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.