Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 13, 1981)
opinion _ New tuition, fees betray students When the financial going gets tough for higher education, it's tough luck for students, according to members of the State Board of Higher Education The extra fees nailed on to a higher-than mandated tuition increase by board members were coupled with a pat-on-the-head statement that essentially said, “gee whiz, this really hurts us more than it does you " Sorry, students are old enough not to fall for that line After fighting in the trenches with administra tors for higher education funding with lobbying, rallies and letters, students are surprised to see their allies turn and dip into student rations to supplement the legislative dollars Yes. student realize the Legislature under funded higher education Yes, they know the board is trying to delay program cuts But they still feel betrayed With financial aid cuts, a bleak job market and tuition and fee increases students are suffering more financially than the state system And they face another 19 percent — or more — tuition increase next year. And maybe a few more fees But state system's deathly nickle and diming isn’t only of monetary concern — the board s actions reflect a disturbing attitude toward students It bgan last winter when board member Edith Green said students could easily pay a bit extra for tuition — all they had to do was buy a few less John Lennon albums This was a couple days after Lennon’s death It ended last week with a 19 percent tuition increase, a 100 percent increase in the general deposit, a 100 percent increase in the late regis tration tee, a 33 percent incease in the law study resource fee. a 25 percent increase in the admis sion fee and a 100 percent increase for non vours I M U^K! academic use of the library's on-line reference services The building fee is still $12 50 per term and the health service fee is the same due to the closure of the student infirmary The only fee that decreased — the incidental fee — was the one directly managed by students In effect, the board is saying that when they need a few extra dollars, they can legally pick students’ pockets Oops, we re a few million short No prob. tack on a student fee, raise tuition, limit enrollment And, oh yes, issue a statement about how we re concerned about our actions When the state system chancellor warned university administrators against charging for items that should be covered in tuition, he was saying, do as I say, not as I do In the same meeting, the board approved pay raises tor institution presidents and the chancellor and his staff The chancellor and the Oregon Health Sciences Center president are two of the highest paid state employees Concern over the financial viability of the state system reaches for student wallets but stops short of administrators paychecks But the apparent lack of student concern is just as appalling as the board's actions The ASUO lobbied hard for higher education during the legislative session, but no one from the ASUO was at the Portland board meeting University Pres Paul Olum said the Legisla ture has left the state system slowly bleeding In turn, that's what the state system has done to students Just no room The series of events occurring between University Christian Properties on the one hand and Clergy and Laity Concerned on the other has been most unfor theirs I tunate for all concerned It is very misleading and disturbing because Campus Interfaith Ministry, the residents of the Komoma Center owned by UCP has long been supportive of social justice issues in general, of conern about a return to registration and the draft in particular, and of CORD and CALC as they have %'4*U toM BeAjnfU.,CLEAN rRESH AIR ,, PlTY THEN'S NOT ENOUGH RK HVERYONT Page 2 pursued these issues Both CORD and CALC, with CIM support and UCP agreement, have had liberal use of office space, facilities and equipment, and secretarial services of the UCP-owned Koinoma Center for a long time. CALC's rent has been heavily subsidized by the other ministries in the building and UCP. and CORD has paid no rent or tees for its usage Our secretaries have been most generous in assisting CALC and CORD staff, on a completely volunteer basis We have done this because of our conviction that CALC and CORD are dealing with issues very important for the campus, and we basically stand with them in raising these issues even though as a campus ministry staff we may disa gree with them on style or on conclusions in particular cases Therefore the request to ask CALC and CORD to relocate elsewhere was not a result of political philo sophy. but rather of building use philosophy, priorities and space Simply stated, the request of another campus ministry (the United Methodist ministry housed in the Wesley Center) for space in Koinoma due to financial difficulties had to take precedence over the continuation of office use by such adjunct groups as CALC and CORD The timing and manner of giving notice were very unfortunate as were the reported responses of CORD and CALC printed in this and other newspapers However, the reasons for the request to these groups to relocate were based on the priorities of building and space usage, not political considerations In addition, CALC has for some time wrestled with the need for more office space than is available in Koinonia CIM continues to be supportive of the issues raised by CALC and CORD, regardless of where these groups may relocate, we are very much concerend that this recent series of unfortunate events not distract from these serious issues of world hunger, worldwide military escalation and the crying need for a just and lasting peace The Campus Interfaith Ministry staff Thursday, August 13,1981
