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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (July 29, 1982)
f “Blue Leaves” The play Is puzzling, the theme, your own... See page 4 Thursday, July 29, 1982 Eugene, Oregon Volume 84, Number 12 Pool plan sinks; students won’t foot OSU’s bill By Debbie Howlett Of th* Emerald Oregon State University won't get a new swimming pool this year, at least not at the expense of students from other state funded universities and colleges The State Board of Education turned down a proposal to finance an addition to the Dixon Aquatic Facility on the OSU campus, which would have in creased by 110 percent the "building fee" students pay each term as a part of their tuition and fees package. The addition to the aquatic facility would have included an indoor track, an indoor pool, a diving pool, more lockers and more handball/raquetball courts. The building fee is put into a reserve and is most often used to finance capital construction at state system institutions When funds are available, con struction is done according to a priority list set by the state board and approved by the state Legislature In a discussion of the building fee increase, board members eliminated OSU's request for an $8 24 in crease per student per term to pay for the facility The board did vote to increase the building fee to almost $18, however, to fund other construction projects and to make state instituions accessible to handicapped people. Currently students pay $12.50 per term into the building fund, and any increases have to be approved by the Legislature Oregon Student Lobby members, who adamantly opposed the $8 24 increase that would have financed the aquatic facility, said the other increase set by the board is something they would rather not see But according to executive director Bob Watrus, it is something the OSL can live with. “It seems as though there are a number of legi timate reasons for increasing the building fees," Watrus said "At this point, the $5.46 increase was supported by the OSL as opposed to $13.70." Watrus was prepared to voice opposition to in creases for the aquatic facility during last week’s state board meeting. But board member James Petersen of LaGrande beat him to the punch. Petersen moved to delete the OSU facility from the request almost as soon as the building fee discussion opened Ironically, Petersen is the one who made the motion that included the pool facility in the original package Petersen said OSU’s former student body president Jeff Strickler came to the board and asked that the facility be given a higher priority listing. Petersen made the motion to raise the priority rank of the facility which the board agreed to, but then changed his mind. “I didn’t think, in clear conscience, that we should be adding that to student fees," Petersen said. “It didn't seem logical to include (the facility) at this time with economics as they are." Watrus didn’t seem to mind being upstaged by Petersen "We re glad to see an increasing awareness of the total cost of education to students," Watrus said The building fee increase approved by the board will help pay for modifications at four institutions to bring access to handicapped in compliance with state laws. The board placed as it’s highest priority a package which will bring buildings at the University, OSU, Eastern Oregon State College and the Oregon Health Sciences University into compliance with the state laws. The total cost for the renovation of the buildings is almost $6 2 milion dollars, with two-thirds of the money to be split between the University and OSU. EOSC is earmarked for $760,000; OHSU for $1.2 million. The University's share includes $160,000 from gift funds. Additions and alterations of over $7.5 million to the University’s Architecture and Allied Arts buildings is slated fourth on the priority list and a $205,000 for the planning phase of an addition to the University’s main library is ranked 13th. Photo by Erich Boekelheide The plaza area that includes the Eugene Performing Arts Center and the Hilton Hotel was named at a Wednesday meeting. How does the city council spell relief? “Eugene Centre” The Eugene City Council has finally ended three months of debate and deliberation on the name of the area encompassing the new Eugene Performing Arts Center, er, Centre. By a vote of 5 to 3, the council spurned "Eugene Center” for "Eugene Centre” as the name of the two block site that includes the Hilton Hotel and Con vention Center. The council members met for lunch and a final vote at 11 a m Wednesday. In that ballot "Eugene Center" and “Eugene Centre" tied for first place with three votes each. Also rans included "Eugene Commons;" two votes, and "Performing Arts Center;” one vote. After lunch, at yet another discussion, spelling became the "centre" of some last minute con troversy. Councilor Brian Obie moved that the city adopt the "Centre” version. Mayor Gus Keller voiced a second. "I am not interested in convincing Eugene that Hendriksen may seek senate seat Democrat Margie Hendriksen is “seriously mulling over” challeng ing Republican George Windgard this November for his seat in the Oregon Senate. Hendriksen, currently Eugene’s representative in the House, says she was surprised when Gerry Mackie dropped out of the race with Windgard. The vacancy has left Windgard unopposed The race is critical for the democrats, Hendriksen says, because they will lose five seats in the Senate through retirement and reapportionment. Windgard, a popular “maverick Republican”, says a challenge from Hendriksen — “wouldn't change anything I’m doing.” However, Windgard questions the legality of Hendriksen running for the Senate seat as she has already filed for reelection to the House in district 40. An official in the Secre tary of State’s office says Hendrik sen can’t run for both at the same time. Hendriksen has until August 27 % \ Margie Hendriksen to withdraw from the House race. Once her name is withdrawn for that seat she can be nominated by the Democrats for the district 20 Senate seat Hendriksen says her chances of defeating Windgard are good. The Senate needs more dynamic repre sentation, she says, and "a strong democratic coalition — especially with a Democratic governor.” According to Hendriksen, the dif ferences between Windgard and her are most evident on tax decisions. As a freshman representative, Hendriksen authored a tax package that was adopted by the AFL-CIO and endorsed by gubernatorial can didate Ted Kulongoski. When the Legislature convenes it will face a $300 million revenue shortfall, according to Hendriksen. "Revenue is the name of the game," Hendriksen says. Windgard voted for a sales tax in 1970, but Hendriksen says she doesn't know where he stands on taxes now. Hendriksen is also a strong ad vocate of comparable worth in employment. It’s an issue she says Windgard hasn't taken a strong stand on. There are financial problems but Hendriksen says she is "talking it over" with her constituents and leaning “seriously" toward chal lenging Windgard. we spell center wrong," joked Councilor Emily Schue amid a lively debate. But as the voting board lit up: four favored "Eugene Centre," three didn't. A smiling John Ball held the vote that could deadlock the issue again. Laughter filled the council room. "The one thing you learn John," Keller ribbed, "is, ah, vote in a hurry." Ball paused to laugh and cast the fifth vote for "Eugene Centre" wrapping up a debate that began with a list of proposed names presented to the council on May 5. Most of that list became waste basket casualties early in the process. But Cynthia Wooten had some words for the other suggestions. "I just want to take a moment to make sure that the citizens of the City of Eugene understand our appreciation of their suggestions, all of them. . this has been fun perhaps sometime we can find another issue that engenders so much attention."
