harry esteve
OSPIRG’s example
IN OCTOBER, 1974, the University branch of
the Oregon Student Public Interest Research
Group called an organizational meeting for the
new academic year Nearly 100 people showed
up
The 100 broke into groups of 20 to study
health agencies in Eugene, rental cleaning depo
sits and telephone deposits
Later in the year OSPIRG published a "Health
Services Directory" for Eugene and Springfield,
listing all services available and the average cost
for each It also established a renters' "hotline"
that fielded between five and 15 calls a day
Later that year the group attempted to bring
Pacific Northwest Bell to court for overcharging
on phone deposits for students
It was working with a total state budget of well
over $100,000 More than $30,000 of that was
from the University
It got better The same year the group dis
covered a mistake the Oregon Department of
Revenue had made on their renter rebate forms
and uncovered more than 100 violations of state
laws regarding the sale of dangerous toys
And better In March, 1980, the Incidental Fee
Committee granted OSPIRG a $7,800 budget
increase That brought their total funding from the
University to over $45,000 OSPIRG was sitting
pretty
BUT BY FEBRUARY of last year they were
sitting ducks
OSPIRG had its biggest operating budget
ever and at the same time its smallest member
ship Student support was at an all-time low, and
the IFC — in an effort to lower student fees — was
in a budget-cutting mood
The major criticism of OSPIRG was that it did
not perform enough of a service to students to
warrant such a high level of funding In fact, the
same criticism had been leveled at the group
since it first was granted student funds in 1971
But this time the criticism had basis The
single issue OSPIRG was concentrating on was a
state ballot measure to increase safety standards
for new nuclear energy construction
The ballot measure passed, but OSPIRG's
funding request didn’t. Acting on a recom
mendation from then-ASUO Pres Dave Eaton, the
IFC cut 73 percent from the budget
OSPIRG was left with $10,000, the lowest
level of funding since 1971
THIS YEAR 10 PEOPLE are part of the local
OSPIRG The research group is working diligently
and quietly to regain stature
Under the direction of Michael Matteucci,
OSPIRG has turned its attention closer to the
hand that feeds it
"The University is going to be our primary
focus," says OSPIRG member Michele Miller, and
their latest projects reflect the new attitude
Last week OSPIRG published a survey of 23
issues currently confronting the University and
asked students to check which they felt were most
important Miller says OSPIRG will use the results
to determine topics for a series of "educational
forums” scheduled for next term
About 400 students took the time to fill out the
surveys and return them to OSPIRG s*office, a
response that took both Miller and Matteucci by
surprise
OSPIRG’s major project at the moment is to
involve students in producing television shows for
a forthcoming Eugene public access TV station
OSPIRG has opened seven different positions
worth University credit through the telecommun
ications department
MATTEUCCI WONT SAY how much funding
OSPIRG will ask for when it goes before the IFC
this spring, but he says it probably will be close to
their current level.
"I see it as not dying," he says, "and I see it as
possibly gaining strength "
If OSPIRG does gain strength, and it is
showing signs that it will, it could serve as an
example to other student groups who rely on
student funds Student fees — hardly "incidental"
at $44 per term — must be earned or they will be
taken away
OSPIRG took the hint
Draft non-siqners spared
WASHINGTON (AP) - The
Justice Department said today it
has decided not to prosecute
young men tor tailing to register
tor the dratt until the White
House decides whether to
recommend ending the
mandatory sign-up procedure
The decision was announced
only a day betore some U S
attorneys were scheduled to go
before grand juries and seek
indictments of men who refused
to register
Justice Department spokes
man John Russell said 161
cases were "in the pipeline"
although only a handful of cases
Imported
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were to be presented to grand
juries today
Young men are required to
register within 30 days of their
18th birthday
Last month, Selective Service
Director Thomas Turnage said
that 307,000 men who were
required by law to have regis
tered by Sept 1 had failed to do
so — a non-compliance rate of
23 percent
Of the 1,336,000 men born in
1963 who were supposed to
have signed up by Sept 1, only
1.029,000 had registered
But Selective Service officials
said they expected 98 percent
compliance with the law after
warning letters were sent to
men who refused to register
There is no draft now, but
registration was instituted last
year to provide a list of eligible in
the event a national emergency
required reinstatement of the
draft
Pres Ronald Reagan is con
sidering asking Congress to
drop that requirement.
LOOKING FOR INVOLVEMENT?
Our College Ministry is growing, both in character and
size. This year we can
honestly say that if you want to
develop yourself or your role
in the Lord’s family, we have
a place for you. You will be
ministered to and have an
opportunity to minister.
Our goal is full fellowship
with the entire church family
in order to promote
personal growth and to honor
the Lord. Come find out what
FBC is all about.
FIRST BAPTIST
CHURCH
Broadway & High 345-0341
College Class - 9:00 am
Worship Service -10:30 am
Evening Service - 6:00 pm
Wednesday Bible Study - 7:00 pm
Pastor Bob Luther
Senior Pastor
Pastor Richard Cook
Associate Pastor
Ed Mach
Director of College Ministries
345-0341 (Church)
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