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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (July 21, 1983)
I Library Project ’83: students do care Library Project '83 shows that all students are not created apathetic. Some students have been keenly aware of the financial travails of the University and have done something about it. Too many people believe the state’s economic ills are on the verge of recovery — yet, the University’s financial condition, even with doctoring by concerned students, remains in critical condition. Economic optimists are heralding small signs in timber and employment figures as billboards advertising the long awaited turnaround of the state’s financial condi tion. Economic pessimists are more reserved — waiting for evidence that has more than the one side of a sign. If the state’s economy is “turning around” probably the last to see the benefits will be the University’s library. In the three years that the Legislature has been forced by revenue shortfalls to meet in special session the library’s budget, through increasingly lower higher education funds, has been underfunded or at best in a holding pattern. It doesn’t take a cynical eye to see that any substan tial increase in funding to the library will be years in com ing. Not that the fininacial problems of the library aren’t invisible. Students, the library’s primary users, seem to be constantly irritated by the library’s lack of specific research materials, its antiquated collection and its lack of space. Visitors may be charmed by the outside ar chitecture of the library, its ornate interior and its specialized collections. They would not be able to discern that the teeth of this educational tool have been dulled and are badly in need of sharpening. opinion Private benefactors have often come to the aid of the library — railroad magnate Henry Villard and former University track and field coach Bill Bowerman to name a few. Benefactors are appreciated, though cannot be relied on to shoulder the support of the library. But it’s rare when students stop groaning about the library and set about improving the facilities. The Library Project, a senior class fundraising pro ject, has been such a benefactor to the library. Matt Schermerhorn, and members of the Student University Relations Council, are to be commended for their fun draising efforts on behalf of the library. Only last year the University’s library ranked 84th out of 101 research libraries according to figures released in the “Chronicle of Higher Education. At the time Don Smith, assistant University librarian for budget and plann ing, said: “That’s not good.” No, that’s not good. That’s why the efforts of Schermerhorn’s group is so important. Legislators only see the library as an item on the University’s share of higher education’s overall budget They don’t see the research materials that the trickle down of funding buys. Nobody sees the research materials the funding isn’t sufficient enough to buy. The students in the Library Project do though. They have seen library costs for books and supplies increase by 350 percent since 1968. But there’s more. The costs for maintaining the library’s periodical collection increases nearly every year. And the faciltity is badly in need of expansion. The Library Project have asked every senior to donate $15 for three years, beginning a year after their gradua tion. Three percent of the University’s 1983 graduates pledged to donate $45. That amounts to nearly $4,500 — not enough to revamp the collection. Still, it’s funds the library wouldn’t have had otherwise. Schermerhorn wanted every member of the '83 senior class to have pledged a tax-deductible donation. It would have endowed the library with about $150,000 instead of $4,500. Still, their efforts can be applauded as a success. GRAV'D tt'QPtmG' 3S SBlX' .l\ vl I W.fiHE EjikSa |p U Lr|fta SSSiM i ‘waddayakhcw-tw* asniff at -mis oit> stuff andteu mt what it is,., nerve gas. right?' I letters Thanks Paul On behalf of the ASUO and the students of the University, I would like to commend Pres. Paul Olum for his advocacy of students’ rights at a recent legislative hearing on a bill designed to give students more contrQl over the distribu tion of their incidental fees. While other college and university presidents followed the chancellor’s lead in de nouncing the bill, Olum con tinued to maintain that students have the capability and should have the right to reasonable influence over the use of their own fee money. Although the chancellor's office seemed to feel that Olum had compromised their office’s opposition to the bill, he continues to assert that the bill is well-thought-out and reasonable. At a time when many univer sity presidents obviously feel it wise to make political com promises, it is especially grati fying to have Olum working with us on our campus. Mary Hotchkiss president Arrogance The arrogance of the status quo in Oregon was illustrated by the recent vote of the state