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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 27, 1983)
opinion The obvious system The battle for a semester system is not over. Despite the State Board of Higher Education's defeat of the University proposal, the University could get ap proval for the right semester system. In March, the University Assembly passed a motion to change to a late semester system. Under the late semester system, classes would begin in mid September. There would be a break in December and the first semester would resume in January. In late January there would be another break before the next term began. According to an Emerald survey, 62 percent of the students prefer the quarter system. However, if they are "given” the two-term system, 86 percent prefer an early semester system that finishes before Christmas. Students voted in favor of an early semester system on Ballot Measure Five of the ASUO election. The Student University Affairs Board is planning a motion next year for an early semester system. The State Board of Higher Education defeated the University’s motion in a 5-5 decision last Friday. The ab sent board member still needs some convincing. According to board member Jane Carpenter, the board’s early favorable impression was “weighted to the early calendar.” Obvious yet? The board members are worried that a semester system at one institution will hurt transfer students from other state schools. It will. Students, from say Southern Oregon State College, will not be able to transfer "easily” to the University of Oregon mid-year. Under the proposed late semester system, they will have a five-week break bet ween Christmas and late January. They would not be able to transfer spring quarter. Under an early semester system, students easily could transfer after Christmas. Again, they could not transfer during spring vacation. Students understandably favor the early semester system. It gives them a hedge on finding summer jobs — something an increasingly larger segment of students need to finance the upcoming year. Students also favor the early semester system because it does not cut Christmas vacation into two chunks. Who wants to return to finals and term papers post-Christmas? Where will the students who live out of state go for the second break? The majority of campuses that are on a semester system have figured this out. In 1967-68 about 76 percent of the institutions were on the traditional semester system. By 1979-80, 53 percent were on an early semester system.. Pres. Paul Olum says the University faculty did not support an early semester system for "political reasons.” As far as the Emerald can discern, the political reasons stem from shortening one summer break and missing a few weeks of late summer weather. It also should be noted that at the state board meeting not a single student from the University, ex cluding the Emerald reporter, was there. The board would have liked to have seen soma student support for the semester system. Getting a semester system approved by the state board should not be an insurmountable task for the University. The state board needs a little convincing of student support as well as support from schools around the state. The former can be found if the Assembly reconsiders the early semester system. mom. TsUMJ I6AINWHY WE NEED 1W.MX '*01, WE CANSW IT'S NCfT 1W MOST PERFECT flSTEM. The WINDOW OF VULNERABILITY vijvjxtr*' XftU riXtHW UHfr'V I letters Brilliant I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to Mr. Bran don Shepard for his brilliant letter concerning OSP1RG fun ding measures. It was certain ly a crucial factor in my deci sion. Of the few reasons to vote NO on OSPIRG funding, Ralph Nader's condemnation of the Chevy Corvair is the most ingenius. Bravo! I could kick myself for not thinking of it. God knows Nader had the overthrow of the entire civiliz ed world in mind when he founded PIRGs. The furthering of student representation in consumer and social matters must be a commie plot, and Shepard’s dollar would be bet ter spent on a couple of beers. Oh, but that would leave him with only two brain cells. I voted yes on both measures Two and Three. Thanks again, Shepard. Rich Howarth senior, social science Acid rain bills At the April 18 Earth Week panel discussion on acid rain, I did not have a reference available on the current bills vending in Congress to ad dress the problem. Those who wish to have some impact on the debate in Congress regarding acid ram should be aware of Senate Bill 145, introduced by Sen. Mit chell of Maine and House Rule 132 by Rep. Gregg of New Hampshire. These bills would require a 10 million ton reduction in sulfur dioxide emissions in the Eastern states within 10 years. They are the most str ingent current proposals. Sen Robert Stafford of Ver Oregon daily emerald The Oregon Daily Emerald >« published Monday through Friday a»eapt during #»am <r*a* and vacation* by tha Oregon OaMy Emerald f*ubu*ntng Co at fit* lMt**r**ty of Oregon Eugene O* 97m The Emerald operate* independently of the University with of lie** on the third floor of the fib Memorial Urwon and I* a member of the Aaaociatad Pre*a Editor Managing Editor N«w% Editor Aaaialant Now* Editor Editorial Pago Editor Pttolo Editor Sport* Editor Aaaociata Sport* Editor Emariatnmoni Editoi Night Editor | Htgnor Education t)opartm«nt* and School* Studont Goverrwnant Eoaluro* Politic* Sludam SorvtcaoiCommunrty Advert Hung Manager Cia**ili*d Advert i*mg Production Manager „.ii ^ . Harry Eatava John Haaty Marian Groan Cort Fa maid Joan Nyiand Bob Bahai Mia* fttplmgar Pam Oaruor Jonathan Sregia Sandy johnatone Fianh Shaw Pic hard Burr Saan Mayor* Michaie Mata»*a A iota Zah OartonaGore Salty Otiar Victoria Koch Jaan Ownboy mont has re-introduced a com promise bill. Senate Bill 768, which would allow 12 years and call for only eight million tons of reduction. The Ad ministration opposes all acid rain controls and instead believes more research is required. Administration proposals to delay air pollution controls on Western smelters until 1993 and to allow a doubling of nitrogen dioxide emissions for new cars might also worsen acid rain problems, according to some people. The Ad ministration is also seeking to abolish protection of “Class II” clean air areas. AM these are issues in the C'ean Air Act amendments currently pen ding in Congress. More information can be ob tained from, or views express ed to, Senators Hatfield and Packwood, U S. Senate, Washington, D C. John Bonine professor, law On club sports Did you know that last sum mer part of the University's club sport Crew defeated UCLA to represent the West at the National Sports Festival? Did you know the University club spirts baseball team has a record of 12 wins and 7 losses, and has beaten rival Oregon State twice so far this season? I have participated in both club sports, and I’d like to give you an idea of the dedica tion and desire found in the athletes involved with club sports. Each program is funded within the club sports budget, but the allocations do not come close to covering a com petitive team s expenses. The crew last year cleaned up after six basketball games and three track meets in order to raise money for travel ex penses. We had two Nor thwest regional champions, and the varsity four-man boat won a Pac-10 title defeating University of California at Berkeley. This year the baseball team is competing with no scholar ship players (Greg Moser is on a football scholarship), and head coach Larry Hanson and pitching coach Brian Peterson are unpaid volunteers. The target of this letter is the lack of coverage given by the Emerald to these athletes, coaches, and teams in club sports. Associate Sports Editor Paul Danzer gives the excuse that space is limited in the sports section and therefore "varsity" sports get priority coverage. Fine, but I’m tired of two-page feature stories on the track team and the football team. Those athletes desen/e recognition, but I think there is room for a line score of the baseball game or the results of a crew regatta. The Oregonian and the Register-Guard have covered our baseball team better than our own University newspaper. Danzer also told me that the only people interested in the club spoils programs are the participants. If you want to be informed and are interested in how your University club sports teams are competing, I urge you to stop by the Emerald in the third floor of the EMU and mention your in terest. I guarantee your ac tions will be appreciated by many dedicated athletes on campus. John Bigelow, senior member, ’81-’82 crew teem ’82 '83 baseball team letters policy The Emeraid 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. Suite 300 EMU Unsigned editonals appearing in the Emerald are based upon the majority opinion of the editorial board
