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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 21, 1981)
opinion__ Legislature finally forced to face facts There’s a silver lining to the ominous financial cloud haning over the state that just may get the Legislature off its collective duff. But it’s ironic that the state’s own plunging revenue predictions may be what it takes to spur Oregon’s lawmakers into facing the fact that the state’s colleges and universities need more dol lars. In his address to students Wednesday, Pres. Paul Olum echoed his familiar theme of University devastation — the loss of programs, schools, departments, faculty, staff and students — if the Legislature doesn’t provide increased funding. Short of a miracle, that funding must come either in new taxes or reduced property tax relief. Until now, legislators have so feared the taxpayer’s wrath that they have let state property tax relief escape unscathed. Olum’s called that kind of politicking “short-sighted,” and that’s mild. With the new revenue figures, legislators have no choice now but to stop stalling and start legislating. And when they do, they’ll have to make do with $86 million less than they thought they had even in March. For higher education, that's turning a sow’s ear into a silk purse. Legislators can no longer pander to the popularity of property tax relief. One suggestion is to link the relief with income. Olum admits that “well-off people like me” — salary and expenses of more than $65,000 — don’t need relief when the rest of the state is begging on its knees. Even more important is the governor’s tax package. It’s an idea the public — and thus legis lators — are much less enamored with. But they can’t put off finding funding alternatives. They can’t piddle around any longer. The small costs taxpayers would bear just don’t compare with the kind of destruction state funded institutions are headed for. In the face of decling revenue, there can be no sacred cows. The time has come for action, and legislators have no choice but to face — finally — the session’s most pressing issue. \/q jrs Use CPPS If a graduating student leaves the University with no job and has not gained skills in job search strategy, resume writing or interviewing, or taken advan tage of the employment assistance services such as job vacancy notices, employer directories, or the placement register, the student has elected to not fully use the resources of the University. These resources are available at the Career Planning and Placement Service, 246 Susan Campbell Hall Yes, the prospect of job hunting is unsettling. Difficult decisions con cerning preferred type of work must be made. Avoidance of the decision increases the probability of taking a job that provides little satisfaction other than income Employers will be calling the Career Planning and Placement Service throughout the spring and summer to list jobs and to identify potential employees. The CPPS can help Get on the placement register and use the job no tice system and the employer directories Lawrence H. Smith Director, CPPS Overloaded system I did not speak against conversion to the semester system at the hearing on Monday as reported in the Tuesday Emerald I appeared on behalf of the Student Retention Steering Committee to raise a problem that might not have r been considered previously. From our examination of the delays in implementing computerized pre registration, we conclude that lack of funds, which translates into lack of time and personnel, prevents the speedy completion of work on programs and records necessary for the information system. We are concerned about the impact on our support services if three major projected changes occur at the same time: changes in group requirements, semester system, and pre-registration. My point was that rather than being efficient, such major changes taken together may strain an already overload ed support system. Unfortunately, Tues day’s article did not accurately report what I said. Nat Teich Professor, English Brits and Sands Don’t let the Revolutionary Communist Youth Brigade’s support for Bobby Sands condemn the cause of Irish reun ification. Mike Rumble’s criticism of the RCYB is well taken, but his views con cerning Israel and Northern Ireland are not Rumble’s reference to a plebiscite held in Northern Ireland was misleading. What if a vote had been taken throughout the whole of Ireland? By what right did the British partition the island into coun ties and retain control of the indus trialized North, where pro-British descendents of Scottish colonizers out number the native Irish population? This technique is known as gerrymandering, and it is not entirely reputable. The roots of the conflict in Northern Ireland are deep — they may be traced to centuries of British occupation and repression. When considering the terrorist tactics of the IRA, we need to consider the military occupation and terrorism which they combat. Until recently, the British practiced torture on Irish Republican prisoners — this has been documented by Amnesty Interna tional and condemned by the World Court. By what right do British troops occupy Northern Ireland? By what right have they ever been there? Northern Ireland is in a state of prolonged warfare, and Bobby Sands was a prisoner of war — a political prisoner. Amy Reagin Sophomore, math Practice & preach In Ronnie Cohen’s article, "Harassed Gays Seek Protection” (May 18), Mike O'Brien of Community Christian Concern again claims that the victims might abuse the very laws designed to protect their human and civil rights. Again, Mike says he "agrees with the intent of the ordin ance" but . . Mike O’Brien and his colleagues turned their backs on oppression in Eugene in 1978. But, in 1980 (Oct. 1, The Oregonian), O'Brien and one of his friends saw the light and admitted that they "may have been wrong in 1978." c*rw*<j>( vruouADf t5’0«i star Paoe 4 Section A They informed a reporter for The Ore gonian that, “They (O’Brien, et at) are working together now to draft an ordinance which would be very similar to the one they worked so hard to abolish in 1978.” Well, Mr. O'Brien, you cannot have it both ways. You know the truth about harassment, persecution, and the violations of rights; you have admitted the great possibility of your errors in 1978; and you have expressed publicly, your desire to "assuage fears of some property owners and employers that such an ordinance would impinge on their rights.” As a Christian committed to justice and non-oppression, to equal protection, and, like you, committed to a Christian community “that is supposed to be a loving community,” I call on you to end your lukewarmness, your double-talk, and your anti-Christian behavior. I call on you to live up to your own words (“Ba sically what we are saying is that any person, regardless of lifestyle, should be able to have it (a protective ordinance) and not be discriminated against. What you do on your own is up to you ”) and support the anti-harassment ordinance before the Eugene City Council. Douglas Huneke Presbyterian University Chaplain Thanks, Mark Last Friday our son had an accident on his bicycle, leaving it and his two front teeth in need of repair. It would have been even worse except for the kindness of ‘‘Mark, the biology major senior" who helped him, carrying his bicycle for about a mile on his shoulder (some of it up hill) to our home. If you see this, Mark, thank you for being the sort of person you are. Your thoughtfulness is much appreciated! Daniel Kimble Professor, psychology Bills confused Your article about the talk I gave on uranium there last week was a good article but a few facts were misreported. Specifically, the nature of SB505 and SB108 were confused SB505 deals with the reclamation of surface mined land. SB108 deals with radioactive waste. We are trying to have it amended to make further mining of Oregon's low grade uranium more difficult. Specifically we want the current special exemption for uranium mill tailings dropped. They should be treated the same way as other radioactive waste. Anyone who agrees should write Sen. George Wingard, R-Eugene, and tell him to drop the exemption for uranium mill tailings from the statutes in SB108. Joe Doyle Mining Action Coalition