Senate regarding the distribu tion of Coore beer in Oregon. It was evident that the quality of Coors’ filtration process was not the real issue involved in the rejection of Coors, as the State Health Division didn’t even enter into the debate. The true issue involved here, as alluded to by Sen. Margie Hendrickson and Irv Fletcher (president, AFL-CIO). was Coors alleged anti-labor and anti-woman practices, and contributions to right-wing political causes. A company oreqon daily _ _ emerald The summer edition ot the Oregon Deity Emerald i» publish ed Tuesdays and Thursdays enrept during e«»m eenlc and vacations by the Oregon Daily Emeratd Publishing Co at the University of Oregon Eugene Oregon ST'eOT The Emerald operates independently of the university with offices on the third floor of the Erb Memorial Union and >» a member of the Associated Pres* Nears and Editorial AMSAtl Display Advertising and Business AM IE 12 Classified Advertising AM 4343 Production AM AMt Circulation AM SS11 Editor Managing Editor/News Editor Editorial Pag* Editor Photo Editor Dabble Hoariest Sandy Johnstone Cod Fernatd Marti Pynes Associate Editor* Higher Educalion/Oaparlment* and School* Joan Herman Student Government Jim Moore Pontic* Editor Brooks Dare It Community EditorfHigher Education Michel* Matassa Night Editor Cod Fernald General Slat! Darlene Gore Sally Oljar Victoria Koch Jean Oernbey Advertising Manager Cla**il>ed Advertising Production Manager Controller that pays its workers an average of $26,000 a year and offers four free years of col lege tuition could hardly be called “anti-labor.” A recent CBS “60 Minutes segment found that Coors has an ex cellent record of hiring and promoting women and minorities. That leaves in volvement in right-wing causes as a reason for the out come of the vote. Since when do we persecute people for their political affiliation and activism? I’m sorry folks, but this smacks of McCarthyism, this time from the left. It’s unfortunate that the political leaders in this state harbor fear and resentment for people who don't think as they do It may news to some of them, but diversity can be a healthy thing. Wouldn't it be nice if those who spout liberalism and tolerance would put their rhetoric into practice. Mark Sorenson geology Vindication During this 1983 summer session, I recently found myself reflecting on the sometimes "bittersweet" ex perience of being a teacher. My ruminating, I suspect, was influenced by the significant number of public school teachers who study on cam pus each summer, and by the realization that my own career in American higher education has now covered 25 years. But let me proceed with this true story — fashioned from some anecdotal notations about a former student. On the morning of Friday, July 10, 1981, as I pulled my car into a favorite campus parking space, a chap walking by with his dog, called out to me by name. I recognized him as "Karr (a pseudonym), a former politically active member of the University stu dent body who had been r enrolled in a class of mine in the summer of 1977. At the end of that course, in which “Karl” did not fulfill the stipulated requirements for a grade higher that C, he dashed off a very critical letter about my teaching to the dean of my college — and directed some threatening innuendoes to me. Well, on that pleasant morn ing in July 1981 — four years after the unsettling scenario mentioned above — "Karl” said he'd been hoping our respective paths would con verge again, because he felt he owed me an apology for his earlier behavior. Needless to say, his manly gesture (its belatedness and off-the-record character not withstanding) helped to "make my day" — and deep inside I felt a surge of “vindication.” As recently as the afternoon of March 10, 1983 I chanced to see “Karl" near the bookstore. He cordially initiated a brief chat; and disclosed that he was now a first-year law stu dent at the University. He said he felt quite comfortable with his switch from public school teaching to the study of law — I wished him well in this new venture It was thoroughly amiable encounter — and one which can be cited to indicate that student evaluations of teachers which are offered “prematurely" (during times of possible student emotional disquiet, etc.), may unjustly taint the credibility of a teacher’s classroom per formance. I believe there is much to be said for a “critical distance perpective” in the reliable evaluation of teaching. Both students and teachers should take this point into account in responsibly carrying out our respective roles in the educa tional process. Ron Rousseve counseling psychology 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, typed, signed and the identification of the writer must be verified when the letter is turned in. 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 Turn” col umns must be limited to 500 words and typed. Letters to the editor and “Your Turn” columns should be turned into the Emerald office, Suite 300 EMU.
