Term’s students fewer
than expected
By ANDREW WIESENFELD
For the Emerald
The final statistics aren’t in, but some projections indi
cate that the summer enrollment is three to four percent
less than expected by summer session organizers.
Summer enrollment was originally estimated at 7,150,
according to Summer Session business manager Ronald
Trebon. But a head count taken at registration showed only
6,900 students.
However, Trebon says that is not the final count. A stu
dent is not officially recognized as enrolled until tuition fees
have been paid and another count taken. Due to a delay in
receipt of financial aid by nearly 400 students, that count is
delayed.
Trebon says those students were considered in the
registration count. But because of the “lag” between the
tallies, the registration count is usually higher than the fees
paid count. And that could mean that the final total enroll
ment will fall below 6,900, he adds.
This is the first time summer enrollment has been
down from previous years, according to summer session
director Clarence Schminke.
“The one thing that is tied to it (summer enrollment)
historically is that the summer term tends to be like fall
term," Schminke says. The all-time previous low for sum
mer term was an enrollment of about 7,090 four or five
years ago, Schminke adds. But this summer, he doubts
that the final tally will significantly exceed 6,900.
Factors influencing summer enrollment include those
that have affected the general trend for the academic year.
Fewer graduating seniors, the increased tendency for stu
dents to choose community colleges over state schools or
universities, commuting distances and tuition costs all in
fluence the downward shift.
An unexpected increase of students attending the
second half of summer session may “give a boost” to
summer enrollment, Trebon says. But he doesn’t think that
increase would be significant.
The decline in the expected enrollment follows a simi
lar trend shown in last year’s summer session. According to
the latest survey of student motivations for attending sum
mer session, taken in 1973, 50 percent of the enrollment
comprises continuing students who are accelerating their
education.
At least 60 percent of summer students are once-only
summer registrants, according to the survey. "That means
it’s a very transient period of instruction — that makes it
difficult to plan for,” Schminke says.
Trebon says the percentages have held constant
since the survey was taken.
Senator warns of negative side of tax limit
By KEVIN HARDEN
Of the Emerald
Oregon voters have the "right to
be wrong” on the controversial
property tax limitation measure
that will probably be on the
November general election ballot,
Senator Vern Cook (D-Gresham)
said Thursday.
Cook, chairer ot the state In
terim Committee on Revenue and
School Finance, said if the limita
tion measure is approved by vot
ers in November, it could lead to
large cuts in state and local civil
services, as well as a one-third
reduction of school administrators
and teachers around the state.
But if that’s what the voters
want, that is what democracy is all
about, according 1o Cook.
Although Senate President
Jason Boe declared last week the
Legislature should stay out of the
emotional battle over the pro
posed property tax limitation
measure, Cook said he could not
remain silent on the effects such a
measure would have on the
state’s economy.
“I think as an employee of the
people of this state who has been
in a position to have a better op
portunity to see the effects of legis
lation like this, I must say what
those effects may be,’’ Cook
added.
Comparing himself to a lawyer
or a doctor, he said it was his ob
ligation to say how he felt about
the proposed tax limitation meas
ure and to present the facts about
that measure’s effects.
“Like a doctor, you don't give a
patient pablum if he.has cancer,”
Cook said. "You have to tell that
patient what will happen if he
doesn’t treat the cancer. You
wouldn’t just say he’s okay and let
him walk out and have his arm drop
off because of the cancer.’’
The measure, a proposal that
would limit state property taxes to
one and one-half percent above
the 1975 assessed property
value, has been tentatively as
signed position number six on the
Nov. 7 ballot.
The measure was proposed by
angry taxpayers who wanted to
combat inflation, Cook said, but
added that it may be the wrong
way to attack the problem.
“The way to fight inflation (tax
waste and revenue misappropria
tion) is not to put local government
in a straight-jacket, but to replace
elected officials at all levels with
people who will work to reduce
taxes and expenditures.”
If approved, the proposal could
cause “radical, curious and catas
trophic effects” in the state be
cause it was originally written for
California, Cook suggested as
California’s tax system is much
different from Oregon’s, which
r
takes the majority of operating
funds from local property taxes.
The state school system, which
draws nearly 70 percent of those
tax revenues for its operation,
would be forced to cut about one
third of its personnel if the limita
tion goes into effect next year, he
added.
Although the average Oregon
ian wants lower taxes, less gov
ernment spending and lower infla
tion, the proposed tax limitation
would be “very destructive” to
local control of tax matters, Cook
said.
A reduction of money for some
cities around the state could lead
to requests from civic leaders for
state funds to operate essential
social services, he said. The fed
eral government would also be
asked to increase funding for state
programs, which would mean an
increase in government regula
tions.
Although few supporters of the
tax limitation believe the “horror
stories" about reduced services
and higher income taxes, Cook
said the consequences of the
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measure should be made public
before the November election. To
that end, a special report is being
prepared by Legislative Revenue
Officer Richard Munn that will de
tail the effects of the limitation.
“I think I have an obligation to
tell people what I think will happen
if this measure passes,” Cook af
firmed. “Everyone should know
what the effects of the measure
will be before they vote on it."
Only after voters have all the
facts about the measure will they
be able to vote responsibly, he
added.
“I don’t think it’s responsible to
vote for this because they’re mad
at everyone, in government, how
ever.”
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