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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (March 4, 1982)
Thursday, March 4, 1982 Eugana, Oregon Oregon daily Volume 83 Number 114 emerald • m Photo by Bob Baker More than 900 University employees packed the EMU ballroom to hear University Pres. Paul Olum speak on plans to deal with a new $1.4 million budget cut. Olum’s meeting draws ire, approval By Debbie Howletl Of the CmertU University faculty and staff crowded into the EMU Ballroom Wednesday and heard Univer sity Pres Paul Olum's plans to deal with a $1 4 million budget cut By the end of the meeting Olum's remarks had been met by both applause and loud dis approval In a hastily called "convoca tion,' Olum made it clear to University employees that to meet the cut, two options exist — either cut academic pro grams or cut employee salaries. Despite outbursts of disap proval, Olum's suggestions for administering the cuts seemed to be approved by a majority of faculty Nodding quietly, most of the crowd approved a suggestion to combine the "educational leave" with a postponement of a faculty pay increase. At the conclusion of the con vocation, Olum asked for a show of hands to poll staff members on how they wanted to meet the deficit After the infor mal vote, Olum said, "it appears that a majority opt for the simple solution of postponing salary increases, a third of you are opposed and a bunch haven’t made up their minds." Earlier in his presentation, Olum said University represen tatives "have fought very hard to make a case for the state system and this university. But we have to make some grievous cuts." Olum outlined a plan that contained several options to decrease salaries but was vague on plans to cut schools or departments. Calling the cutting of academic programs "the last stage in the whole business," Olum said that to meet the $1 4 million shortfall, the University would have to close two of its professional schools After Olum's initial presenta r tion, discussion of cutting departments quickly caught fire An irate James Boren, an associate English professor, yelled angrily toward the podium "this discussion is loaded." Boren harshly ac cused Olum of evading crucial questions of which departments would be cut Boren added that Olum had continually told what he would not do in regards to program cuts. “If I had to cut schools, you ask me what I would do — I would resign,” Olum roared back. "I’m not here to see that you have a 5-percent increase or decrease in living expense — I'm only interested in this March is here — so is the flu By Ann Portal Better pick up some orange juice and asprrin — the flu is paying its annual visit to the University Two samples taken last week from University students and sent to the State Health Division have been confirmed as in fluenza, according to University Physician Jim Jackson About 50 students already have visited the student health center complaining of the numerous flu symptoms — high temperature headache, fatigue, nasal congestion, sore throat and muscle aches, Jackson says. The first three months of the year are the prime influenza season, he says, and this year is no exception Students should not. however, confuse influenza — an upper respiratory infection - with stomach flu. he says Stomach flu is the villain that causes vomiting and diarrhea, and it does not appear to have a specific season. Jackson says. The flu is highly contagious" but Jackson says students don t need to isolate themselves completely if they get it Susceptible students will come in contact with it at some point anyway, he says. After students have been exposed to the flu virus, it usually takes 48 to 72 hours for the symptoms to show up Backing off from activi ties at the first sign of the flu can help cut down on the attack. Jackson says Around the state, the flu outbreak is min imal so far and does not look like it will turn into an epidemic, he says. But as long as it’s here Jackson has some tips for students — which boil down to remember what your mother told you. "There's nothing that cures the flu, " he says Your own body has to take care of the infection itself " Some common sense measures that may help battle the bug include: * Eat well and be sure to drink a lot of fluids ♦ Take aspirin or Tylenol for headaches and a fever ♦ Try a decongestant for a stuffed-up nose • Rest \ The worst symptoms of the flu usually last one or two days, and students should feel much better" by the third or fourth day Jackson says Most students should be able to handle the flu without seeing a doctor, but "if you're having a lot of problems with it." drop by the health center he recommends damn University,” said an angry Olum. Olum’s defense of academic programs was applauded by the audience. When Boren started to respond to the President's statement, he was met with a chorus of cat calls from other staff members. Prior to opening the floor for discussion, Olum outlined a three-sided proposal to deal with salary reductions The op tions, as Olum explained them, are: • A faculty furlough — "That's a nice word for leave without pay," said Olum "It would also require a declaration of financial exigency,” he ad ded • An "educational leave." This leave is similar to a sabba tical in that faculty would take one year off, with half pay, to do work outside the realm of the University The difference is that the faculty would have more of a choice of what work could be done on "educational leave." One suggestion Olum made was that staff could earn a doctorate degree while on leave. Some of the staff raised questions about the effect of just taking a cut in pay without stressing the harm that would be done to the University “Why don't we just tell Salem; lay me off,’ ” said David Well man, an associate professor of sociology. Olum said he would inform the State Board of Higher Education that there was some concern that people are not fully aware of the damage from the cuts.
