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.
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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»»«