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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 25, 1982)
Journalist assails president Reagan’s bill may 'shackle’ press By Brian Bubak Ot Ih0 Emertld Pres. Ronald Reagan is jeopardizing the constitutional rights of all Americans, says Steven Dornfeld, president-elect of the Society of Professional Journalists/Sigma Delta Chi. The First Amendment, which spells out the public's right to free speech, freedom of religion and freedom of the press among others, is in serious danger of being eroded away by unconstitutional legislation, Dorn feld says On campus Wednsday for SPJ’s "Freedom of Information Day," Dornfeld urged people to fight Reagan’s attempts to curtail public access to goverment information Two specific pieces of legislation are of particular importance, Dornfeld said The most important, according to Dorn feld. is the, "so-called agents' identity bill." The bill, which is presently awaiting Senate approval, could mean a $15,000 fine and up to three years in prison for disclosing the names of present or former CIA operatives The vagueness of the law would make it enforcable regardless of the source of in formation or the public purpose involved in the disclosure, Dornfeld said He went on to warn that even publishing the names of agents in order to expose illegal action would be prosecutable under the law The original bill proposed to the House of Representitives would have called for pro secution when disclosures were made with “intent to impair or impede" CIA activities But the version that passed the full House vote was amended to permit conviction of those who had reason to believe the disclo sure would impair the ageny's performance, Dornfeld said. Even though more than 100 “legal scholars" have publicly called the bill un constitutional, Dornfeld said that Congres sional members, fully aided by the Reagan Administration, continue to battle toward shackling the press with one more set of chains Another issue of major concern to Dorn feld is Reagan’s attempt to weaken the Freedom of Information Act Adopted in 1966, the FOI act was an effort to increase the government’s openness and accoun tability But the Reagan Administration intends to take more information out of the public’s grasp, said Dornfeld Current legislation will make information, once obtainable through the FOI act, in accesible. This legislation, coupled with an attempt to increase the amount of informa tion allowed to be classified top secret, secret or confidential, will be a major blow to the public’s ability to uncover govern ment improprieties, Dornfeld said But any attempt to curtail American's rights to goverment information will be, Steven Domfeld “vigorously opposed,” Domfeld promised. The SPJ, as well as other professional and public organizations, Dornfeld said, will battle in the courts to erase over-restrictive laws from the books. Letters against financial aid cuts urged By Ann Portal Ot lha Emerald Financial aid supporters get their first chance to criticize Pres Ronald Reagan's proposed cuts at Congressional hearings next week, but the University's financial aid direc tor wants students to speak up before then ‘ It's incredibly important" for students to send letters now to the six Oregon Congressional members, says Ed Vignoul, University financial aid director. He predicts letters — lots of let ters — are the only thing that's going to change minds in Wa shington, DC The House Budget Commit tee on Post-Secondary Educa tion begins a series of financial aid hearings next Tuesday 1 Want to send a letter? Here are a few names U.S. Representatives Les AuCoin, Democrat 231 Cannon House Office Bldg. Washington, D C 20515 Denny Smith, Republican 1207 Longworth House Of fice Bldg Washington, D.C 20515 Jim Weaver, Democrat 1226 Longworth House Of fice Bldg. Washington, D C. 20515 Ron Wyden, Democrat 1440 Longworth House Of fice Bldg Washington, D C 20515 U.S. Senators Mark Hatfield. Republican 463 Russell Senate Office Bldg. Washington. D C 20510 Bob Packwood, Republican 1321 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg Washington, D.C 20510 through Thursday in Washing ton, D C. The hearings, which will examine the impact of the Reagan administration's budget proposal, will move to New York on March 5. The 1982-83 budget proposal released by Reagan on Feb 8 contains a $141.5 million reduction in the amount of fin ancial aid that Congress ap proved last December. If Reagan's proposal passes Congress, the total amount of federal financial aid for the 1982-83 school year would be $590 million less than was available in 1981-82. The proposed 1983-84 funds would mean a reduction of more than $2 billion of the amount that was available during the current academic year University Pres. Paul Olum mailed a letter last Friday to students and parents, urging them to write to representatives about the impact of the proposed cuts He says "the cuts look terri ble’’ because they revoke a long-standing commitment to give students a chance to earn a degree from a public college or university Peter DeFazio, an aide to Rep. Jim Weaver, D-Oregon, says 300 to 400 letters sent to each representative could have a definite effect. He says it's particularly important for students to write to Sen. Mark Hatfield, R-Oregon. Hatfield is chairer of the Senate Appro priations Committee. “If he says there’ll be more money for students, there will be more money for students,” DeFazio says. The current attitude at the federal capitol is that there will be a long fight over further fin ancial aid reductions, DeFazio says The final level of aid for next year is an “open ball game" at this point, and effec tive resistance and lobbying may well influence the outcome, he says The ASUO plans a Financial Aid Forum March 11 to allow representatives of the different sides to present their views. To date, the speakers include Vig noul, who will present the im pact of the cuts on the Universi ty; Ray Naff, representing Hat field; Cynthia Wooten, repre senting Weaver, and a former Oregon campaign worker for Reagan who will present the administration’s viewpoint The forum will be held in EMU Room 167 IFC chops more funds in hearings The Incidental Fee Committee slashed more dollars from student organizations Wednes day in yet another round of budget hearings. The Oregon Student Lobby was among several groups receiving less funding than they originally requested. Its 1982-83 request of about $20,800 — a 5-percent increase from 1981-82 — failed by a 3-2 vote despite a request by ASUO Pres. Rich Wilkins to "set a precedent” for the other Oregon universities to meet the group’s entire request OSL receives a straight sub sidy from each state school ac cording to its student popula tion, he explained. The budget OSL submitted for next year included salary increases — inappropriate requests at this time, balked IFC members. In a second vote, OSL was granted the $20,000, an in crease of just more than a 1 percent over this year’s funding. The Muslim Students’ As sociation received $900, a 31-percent decrease in funding for 1982-83. Since the organ ization failed to inform the ASUO of its request in time, the ASUO could not reccommend a funding level for the MSA within its total 1982-83 budget, said Alan Contreras, ASUO vice pre sident of program administra tion. The Community Service and Public Affairs Graduate Student Council received its request of $260 for 1982-83, taking a voluntary cut of more than 55 percent from this year’s budget The Panhellenic Council was granted almost $2,500 for next year, a decrease of about 7 percent from its 1981-82 total. This amount is about $75 less than the ASUO recommenda tion, and more than 50 percent lower than its original request of about $5,200. A revised request was similar to the amount granted As a sidenote to the hearing, the IFC was informed of possi ble telephone rate hikes by Contreras. Telephone expenditures would increase 25 percent for the basic monthly rate, 15 per cent for WATS, and 15 percent for the annual charge, effective in April Because of these in creases, the IFC would have to revise all telephone expendi tures for 1982-83, he said catch the classifieds! ALTERNATIVETRAVEL S.F. NIGHT COACH ] Travel comfortably and in good company aboard customized sleeper coaches Stop at Wilbur Hot Springs for a soak and cook-out breakfast Special prices to points along the way Eugene 343-5081 Portland 225-0310 or (800) 227-4766 UNIVERSITY THEATRE PRESENTS IBSEN’S PEEK BUT Robinson Theatre 8 p.m. For tickets and information call U of O 686-4191 RENNIE’S LANDING PITCHER SALE! Back by popular demand. This Friday 4-7 pm Large Pitchers Only $1.75 Rennie’s Landing • 1214 Kincaid • 687-0600
