daily Emerald
Vol. 82, No. 144
Eugene, Oregon 97403
Thursday, April 30, 1981
Federal cutbacks threaten higher ed
Aid, loans
face axe
By GABRIEL BOEHMER
Of the Emerald
Proposed cutbacks in federal
funding for student financial aid
programs could prevent as
many as one million students
from returning to colleges and
universities next fall, according
to higher education lobbyists.
“It’s kind of nightmareish,"
says American Student As
sociation President Tom Duffy.
Even though the Congress
has yet to finalize it financial aid
reductions, the uncertainty of
financial aid awards may stop as
many as 750,000 students from
entering school, Duffy says.
An enrollment reduction of
that magnitude could bankrupt
higher education, according to
Duffy.
“Many schools are just
balancing their budgets now.”
Duffy says. “Any reductions in
students would be devestat
ing."
But he also fears the worst is
yet to come.
The first wave of budget cut
ting trimmed the fat off higher
education, Duffy says. The next
wave will begin to wipe out es
sential programs in higher
education, he says.
Still, the echos of doom for
higher education programs of
ten overlook the more important
victim — the student, Duffy says.
Restricting students’ access
to higher education through
financial aid cutbacks will take
its toll several years from now
when there is a shortage of col
lege and university graduates,
he says.
11*'
But Duffy says organized
student resistance could dull
the budget axe.
Unfortunately, that’s not hap
pening, he says.
“A lot of students would get
involved if they knew what was
happening."
The drawn-out budgetary
debate has confused many
students and left them in cold,
Duffys says.
Duffy
says
the
write-your-congressman ap
proach is an effective way for
students to throw their weight
around in the nation’s capital.
But he also suggests a personal
approach that prevents
students from sounding like
they all copied the same bland
form letter.
"Letters really make a differ
ence. Make them short and to
the point.”
And the most important thing
is to request a reply, Duffy says.
"You tie up the whole admin
istrative machinery that way.”
Without an organized student
movement, higher education
lobbyists don’t have a prayer,
Duffy says.
"We can talk ‘till we’re blue in
the faces hdre in Washington,
and Congress won’t listen to
anyone except the voters
“Students’ greatest strength
is in their numbers."
NCC stays
in the black
Meanwhile, next door at
Northwest Christian College,
they’re getting by.
‘We're not in as much trouble
as some private colleges
because we own our campus,’’
says NCC Pres. William Hays.
"We’re not making payments on
our buildings, so we don't have
to raise large funds for that
"All we have to do is raise our
budget.”
Annually, that’s $7,500 per
student, he says, and NCC has
239 of them. Students pay
$3,500 in tuition, with another
$1,000 chipped in by private
financial aid sources.
The other $3,000 must be
raised as donations, which
come from many sources: direct
solicitation, fund-raising din
ners and wills.
“By the time you put all of
those sources together, it’s
touch-and-go,” Hays says.
"We’re just about able to stay in
the black."
Students who can’t afford the
stiff tuition have many of the
same financial aid options as
University students, says Donna
Vaughn of the NCC financial aid
office. National Direct Student
Loans, Guaranteed Student
Loans, work study, supplemen
tal Oregon grants and VA loans
are all offered.
"We (also) have some en
dowed funds and one special
trust that favors NCC students
over other colleges,” Vaughn
says.
Students at NCC also attend
classes at the University, since
the school offers only one major
— biblical and liberal arts
Continued on Page 3
Offices handle sexual harassment
By ANN PORTAL
Of the Emerald
Sexual harassment infects the University to the
same extent that it does in the rest of the country,
University affirmative action director Bean McFaad
den said Tuesday
Students can suffer emotionally from sexual
harasssment, lose educational opportunities and even
to drop out of school, McFadden said.
The University considers any “unsolicited, non
reciprocal” sexual behavior as sexual harassment,
said ASUO executive coordinator and student ad
vocacy director JoAnn Een.
Rape Crisis Network member Lisa Miller said
there are no specific persons targeted for harassment
— it can happen to all women.
Sexual harassment may be sexist remarks,
repeated requests for dates or demands for sexual
intercourse It may be a professor who portrays
women — or men — unfavorably in class. It may be
rape
Sexual harassment may be a single encounter or
a series of encounters, said Een, and it doesn’t need to
be a professor or supervisor for the student to take
action — workers and students also are covered under
University grievance procedures.
btuaents ao nave access to a number ot ways to
deal with the problem, McFadden said.
The first step is to immediately speak out against
the unwanted action. Besides building a good legal
base for a lawsuit, a rebuff may solve the problem, she
said
Don’t give the harasser the opportunity to say,
“Gee, I thought you liked it,” McFadden advised.
And don’t get off the track. Let the person know
"Don’t give the harasser the
opporuntity to say, ‘Gee, I thought
you liked it. ’ ”
the behavior is unacceptable and unsuitable the first
time it occurs.
Also important is the documentation of each
incident, McFadden said. Although many cases now
are working their way through the courts, the standard
of evidence is still very high Witnesses, memos, tape
recordings and journals are useful as trial evidence
and also can provide the victim with a sanity check
when the going gets rough, she said
When a student needs assistance, it is available at
the University and on state and federal levels.
The affirmative action office handles all forms of
official sexual harassment complaints. All protests are
confidential, and no action is taken without first
consulting the filer, McFadden said.
Een’s office councils students on all types of
problems, including harassment. Students can talk
confidentially with Een and she can refer students
who need further help to the appropriate agency.
Een said it is important for students to realize they
can talk to someone without any formal action being
taken.
"We can help you indirectly, too,” she said
The state higher education board also hears
harassment complaints, if the student is unsatisfied
with University action.
At the federal level, Title IX prohibits sexual
discrimination, but the extent to which that act covers
harassment suits is not yet clear
Students also should consider how much time
and money they are willing to invest prosecuting their
case, McFadden said There are long delays in most
formal processes, she added
But “don’t be overwhelmed," Een said
"Pursue it — there are people that are going to
help you."