Vote
Continued from Page 1
Roberts was not sure what the
measure would do to the large
voter turnout, hut she did say
that "states with low voter tur
nout follow the same pattern."
One of those patterns was a 20
to 30-day deadline for
registration.
Advantages such as mail-in
voter registration cards, han
dicapped access, a voter’s pam
phlet and an abundance of
grassroots campaigning may be
enough to maintain the high
averages — in Oregon.
Raymond Wolfinger. a polit
cal science professor at the
University of California at
Berkeley, attacked registration
obstacles in a New York Times
column Nov. 4.
Having to re-register after a
voter changes address is the
primary obstacle, he said. There
should be a more convenient
way to notify authorities of the
move, such as simply preserv
ing registration status even if
the voter moves, he said.
Once registered, he writes,
Americans will vote more than
any other nation that has free
elections. Wolfinger recalls that
in 1984, ''fully 85 percent of
those who registered voted on
Election Day.”
Apart from the above
arguments, why the national
average is so low, such as the
"record" 48 percent turnout in
Washington, D.C., is anyone's
guess.
Ralph Nader, the well-known
consumer advocate, addressed
another facet of the issue in a
column accompanying Wolf
inger's. He believes the source
of voter disinterest goes beyond
a general feeling of political
apathy.
Political candidates have
created their own demise by
concentrating the bulk of their
campaigning in the television
studio, he says. Nader says that
traditional stumping by means
of grassroots campaigning and
neighborhood political activites
havn become “relics."
One-way campaigning via
television has eliminated the
candidates' personal and direct
contact with both the public
and the media, creating the
modern tradition of a rally as
"three people around a TV set .”
With that big. fat advertising
budget. Nader writes, it's no
wonder that candidates shape
their own images to voters by
way of a 30-second spot, leav
ing no opportunity for rebuttal
or tarnish.
The world, according to
Nader, is beginning to leave the
public: "turned off" on politics.
This may hold true. President
Reagan's last-pitch television
pleas to vote Republican,
despite his popularity, failed to
prevent a I3emocratic takeover
in the Senate.
Although taken from a less
radical stance, local experts ad
mit that television advertising
has created a problem.
"Television has become the
tail wagging the dog in state,
regional and national politics."
Ponder said.
“It is unfortunate that the
raising of money has become
such a determinant in elec
tions." he added.
"The people are saturated
with it (television advertis
ing)," Roberts said.
"People turn on their televi
sion sets to relax, and at every
break they are saturated with
political advertising." she said.
"It's creating a negative
effect. ’ ’
Dan Goldrich. a University
political science professor who
worked extensively on the Peter
DeFazio campaign, also
recognizes the increasing use of
television campaigning. He said
there is "a certain level of
disgust" on the part of voters.
"The common reaction is to
become cynical about politics."
Goldrich said.
PrPCiriPnf Continued from Page 1
year, Olum said. He expressed
his hope that the positive at
titude is a true improvement of
morale at the University.
Enrollment for fall term
stands at 17,200 students, an in
crease of 800 students from the
1985-86 school year. The enroll
ment increase follows two con
secutive years of enrollment in
creases in which the student
body grew by 600 and 400
students, Olum said.
"The University is getting
more well-known. ..and that
can be attributed to straightfor
ward. prime-time advertising,"
and word-of-mouth from
satisfied students, Olum said.
In addition, lower student
drop-out rates have kept more
students at the University.
Olum said.
"People have cared a great
deal about students (at the
University). The feeling of
loneliness is one of the reasons
why students leave," Olum
said.
The attrition rate for first-year
freshman was once as high as 20
percent, but that number has
since been cut in half, Olum
said.
Olum commended the faculty
for their efforts in making
classes more personal for the
new students.
Student are coming to the
University better prepared with
the advent of subject re
quirements for admission.
Olum said.
‘‘Students must live up to the
expectations we have. If we ex
pet:! more, they will do more,"
Olum said.
Foreign student enrollment
increased by 7 percent at the
University this year and more
than doubled over the last 10 to
12 years, Olum said.
There are currently more than
1,500 students from 75 coun
tries studying at the University,
which adds exposure to the
community of how other people
live and act, Olum said.
The foreign students help to
dispel preconceived notions
about a particular country once
students realize they are real
human beings and not just
abstractions. Olum said,
Olum reported that a request
for investigation of sexual
harassment on campus has been
referred to the Status of Women
committee.
Memorials in honor of
Holway (ones, professor
emeritus at the University
Library; Joel Berreman, a pro
fessor of sociology; and )an
Zach. Fine and Applied Arts
professor emeritus were read at
the assembly to commemorate
the contributions they made
while at the University.
Overall, Olum expressed his
satisfaction with the University
'and his desire to continue its
academic excellence.
L-Jk -A
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ZVen/y elected Interfratemity Council President Dan Ijtvey (right), next to current President Rob
Taylor, hopes to improve the Greek system's image.
Interfraternity Council picks
new president, vice president
By Sarah Kitchen
Of the Kncrald
The Interfraternity Council
selected three of its officers for
1987 Wednesday evening.
Dan lavey. a member of the
Phi Gamma Delta house, is the
new president of the It’; Jim
Eyre from the Kappa Sigma
house is the vice president; and
Collin Farrell of Sigma Phi Ep
silon is the new treasurer.
The administration was
selected by the 1C Presidents
Council, which consists of the
president of each of the lti
fraternities on campus.
The new Interfraternity ad
ministration is going to step
back and take an objective look
at the Greek system. lavey said.
“I think our Greek system
really needs to do that, especial
ly here at U of O; I’m saying that
because of incidences in the last
couple of years. Alcohol
especially is the hot topic: in our
system and in our society right
now." l,avey said.
"I think you are going to hear
from us a lot in the next year
with issues on campus." he
added.
The 1C also looks forward to
supporting other campus
organizations, l.avey said
"We are really going to try
and work on our internal work
ings to put a better foot forward
for the Creek system; a lot of
times we have gone about it
backwards. I think." 1-avey
said.
"I just hope that this year I
can represent our Creek system
in a positive light in our campus
and our community, and that
they see that we aren't a bunch
of beer-drinking slobs, and
we’re not out to take over the
campus cither.” I.avey said.
Out-going It; President Rob
Taylor, a member of the Phi
Kappa Psi house, said his ad
ministration spent a lot of time
on the alcohol issue this year.
"We worked on appeasing all
of the people who needed to he
appeased about the alcohol
issue," Taylor said.
Working on projects such as
rush, Greek Week and
Homecoming also took a lot of
the Council's time. Taylor said.
"We also branched out quite
a bit and helped other organiza
tions. such as giving a rather
sizable donation to Project
Saferide." Taylor added.
Four more executive officers
will lie elected next week, as
well as the Tribunal Chairman.
Taylor said.
Outcome f™ p‘»c 1
dealing with higher educa
tion.” said Glum, citing the
outspoken support of
Republican Rep. Larry Camp
bell in matters that concern
higher education.
Davis also mentioned Camp
bell when commenting on the
strong commitments to higher
education from both parties.
"When the smoke from the elec
tion cl«ars, good things will
happen." he added.
Senators Mark Hatfield und
Hob Paekwood, both re-elected
Republicans who helped last
year to get the construction of
the University's new science
buildings under way. will Ire
losing their respective commit
tee chairman seats, but neither
Olum nor Davis believed that it
would hamper their influence
in the Senate.
“Both Hatfield and Pack wood
are regarded as foremost
statesmen. They am people of
great power and influence.
They have integrity and sound
judgment. They have earned
respect and will always be a
power. Nothing has the ability
to take that away," Davis said.
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