Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 1978)
$4 million case against University Affirmative action suit remains in first stages By JOHN THOMAS For the Emerald University affirmative action policies have been under fire pub licly since the University’s own af firmative action director, Myra Wil lard, filed suit against the State System of Higher Education and University officials in July. While many call University emp loyment policies “affirmative inac tion,” Willard herself isn’t talking about the class-action suit or about the state of affirmative ac tion on campus. “I would just prefer not to be interviewed at this time,” she says. Her $4 million class-action suit remains in the initial stages, and no official dates have been set for hearings or the trial itself. Delay is due partly to a state law requiring out-of-state counsel in Oregon court cases to be rep resented by Oregon counsel. Willard’s San Francisco attor ney, Curtis Oler, has not yet re sponded to an order by a U.S. Dis trict Court judge to meet that re quirement. Following his com pliance with the order, the Univer sity could begin its initial attach on Oler’s case. But legal procedures threaten to further postpone a trial, and the case may not make it into court this year. Willard filed her $4 million class-action suit against the state system and the University, an in stitution she says has deprived people of their civil rights, on the basis of sex and race. Also named in the suit are Roy Lieuallen, chancellor of the state system; University Pres. William Boyd; and University Vice Presi dents Ray Hawk and Paul Olum, both individually and in their offi cial capacities. The suit, which asks $2 million for "mental distress” and another $2 million for “punitive damages,” may be the first of its kind in which an affirmative action official has filed suit against the employing in stitution — and is bound to have far-reaching repercussions. If Willard wins, the court could order the University to grant her administrative tenure, and legally block further instances of what Willard is calling "harassment, coercion, threats, and intimida tion.” Willard’s case, filed on her own behalf and on behalf of anyone in similar situations, stems from the University’s refusal to grant her tenure last June. At that time, a five-member fa culty review board examined Willard’s performance and gave what has been called “mixed re views.” The board indicated, ac cording to University procedure, that Willard’s performance was adequate but not exceptional. Based on interviews, written ' opinions and other evaluative fac tors, the board recommended that Willard not be granted tenure but be allowed to continue on a "fixed-term” contract. Prior to an official policy change in 1975, administrators were hired with the possibility of gaining te nure after five years. Because Willard was hired in 1973, she apparently had the op tion of continuing on a tenure track or switching to a fixed-term con tract, renewable each year. Willard’s suit charges that this actually amounted to a threat, with pressure to take the fixed-term, limited contract or face termina tion in a year, when her current contract expired. Another allegation is that the University denied her tenure when she did not respond to the pres sure. Both the University and the State Board of Higher Education, the suit contends, have failed to comply with affirmative action guidelines. They also have discriminated against women and minorities, denied equal pay, training, promo tions, tenure, transfers and job classifications because of race, sex, color or national origin , she charges. The defendants refuse to follow affirmative action or implement programs that would, according to the suit. The University has not yet offi cially denied the charges. Is Weaver taxpayers’ friend? By KEVIN HARDEN Of the Emerald Norquist, associate Director of the National Taxpayers’ Union, says Weaver’s voting record may be good in comparison to the rest of Congress, but that doesn’t make him the taxpayers’ buddy. Incumbent Congressman Jim Weaver, D-Ore.) may or may not be the taxpayers' best friend. Even Grover Norquist doesn’t know for sure. Questions about Weaver’s vot ing record on fiscal matters were raised last Tuesday during a de bate between Weaver and Repub lican challenger Jerry Lausmann. Although Weaver had received a favorable rating from the NTU, Lausmann said Weaver was part of a "big spending Congress" and couldn't change his image. Norquist, who was in Portland last week to campaign for Oregon's Ballot Measure 6, says Lausmann may be right about Weaver’s image, but not about Weaver’s voting record. "For Mr. Weaver to say that he is better than average on fiscal matters is a fair statement,” Nor quist says. "But for him to say he has been the taxpayer’s friend would not be right." Weaver was rated by the NTU in the top 23 percent of Congress on votes that dealt with spending taxpayer’s money. That rating is considered good, but not good enough, Norquist says. “That’s good for one con gressman, but all of Congress has been bad about spending tax dollars. So, just because he is near the top of the heap does not make him a friend of the tax payer.” The NTU rating is based on overall voting on appropriations bills in the latest session of con gress. Out of 100jpoints possible, Weaver received 43 points, which puts him above most of Congress, but below NTU expec tations, Norquist says. Although Lausmann claims Weaver used the NTU rating as a deception, the squabble over who is right has Norquist “over a bar rel." “As an individual and as a member of the NTU, I can't en dorse either candidate," he says. “But both candidates are taking what I said and are using it for their own purposes." During last week’s debate, Lausmann said he had spoken to Norquist about Weaver's NTU rat ing and voting record. Norquist says he spoke with Libertarian Party of Oregon leader Tonie Nathan and not Lausmann. Norquist says Nathan, who has since endorsed Lausmann in the election, called the NTU Washing ton, D C. office and asked about the rating. During the conversa tion, Norquist said Weaver’s re cord didn’t make him a taxpayer’s friend, but it was a good rating for a congressman, Lausmann told the debate au dience that Weaver’s use of the NTU rating in his campaign was not correct. Weaver countered with a telegram sent by Norquist that confirmed the NTU rating and said efforts to tell voters otherwise were “deliberately misleading.” Norquist, however, says the two-sentence telegram was only sent to clear up the NTU rating confusion. The last sentence of the telegram, which said efforts to paint Weaver as a wild spender were misleading, was not au thorized. OUP-N-SAVE With this Coupon Purchase a set of Guitar Strings at Reg. Price, and the second set is yours for • 1 offer per customer 4 / - Limited to stock on hand | /#| • Offer ends November 15, 1978 / £ PRICE! Open Eves TK'V^Vl* 1 OfiT ’Til 9 PM. 40th ft DONALD in the Edgewood Center 345-8289 University affirmative action director Myra Willard, who began legal proceedings in July State governor’s chair will cost over $1 million SALEM (AP) — The race bet ween Gov. Bob Straub and Re publican state Sen. Victor Atiyeh has become the most expensive political battle in Oregon history with total spending nearing $1 mill ion. Reports filed Tuesday with the state Elections Division show the gubernatorial contenders have spent a total of $977,000, includ ing outlays in the May primary election. And their overall spending ap pears certain to exceed $1 million before Tuesday's general elec tion. Atiyeh had spent $431,000 on the general election as of last Thursday to $260,000 for Straub, a Democrat seeking a second term. Atiyeh estimated he would spend another $100,000 in the last 12 days prior to the election. (Continued on Page 11 A) I A SEVEN WEEK COURSE IN INTRODUCTORY MEDITATION BEGAN WEDNESDAY, OCT. 25 AND RUNS THROUGH WEDNESDAY, DEC. 6 INTERESTED PERSONS MAY ATTEND ANY OR ALL CLASSES FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 484-0457 or 345-6328 or 484-9627 1754 PATTERSON - 7:00 pm WEDNESDAY NIGHTS ALL WELCOME, NO FEE Sponsored by the Sri Chinmoy Centre
