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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 23, 1983)
I opinion Budget won’t cure higher ed’s problems Let's set the record straight. Oregon higher education is suffering and the proposed budget, currently being drafted by a state legislative subcommittee of the Joint Ways & Means Committee, will not do much to relieve the pain. After Gov. Vic Atiyeh submitted his recommendation for an almost $80-million injection into the state system's cut weary budget, it seemed as though the state was ready to get serious about improving higher education. But despite an intensive lobbying effort by state system professors and officials, the subcommittee has seen fit to add higher education to its cut list. The actual budget, if adopted this week as recommend ed, will be $9.5 million less than the governor’s proposed budget. A new $68 million shortfall makes the cuts necessary, the subcommittee says. The State System of Higher Education has been cut by the Legislature for the last decade. This year the gover nor recommended stopping the cuts and what is fast be coming a decline in the quality of Oregon’s higher edu cation. Those who do not understand the needs of higher education say the $70 million increase over last year’s budget is sufficient to stop the drain of lifeblood out of the system. They are wrong. Of the $70-million increase, $65 million is already ear marked for such things as previously promised faculty salary adjustments, a tuition freeze, inflation, maintenance, library acquisition, and a paltry $4 million for special high-tech research. The subcommittee, after weeks of higher education testimony, knows that faculty salary adjustment and a tuition freeze are the minimum necessary requirements for curbing declining enrollment and faculty evacuation. The budget increases are really pre-planned decisions. The Legislature still does not seem to trust higher education to do its own planning. In fact, some legislators would like to see the $20 million mandated for a tuition freeze in writing. The “extra” $5 million that is not specified will be eaten up in declining enrollment, estimated in Atiyeh's proposal to cause an $8 million funding decrease next year. The Higher education system still faces the same dilemma it has faced for the last few years. How does it spread cuts around the system without decreasing program quality? How does it appease a faculty which has more work and less research support facilties? How does it stop the brightest students from leaving the state? The Legislature has decided again not to make higher education a force for recovery in the state. $4 million is a nice gesture, but it is just that — a gesture. When divided among three universities and four programs, as mandated by the Legislature, $4 million for high-tech education is thin. With the cuts and the mandates, there will be no money left for bettering higher education in Oregon. For example, there is no money to replace retiring faculty, to increase the number of classes or lessen the classload of profes sors. If the subcommittee could see fit to leave Atiyeh’s pro posed $4 million for instructional and support services in the budget, it would be a step toward alleviating what have become chronic general education problems. Should the Legislature restructure the tax system to in crease revenue for the next biennium, or should the economy improve and the state realize a surplus, higher educa tion needs to be on the top of their list for Increased bud gets. The subcommittee has recommended a budget that only meets the minimum survival requirements for higher education. MAS CENTER taken natural Soa*y iwerws nw UF/N «Wi *** ms 'J ' WELL, IT'S MOT REALLY A FIRE SALE...ITS WORE Of A GOINS OUr OF-BUSlNESS SALE!' Nuclear arms We of the Faculty Arms Control Groups appreciated the article published in the Emerald on May 20 describing our activities. In the interests of proper education, I would like to correct one statement attributed to me. Titan missiles are not ex tremely accurate. These are the oldest missiles in our arsenal, are liquid-fueled and are generally considered to be the least reliable components of our nuclear force. They have not been tested for many years, and there is serious concern that many of them would not launch property and end-up coming back down on us. I would also like to remind Emerald readers of a talk on "Nuclear Arms: An Historical Perspective” to be given by Allan Winkler on Wednesday, May 25 at 3:30 in room 123 Science I. John Moseley professor, physics Shovel in hand Speaking of bullshit, I read the Wednesday letters with my shovel in hand and my hand to my nose. The stench was overpowering but I think I've recovered enough to re spond rather than retch. R. Davis and others of his political persuasion are cor rect In saying that the issue in the recent ROTC controversy is not solely a question of whether homosexuals are allowed to take Napalm 246. The question is whether ROTC is part of the University and whether It shall abide by university rules or whether ROTC is part of the military and therefore should not be on campus but on a military base. The issue, in spite of pro testations to the contrary, is simple: Either ROTC will follow the rules, policies and guidelines that govern the University or ROTC will remove itself from this campus. If affirmative action and equal access rules apply only when it is convenient or sim ple or doesn’t cause anyone any problem, why bother to have the rules? Affirmative ac tion laws were passed for the explicit purpose of causing social change, redressing past discrimination and with full knowledge that some people would be inconvenienced by their enforcement. ROTC has made a mockery of this university. Paul Olum has disgraced himself and I wonder just which side Der rick Bell is on — maybe his bloated salary has indeed bleached him beyond recognition. Mary Hope senior, sociology Motivation As one who has taught in, and strongly advocates, the "open" classroom approach to education, I feel compelled to respond to Nyland's column critical of that style. Most important to this issue is to remember that the “open" classroom has never had widespread popularity in America, due to parent and teacher resistance, especially from teachers who recognized (correctly) that It is often harder to do well than the traditional methods Almost as important, the Oliphant cartoon on the left hand side of the editorial page underscores the real problem: garbage in, garbage out. Just as John Dewey’s experient failed in the 1S30s because of public misunderstanding and teacher inadequacy, the 1970s attempt at humanizing educa tion was doomed to failure for exactly the same reasons, in creased by a new phenomena — student inadequacy. Disintegrating families, television babysitters, widespread lack of self discipline (among parents who have little to offer their children as models) and a fine ly developed sense of nar cissism (perhaps coupled with nuclear fatalism) has created a generation more attuned to the demands of Space In vaders and purple hair than the demands of Shakespeare, William James, and quantum physics. Perhaps if Dad (speaking generically) had been around to read to Nyland when she was three, instead of Mom plopping her in front of the television, things might have turned out differently. But millions of Dads are gone, and millions of Moms aren’t too good at modeling after work ing all day, and hundreds of thousands of teachers- are burned out from spending far more time motivating than teaching and tens of millions of little eyes spend two or three times the hours focused on the tube than they do in the classroom. Where the desks are placed in the room is inconsequen tial. Student attitudes are far more crucial, as well as com mitted, well-trained, and ade quately compensated teach ers. Michael Morrow graduate Oregon daily emerald Th* Oregon Daily Emerald it published Monday through Friday except during exam week and vacation* by the Oregon Dally Emerald PuMUhing Co at me Univer*iiy ot Oregon Eugene. OR 07403 The Emerald operate* independently ol the University with office* on the third door of the Em Memorial Onion and •* a member of the Associated Pi#** Wowa and Editorial Otaptav Ar*v*ni«*«fl and duatnoaa Ciaaaittad Advarttaing Production Circulation IMHIt tM 1712 UMM1 Htllll Wltll Editor Managing Editor News Editor Aaaiatant Newt Editor Editorial Page Editor Photo Editor Sports Editor Associate Sports Editor Entertainment Editor Night Editor Associate Editors Higher Education Departments and School* Student Government Features Pontic* Student SenncetUCommunity Allans General Stall Advertising Manage) Classified Advertising Production Msnager Controller Harry Estere John Healy Marian Green Cort Fernaid Joan Nytand Bob Bakei Mika Riplmger Paul Dan/er Jonathan Siegie Frank Shaw Sandy Johnaiona Frank Shaw Richard Burr Sean Mayers Michele Malasta Aiela Zak Darlene Gore Sally OHa; Victoria Koch Jean Ownbey 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 tetter 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 editorials appearing in the Emerald are based upon the majority opinion of the editorial board
