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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 2, 1986)
Editorial Tuition waiver tax should not continue Are Graduate Teaching Fellows — who now find their tuition waiver taxable income — victims of class exploita tion by an increasingly insensitive government? Or are they merely paying their dues in the effort to reduce the federal budget deficit? Clearly, an objective analysis leans toward the former The University rests a disproportionate portion of the academic burden on the shoulders of GTFs, who teach about two-thirds of the undergraduate courses. Compensation for their teaching duties includes salary and a tuition waiver. Their salary has traditionally been taxed by the state and federal government. The tuition, however, has not been con sidered taxable income in accordance with a section of the U.S. Tax Code. That provision expired at the end of last year, and Congress has yet to renew the exemption. Technically, tuition waivers are now considered taxable income. But only Oregon among the 50 states has begun withholding taxes. Why? In deciding to withhold taxes the State System of Higher Education has threatened the livelihood of many students. The ability of GTFs to meet rent and living expenses has suddenly become questionable. This damages the viability of the entire GTF concept. For foreign GTFs the situation is especially bleak. A tax code change enacted last year has forced many foreign students to pay federal taxes at a higher rate than U.S. GTFs, doubling tax rates for many. As one German GTF told a cam pus rally Wednesday, “The American dream, at least for me, has turned into a nightmare." The state's case is fundamentally flawed. By claiming taxes must be withheld now or the state would be held ac countable for the unpaid taxes, education officials are essen tially questioning the integrity of GTFs. Education officials are assuming that, if the tax exemption is not retained, current GTFs will skip out and refuse to pay back taxes. , '•, The state’s fears are actually more^applicable .to the GTFs. In the event the tax exemption on tuition is restored — as 49 states are assuming — what guarantee do GTFs have that their tax withholdings will be returned by. the state? Conversely, the state is also denying responsiblity. to assume the GTFs tax burden if Congress votes to keep. the.tax exemption. But GTFs play an indispensable part irt. the University system by virtue of the workload they take on as educators. They should be able to assume the state'system has the intention of insuring their viability as'.teachers and’ assistants because the responsibility for quality" education rests with the state. Is it too much to ask for the state to pick .up. the tax burden as a one time only deal in the event the tax^gxemp tion is not reinstated? Such a gesture would go a'long.^way toward alleviating the atmosphere of despair and resentment as well as the very real financial crisis GTFs are.facing. Clearly, the solution to the present impasse is for Con gress to reinstate the tax exemption: How long this may take is unclear. Until education and university officials display a will ingness to support GTFs, actions such as sit-ins, protest rallies — even “sick-outs” — must be understood as a tactic to force the state to recognize the importance of GTFs. The quality of undergraduate education at the University depends upon their labor. Oregon Daily Emerald The Oregon Daily Emerald Is published Monday through Friday except during exam week and vacations by the Oregon Daily Emerald Publishing Co,, at the University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, 97403 The Emerald operates independently o( the University with offices on the third floor of the Erb Memorial Union and is a member of the Associated Press The Emerald is private property The unlawful removal or use of papers is prosecutable by law General Staff Advertising Director Production Manager Classified Advertising Assistant to the Publisher Susan Theien Russell H Steele Vince Adams Jean Ownbey Advertising Sales David Wood - Sales Manager. John Boiler. Jessica Cederberg, Michael Gray, Laura Goldstein, Robin Joannides. Carlos Lamadrid, Marcia Leonard, Shawn Leuthold, Catherine Lil)a. Shawna Reed, Kathy Stein, Joan Wildermuth, Laura Willoughby Production Vince Adams, Kelly Alexandre, Lynne Casey. Shu-Shing Chen, Ellen Cross. Stormi Dykes, Manuel Flores, Shannon Gaither, Ross Martin. Mary May, Rob Miles. Angie Muni/. Charla Parker. Ken Parrott. Jennifer Peterson, Geoff Rainville, Michele Ross. Alyson Sim mons. Gregory Tipps Page 2A Editor Managing Editor News Editor Editorial Page Editor Assistant Editorial Page Editor Sports Editor Photo Editor Friday Edition Editor Sidelines Editor Night Editor Associate Editors Communlty/Politics Higher Education Student Activities Student Government University Affairs