iANUARY 11, 1996 INDEX Editors ? ft, i... w. Earfi . - Hal .. p^ifbiQ 4 Sttangm man Fictton 6 Soom ii 14 HorflaCCO* 14 University o! Oregon Eugune. Oa<*cxi TODAY An informational mertmg on sorority rash nilI lair phu t tonight at 6 p m in ihr EMU Urn limlrr Xmm INSIDE Kyle Milling ami the Dm is mil hint the Conga/* tonight Spar tat as Youth Club protests l S moot* rmrnt in Hoi nut WEATHER CWv today with highs near 4M An independent newspaper vohima 9i. taftM r» mmm. Enrollment shows signs of stabilizing ■ COLLEGE: Enrollment decline slows tuition nse may have caused decrease By Sean Rossol t ■dU'aaon HUeoele Enrollment of traditional collage aged stu dent* is down, by 12 percent in some states, but it has not decreased ns much as it has in rec ent years, according to a survey conducted by the American Council on Education The council cited several reasons for the decrease, which is consistent with a three-year pattern The survey revealed that almost half of the 20 states that submitted complete enrollment data experienced declines this year, much less than those seen in 1993 and HHH. indicating a trend toward stabilised enrollment '‘This year’s dec.lines appear to be smaller than Ithuswi in 1**94," said David Merkow tU. director of the survey. Escalating tuition costs are cited as a possible reason for the decrease in enrollment "Increased tuition could he correlated." said Martha Pitts. University dire* lor of admissions Although the University of Oregon is not included in the study, Pitts said the University has actually seen an increase in enrollment There was an increase in applicant* by 5 percent for tUUS and an increase of those actually admit ted That translates into an increase of 432 undergraduates for 1905 Along w ith increased tuition, other fac tors are cited for the falling enrollment numbers appear ing elsewhere in the country “In an economic; boom, many high school graduates and other potential siuifenls i house to work full time rather than attend college." Merkowitr said "In some slates, students are leaving school because they are able to secure employment ” "When you can find work why go to school?" said Brad Barron, administrator for information systems and research for student enrollment at the Ohio Board of Regents (Xir colleges historically have noted a corre lation between enrollments and the health of the national economy,” said David Plane, president of the National Association of Community Col leges The survey revealed that declines were more Turn to COLLEQE Page 4 It’s gotta be the shoes »Momm m**c»tmicM.*mwa DrHHng ttv* Lana, Tom Tan*m ptay* a p«cfc-up gam* of basketbaH wtth tom* friend* al E sai.nger on Wednesday evening Th# E«i»ng*r baafcetttttt court* are op*n and he* to a> sfudenta mod weekday evening* from 8 30 to 11 45 p m Commissioner candidate big on parks, environment ■ POLITICS: fodor is on*< o! five candidates now in the running for Lane County Commissionei By Melts&n letoahn A i iUHliti.tli* !»f biiii Count) Cuimimtiunvr Mill bn want* to lx* lh*» von tt (of pfugrMative bwut er%hit> in tj»n*> County then Fodor. j«. Bfmidtnl of Friend* of Fuitenn and of Fnerjty and Envj* r o n mental Planning A**o County Commissioner in the dislrn 1 now tir.ni.Hi by lutmtm sittnar ferry Rust The district include* South Hugene and the IMivmily of Oregoti Commissioner Ru*t ha* wild ho wilt not I*. running for off'i. «> again after he i omplete* hi t cur rwnt tern So far. Fodor in one of five candidate* who have announced intention* to run for the position fn general, a county comml* tinner deal* with community issue*, like the remaining old growth tree*, juvenile criminal justice, public health, environ ment and run ychng program* within the county Fodor said Commissioner Ku*t should be replaced with someone who t* outspoken on environment, social, alternative and transportation issues Turn to POLITICS Page 4 Proposed utility tax would fund low-income housing in Eugene ■ MEASURE U passed, the average tax for a resident would be a little more than $1 a month By Sborry Rainey Ccewuw* t cm* The Committee for Affordable Housing tiegan it* campaign for Measure 20*54 at the Kugene Hilton on Wednesday tf passed Man.li 12. the measure would place a 1 percent utility la* cm the usage of electricity, naiuml gas. water, sewer ser vhm and table TV The prta eetls would fund affordable housing project* anti ener gy assistance to low •income person* “The utility tax we* i huwn became It it «he broadest tax,” said Jean Tale, am |Mtixii i.U'ihdir am) realtor "Kveryone pay* utilities. whether for thru home or butt neat." According to th<- Committee (or Afford able Housing, the average monthly rest tier it ui I eh* tru bill is SIM) with a potential utlmg bill* for elec tricity, water, sewer services and basic liable TV. the proposed total monthly tax would be SI Oft The estimated total revenue for the mea sure. which terminates in 10 years unless voters authorise continuation, would he about H.ti million per year, INSIOE ■ 1996 Eugene Suite of the City Address meets with negativity Peg# 6 This seemingly smell ta* will not pose problems to the community, committee members said, ami no one s uliltttes wouki Im' stmt off l»’< anse of failure to pay the las, "If you are homeless there are few options." said Terry Met Unite, assistant director of First Place Family Center According the committee, more than 3.400 households are on the waiting list for federally subsidized housing, and the wail is about one to two and a half year* Another statist it the committee sham! On any given night at least 1,000 people are homeless in Eugene. at cording to the 1095 Eugene Springfield HUD Consol i ■ dated Plan. If voters approve Measure 20-54. an esti mated t .500 to 2.000 new rental and home ownership units will be built and anoth er 500 units will be rehabilitated, "There is a basic unfairness when peo ple who work full-time tau t afford afford abie housing." Eugene Mayor Ruth Bas com said "When we pats this measure, we will be sending a message that this issue must be addressed at r«»* the land "