On the street
Students speak out on incidental fees
Editor s Note: It often seems
that the opinions of a few active
people on campus appear on
these pages while the majority
of students go unheard. To help
rectify this, we decided to ask
some randomly selected
students for their opinion on a
current campus topic —
whether mandatory incidental
fees should be used for groups
that engage in “political" ac
tivities. (See related story
below).
Some of the students we talk
ed to were not familiar with the
issue. Several times we had to
explain much of the
background and had to present,
as objectively as we could, both
arguments on the issue.
We admit this is by no means
a scientific way of gathering
opinions, and the opinions ex
pressed do not represent the
student body as a whole. Never
theless. we do hope this offers a
fresh perspective on an issue of
concern to all students.
Scott Thompson
Ingrid Petersen, a sophomore
majoring in journalism, says
she does not agree with all the
views espoused by funded
groups, but believes that fun
ding groups with a variety of
views is important.
“I think keeping a broad
political mind is important,”
she says. “It’s important to have
these groups on campus. You
have to have these groups on
campus if it’s going to be a
liberal arts university.
“It’s like paying taxes. You
can’t choose all the time what
your money is going to go to,”
she adds. “I think it’s just like
paying taxes and having it go
the military. I don’t like any of
my money going to the military,
but it has to go.”
“There are certain groups I
don’t like, but they have the
right to their money,” says
Scott Thompson, a senior in
geology.
”1 think it’s the fairest system
you can have. I think it’s fair to
all people and all groups.”
But Thompson, who con
siders himself a political
moderate, believes a wider
range of views should be
represented by student funded
groups.
”1 am for free speech, free ex
pression, but when I only get
one point of view funded by my
money, I wish I could get both
points of view,” he says.
“That’s never been a problem
with me. 1 don’t have a problem
with where my money goes,”
says Andrew Johanson, a
general science sophmore.
“I’m sure that anyone who
wanted to start an opposing
group could start it and get (in
cidental fee) money.” he says.
“Nothing’s stopping them. I
don’t see why they should have
a complaint. They would be just
as eligible as any other group.”
‘‘I don’t think the average stu
dent really cares,” says Karie
Stradley, a junior in pre
journalism. “It’s only an issue if
you think it’s an issue. I don’t
think it’s worth the time and ef
fort that it takes to fight it, to try
to change it.”
“Frankly, I never thought
about it,” says Margaret Shin, a
business senior. “It is such a
small percentage that I don’t
really care.”
L \
Margaret Shin
Shin says she has no major
objections to the groups that do
get student funding.
“I guess it’s OK for them to
use the money, as long as they
don’t claim they represent the
whole student body.”
“I don’t know where it goes. 1
just pay the money and forget
about it,” says Kerry Young, a
sophmore majoring in
psychology and business.
Young believes that he is
typical of students at the
University, and that most are
Disagreements continue over
use of student mandatory fees
bach term, all students are charged a man
datory fee of $59. Roughly half of that is used to
maintain the EMU Building and its services (see
chart on right). Another $16.50 goes to the
athletic department and is used to subsidize stu
dent tickets and to support women's and minor
sports.
The remainder goes to support the ASUO and
its programs. The ASUO Constitution gives the
Incidental Fee Committee the authority to
allocate incidental fee dollars. The ASUO funds
more than 70 programs.
The IFC is a seven-member committee
elected by the student body each spring. The IFC
determines the level of funding for each program
after hearing recommendations from the ASUO
Executive and representatives of the program.
The ASUO president has veto power over all
IFC decisions, but the IFC can override a veto
with a vote of five of its members.
Since the incidental fee is mandatory, some
students have objected to the funding of certain
groups that take stands on political issues. The
Student Campaign for Disarmament, Students
Opposing Registration and the Draft, the Survival
Center, and Oregon Student Public Interest
Research Group have been cited as groups that
use mandatory fees to advocate political views.
College Republicans, a conservative group
that does not receive IFC money, has led the op
position to funding these groups. Its leaders
argue that no one should be forced to pay for
groups that espouse ideas they find objectionable.
Those who support funding of these groups
argue that they educate students on important
issues that are not dealt with in the classroom.
They say that students have a voice in how their
funds are used by voting for IFC members.
In the next few months, Oregon Attorney
General Dave Frohnmayer will give a formal opi
nion on the legality of using mandatory fees for
“political" groups.
Though it is illegal to use incidental fees,
which are considered public moneys, to advocate
a political candidate, the attorney general will
also give an opinion on whether such groups can
take definitive stands on ballot measures, legisla
tion, administrative rules of state or federal agen
cies, or issues before state or federal courts.
Slicing up the
incidental fee pie
Based on the $59 paid by every student
during each term of 1984-85
too busy to keep informed on
many student issues.
“I don’t think I should have
to pay for groups that I don’t
necessarily agree with,” says
Barbara Workman, a chemistry
senior. “Sure, some are doing
good things, but they don’t af
fect me.”
Many of the student funded
groups only appeal to specializ
ed groups, she says, adding that
it is often difficult to find out
about many groups and exactly
what they do.
“It doesn’t seem like there’s a
lot of information around unless
you really look for it.”
‘‘Since it’s everybody’s
money, it should go into
something everybody can
benefit from,” says Albert
Nichols, a sophmore majoring
in interior architecture. Though
he says he supports many of the
groups and services supported
Barbara Workman
through incidental fees, Nichols
believes that SORD does not
represent the views of a majori
ty of students and “is definitely
a one-way thing.”
p
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