General Assignment Julie Shippen Michelle Brence Joiayne Houtz Alan Contreras Scott Harding Robert Collias James Marks Sheila Landry Allan Lazo Kirsten Bolin Paul Sturtz Andrew LaMar Chris Norred Stan Nelson Kirsten Bolin Mike Rivers Reporters Tony Ahern, Sean Axmaker, Dan Coran. Kim Kaady. Capi Lynn, Amy Moss, Chuck Thompson, B J Thomsen Photographers Lynne Casey. Shu-Shing Chen. Maria Cor vallis. Steve Gibbons, Derrel Hewitt, Ross Martin. Karen Stailwood, Mike Wilhelm News and Editorial 668-S51 1 Display Advertising and Business 686-3712 Classilied Advertising 666-4343 Production 666-4381 Circulation 666-S511 Airlifting our Coast Guard off Lampedusa and cautioning Americans ® traveling abroad... evacuating Americans in the Sudan... r great fover nsm. are necessary steps after. .. Letters Suds and sex Dear Beth and GDI’s, Writing these letters has been a bitter experience. I’ve never come to terms with not being able to scream what house I’m from at a party while frothing with beer foam at the mouth. This has caused me insur mountable problems and is the reason for my letters.it’s true. I was jealous of the Greekies. I never thought a frat would ac cept someone like me I was .wrong; Thus, this is my last statement on the Greekies. I ran say no more after my potent ex perience last week. Folks, I've had a change of heart. I’ve spent time with Greekies at Old Taylor's. It’s true. I received Greek charity and was cleansed by its beauty. They poured beer on me, gave me beer to drink, blew smoke in my face, and the sorority girls shimmied against me with their lovely greek bodies, giggling ever so naughtily. This personal attention sup presses anger and jealousy and can change a person’s point-of .—..-— , view In view of this. I apologize for my original let ters. I didn’t understand the im portance of going through life smelling like a brewery. (This is how the Greekies detect the pro per type to mate with.) I must not reveal their secrets further. GDI's, I'm not a fallen angel. I've seen the light. I've forsaken * all deities and turned- toward . Bacchus. Writing this letter is my penance and eventually I'll be free to live and drink without guilt and jealousy. Suds and sex to all. . ' Blake Louis Sliter Political Science Let’s mix it up Hearing the news of the latest nuclear accident in the Soviet Union has left me angry, frustrated and filled with sor row for the Russian victims. I have always been against the use of nuclear power, but this latest tragedy has strengthened my resolve to oppose it. Nuclear power is an irresponsible, unrealistic and dangerous source of energy. And yet, millions of people in the United States alone see nuclear power as the answer for America's future power needs. Over 100 nuclear reactors are operating in this country. The nuclear industry is quick to point out that our reactors are far safer than their Russian counterparts, and that the nuclear power industry has the best safety record of any U.S. energy system. These claims must be seen for the smokescreen that they are. for it only takes one nuclear ac cident to devastate an entire area for thousands of years. 1 have seen some good debates this year in the letters column of the Kmerald. Things seem to have quieted down a bit, and this issue is a timely one. I’ll be happy to take on all opponents on this. Come on. .ill you nuclear power advocates, let's mix it up. . • ■" » Kandy MacDonald • : -‘ Student . Closed-minded _ I was surprised at Jhejbfosed mindedness ; of Robert Duffy s blatantly false generalizations about the 'classicalVformat of K W~A.\ . . I *. ha y e. r e'ce nil y discovered kWAX.'and.I find it enlightening and uplifting I confess, perhaps a year ago I would have been skeptic al about listening to classical music. But with time, people mature to a level of acceptance and experience.where they will open their minds to new ideas. Acceptance does not have to be met. but at least a concept is given a chance. Because this is a maturation process, there still may bo hope for you yet, Robert You doubt if many college students listen to KWAX. You are also convinced the majority of the audience is over .15 years of age. Well. Robert, I am a col lege student and I am two mon ths away from turning 21.1 also don't think I am a geek, nerd or a bizarre exception to the rule as you may believe. Although you speak for a stagnant majority, 1 feel I speak for a majority of people who are open to many different channels of fresh ideas that may lead to the satisfying stimulation of mind and character. Robert, you feel kWAX is too conservative because of its type of music. Ironically, you are be ing conservative by derogating the station with a negative at titude. You have a right to your own opinion Robert, but please abstain from putting down other people who don’t think the same as you. Maria A. Ciutoski Rhetoric Communications Friday. May 2. 1»»«