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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 28, 1981)
An $11.8 million cut in 1981 -82 Nicks, slashes bleed wounded budget BY ANN PORTAL Of ttw Emerald Money problems are a matter of perspective University ad ministrators tend to view the entire budget picture while deans focus on the individual components For acting Provost Richard Hill, an $118 million cut in the 1981-82 higher education bud get — which had already been streamlined before submission to the Legislature and cut 3 5 percent by Gov Victor Atiyeh — means nicks, cuts and slashes in all University programs and personnel The shrinking budget trans lates into fewer courses, faculty, classified staff and support services, he says But Hill and other University administrators only designate the amount to be trimmed in each of those areas — deans and department chairs general ly wield the knife "This office doesn't have any business telling people how to spend their money in detail,” Hill says Robert Berdahl, dean of the arts and sciences college, is among the unlucky ones charged with identifying specific reductions, which for his college include 12 faculty members to one secretary, in stalling party lines in professor's offices and buying three new microscopes where 25 are needed “We re just strung so ex tremely thin I'm sure students are going to notice it in build ings where paint is peeling off the wall," he says Many class limits have been increased above levels that were already considered too high for effective teaching, Hill says The number of business and computer science faculty, who, last year, were unable to meet course demand, has been cut further, he says "Students are going to par ticularly feel the pinch in areas of high demand " Less crowded departments will feel the crunch as well At least one regular faculty posi tion has been eliminated in sociology, biology, English, his tory, philosophy, romance languages and psychology One position also was scratched in classics, a depart ment that had only three full time faculty members It may no longer be possible to guarantee seniors that they will be able to enroll in the courses they want, Hill says, although the registration schedule gives seniors priority Faculty and classified staff also must cope with cutbacks Fewer classified staff positions mean faculty members will spend more time doing their own clerical, allowing less time for students and research, he says Berdahl says he is concerned about filling permanent faculty positions with temporary facul ty, which he has had to do this year to teach required classes, such as English composition "In many cases those tem porary faculty serve very, very well," but an increased reliance on such people is changing the focus of the University and weakening the commitment to teaching and research, he says Some arts and sciences departments have stiffened graduation requirements, Ber dahl says Computer science now gives some priority to students who have performed well in the past, he says. In Berdahl's college, each department and school has been considered separately, with neither the arts nor the sciences receiving a sig nificantly higher proportion of funds, he says “I don't think we re weighting them one way or the other. We're giving them all the min imum they can get by on.” Party lines that have been in stalled in professor's offices in some departments are "a minor irritant’’ to faculty who now must answer phone calls for themself and other members of the party line, he says However, the whole notion of faculty moral is a cumulative thing, and the combination of an inadequate library, large classes and decreased re search support serve to empha size the "tiny, tiny” problems, Berdahl says Vet Hill says he senses a po sitive mood among students and determination among faculty. "The faculty is continuing to be fully committed to quality education in this institution,” he says. “Students will have the same kind of education experience they had in the past." BSU cites year’s goal The Black Student Union begins its 16th year at the University with a general meet ing Oct 1. Vincson Green, BSU director, and Maggie Brister, BSU assis tant director, says that the group is sponsoring a fashion show and a Halloween mas querade ball in October. The BSU will celebrate the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr Jan 15 Black History Month is February, and the Black Arts Festival will be in April. The Incidental Fee Committee allocated BSU $11,000 for academic year 1981-82. “We received an increase because of our good work last year, and for the planned recruiting this year,” Green says Last year's events included "Celebration of Humanity,” and a reception for Derrick Bell, University law school dean This year, BSU will be recruit ing black students at Portland area high schools "We will be working to bring the community and black students together,” says Bris ter. “With the LCC Black Student Union, the fraternities and sororities working together, there's no way we can fail.” The nationwide black frater nity Kappa Alpha Psi was char tered on campus last year. The Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority has general members here, and is seeking a charter. "California and Washington have had these for a long time,” says Brister. “Oregon's lagging behind.” The reason, she ex plains, is probably because fra ternities in general have not been as popular in Oregon as elsewhere. Black enrollment is up to 200 students from last year’s 175, but far below the 300 of a decade ago. “We have about 60 incoming freshmen this year. About 40 came to the open house we had New Student Week. Winter term we'll probably lose a lot. We’re going to try and help them stay,” reports Brister. The BSU office and lounge are in room 14 of the EMU basement, across the courtyard from the ASUO office in Suite Four. The office is open Monday through Friday, 9 a m. — 5 p.m. Paula Tobe is the peer adviser. AVAILABLE DURING THE "Every things-On -Sale Sale” OCTOBER 1-31 AT EVERYBODY'S CO. Give the gift of music. $5.99 30 Day Money-Back Guarantee ! Eugene
