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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 19, 1978)
Group aims at ‘nitty gritty’ OSPIRG aids consumers By STEVE DODGE and CHRIS MAZZA Of the Emerald In the jungle of Consumerland, it often seems there is no one to help when it comes down to the nitty gritty. OSPIRG (Oregon Stu dent Public Interest Research Group) has worked since its be ginning in 1971 to change that. A Ralph Nader-inspired or ganization, OSPIRG’s Eugene of fice in Suite 3 of the EMU is the largest and most active in the state and is second nationally in funding and scope only to the New York PIRG. OSPIRG has consistently lob bied the legislature, state gov ernment agencies, officials and Congress for student in terests in consumer and environ mental affairs and civil rights. As a part of those efforts, the group has studied and put out handbooks on auto repair, hous ing, small claims court, youth and the law, women s credit problems and a booklet on “How to Clean a River.” More recently the group has criticized Springfield’s D Street bike path as unsafe, chastised the phone company for overcharging on deposits and taken exception to the Forest Service’s RARE II study which OSPIRG says would limit Oregon’s wilderness areas. Environmental research ac counted for 40 percent of OSPIRG’s activities last year, while consumer problems and civil rights issues encompassed the balance of OSPIRG’s func tions. Currently OSPIRG is working for a change in the state’s auto insurance laws to base rates on driving records instead of age, sex and other factors. The group is encouraging students to write let ters to state Insurance Commis sioner William Fritz and to sign a petition in the OSPIRG office to that effect. “If a student has a problem in the general public interest or in the consumer, environmental or civil rights fields, OSPIRG will get in volved by doing research on the problem," says local director and state vice chairer Randy O’Toole. “We research problems and follow-up by taking action to im plement the suggestions that we make,” he says. As an example, the group inves tigated outdoor equipment shops, auto dealerships, sewing machine shops and appliance dealers in 1972 and 1973 for “bait and switch” activities. OSPIRG turned its information over to appropriate district attor neys and the violators were forced to cease their activities or face fraud charges. OSPIRG, O’Toole says, is en tering a “new phase” which will see the group vigorously pursuing similar consumer problems. O’Toole said OSPIRG is inves tigating hospitals to see if they have met federal requirements regarding free medical aid to the poor. Students can help OSPIRG — and themselves — doing projects, applying for internship and staff openings or by simply phoning in their concerns. OSPIRG, which has offices on all of Oregon’s major college campuses, receives half its money from an 85 cent per term tuition charge and the rest from government grants. More information can be ob tained by calling 686-4073. Petitioners earn vote against TV franchise Enough signatures have been collected for a Springfield vote on approval of Teleprompter of Oregon’s cable TV franchise, ac cording to Don Chalmers, chairer of the Coalition for Community Television. The coalition hopes to prevent Teleprompter from gaining a 15-year franchise. The CCT col lected 1,200 signatures, but will require a January 9 special elec tion because the Nov. 7 election is too close. The group needed to collect 1,030 signatures to put the issue on the ballot. The coalition has appeared in opposition to the franchise before the three local governments that must approve it. The Eugene City Council has not yet approved the franchise, although an initial vote last week indicated they would. Approval of the franchise by the Springfield City Council earlier this month prompted the coalition to seek a vote of all Springfield residents. The coalition decided against a county-wide vote be cause of the difficulty of collecting enough signatures. The franchise is the result of two years of negotiations between Teleprompter and the Metropoli tan Cable Television/Translator Commission. It was approved by the commission in August. The CCT objects to the length of the franchise contract. The coali tion also proposes that Teleprompter’s franchise fee be earmarked for a public television station. Teleprompter representative Peter Rodkinson says Telepromp ter is not upset by the possible vote but is critical of CCT chairer Chalmers, however. “We re tired of Don Chalmers representing (his interpretation) of our franchise," he says. EL COMEDOR MEXICAN RESTAURANT HOMEMADE TAMALES! FRESH * BIG * TASTY * try one today So big...a meal«itself On Oakway Road just behind the Oakway Mali Open Mon -Sat. 11 a m to 9 p.m, Sundays noon to 8 p ro, MEXICAN FOOD AT ITS BEST .<jP ° * 4 The Suds f\j>\ I 1-5 & 30th Ave. Near LCC W |PQ Factory Thursday night-Eight till late 55 oz. of The Bull Schlitz Malt Liquor-Only $2.25 and YOU KEEP THE BUCKET' No limit on the \ number of buckets you can take home \ for ashtrays, \ planters or spitoons!
