opinion
Guest opinion: Pres. Paul Olum
Letter to students,
Judging by information I am receiving, many of you are
worried and confused by the reports in the news media
concerning Oregon's economy and its effect on the future of
the University The announcement by Gov Atiyeh of a $248 5
million shortfall in state revenue and his call tor state
agencies to prepare budget reduction plans of up to 20
percent has lead to many statements of "worst case"
possibilities by state officials This has led in turn to misun
derstanding as people think these "worst cases" — such as
an 80 percent tuition increase to cover all of higher educa
tion's deficit — are actually being proposed They are not
They are being discussed to help decision makers un
derstand the gravity of the situation they face
In this letter, let me try briefly to share with you several
key points that I think you need to understand as you
continue planning your education. I hope it will clarify the
rumors and misconceptions
First, the University will not be closing academic programs
during this current 1981-82 academic year That is virtually
impossible to do, and would be very unfair to students We
will be making every effort to preserve all of the academic
programs at the University, many of which are rated in the top
ten in their field in the country, for future years, as well
Second. I think I should comment on why you may be hearing
more about the University’s budget woes than about the
fiscal situations at the other schools in the state system
other than the obvious fact that you are here on this campus
The University has a long tradition of openness in discussing
important issues We have assembly meetings, student
convocations, classified staff convocations, and so on In
addition, Eugene is an active media town, and University
news is reported in considerable detail The fact is that the
schools in the state system are all facing the same very
serious budget crises
Third, public colleges and universities across the
country are facing similar problems created by the reces
sion Washington. Michigan Minnesota and Ohio are among
the states that have been or are being faced with major
shortfalls in state revenue To date, no state that we are
aware of has gutted its public higher education system,
instead, solutions have been found to balance some budget
cutting with new sources of revenue Washington, for
example, just increased tax revenue through the existing tax
structure Responsible legislators in Oregon can be expect
ed to work to insure that the state's colleges and universities
are not crippled beyond repair, but these legislators need
support for that position
Fourth, numerous proposals for new revenue sources
are already being proposed by Oregon legislators and by
editorial writers for the state's daily newspapers These
suggestions include adjustments in personal and corporate
income taxes, a sales tax and an income tax surcharge
Others are suggesting that the property tax relief and basic
school support programs should share in the budget reduc
tions The University has no position on which of these or
other methods should be adopted to raise the necessary
revenues. The fact that such proposals are already being
given serious consideration, however, gives me hope that in
Oregon, as in other states, the legislature will not ruin the
higher education system
Finally, you need to know that you and your parents can
play a vitally important role in helping legislators from your
districts understand the University's plight and the need for
new revenue during this recessionary period If you need to
know the name, address and telephone number of your
legislators, you can call the Office of Public Services,
686-5555, or the ASUO. 686-3724 A packet of information is
being mailed to parents of students from Oregon, along with
a letter from me Thus, you will have information at hand over
the holidays for use in visiting with your legislators The
ASUO has also prepared information packets which are
available in EMU Suite 4
In conclusion, I know you are concerned So am I I have
no special crystal ball, so I cannot predict the future per
fectly Still, I urge you not to be dispirited Be of good faith
and “hang in there'' with us through the special session of
the Legislature in January The people of Oregon and their
elected officials have a long tradition of protecting the quality
of life in this state, including educational opportunity The
strength of the University is important also to the economic
health of Eugene and Lane County, and it is widely
recognized that the possibilities of economic diversification
for Oregon's economy are crucially dependent on the
excellence of the universities of the state Nothing is certain,
of course, but I am confident that the Legislature will act in
such a way as to preserve those academic programs which
are so important to our students
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letters
Yellow ribbon
Oct 16 two members of the
Revolutionary Communist
Youth Brigade were convicted
in Eugene of first degree felony
arson Their action was a pro
test burning of a yellow ribbon
during the ■'homecoming” of
Victor Tomseth to the Universi
ty, in the EMU Ballroom
With the sentence hearing
today, it would seem wise to
stop and reflect upon the trial of
John Kaiser and Nancy Whitley
Occasionally, our judicial
system goes overboard in
zealousness Have these two
been convicted tor their politics,
or for burning in protest a
worthless object9
Clearly the prosecution
attempted to paint Kaiser and
Whitley not as the activists they
are, but rather as dangerous
terrorists " Clearly this should
lead one to remember back to a
time when another pair, Sacco
and Vanzetti, were also con
victed for their beliefs, instead
of a crime
The possibility of a term of 20
years and $2,500 seems exces
sive in a land which professes to
stand for liberty and freedom of
expression In 1776, many peo
ple gladly accepted a price
upon their heads, choosing
death if they could not have the
political freedom for which they
fought
Kaiser and Whitley may yet
spend some time in jail for their
point of view, and some day
"force of law may come to bear
against those who call them
selves Social Democrats, but we
must keep in mind that ideas die
hard
As Nicola Sacco said It is
true, Indeed, that they can ex
ecute the body, but they cannot
execute the idea which is bound
to live ”
Dick Schoonover
jeff dickerson
editor’s note
It's that time of year again
Santa is on every corner, you're heading
home for the holidays and the “spirit of
Chirstmas” is everywhere you look
Or is it9 Doesn't Christmas seem differ
ent to you this year9 Aren't you about ready
to punch the next person who tells you we
celebrate Christmas because of the love God
the father demonstrated in sending his son
Jesus to the Earth?
The older you get the more you become
aware of the plights of others It's hard to
have that old Christmas spirit when so many
people are so unfortunate
“I'm sorry," you say, “but there's just
too much pain in the world for a benevolent
and just God to exist So, away with this silly
religion
“ Ow, that hurt ."
Two young twins were still feeling the
pain from the spanking they had received
“It still hurts a little, but the pain is going
away," said one boy, drying his tears I hope
I never do that again," he said thinking back
to what had caused his father to punish him
"Oh, what did we do, anyhow9 ' asked
his brother “We can't do anything without
getting in trouble How can he love us9 He
doesn't let us do anything we want to do1
Two days later, the boys’ father told
them he had done something really special
for them — he had taken all the money he had
set aside for their future and begun a trust
fund for their college educations He said it
was something that would pay off for them in
the long run and reap benefits they couldn't
imagine now
One boy, already upset over the punish
ment he'd received, complained, "But I was
hoping you 'd spend that money on a train set
tor me "
"A train won't last," replied his father "I
don't care — I want a tram instead
As the boys grew toward adulthood,
one had a loving relationship with his tather
"Why are you so happy," asked his college
roommate, when you didn't get the extra
money you wanted from your father?"
"My father has control over his
finances," he replied Sometimes I don't
understand why my father gives me some
things and not others But that’s OK He's my
father, and he has better knowledge about
his money than I I’ll trust that he knows what
he's doing "
The other boy left home as soon as he
could and didn't answer letters or phone
calls from his father He took the old train set
and all the other things he received from his
father and hawked them for what he could
get from the outside world Now he was poor,
destitute of food and feeling sorry for him
self
"Go ask your father for some money,"
offered a friend
The young man looked at his friend,
thought for a moment about the times he had
been punished by his father when he felt like
he didn't deserve it and all the times his
father had refused to give him what he
wanted and then answered.
"I don't have a father "