Bill asks questions on test quality
By Sandy Johnstone
Of the Emerald
A truth-in-testing law would
provide equity and fairness to
the testing process, according
to the director of the Oregon
Student Lobby.
OSL Director Bob Watrus
said a bill, which the House
Education Committee con
sidered Thursday, would pro
vide consistency among the
testing systems.
“It would provide more
uniformity,” Watrus said.
Rep. Rick Bauman, D
Portland, sponsored the bill,
which would establish truth in
testing in Oregon, at OSL’s
request.
Rep. Annette Farmer, D
Portland, said she is unsure
how she will vote on the issue
but added she voted against a
similar bill three years ago.
Although Farmer said she
does not know where others
‘It would provide
more uniformity’
stand on the issue, she said
another hearing will be held on
the bill.
Committee Administrator
David Gomberg said Thurs
day's hearing showed distinct
differences between OSL’s
and the testing services’
views.
He said the testing services
say the cost would be pro
hibitive and would com
promise the tests’ quality by
making the test questions
available to students.
However, many testing ser
vices currently provide
students with test copies, said
Evelyn Rowe, of the University
testing center. Rowe said pro
viding test copies may mean
an extra fee and/or a special
request.
‘‘The general policy na
tionally is to give a good
sampling of testing items and
answers,” she says.
The University requires in
coming freshmen to take the
Scholastic Aptitude Test or
the Achievement Test before
gaining admission. The
University uses those scores
to determine admission if the
student has below the
minimum 2.75 grade point
average.
The University requires a
student to score at least 30
points out of 60 possible
points on the Test of Standard
Written English.
Only two states — New
York and Florida — have
adopted truth-in-testing laws.
Recently, the New York Col
lege Board has decided to
stop offering nine out of 14
high school achievement tests
because of the high cost of
complying with the law.
A board spokesman said
compliance would cost about
$1 million every three years to
prepare new editions so the
old tests could be released,
according to the Chronicle of
Higher Education.
Vendors market their wares Saturday
Easter weekend may be
dampened by showers, but the
craftspeople who run the
Saturday Market aren’t going
to let anyone rain on their
parade.
The market opens its 14th
season Saturday, rain or shine,
in a new location at the park
blocks, 8th Avenue and Oak
Street, in downtown Eugene.
Market hours are 10 a.m. to 5
p.m.
Entertainment by Dr.
Atomic's World Famous
Medicine Show, a theater and
musical group, will begin at
noon. Other local musicians
also will perform at the
market.
A fun run sponsored by the
Eugene Parks and Recreation
Department called “Fools Run
in the Rain” is set for 9:30 p.m.
Entrants may sign up for the
race at Amazon, Sheldon,
Westmoreland or Petersen
Barn community centers or at
the downtown mall before the
run. The entry fee is $5 in ad
vance and $6 the day of the
run. Runners will be offered
discount coupons for some
vendors at the market.
In recent years, the stagnant
Continued from Page 3A
also. talked to University Pres. Paul Olum
about the proposed semester sy$t,exr»jV
Allen said students are dissatisfied with the motion approved
by the University Assembly to start a semester system in
1985-86.
Under the current proposal, students would start classes in
mid-September, break for winter vacation and come back for
several weeks of additional classes. After another break, the se
cond semester would start and run through mid-June.
SUAB has been working on an alternative proposal that would
start in early September.
.—
I
local economy has damaged
Saturday Market’s business,
but market organizers believe
business is on an upturn.
“We hung in there when
times were hard," says market
Manager llene English. “We re
very excited about this coming
season."
The market began in 1970
with 29 vendors under the
Overpark on 10th Avenue. Over
the years, more artists and
food vendors joined the open
air market. English expects
I
about 150 vendors for this
year’s opening day.
English says the new loca
tion is more visible to the
public than the former parking
lot location across from the
Lane County public services
building.
Saturday Market is a non
profit organization with a
board of directors and an ad
ministrative staff. Vendors pay
$5 per day plus 10 percent of
their profits to the
organization.
EASTER SUNDAY
Hult Center for the Performing Arts
Silva Hall April 3, 1983
11:00 A.M. Easter
Morning Service
Music: Choir, Brass and Bells
Message: Dr. Robert E. Luther,
Pastor, First Baptist Church
6:00 P.M. An Easter
Cantata
160 voice choir - Full Orchestra
- Director: Steven C. Maricle
First Baptist Church, Eugene
9:00 A.M. Multimedia
Bus Transportation Available
see other advertisement
Presentation in College Bible
Class at First Baptist Church
(Broadway 6t High)