Funding increase
of $73 million proposed
The proposed
higher-ed
budget keeps
the tuition
freeze but
comes up short
for the Oregon
University
System
By Teri Meeuwsen
Oregon Daily Emerald
When Gov. John Kitzhaber released his
proposed state budget on Tuesday, he cre
ated a $73 million increase in funding for
state colleges and universities.
While the increase is not enough for the
Oregon University System to run its pro
posed $115 million budget model, it will
provide a solid foundation for it, University
President Dave Frohnmayer said.
“The basics of the model are fully funded
with the proposed budget," he said. “We’re
starting off in a better position than we have
been in a number of years. ”
The governor’s proposed budget will con
tinue to freeze in-state undergraduate tu
ition and help make the state university sys
tem more competitive and market-driven
with the 1.75 percent increase from last bi
ennium, Kitzhaber said. It will also provide
funding for creating closer partnerships be
tween local community colleges and the
state university system, he said.
"This budget offers concrete proposals for
meeting our challenges,” Kitzhaber said. “It
makes significant advances in our public
schools, colleges and universities.”
Approximately $8 million will target en
rollment at state universities, according to
the proposed budget. Universities will be
able to target needed professions — such as
teachers and engineers — and community
colleges will target new students who need
Turn to BUDGET, Page 4
(( This budget
offers concrete
proposals for
meeting our
challenges. ”
John Kitzhaber
Governor of Oregon
Tobacco on Campus
Scott Bamett/Emerald
University students Megan Hoffman and Amy Wolf enjoy an increasingly expensive smoking habit at a restaurant in the campus area.
Cigarette prices rise after settlement
By Kristina Rudinskas
Oregon Daily Emerald
Smokers around the campus area need
to save more than their pennies to pay for
the recent cigarette price increase an
nounced Nov. 23 by Philip Morris USA,
the nation’s largest tobacco company,
and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.
The 45 cent increase per pack is the
largest price hike ever. Cigarette prices in
the Eugene area now range from $3.50 to
$3.70 for major brands like Camel and
Marlboro.
Neither Philip Morris USA or R.J.
Reynolds Tobacco Co. offered an expla
nation for the price increase.
The increase follows closely behind
the recent $206 billion tobacco settle
ment with 46 states, the District of Co
lumbia and five U.S. territories. The
amount will be paid by five tobacco com
panies over 25 years to help settle Med
icaid costs for treating sick smokers.
Smokers around the campus area
were dismayed about the increase, but
most said it would not change their
habit.
“The tobacco industry has been ream
ing us for years, and now they are ream
ing us again,” said student Josh Howard,
who smoked for five years and prefers
Camel Reds. Howard said he tried to cut
back but hasn’t stopped altogether be
cause he’s addicted. He’s tried to quit
cold turkey five times.
Kristina Hannon, an English major,
hates the fact that she smokes. She said
if the price reached $5, she might try to
roll her own cigarettes. But she won't
start buying cartons, which are less ex
pensive than purchasing individual
packs.
“I go through cartons way too quick
ly,” she said. “I give them away more
easily.”
Hannon said she’s been smoking for
five years and will stand in the wind
and rain to indulge in a quick nicotine
fix.
She’s even tried to quit once for six
days.
“I was an emotional wreck,” Hannon
Turn to SMOKING, Page 3
Bomb scare
necessitates
evacuations
A sealed envelope left in
President Frohnmayer’s office
by a man who made threats was
found to contain only papers
By James Scripps
Oregon Daily Emerald
Tlie west half of Johnson Hall was evacu
ated Tuesday after a man delivered a suspi
cious package to University President Dave
Frohnmayer’s office and made threatening
remarks to the receptionist, Eugene Police
Sgt. Rick Gilliam said.
After receiving the sealed package — a
large manila envelope later found to contain
papers — at about 11:40 a.m., a receptionist
from the office called the Office of Public
Safety. After a preliminary look, public safe
ty officers called the Eugene Police Depart
ment. The Explosives Disposal Unit was
dispatched to the scene.
“OPS immediately evacuated the west
half of the building when they determined
that the rest of it was not in immediate dan
ger,” Lt. Joan Saylor said.
About six people were evacuated from
the president's office, and as many as 20
people left the building, Saylor said
Eugene Police and public safety officials
kept the west half of the building closed for
about an hour.
OPS took the extra precaution because of
previous incidents involving the man who
delivered the package to the office, Saylor
said.
“We had another incident in August
when a worker from another area on cam
pus felt threatened by the man and called
us,” she said. She added that the man’s
name, which police and public safety offi
cials are not disclosing, was on the package.
The man will not be charged with any
crime, but police are hoping to contact him
to “find out what his intentions were,"
Gilliam said.
Conflicting EPD and OPS reports make it
unclear whether the man is registered as a
student at the University.
Frohnmayer was out of town when the in
cident occurred but arrived shortly after. He
praised the actions of officials.
“It’s always disconcerting when some
thing like this happens,” he said. “I’m hap
py that no one got hurt. I’m also happy
about how the Office of Public Safety re
sponded and how my secretaries respond
ed.”