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Oregon daily
emerald
Tuesday, October 12, 1982
Eugene, Oregon
Volume 84, Number 27
Selling a new image
Fuzz-bashing hippies or peaceful pupils?
By Lisa Erb
CM the Emerald
Bombed buildings, blockaded
streets, public protesters, the police,
the National Guard on the Universi
ty campus?
Those are scenes from the late
1960s, when headlines in the Oregon
Daily Emerald read "Marchers protest
arrests, invade ROTC building, "Navy
recruiters ousted from EMU," "150
resisters march in National Draft Day,
"Dynamite blast shakes empty ROTC
offices," and "Viet Nam protesters
stage march "
More than ten years have passed yet
some Oregonians still see those head
lines when they cast their ballots and
when they decide where to send their
children to school
In an effort to increase enrollment,
attract more industry to the community
and minimize University budget cuts,
leading faculty members, students, and
some of the University s administrators
have renewed a decade-long effort to
improve the public's perception of the
University.
"There has been an awareness of the
problem all along," says James Buch,
director of University admissions
"Things have been done in the past,
but it takes time
"We re starting at what I might call a
grassroots level "
University Pres Paul Olum agrees an
image problem exists "There is so
much of a lack of understanding about
the University We have to get faculty
and students out into the community
where they can be seen."
The open house at the Hult Center for
Performing Arts which the University
co-sponsored, the music school’s pub
lic performances, the art museum's
traveling exhibits and KWAX, the
University's radio station, are examples
of taking the University to the public
According to Curt Simic, vice pres
ident for University relations, in
creased enrollment is the most critical
part of increasing public awareness
"All things are aimed at the student's
success," Simic says “If a student has
a good experience with the University,
he will attract more students
"One of the most important aspects
of public image is what's conveyed
across bridge tables — it is by word of
mouth that public image is spread,"
Simic explains
The University is also trying to get
community leaders to speak out about
the excellence of various programs and
departments Says Olum, "When the
president of the University gives a
speech, it's somewhat discounted — of
course the president would say that.' ”
Recently groups of labor leaders,
local officials, state legislators and
journalists were given tours of the
campus and treated to luncheons, dur
ing which the merits of the institution
were discussed Under the organiza
tion of Charlene Curry, director of
governmental relations for the Univer
sity, similar activities will continue, with
guests coming from around the state
The public needs to
begin to realize how
many areas the Univer
sity excels in — par
ticularly the sciences,''
says Simic "In
chemistry and math,
we re the strongest in
the state, and that's cer
tainly not the public
awareness '
' There is work to be
done in helping people
understand the kinds of
things being done in re
search and the impact it
has on their lives. Such
comments _
Buch feels that “many
Oregonians are cautious about the U of
O — they aren t certain of what we are.
There are those who feel we are still a
hotbed of radicalism."
Barbara Bellamy, Eugene's public
information director, disagrees. "I
would say that the University is well
perceived in this community In my
dealings with the public, I have never
heard any negative comments about
the University ”
However scarred the University’s
public image may or may not be, its
efforts to communicate and cooperate
with the community are increasing, as
both city and University struggle under
the same economic burdens.
"Research Corridors," a new project
among community and education
leaders, has set a 10-year goal to “im
Graphic by Betsy Charlton
prove the economy through the
coordination of a research and
development complex that uses and
continues to upgrade the resources
available at educational institutions in
order to attract firms and provide a
labor force.1’
Part of this "labor force” could be in
the high-technology industry, where
the University would prove to be a great
asset to the community
University officials hope that an im
proved image of the University will be
found and that closer ties to the com
munity will develop as a result.
However, a University and communi
ty partnership will not be possible, says
Olum, until there is first a “recognition
on both our parts that we share a com
mon destiny.”
Dean of students
applies for leave
The University's Dean
of Students, Bob Bowlin,
has requested a one-year
leave of absence to take
the associate directorship
of the Commission on
Colleges of the North
West Association of
Schools and Colleges,
according to University
Provost, Richard Hill.
Bowlin declined to
comment on the matter,
saying he'd prefer to wait
until everything is fi
nalized
However, Hill says the
dean asked for the leave
beginning Jan. 1 to work
■■■■ « at the Seattle-based com
Bob Bowlin mission Hill says the
leave is only for one year and Bowlin will return in 1984
“Bob is a senior statesman in the area of student affairs, he
has a wide range of experience, he cares very much about the
University,'' Hill said. "When such a person leaves, the
University suffers “
Bowlin began working at the University in 1961 as Assistant
Dean of Men. He held various positions at the University until
1970 when he was named to his current position as Dean of
Students
Born in Colorado and raised in California, Bowlin came to
Oregon to work on his doctorate in education and social
science He also spent four years in the Army, two of them as
an investigator/interrogator.
A replacement for Bowlin has not yet been named
I ^nifiiMi
Photo by Scott Levy
Chinese culture week opens
George Lin lectured on traditional Chinese mu
sical instruments and several Chinese students
demonstrated them, Monday night in the EMU.
Lin spoke about the instruments’ origins and their
relation to Chinese culture. He played tapes of some
of the instruments and students demonstrated
others.
The lecture as well as a display of pamphlets about
Chinese culture and tourism in Hong Kong during
the day, kicked off Chinese Culture Week at the
University.
Events scheduled for the rest of the week include a
documentary film on Chinese and Asian palaces will
be shown tonight at 7 in Room 221, Allen Hall. A film
about Chinese culture will be shown Wednesday
night the same time and same place.
The week concludes Thursday with a film and
lecture on Chinese papercutting by Tina Chung.