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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 18, 1982)
Tuesday, May 18 Eugana, Oregon Oregon daily Volume 83 Number 154 emerald Photo by David Cony Sophia Hammond la on lha way to raallzlng ona of bar biggest ambitions — graduating from a large university. Older and wiser At 81, she s almost ready to graduate With a backpack slung over one shoulder, spry, white-haired Sophia Hammond makes her way around the University campus. At 81, after 50 years of teaching, she once again finds herself playing the role of student. Hammond, a music major, has been at tending the University on a part-time basis for the past five years, working toward a bachelor of arts degree. Enrolled in mostly language and music courses, Hammond takes an active part in the University choir. To attend classes she commutes four times weekly from Spring field. "I often drive my '59 Ford, which, in cidently. was purchased new," Hammond says. “I'm the only one to ever drive it. That's why it is in such good condition.” Originally from Pendleton, Hammond at tended several grade schools in that area and graduated from St. Joseph's Academy during World War I. Glancing out toward the music school lawn, she remembers being allowed to look out of the school windows to wave to the boys on the train going off to war “Normally we weren't to watch out of the windows, but this was an exception,” she notes. After completing high school, Hammond sold her father's wheat ranch and traveled to South America with a friend. For 14 months she lived in Argentina and recalls even then the people there were still very bitter about the way Britain took possession of the Falkland Islands. And they were already hashing over plans to regain rule of the islands. "You know how the British are,” she says, shaking her head, "and I don’t think they even asked Argentina about it!" Following her stay in South America. Hammond sailed to Europe and taught primary school in Till’s Head, England. She was one of three teachers in the small school near Salis bury. "I especially enjoyed teaching reading,” she says. “It is something where you can see results.” Hammond resided in England for six years before wanderlust set in again. She went to China to act as a missionary and learn the language. As a result of the Chiang Kai-shek uprising Hammond couldn’t get into the city where she was enrolled in a school for girls. Instead, she was sent to the town of Nang-King to study Chinese and remained there for a year. When Hammond took a course in Chinese at the University, the rest of the class was astonished at the way she had learned it in China. "We were taught orally," she says with pride. “No books at all.” In 1929, Hammond returned to Oregon to get her degree as a teacher. She received the teaching degree from Southern Oregon Nor mal College (now Southern Oregon State College) and then started on her 50-year stretch as a teacher. During those 50 years, Hammond also became an accomplished artist, working with water colors, acrylics, and oils. She has placed first numerous times in the Lane County Fair and other local art shows. In August of this year Hammond will finally realize one of her greatest ambitions. “I've already accomplished my first two goals — finishing eighth grade and high school," she says. "But I’ve always wanted to graduate from a large college.” By Betty Higginbottom ASUO opens phone line to U.S. senators By Ann Portal Ot th0 Cmuntd The ASUO is providing a telephone today so students may phone the Oregon offices of state senators to voice opin ions about a proposal that could further limit federal financial aid. A vote on the proposal may take place within the next two days, according to a representative of the office of Sen. Mark Hatfield, R-Oregon The proposal, sponsored by Sen Peter Domenici, R-New Mexico, would reduce the number of students eligible for the Guaranteed Student Loan pro gram and halt the in-school interest subsidy Currently, the federal government pays the 9-percent rate until students leave college The proposal asks that students from families with incomes at or above $40,000 be ineligible for GSLs, but still eligible for "auxilliary loan programs." However, Jeff Lee, executive director of the Oregon State Scholarship Com mission, wrote in a recent letter to Hat field that lenders in Oregon have not made a firm commitment to alternative programs, such as the new PLUS pro gram Congress should not automatical ly assume auxilliary programs will re place the GSL, Lee says Under the proposal, families with in comes of $25,000 to $40,000 would have to pass a need analysis before becoming eligible for GSLs Theoretically, an independent student with an annual in come of $24,999 could still borrow, while a dependent student in a family with several college students and a family income of $30,000 could be ineligible, Lee says. If students must assume the 9-percent interest payments while in school, fresh men who borrow $2,500 during their first year would end up paying $3,400 for the loan when they graduate or leave school. Banks would lose the interest they com pound on government-paid interest, which is paid quarterly, Lee points out. High unemployment combined with low state revenues have resulted in decreased family incomes to support dependent students, Lee wrote. Scarce part-time work also makes it hard for students to be self supporting, he added. While Hatfield is reportedly in favor of the proposal. Sen. Bob Packwood, R Oregon, has not yet indicated a position, so calling his office may have some impact, says Dave Berns, ASUO legisla tive assistant. The number for Pack wood’s Portland office is 233-447T. The ASUO phone will be available from 9 to 5 in EMU Suite 4. "Nobody should be afraid to come in and just make the call," Berns says. 40 percent voter turnout expected SALEM — Candidates in Oregon’s primary election are making their final attempts to sway the electorate before voters step into polling booths today About 1.4 million voters, close to 50 percent of the electorate, are expected to turn out at polling places around the state Secretary of State. Norma Paulus. the state's chief election officer, says the electorate turnout should be “between 49 and 50 percent." But Ray Phelps, the state elections director expects a turnout "in the low 40s " In the 1980 presidential race, the voter turnout was 61 percent. The election will narrow the field of candidates for governor, Congress, the Legislature, state school superinten dent and labor commissioner. Voters also will decide five measures placed lor races Three contested statewide judgeships will be on ballot, one each from the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals and the Tax Court. Only those judicial races in which no candidate receives a majority will be referred to the November ballot. Two district court races in Multnomah County have more than two candidates each and could require a fail runoff. Voters will also be picking can didates in local government races and deciding »oc I issues Independents and candidates from smaller political parties will appear on the November ballot after filing peti tions or being selected through the state's party nominating process They have between June 2 and Aug. 24 to qualify for the November ballot. Voter registration was reported light last week by elections officials in some of the state’s larger counties Registra tion was possible up to 8 a m today at each county clerk’s office. Late regis trants will be given certificates which they must take to their regular polling place in order to cast their ballots “You can register up until 8 a m on the day of the primary (today), but usually there are long lines,’’ says David Spriggs, of the Lane County Elections Division. Voting booths wilt be set up in the EMU for those in the University precinct, which is bordered on the north and the south by Franklin Boulevard and 18th Street and east to west by Kincaid Street and Moss Street
