Lobbying group 'democratic/ organizer says
By Paul Ertelt
Of the Emerald
The political views of the
United States Student Associa
tion reflect the views of the
member campuses and not a
rigid ideological stance, says
Bob Bingaman, field organizer
for the national student group.
Bingaman was on campus to
help plan the group's national
congress, which will be held in
Eugene in August.
University students voted to
subsidize USSA to the tune of
$3,989, though the organization
has been criticized by some
conservative students as having
a leftist orientation.
But Bingaman says the USSA's
SURC wins award
for campus service
The Student University Rela
tions Council has won a na
tional "Word of the Exceptional
Achievement Award" for its ser
vice on campus.
The Council for Advancement
and Support of Education gave
the award to SURC, a
35-member group responsible
for organizing Springfest
activities.
"I think it's a really nice pat on
the back, not just for SURC, but
for University Relations as
well," says Gery Peiss, vice
president of SURC.
The national council selected
SURC from among 22 student
relations organizations across
the country. SURC will receive
an award certificate in |une.
SURC was awarded for ac
tivities such 1983 Homecoming
weekend, Campus Kids Day,
Parents Weekend and Spr
ingfest, which included the
John Belushi Memorial Jello
Eating Contest.
Physicist
set to speak
on weapons
Physicist Freeman Dyson,
author of the book, “Weapons
and Hope," will speak tonight at
8 p.m. in a forum sponsored by
the Faculty Arms Control
Group.
Dyson, who also wrote
“Disturbing the Universe," was
on the faculty at Cornell with
University Pres. Paul Olum, and
is a member of the Institute for
Advanced Studies in Princeton,
N.J.
Dyson is the guest of The
Faculty Arms Control Group,
whose chair, Biology Prof. Dan
Udovic, categorizes tonight's
program as the most important
the group has sponsored this
year.
"We feel Dyson's talk could
be our most significant program
of the year," Udovic says.
Dyson will also speak Tuesday
at 3:30 p.m. in 150 Geology on
"The Origins of Life."
Oregon frog
wins contest
ANGELS CAMP, Calif. (AP) -
"Weird Flarrold," an entry from
Sweet Flome, took the big leap
Sunday, setting a world record
of 21 feet, Vh inches in the
Calavaras County Jumping Frog
contest.
The 4V2-inch frog, owned by
Janet Seiber, broke a record of
20-3 Vi set at the contest last year
by "Johnny Jumper," owned by
Bruce Hamilton, said contest
spokeswoman Kay Airola.
The winner picked up a $1,500
prize. Taking second with a
jump of 20-91/2 was "Froggies
Friend," owned by Lee Giudici
of Santa Clara.
_IJ
SURC also publishes a New
Student Record, a yearbook for
freshmen and transfer students,
and helps with the University
Foundation Telefund.
platform is rewritten every year
in a democratic process.
Delegates to the group's na
tional congress are selected by
the student governments or by
student vote on the member
campuses.
"Our underlying philosophy
is that no student should be
denied education because of a
barrier such as finances, sex or
race discrimination," Bingaman
says.
The conservative opposition
stems from the group's criticism
of Pres. Ronald Reagan's policy
in Central America and his cuts
in finacial aid. Finacial aid has
been cut 23 percent during
Reagan's administraion, despite
the rise in the cost of a college
education, Bingaman says.
"We're not saying that about
Ronald Reagan because Reagan
is a Republican, but because we
are concerned about these
issues," he says. "Ronald
Reagan has been a disaster on
these issues."
Bingaman says the USSA pro
vides many important services
tor students, including employ
ing a full-time legislative direc
tor to lobby for student issues in
Wash., D.C. The group also
employs three full-time field
organizers for women,
minorities and state student
associations and a part-time
organizer for the disabled.
The group also offers leader
ship training for student leaders
and internships in Wash., D.C.,.
for students of member cam
puses, Bingaman says.
USSA was formed in 1979 with
the merger of two student
organizations, the National Stu
dent Association and the Na
tional Student Lobby.
The NSA was founded in 1947
by veterans of World War II who
were concerned about their ac
cess to a college education. The
focus of that group was
research on educational and
other issues, Bingaman say^
NSL was formed in 1972 after
18-year-olds were given the
vote, and its focus has been on
lobbying. USSA now represents
more than 400 campuses in 35
states.
CutQ.
Clever.
Mischievous.
Intelligent
Dangerous.
STEVEN SPIELBERG
PRESENTS
GUCMUKS^
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PHOEBE CATES HOYT AXTON POLLY HOLLIDAY FRANCES LEE McCAIN
MUSIC BY JERRY GOLDSMITH EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS STEVEN SPIELBERG
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PRODUCED BY MICHAEL FINNELL DIRECTED BY JOE DANTE
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ENJOY SUMMER. SEE GREMLINS. JUNE 8