. Uhrhammer was one of 50 jour nalists to report on organized crime in Arizona, in the wake of Don Bowles’ death, a Phoenix re porter. Bowles, who was covering “mob” ventures in Arizona, was killed when a bomb exploded as he started his car. Uhrhammer said the fact that this “unique experiment in co operative journalism ever got off the ground is a minor miracle in itself.” While his original plan was to work on the project for three or four weeks, he ended up staying in Arizona for over three months. “Someone thought they could shut up Don Bowles by killing him,” said Uhrhammer. He said ac tion was necessary to prevent similar situations from arising. Even though the project did publicize Bowles’ death, “Our purpose was not to solve the Bowles murder,” said Uhrhammer. “We wanted to put a magnifying New suab chairer wants productive year Gary McMahon, newly elected chairer to the Student University Affairs Board (SUAB) for the 1978-79 academic year, believes in more active student participa tion. "The new board members seem really dynamic and en thusiastic to go out and actively seek new initiatives through per sonal encounters with University students,” McMahon says.. Closer participation between the SUAB and the ASUO is vital, he adds. "I am going to strive for a smooth coordination with new ASUO executive Ramon Her rera,” he says. McMahon also wants to actively initiate more legislation before the University Assembly related to upcoming major issues. “I’m looking forward to a very active and constructive year with the board,” McMahon says. He replaces Cathy Teamen as SUAB chairer. Mike Haddock was elected the new SUAB vice-chairer. Haddock, currently sophomore class presi dent, believes there is “a lot the SUAB can accomplish if the members take the initiative.” "I believe the new board mem bers have this quality," he adds. ADVOCACY to solve your bureaucratic and legal problems at no cost to UO students Office of Student Advocacy Director: Donald Chalmers X3710 or x4318 Legal Services Division Attorney: Charles S. Spinner x4273 or x 4274 Room 160 Ground Floor, EMU University of Oregon glass on Arizona.” Uhrhammer denied that the pro ject was “vigilante” reporting. “High standards went into what we did,” he said. “We wrote about a lot of crooks, and our stories passed legal muster.” Uhrtwnmer said the project was controversial at two levels. On a journalistic level, it was criticized by New York Times editor A.M. Rosenthal, among others, for hampering the “diversity of the press.” The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times also de clined to participate. "The idea that doing this is con trary to good journalism — well, it smacks of elitism,” said Uhrham mer. He said huge papers have the vast resources and manpower to conduct their own large-scale investigations. He added co operation like that in Arizona is necessary on those investigations launched by small and mid-sized papers. “If the American press has to depend upon large Eastern newspapers” for all its informa tion, “then the diversity is a sham," emphasized Uhrhammer. On a second level, the reporters found “many strange things that happen (in Arizona), and we don’t know why.” Uhrhammer asserted that “corruption has flourished in Arizona.” He said there is an “ar rogance" among high-ranking Arizonans that results in a “disre gard for the law.” While refusing to accuse Arizona senator Barry Goldwater of specific crimes, Uhrhammer says Goldwater “condoned the crooks." When asked about investiga tive reporting courses, he said that while classes can teach some of the basics,” students leaving journalism schools are essentially “polished beginners,” who must get their training from “real life situations.” iH mmH Mz <>/ „ • :• ¥ ,' 'v 3SS$
