Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 7, 1981)
opinion Olum stands alone in position on budget Last week the state’s revenue shortfall was officially announced as $248.5 million. As a result state agencies were told to cut their budgets 20 percent. This would be accomplished in 5 percent increments over the next 18 months. This bad news is becoming all-too-common for Oregon education. Those involved in aspects of higher edcuation have repeatedly decried the budget reductions But among the college and university presidents, those who most keenly feel the shrinking state dollar, there has been little vocal opposition The presidents seem to be a cowardly bunch when it comes to specifying what the budget reductions will eliminate. University Pres Paul Olum Wednesday went on record citing the specific areas that higher education will lose because of Gov. Vic Atiyeh's 20 percent budget reduction He stands apart from other higher education officials in specifying what will be lost by this latest round of cuts The Emerald applauds Olum’s determination to stop talking in general terms. Olum told the University Assembly that the time has come to speak out on the impact of the budget He accurately observed that the people of Oregon do not react strongly when they learn 500 positions will be cut We agree that ”500 positions” appears merely as a statistical phrase and less indicative of the pro grams and schools that will be decimated by the loss of faculty and staff Olum remarked that to specify cuts may cause trouble, but the Legislature ought to know what will result in higher education from their actions Olum is in sharp disagreement with other institution presidents with his clarification of the budget cuts as programs rather than dollar etters amounts. He deserves a compliment for his intia tive. The Emerald agrees the speculation on budget reductions doesn’t accurately illustrate the reality of higher education during and after the 18 month cuts. The presidents of the state system need not be cowed to silence by the governor and Legislature A concerted opposition by the institution presidents will force the Legislature to justify their every action Olum says it is the widespread hope among the institution presidents that the cuts will not exceed 10 percent instead of the full 20 percent This is an optimistic and naive attitude for the presidents to possess Olum appears to take a dim view of this attitude He doesn’t criticize his colleagues — though his remarks imply staunch disagreement Olum wants program closures placed second in priority instead of a salary freeze for all em ployees next year. Once again the other pre sidents disagree Olum stands at odds with the other presidents on many key issues Higher education in Oregon is in such a vulnerable position that clearly a leader is needed to oppose the Legislature Chancellor Roy Lieual len, like the institution presidents, makes the cuts and meets the percentile reductions almost in stoic silence Olum is correct, the time has come. The time has come for a leader to emerge and specify what will be lost at the hands of Atiyeh and the Legisla ture No budget reduction should be allowed to occur unprotested k£ O^^KtfOUCM^ >£Bfo Kt»VT*« «£* /CP t V/t t mjmw. agihg mA/f What will you do? White I am busy addressing Christmas cards de scribing my hope for peace on earth, the Selective Service is preparing for a national draft of men into the military service The newly appointed head of the Selective Service is Major General Thomas K Tunnage also a member of the Reserve Forces Policy Board Draft Board members have been chosen to serve on draft boards in every county of this country They will be trained in the next few months to carry out their duties What duties7 They will classify all drafted men who request any draft status other than 1-A, available for military service Just how soon will they start work? That is the question Meanwhile, proposals for a draft are expected to be introduced to the 1982 Congress Senator San Nunn, D-Ga, has written a National Service Bill which would “probably require all of the four million men and women who turn 18 each year to perform some form of public service " according to NISBCO sources It is likely that if our country prepares for war it will find places to fight The burden of the price paid will fall on those people between the ages of 18 and 26 What are you going to do about it? Alice Knotts Wesley Foundation Rabbit redux On Dec 1, friends of mine wanted to ride to San letters policy The Emerald will accept and attempt to print all letters containing fair comment on issues, ideas and topics of interest to the University community The letters must be limited to 250 words, signed, and the identification of the writer must be verified when the letter is turned in to The Emerald offices, EMU 300 The Emerald reserves the right to edit any letter for length, style or content Publication is dependent upon the space available Francisco on the Grey Rabbit Loaded to the gills with musical instruments and other luggage they were waiting at the Dunkin Donut at 10 p m They had been told by the Rabbit’s answering service the bus would stop at that spot By 2 a m., chilled, wet, and discour aged. they gave up waiting for the furtive Rabbit At the Dunkin Donut they were told that, since the Rabbit had been licensed by the ICC it was habitually late — sometimes up to 10 hours Imagine the pleasure of having to wait for a bus in the kind of weather we are having? Having associated heretofore such a customer be-damned attitude with maiming motor companies no longer obligated to recall vehicles that kill — or with oil companies — I am dumbfounded Does licensing induce the Grey Rabbit to run away from its present, less affluent customers in search of bourgeois clover fields ? A E Brettauer E. 23d Ave gabriel boehmer editor’s note If you haven’t checked your calendar lately, today begins Dead Week Although Dec 7-11 appears to be much like any other week of the academic year, there are some striking differences in students’ behavior that set this week apart from any other time Beginning this morning, a baggy-eyed crowd of students will mill outside the University book store, waiting for the doors to open so they can buy pick-me-ups to prop their eyelids open through the day's classes The Franklin Boulevard fast-food joints will tack up signs telling coffee-drinking students that there aren’t any free refills and not to study at their tables for more than a hour. Students who like to camp out in the Skylight will line up outside the EMU before it opens to jockey for one of the booths. All of the sudden, it will become impossible to find a seat at the library, not that it is ever quiet enough to study there Unlike many campuses where classes are cancelled during the week preceding finals — or at least where there is a moratorium on testing and introducing new material in classes — some University professors give finals Dead Week, disregarding the exam schedule, and race to finish the syllabus outline At colleges and universities across the nation, the week proceeding final examinations is a time for students to catch a second wind after severe exhaustion from getting out of bed for early mor ning classes and crawling into bed after late night diversions That is, everywhere except here At Princeton University, for example, students pack their bags and books and head for cheap hotels during the week before finals, called Read ing Week there Unlike our own Ivy League cam pus, classes are not held during Princeton's Reading Week and students have a chance to prepare for exams without the pressures of class attendance Unfortunately, the possibility of the University scheduling a week before finals that is free from classes is slim The University cannot afford to add an additional week of classes, nor cut back the number of teaching days. In fact, University of Washington administrators are considering a plan to shorten their academic year to compensate for shrinking budgets The University only pays lip service to the concept of Dead Week. Administrators should take a firm hand in enforcing a policy that would forbid examinations or new material in University classes the week preceding finals.
