EDITORIAL
Stiff residency rules
benefit all students
For the flret time in Univereity history, out-of-state stu
dent enrollment has surpassed in-state. The enrollment
increase has been followed by a stiffer policy for those
trying to gain residency.
The supply of out-of-state students Is
the highest It has been. Increased
restrictions on residency
requirements will allow the
University to continue to provide
benefeclel programs to everyone with
the Increased revenue It will provide.
Higher education has been designed to serve the stu
dents in the state whore the school is located. However,
the desire for students to attend the school of their
choice is a freedom also granted by the system.
For those students attending out-of-state schools, the
trade-off is obviously higher tuition. This, in turn, fuels
the need to attain residency.
The out-of-state student has a few hurdles to jump
before being granted residency. These hurdles are vital
to the well-being of any state school. Without proper
restrictions, too much revenue would be lost, affecting
the level of education the school can offer.
Many out-of-state students come to the school, attend
classes, and may work while at school. Many then seek
employment upon graduation. One of the new require
ments that goes into effect is to question a student's
intent, or their primary purpose.
If the students' intentions are to stay in Oregon after
graduation, then the chance of attaining residency is
much higher. However, if a student is merely here for the
education and will then be off to another state, residen
cy will be more difficult to attain.
This change in policy has the potential to be walked
all over. Entering freshmen may have a more concrete
understanding of what their college life will entail.
Beyond that, it is ludicrous to expect someone to have
a concrete expectation of post-graduate employment. But
lot’s not forget the function of state schools.
Maybe this policy will be helpful enough for someone
in their third or fourth year of study. If that is the inten
tion. then the policy nicely complements the idea of
state-funded schools, as a service to in-state students.
To grant residency to a student in his or her first years
of school gives the potential to violate the fundamen
tals of state-funded education. The extra money generat
ed by out-of-state schools is vital.
With the excess income from out-of-state students, the
University will be able to better servo all students. If res
idency is easily attained, all students will suffer from the
lack of money the University will have for different pro
grams.
Oregon Doily
Emerald
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OPINION
Coming-out story gets feedback
Thor Wasbotten
here has been a lot of
response to the story that
A. appeared in the Emerald
Monday al>out National Coming
Out Day. Some members of the
gay community have expressed
their opinions that the story was
too patronizing and ' safe".
The purpose of the article was
to give a general overview of what
Coming Out Day means to those
in the gay community, or at least
those who were interviewed,
which it accomplished. Another
article was included to dissemi
nate information about events
happening on campus in con
nection with Coming Out Day.
What it did not do. and what
it was not intended to do. was
attempt to enter the world that
gays experience. Because of time
and space constrictions, a story
of that importance could not
have adequately been pub
lished.
Most of the calls were from
those who were interviewed for
the story. Many of them spoke
about the story's writer. In each
case, the complaint was not of
the writer herself or the way she
conducted her interviews, but of
the finished product.
In a letter to the Emerald
[ODE, Oct. 14). Rachel Dueker
wrote. "Maybe the author was
so safe because she did try to lie
objective and non-offensive.”
After speaking with the writer
it became clear that Dueker is
right. The article was a news
story, not an editorial. Balance
and neutrality is what every
good journalist strives for when
reporting.
But, let's not confuse what
Dueker meant. She said that in
our reporter's attempt to be safe
— and non-offensive — the arti
de was offensive to the gay
community. Dueker's point is a
valid one.
The writer is a heterosexual
writing from a heterosexual's
point of view. The article would
have been written differently if
it had been written by a homo
sexual. The writer put forth an
honest attempt to not offend.
She researched the story and
conducted many interviews in
a short period of time.
The quotes listed below are
from some of those interviews.
Some of the sources wished to
remain anonymous then, and
their wishes will be respected
now. All of the sources are gay.
• "Coming out is a lifetime
process. The main thing 1 don't
think most students realize is
that homosexuals and bisexuals
constantly must explain them
selves once they gain the confi
dence to break away from their
closet fear about being recog
nized as gay.
"Coming Out Day. I hope,
illustrates to homosexual stu
dents that you can celebrate
being out. and recognize those
who want to be out. only as far
as they (are comfortable with.)
People have different levels of
being outwardly gay in public."
(Jodi Mai. co-director of the
LCBA. who estimated that about
300 students are openly homo
sexual)
• "As a gay man. 1 really
resent Coming Out Day because
I feel like we're still condition
ing a homophobic culture by
taking a day. We should realize
it's not just one day to be proud,
it should be every day.” (Roger)
• "Coming Out Day is hypo
critical because it’s not really
realistic, no one, even if they are
in the closet with uncertainty,
will be phased by seeing people
yelling in the courtyard or lieing
so public.
"There's no need to 1k> public
or have a day because it's totally
hyped out beyond anyone feel
‘Coming Out Day
sometimes
symbolizes to
heterosexuals a lot
of people trapped
in the closet due to
their own fears,
shame or anger
toward the
unexpected
responses of
others%
— Rachel Dueker
ing comfortable to approach
without being sucked in invol
untarily to the gay community
and demanding you support
other gays you don't necessarily
agree with, care for, or even
want to t») with for that matter.
It's just all political and superfi
cial.'' (Romeo)
• “Coming Out Day some
times symbolizes to heterosexu
als a lot of people trapped in the
closet due to their own fears,
shame or anger toward the unex
pected responses of others.
"Be you. love you, be happy
with what and who you are. You
should realize it's not one day.
it's every day to be proud as a
gay." (Rachel Dueker)
• "A closet exists when you're
gay only if you let it. If you can
accept yourself by being honest
with yourself, telling your near
est and dearest, stand up for
what you believe in about gay
issues, you have control over
handling yourself publicly.
“Your sexual orientation
shouldn't (bind) you. but setting
up zones in public to be 'out'
isn't going to be necessary if you
can accomplish these things. It
really doesn't matter what peo
ple may think, it's how you feel
about yourself." (Romeo)
Thor Wasbotten is the free
lance editor for the Emerald.