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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 8, 1982)
Irrelevant debate All this talk about access versus quality is irrelevant. Access is access and quality is quality When legislators and educators debate the two, they are disguising their aims to reduce funding It goes without saying that everyone should have access to public education as long as they meet academic requirements. The question is, how do we maintain the ability of everyone to pay for an education ? The Legislature is not improving quality when it raises the proportion students must pay for college, they are, in effect, denying access to a group of students — the poorer ones. Ironically, the administration's move to upgrade the academic quality of students by raising admissions standards also may reduce the quality of the University. Currently, funding of the University is based substantially on Full-Time Equivalency hours — the theoretical number of warm bodies in desks. Until this form of funding is abolished or at least modified, pressure to recruit high-achievers competes with pressure to collect tuition and state funding. One difference between a prestigious private school and any other institution of higher education is the academic ability of the students upon entrance Another difference is the amount of grants, scholarships, and endowments to underwrite the cost of tuition for students This is a state school without large endowments The University may increasingly rely on the Foundation to come up with money, but the bulk of funding must come from tuition and the Legislature. The future of the University really depends on our friends in higher ed persuading Oregonians that this state requires an educated populace. It depends on the taxpayers wil lingness to keep the state system financially accessible to most Oregonians. Debates about access hurt the University's ability to show this institution as a vital organ for the whole state, rich or poor, business or labor, undergraduate or graduate. This is particularly crucial in light of the restraints on federal aid to college students. This state needs to realize that higher education is an investment that will pay off and that it is their investment for their children — not for an elite group from out of state or the "upper crust" of the Willamette Valley. Higher education may wade out the depression, but eventually Oregonians must realize that higher education requires consistent support for a quality institution. letters No bias It is with sympathy and understanding that I write this reply to your “White egos" article, Mr. Blair I am, like yourself, concerned with racial discrimination whether it be biased or unbiased Blatant prejudice is ugly and benefits no one However, it is imperative that before one attacks a dis criminatory remark, either verbal or written, one must recognize such Unfortunately, Mr Blair, you do not. “Whites average a score of 925 (SAT scores) while blacks averaged a score of 694 " The preceding statement is strictly of a factual and informative nature There is no malicious intent, no bias, no sterotype Ms Howlett was simply stating a fact. It is not as you so erron eously labeled it, a "flagrantly discriminatory statment”. How do you know Ms Howlett wasn’t writing out of concern for the obvious imbalance in the scores? Mr Blair, you are at the University of Oregon This insti tution of learning is meant to proffer information for many, not to hide it from a few David Nabal sophomore, English 'Ml Balanced AT TWis End, MR. PRESIDENT. HOW'S EVERYTHING at YOUR END ?' II letters Human life In an attempt to justify abor tion some claim human life doesn’t exist until delivery Such a stand obviously ignores many facts For instance, nobody can claim a developing child isn't a living being, can they? If not human then what is it? As for it existing as a mere extention of the mother’s body — such as an organ — this is totally false Unlike an organ, the baby has a unique genetic makeup which is quite different than the mother. It also has its own organs, circulatory system, and muscular system Not human? Undeserving of protec tion under the law? Lets consider another fact Soon after conception the child develops its own functioning heart Soon after this, the brain develops its own functioning — brain waves are quite detectable The child perceives changes in the environment (in cluding pain) as well and responds to them Abortion isn’t just another operation — it’s the taking of human life and should be judged as such Lets put an end to such cruelty and support those who are trying to pass legislation against abortion Rebecca Barn hurst psychology Repudiate Now that the dust has settled and Vic Atieyh can spend his time figuring out how to deal with the overwhelming democratic majority in Salem, two strong impressions seem worthy of sharing First, we students proved once again how worthless we are as a political force In spite of considerable efforts by both the ASUO and the fraternities (and while I applaud the efforts of the latter, I do wish it didn't take so long for them to outgrow the upper-middle class Repub lican paranoia of their parents), students in great numbers displayed their short sightedness in not repudiating an incumbent governor who had the worst record of any governor in the nation in supporting, or not supporting, higher education (a freshman this year will spend about $2000 to $3000 more for an education, in tuition, than someone graduating this year, thanks Vic). Once again, some 10,000 of us simply opted out of the process that is draining us-or Daddy Second, I spent considerable time and energy putting up lawn signs for two candidates and was appalled by how many of the signs were destroyed or removed In my more foolish younger days I risked my life "for my country", and I like to think that earned me the right to support the candidate of my choice That candidate might be a socialist, but I still feel right eous enough to wave a flag behind that socialist I think back to the Debbie Howlett column critical of Ore gon high school students who were intolerant of the RCYB — as guests on our campus I become incensed at the excesses of the aggressively ignorant, in all probability encouraged. If not actively aid ed, by a reactionary administration in Washington who will certainly approve of the goals, if not the methods (pub licity) of these budding brown shirts I am not sure who scares me more, this best and brightest of the future generation, whom we excuse with lame homilies about "students traditionally not voting"; or the intolerant neanderthals who are' too cowardly to confront me personally with their criticism, but will do their uprootings while sulking in the night. Michael Morrow graduate Entitled I’m writing this letter in response to Cort Fernalds column It appears that Fernald believes that only a select few can listen to The Clash, Oingo Boingo, and other new wave bands, and that members of fraternities are not entitled to such a privilege It so happens that I like those groups, and I'm also a pledge at a fraternity For the past three years, I've worked as a disc jockey at a small radio station in Portland, KBPS, and during that time have played many unknown new wave groups Additionally, we were the first, and probably the only, station to play Billy Rancher and the Unreal Gods, the city 's most popular band I believe that the freedom of musical choice is given to everyone Someone should not have to choose their music by whether they have the right to listen to whatever type of music appeals to them, contrary to Fernalds opinion I think It's a shame that the Emerald has to have such a narrow minded writer as Fernald, because most of the paper is very good By the way. I wonder if groups like the MC5 and Martha and the Muffins will ever last as long and become as famous as "those boring-old-farts the Who?" Lloyd Athearn emerald The Oregon Daily Emerald is published Monday through Friday except during exam week and vacations, by the Oregon Daily Emerald Publishing Co at the University of Oregon Euqene OR 97403 The Emerald operates independently ot the University with offices on the third floor of the Erb Memorial Union and is a member of the Associated Press News and Editorial •M-SS11 •■•-3712 ••• 4343 •MM3I1 •••-$$11 Display Advertising and Buis ness Classified Advertising Production Circulation Editor Harry E Steve Pi 2 Managing Editor News Editor Assistant News Editor Editorial Page Editor Photo Editor Sports Editor Associate Sports Editor Entertainment Editor Night Editor A ••octal* Editors Higher Education Departments and Schools Student Government Features Politics Community General Stan Advertising Manager Classified Advertising Production Manager Controller John Heaiy Marian Green Cort Eernald Joan Nyland Mark Pynes Mike niptmger Paul Danter Jonathan Single Harry Eernald Debbie Mowlell Sandy Johnstone Pichard Burr Sean Meyeit Michele Matassa David Brown Darlene Gore Sally Uljar Victoria Koch lean Ownhey letters policy The Emerald will attempt to print all letters containing fair comment on topics of Interest to the University community Letters to the editor must be limited to 250 words, signed and the identification of the writer must be verified when the letter is turned In to the Emerald office The Emerald reserves the right to edit any letter for length, style or content "Your turn" is an Emerald opinion feature submitted by members of the University community "Your turns" must be limited to 500 words and typed This editorial column will not be edited by the staff, but selection will be based on appro priateness letters to the editor and "Your turns" should be turned into the Emerald office. 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