Oregon daily emerald., May 01, 1981, Section A, Image 1

emerald
Eugene, Oregon 97403
Friday, May 1, 1981
Vol. 82, No. 145
Office keeps grads, alma mater close
By MIKE LEE
0< the Emerald
Students who graduate this term may
think they're finally getting away from the
University.
But Vince Bilotta hopes they don't
stray too far.
“We hope that the experience at the
University doesn’t end with commen
cement,” Bilotta says. “We think it’s a
life-long relationship."
Bilotta, who runs the University’s
Alumni Association office, promises that
grads won’t be hit up for donations too
quickly, but he wants to make sure they
keep in touch.
The first few years are the toughest
because new graduates move often and
may neglect to forward address
changes, he said. Bilotta’s computerized
alumni mailing list of 55,000 names
stretches back to 1910, and his office
handles 1,500 moves a month.
The first alumni mailings to new
graduates include Old Oregon, the
quarterly alumni magazine, and Inside
Oregon, a monthly tabloid newspaper.
As time passes, graduates receive high
class junk mail — offering expensive
clocks and chairs — and lecture and
concert promotions, such as for the
coming Bill Cosby show.
There’s even a life insurance plan with
the reminder that “several alum
ni. have named the University of
Oregon as beneficiary.”
Though the University’s fund-raising
machinery uses the same mailing list, the
alumni office does not directly par
ticipate in fund drives. Instead, it
provides services to graduates, from
arranging reunions to coordinating
overseas travel.
"To the new graduate, it sounds like a
ridiculous, frivolous thing," Bilotta says
of his reunion service. "But after the
years start rolling by, you start to realize
how important your friends are "
By then, people may have lost touch.
Never fear, though, for the alumni office
has the mailing list — as well as a staff to
arrange for facilities, reservations ana
transportation. All free of charge.
“A class reunion is something a per
son can’t just manufacture,” Bilotta ex
plains. "If you live in Chicago and you
suddenly want to see everybody you
went to school with, you just can't create
that in Chicago.
"The only place you can really have a
class reunion is right here — at the
University."
Bilotta’s geocentrism stops there,
however. His office tries to schedule
informal out-of-town gatherings when
ever it can, such as at football games.
"When we went to UCLA for our foot
ball game, we had 500 people crammed
into our pre-game party,” he says.
Fielding a good team helps. Earlier in
the season, before the Ducks "proved"
themselves, the Washington party failed,
Bilotta says.
The Alumni Association's vacations
feature faculty members as guest lec
turers. For November, the association is
arranging a $3,795 trip to China with
Ellen Laing, the University's Oriental art
expert.
None of the activities, from specialized
sales to vacations, are designed to make
money for the association, Bilotta em
phasizes. Instead, they're intended to
build good will.
"We think it’s a benefit to the Univer
sity for alumni to be informed, to know
what’s going on all of the time — even 25,
30 years from now,” he says. "Hopefully,
when they’re able to be of assistance in
any way, not just financial, then they'll
respond.”
Of course, if alumni contribute to the
University Foundation in gratitude for the
services, Bilotta won’t stop them.
"Instead of coming out with a dues
appeal, our hope is that eventually
alumni will realize they’re getting a lot for
nothing, and that maybe when the
University Foundation appeal comes for
the annual fund, they will feel kindly and
be open to a contribution," Bilotta says.
"We’re patient — and it works."
Graphic by Sioux Anderso1
Lobby in Salem,
rep tells students
Hodgkinson named editor
Sally Hodgkinson was named
Emerald editor for the 1981-82
academic year Thursday night
by the Emerald Board of Direc
tors.
Hodgkinson, currently man
aging editor and a night editor,
has worked at the University
paper for three years. She
began as a reporter in 1978 and
has held several Emerald as
sociate editor positions. Hodg
kinson is also the Eugene area
correspondent for United Press
International.
"I’m pretty proud of this
year’s paper,’’ said Hodgkin
son, a junior journalism major
‘‘The awards won by the paper
and staff members reflect the
quality of this year’s paper. I
would like to build on that."
‘‘Innovation and experimenta
tion should always be welcome
in the Emerald. But innovation
and experimentation must also
conform to the same accuracy,
clarity and ethics that the rest of
the paper is expected to adhere
to.”
As editor, Hodgkinson plans
to reduce the frequency of
sports and entertainment sup
plements due to limited space
for news and high advertising
rates.
Although she says she in
tends to organize her staff the
same way as it was this year, she
may eliminate the environmen
tal editor’s position and hire one
or two staff reporters instead.
"Campus is our beat and we
should cover it better than an
yone else,” Hodgkinson said
“Because the University is the
one thing our readers have in
common, our focus should be
on the University community
first.
“I know what the Emerald has
been and what it is now That
knowledge forms a solid base
on which to build a better new
spaper "
“Since I have also worked as
dll aoouuiaic cuiiui, oufjy cuiiwi
and reporter, I know the pres
sures and responsibilities of
those jobs and can better direct
the staff as a result."
Applications for 1981-82
Emerald news staff positions
will be opened next week,
Hodgkinson said
By MIKE RUST
Of the Emerald
Legislators know higher
education is in trouble — but to
get them to care, they have to
feel pressure from constituents,
Rep. Bill Grannell, D-North
Bend, told University students
and faculty representatives
Thursday.
Grannell, chairer of the House
Revenue Committee, visited the
University to discuss the effect
proposed cuts in higher
education could have on
University programs.
Even as students lobby for
higher education in Salem,
legislators are receiving mail
from their home districts telling
them to "tighten the belt and cut
the budget," Grannell said.
Ultimately, the cuts could cost
the state money as the quality of
education declines, Grannell
said. The University will lose
quality faculty and will be forced
to "up the ante" if they or
equally talented personel are
rehired later, he added.
"In the process of balancing
the budget for two years, we will
lower the quality of programs
it’s taken years to build," he
said.
Grannell was less than enth
usiastic about the way the state
higher education board deals
with the Legislature.
"Since 1973, I’ve watched
Roy (Lieuallen) and his gang —
it’s terrible," he said.
Grannell said that while
“middle-management is doing
well" under the current system,
both students and talented
faculty are suffering He sug
gested that students draw up
their own recommendations for
higher education budget cuts as
a means of protecting their in
Continued on Page 3
Sally Hodgkinson