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