emerald
Vol 83, No 74
Eugene, Oregon 97403
Friday, January 8, 1982
Says draft won’t return
President retains draft registration
WASHINGTON (AP) - Pres
Reagan on Thursday retained
the draft registration system he
once denounced and ottered a
grace period for signing up
more than 800.000 young men
who have not complied with the
law
Reagan said his decision,
which marked a sharp reversal
from opposition to the registra
tion program during the 1980
presidential campaign, did not
foreshadow a return to the draft
"However, we live in a dan
gerous world," the president
said in a statement "In the
event of a future threat to na
tional safety, registration could
save the United States as much
as six weeks in mobilizing
emergency manpower "
Reagan said late registrations
are being accepted and I have
instructed the Department of
Justice to make provision for a
grace period for late regis
trants "
Presidential counselor Edwin
Meese said those who tailed to
register in the past would be
given a 30- to 60-day grace per
iod in which to sign up
Since 1980, 6 6 million young
men 18 through 21 have regis
tered for the draft, but more
than 800,000 have failed to
comply, according to the latest
Selective Service figures The
maximum penalty for not regis
tering is five years in prison and
a $10,000 fine
On Dec 10, the Justice
Department temporarily sus
pended plans to seek indict
ments against some of those
800 000 who failed to register
Young men are required to
register within 30 days of their
18th birthday Failure to comply
carries a maximum penalty of
five years' imprisonment and a
$10,000 fine
Reagan said his decision was
based on the findings of a mili
tary manpower task force
chaired by Defense Secretary
Caspar Weinberger
The Pentagon chief and
Secretary of State Alexander
Haig had said abolishing regis
tration now would send the
wrong signal to the Soviet Union
in the midst of the crisis in
Poland
Reagan, however, did not
mention the crackdown in
Poland in his statement And
Meese said the events in Poland
were not a major considera
tion'' in Reagan's decision.
"There's no philosophical
change,' Meese said "It's a
practical change" based on
the new information that he did
not have a year ago" — that
registration would save six to
seven weeks in mobilization
He said a previous report said
that only five to six days would
be saved However, the Carter
administration disavowed that
estimate and later claimed
registration would save 13 to 14
weeks in a mobilization
Sen Mark Hatfield R-Ore ,
said Reagan ”has been vic
timized — perhaps by his staff —
into assuming that a lot of time
would be saved in a mobilization
by pre-registration "
The decision to extend regis
tration as a symbolic gesture of
support for Poland is "just an
excuse,'1 said Christina Cowgar
of the Eugene-based Coalition
Opposing Registration and the
Draft
Ronald Reagan
The organization is planning
to support those who choose
not to register "We think it's
very important to oppose (the
extension of draft registration)
and support those threatened
with prosecution," added Cow
gar
To support them CORD plans
demonstrations — once the first
person is prosecuted — in front
of Eugene s Federal Building,
Photo by Bob Baker
she said.
“This announcment under
lines the need for draft coun
seling People should be aware
that the draft is not going to go
away." Free draft counseling is
available through CORD at
485-4611
Reagan said Thursday that
his administration “remains
steadfast in its commitment to
an all-volunteer defense force “
Panel agrees state may have to cut college
State Rep. Grattan Karans
Photo by David Corey
But only as a final economic option
By BRIAN BUBAK
Of ttM EnwlW
Closing one of the state's in
stitutions of higher education
may be a solution to higher
education's ills, said State Rep
Margie Hendriksen, D-Eugene
Speaking at an open forum
with State Rep Grattan Kerans,
D-Eugene, higher education
Chancellor Roy Lieuallen, and
ASUO Pres Rich Wilkins, Hen
driksen indicated her willing
ness to pursue such a measure
in order to save higher educa
tion as a whole
"If it were a choice between
the survival of the University of
Oregon and Western Oregon
State College, I wouldn't hesi
tate (to urge for closure of
WOSC)," Hendriksen said
Hendriksen emphasized she
would need to examine all pos
sible options before even con
sidering such a drastic move,
but her goal is "to preserve
quality and eliminate duplica
tion of programs. "
Kerans disagreed in method
with Hendriksen’s position,
claiming it would take at least
five years before substantial
savings could be expected from
such a closure
However. Kerans agreed with
her in principle, saying, "We
have too many colleges for the
size of our state "
Both legislators blamed Gov
Vic Atiyeh and Pres Ronald
Reagan for the problems the
state’s higher education system
is currently experiencing
"We are here today because
of Ronald Reagan," Kerans
said, adding "the governor has
abandoned us ”
All four panel members
agreed an increase in revenues
is the best solution to higher
education's problems
Lieuallen cited a 24 percent
reduction in the portion of per
sonal income tax earmarked for
higher education as a serious
shortcoming
"The state of Oregon, over
the last 15 years, has assigned a
low priority to the Department of
Higher Education.” Lieuallen
noted "We have turned to tui
tion as the principle source
for support for our colleges and
universities It's of great con
cern to us that this kind of a shift
in state priorities has oc
curred and we believe it is
high time to stop it.”
Hendriksen concurred with
Lieuallen "It would be possible
to establish an income tax rate
system which would allow us to
raise new revenue I certainly
think that’s something we need
to look into "
Panel members also agreed
tuition increases are not the
answer
“You can’t raise the price
beyond the point that is reason
able and bearable,” Lieuallen
said
Kerans observed that “if we
continue the trend we have
started, the last student in the
system of higher education
would pay $12 billion in tui
tion."