Tuesday, April 13, 1982
Eugene, Oregon
Oregon daily
Volume 83
Number 129
emerald
Candidates rebuke
ASUO leadership
By Dane Claussen
Of tha B mar a Id
ASUO presidential candidates at a Monday forum outlined
programs and philosophies they feel are necessary for student
government
Only the candidates and a handful of spectators attended the
ASUO-sponsored event
"The students are going to be presented with a real clear
choice” between the status quo — embodied in fellow candidate
C J Balfe — and real change through the Students for a Progres
sive Agenda platform, said presidential candidate Kevin Kouns
Kouns, a junior in sociology and women's studies, says the
current ASUO administration has a "parochial attitude" and
accused ASUO staff members of not being able to look beyond the
ends of their noses
Kouns said he would work to help faltering student programs,
rather than saying 'we re going to trash you”
The ASUO has been oriented towards remaining in an admin
istrative role the last few years, he said, adding that the SPA would
initiate ' agressive leadership ”
"The ASUO should be the focal point of issues on campus,"
Kouns said "Until student government starts addressing student
concerns, we re going to have low participation," he added
The ASUO also exists for lobbying, he said, adding that ‘‘slick’'
presentations must be replaced by "grassroots strength”
Student government should make the legal challenges to
obtain student control of incidental fees, Kouns said, adding that all
avenues should be investigated before incidental fees are in
creased
Kouns did not limit his remarks to campus issues. Vietnam cost
the United States 50,000 casualties, and "35,000 people have died
in El Salvador as a result of the genocide of the U S government
Students can, should, and must take stands on the issues,'' he said
“It's not the ASUO s job to be taking a stand on El Salvador,”
replied C.J Balfe, a psychology junior
Balfe said he would improve the crisis management system
employed by this current ASUO President Rich Wilkins, a system
that left the Executive " always behind”
aiuuem yuvemmeni inouia ngm ror me mea inai every
student who wants to go to school should be able to," he said,
adding that this philosophy is the key to a legislative effort.
Balfe proposed sending small numbers of student lobbyists
trained by the ASUO's professional staff to the Legislature instead
of shipping buses of students to Salem Mobs of untrained students
give legislators a "rash on the backs of their necks,” he said
Balfe said he supports current efforts to eliminate incidental fee
funding for the athletic department
"Experience in running the ASUO should not be the crux of the
issue,” said Ed Colligan, a business junior, referring to the Emerald
endorsement of Balfe citing his ASUO administrative experience
The ASUO should initiate educational fundraising activities,
Colligan said
Colligan said incidental fee funding for the athletic department
should be eliminated "The athletic department should be self-suf
ficient and shouldn't be funded by the ASUO at all."
Tom Brannon, a political science senior, said the main objec
tives of the ASUO should be to raise money and educate students
"I think the ASUO should be involved in academic issues," he
said, adding that the ASUO should sponsor more forums and
encourage programs to do the same
"I don't feel academics have been stressed enough," Brannon
said, adding that the ASUO Executive can work with the Student
University Affairs Board on academic issues
He also said the ASUO Executive can tell students what is
happening on campus, work for "more student input in selecting
professors," and arrange academic credit for students lobbying in
Salem
The ASUO Executive office does not have to be reorganized,
Brannon said This year's ASUO Executive staff displayed a "lack of
discipline" exemplified by staff members not attending meetings or
keeping office hours, he said
Debbie Mellow, a senior in management and telecommunica
tions, advocated the use of a "newsletter" advertisement in the
Emerald to tell students what student government and programs
are doing and help involve students. This would prove to be a
"checks and balances" on the student government, she said
Mellow said she would begin regular ASUO staff meetings and
meetings between program directors, heads of living organizations,
and student government personnel to facilitate communications.
She also suggested more speakers programs and organized
lobbying efforts, bringing state-level candidates to the University
and increasing fundraising efforts.
Jeffrey Houston, a senior in Russian, announced his
withdrawal from the ASUO presidential race Monday night at a
forum sponsored by the Residence Hall Governance Committee
Photo by Bob Bakar
April showers...
il you can believe the old adage, May should bring a bumper crop of blossoms like mesa. The
weather forecast calls tor continued showers today, adding to the 3.71 inches of rain already
fallen this month. The average April rainfall Is 2.31 Inches.
Less computing time possible
Discussion of closing the University Comput
ing Center four hours a day has surfaced during
the last week, but Gordon Ashby, associate di
rector of University computing, said he will neither
confirm nor deny reports that say the University
Computing Center is facing a reduction of service
hours
Budget difficulties were cited as the reason
for considering the reduction, which would
reduce the center’s hours from 20 to 16 hours per
day.
"I wouldn’t even confirm that,” Ashby said
"But there’s some possibility it will happen ”
At a recent University planning committee
meeting, the reduction of Computing Center
hours was brought up during a discussion of the
need for coordination of the purchases of micro
and mini-computers
Ashby said the hours discussed for possible
elimination — 12 a m to 4 a m — are typically "low
utilization” hours.
‘‘Historically we have operated our com
puters from 8 a m. to 4 a.m.,” he said, adding
that the 12 a.m. to 4 a m. period is a “marginal
shift.”
At the end of winter term, students faced a
two-and-one-half to four-hour wait just to sit in
front of a terminal and the Computer and In
formation Science department has added several
sections of lower division CIS classes to accom
modate the increasing demand from students
But Ashby says that if and when the reduction
in hours happens, the center will do as much as it
can to alleviate overcrowding
‘‘We are going to do the maximum we can do
not to disrupt service — at this point I'm not sure
what that will be," he said.
According to Ashby, definite plans either way
have not been set but a decision should be made
soon, hopefully within two weeks.