Atiyeh says theory hard to practice
By David Steinmetz
(X ttx Emerald
The difficulty of putting theory into
practice was a recurring theme in Gov
Vic Atiyeh’s speech Wednesday after
noon at the University Law School, which
also featured wide-ranging questions
"I wanted to be the governor that
moved higher education to a new pla
teau," Atiyeh said
But this personal commitment was
deterred by the economy and the legis
lature's $27 million cut to higher educa
tion in his budget, he said
Nevertheless, the effect of the state's
budget deficit could have been worse
"Fact is, higher education has taken
less of a cut than any other state
agency."
When questioned about his plans for
the future of higher education, Atiyeh
said he hopes "to make the broadest
access (to higher education) possible,"
and pledged higher education win get
more money.
Atiyeh also said Ballot Measure 3 is
unable to put a good theory into practice
Although he supports the concept of
Measure 3 and continues to be interest
ed in freezing tax rates and controlling
assessed value, the measure would have
a bad effect, he said
"Ballot Measure 3 is very unfair in
several different ways.” Atiyeh said
Some taxing districts would feel almost
no effect if Measure 3 passed, while
others would have a 50 percent cut in
funds, he said
The uneven distribution to school dis
tricts would give some students a better
education than others, Atiyeh said
Passage of Measure 3 would make it
difficult to establish a new tax to replace
the loss of property tax revenue, he
added
The measure would require a two
tniras majority in the Oregon legislature
tc pass any new tax laws
It's almost impossible to get two
thirds for adjournment," Atiyeh said
Although the measure is similiar to
Proposition 13 passed in California, he
said the state's surplus enabled Califor
nia to get through the transition period
Atiyeh added he believes in state
land-use planning, but is angry about
how it is now being done,
"Nit-picking" and "hysteria" need to
be replaced by a “common sense"
approach, he said
Part of that will be the adoption of
some of the "very good recommenda
tions” made by his economic task force,
which includes less litigation over land
use and faster plan acknowledgement,
Atiyeh said
Measure 6 — which would eliminate
the Land Conservation and Development
Commission — would bring "mass con
rusion ramer man neip solve me prob
lem, he said
“We re almost at the finish line, let's
not go back,” Atiyeh said
A questioner said the same task force
recommended state agencies need to
work together better, and asked what
Atiyeh will do to change that.
Atiyeh responded that this was an
impression and not the actual situation,
but said he will move to change that
perception
State agency heads were angered' at
that perception and strongly disagree
with it, he said
Responding to another question,
Atiyeh said Reagonomics is a "good
theory’’ that is not being done right.
He said he began writing letters to
Reagan when it was obvious the high
interest rates were caused by the na
tion's budget deficit and not inflation,
and Reagan did nothing about it
Belongings still missing
German students
headed for home
By Debbie Hewlett
O* I)m EikhiW
Two students traveling in the U S and Canada are on
their way back home to Germany after having almost every
thing they brought with them stolen from the EMU last
Saturday
The medical students, Uli Kaessler and Brigit Wetzel,
received money and help from a number of sources including
Eugeneans, the Campus Inter-Faith ministry and Congress
man Jim Weaver s office The Ministry provided the travelers
with $70, enough money to buy tickets for a bus to Seattle to
meet their homebound flight
Several people contacted Kaessler and Wetzel, a few with
offers to loan them money, all with condolences and support
“About six or seven people called They’ve been very
helpful," Kaessler said “We've been lucky."
Kaessler and Wetzel have been traveling for the past
eight weeks throughout North America They stopped in
Eugene and while showering at Leighton Pool, their back
packs and nearly all of their possesions were stolen from the
lockers near the EMU recreation room The packs contained
clothing, food, a passport, $120 and some German books and
notes for a doctoral dissertation in bio-chemistry Kaessler is
preparing
Kaessler says he and Wetzel have given up hope of
having their possessions returned Kaessler says five other
packs were stolen the same day.
The pair ran into problems trying to return to Germany
without one of their passports, which was stolen. Kaessler
said Rep Jim Weaver's secretary placed phone calls to
Washington and obtained permission for them to return to
Germany without the passport.
"It seems to be difficult, but Jim Weaver's secretary
called Washington for a temporary passport,” Kaessler said
Kaessler and Wetzel will board a late-night bus to Seattle
and catch a plane to New York From New York they will head
back to Germany where classes begin the day after they
return.
Oregon Daily Emerald
Track decision clarified
Olum explains
difficulties in
negotiations
University News Bureau
University Pres Paul Olum
clarified Wednesday the
University's decision to halt dis
cussions on proposed con
struction of a track and field
building adjacent to Hayward
Field.
Former track coach Bill
Bowerman had offered to don
ate half the construction cost of
such a facility and to find the
donors for the rest. The
proposed facility was expected
to house dressing rooms, a
weight room and an Oregon
track and field hall of fame The
third story of the building was to
be leased to Athletics West and
the Prefontaine Foundation
"First, I want to stress that
there was never any intention of
insulting Bill Bowerman through
any University action or deci
sion,” Olum said. "He's a very
good friend of the University
and we respect what he’s done
for us.”
The president said any delay
in responding to Bowerman re
sulted from the University need
ing to fully review legal and
related matters involved in the
agreement on the proposed
building.
"Second, I feel it is essential
to clarify that the decision was
an institutional one and follows
major University policies and
procedures," he said.
Photo by Bob Baker
Former track coach Bill Bowerman wanted his proposed track
building administered by the Prefontaine Foundation, but University
Pres. Paul Olum says Internal Revenue Service regulations prevent
such a stipulation.
Olum said gifts to the Univer
sity are made through the
University of Oregon Founda
tion, which operates in accor
dance with Internal Revenue
Service regulations.
“All gifts must be irrevocably
given, and the donor may not
retain any incidents of owner
ship,' including control of the
funds, funded programs or
buildings,” Olum explained. "A
gift must become the property
of the University, to be adminis
tered by the University. These
guidelines apply in the same
way to private funding for
academic programs and en
dowed professorships as they
do to buildings.”
In discussions between
Bowerman and the University,
Bowerman had stipulated con
trol of the building not go to the
Department of Athletics but to
the Prefontaine Foundation.
"The University of Oregon
administration is charged by the
State of Oregon with the
stewardship for 250 acres of
land and the numerous build
ings that make up the campus,"
Olum said. "In keeping with that
stewardship, the University may
not turn over control of land or
buildings to other agencies or
people.”
Olum said the decision to halt
discussion on the building was
made by the administration, not
by Athletic Director Rick Bay as
some people have assumed
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