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
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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