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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 10, 2000)
Campaign finance issues on forefront ■ A proposed ballot measure could limit campaign spending and level the candidate playing field By Darren Freeman Oregon Daily Emerald Thirteen Oregonians from as far as Clackamas County gathered in West Eugene to discuss a pro posed campaign finance reform ballot measure, which will likely appear on the Nov. 2000 ballot. In an informal setting, the meet ing was led by former South Eu gene High School teacher Larry Perry, who is currently the Ore gon state chair of Common Cause, a national activist group that co authored the measure with sever al other groups including the League of Women Voters, OSPIRG and Public Campaign. After stating that large cam paign donations are playing too large a role in elections, Perry said he supported the measure, which proposes allotting public money for campaigning candidates who agree to adhere to spending limits and forgo soliciting campaign dol lars from private donors. The measure would also allow offering additional money to par ticipating candidates who are be ing outspent by candidates using private funds. Though nobody at the meeting voiced opposition to the measure, opponents argue that private cam paign contributions are healthy acts of political speech and should n’t be eliminated from elections. Perry, on the other hand, ar gued that political contributions are often used by special interests to gain political influence. “The cost of running for office has increased so rapidly that [can didates] have to go after big mon ey sources.” Perry said. “Whether it’s true or not, the ap pearance is that elections are being bought, and that contributes the corrosive public view of govern ment,” Clackamas County volun teer activist Matt Chambers said. Because state and federal courts decided campaign contributions Low salaries continued from page 1A for cost-of-living increases for all faculty rather than merit increas es for a select few. “We haven’t received a cost-of living increase in four years,” said Greg McLauchlan, associate pro fessor of sociology and co-author of the resolution. “ [The cost of liv ing] has gone up 10 percent in that time. Many faculty have effective ly taken a pay cut. It’s a significant decline in the standard of living. ” Resolution US9900-7 was first given at the Dec. 1,1999 Universi ty Senate meeting. The resolution recognizes that faculty have been receiving merit increases designed to reward excellence, achieve ment and a contribution to the University and the state of Oregon, McLauchlan said. The merit increase, however, has been instead of rather than in addition to a cost-of-living in crease. Merit increases, which are distributed within each depart ment, have been distributed un equally, he said. “In a nutshell, I'd say it’s a ques tion of basic fairness. If there is money available it should go to cov er cost-of-living increases across the board, ” McLauchlan said. “Faculty who do perfectly good service but don’t get merit increases lose salary,” he said. “Everyone I’ve talked to without exception feels that [faculty morale] is at the lowest point it has been in 10 years. ” This disparity is causing the gap between the income of the highest and lowest paid faculty to grow to perhaps its largest in the Univer sity’s history, he said. The resolution “does not re quire the expenditure of addition al funds, nor does it result in cost savings,” according to the resolu Average faculty salaries among peer universities 1. University of North Carolina $65,400 2. University of California, Santa Barbara $64,400 ‘ 3. University of California, Davis $63,300 4. North Carolina State $62,300 5. University of Iowa $61,500 16. Oregon State University $52,300 17. University of Oregon $51,300 SOURCE: American Association of University Professors, Annual Report on the Economic Status of the Profession, 1997-98. tion’s financial impact statement. A report on the resolution from the University Senate Rules Com mittee confirms that there is no di GIVE BLOOD Alumni EMU Fir Room Tuesday & Wednesday January 11 & 12 rij 10am-3pm SAVE LIVES Bring picture ID If it reaches the Nov. 2000 ballot, the measure would propose allo cating public campaign funding to candidates who adhere to spend ing limits and foigo collecting pri vate campaign contributions. and campaign spending are acts of free speech, Perry said, voluntary participation in a public financing program is the best way eliminate potential improper influence. With similar measures have passed in four other states, sup porters of the measure are opti mistic. rect fiscal impact; there is, however, a high indirect cost in the ability for the various departments and ad ministrations to make future hires. While University administra tion recognizes the lack of cost-of living increases, it feels that more exploration is necessary. “Salary increases have lagged behind the cost of living,” said Lorraine Davis, vice provost for ac ademic affairs. “This resolution is a little premature.” A University Senate Budget Committee is working on a plan that will look more broadly at the issue of faculty salaries, she said. The committee has come out with a “White Paper,” dated Jan. 10,2000. This long-term plan aims to elevate the average instruction al faculty compensation to “95 percent of parity to comparat or in stitutions.” According to the 1997-98 Annu al Report on the Economic Status Calendar Monday, Jan. 10 Exhibition: organized by jenny Young, architecture, this show features student work from the department’s summer program in Rome. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. week days. LaVerne Krause Gallery, Lawrence Hall, 1190 Franklin Blvd. Free. For information, call 346 2057 or 346-3610. Reception 7-9 p.m.Jan. 10. of the Profession by the American Association of University Profes sors, the University pays its faculty 85.6 percent of what faculty at oth er peer universities receive. These peer universities include the Uni versity of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, the University of California, Santa Barbara and the University of California, Davis. McLauchlan calls his resolution “the cornerstone of the whole process.” The paper will be discussed at a University Town Hall Meeting Jan. 26. This meeting will include the University Senate as well as administration representatives. Discussions of faculty salaries have historically taken place at the legislative level. Under the new Oregon University System budget model, which went into effect July 1,1999, individual campuses have more flexibility and autonomy in negotiating salaries, Davis said. WE RE STOCKED WITH OPPORTUNITIES! WiaC9. WimCo raoos Springfie There's Simply Ko Comparison We are an Equal Opportunity Employer dedicated to the diversity that has made us a leader M/F/D/V. WINCO FOODS is stocked with top-shelf opportunities for talented go-getters looking for flexible schedules and some excellent income. With a competitive salary range, WinCo is the perfect solution for those seek ing ca'reer or part-time opportunities. 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Box 3159, Eugene OR 97403 The Oregon Daily Emerald is published daily Mon day through Friday during the school year and Tuesday and Thursday du ring the summer by the Oregon Daily Emerald Publishing Ca Inc, at the University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon. A member of the Associated Press, the Emerald operates inde pendently of the University with offices in Suite 300 of the Erb Memorial Union. The Emerald is private property. The unlawful removal or use of papers is prosecutable by law. NEWSROOM — (541)346-5511 Editor in chief: Laura Cadiz Managing Editor Felicity Ayles Community: Sara Lieberth. editor. Darren Freeman, Brian Goodell, re porters. Freelance: Amy Jennaro, editor Higher Education: Ben Romano, editor Jessica Blanchard, reporter. Perspectives: Bret Jacobson, Laura Lucas, editors. Fred M. Collier, Jonathan Gruber, Beata Mostafavi, Mason West, columnists. Pulse: Jack Clifford, editor Sara Jarrett, Yael Menahem, reporters. Student Activities: Jeremy Lang, editor. Simone Ripke, Edward Yuen, reporters. Sports: Tim Pyle, editor Mirjam Swanson' assistant editor. Scott Pesznecker, Jeff Smith, Brett Williams, reporters. News Aide: Cathlene E. McGraw. Copy: Monica Hande, Laura Lucas, copy chiefs. Molly Egan, Stephen Palermini, Tom Patterson, Eric Qualheim, Jamie Thomas, Ellen Weisz, copyeditors. Photo: Scott Barnett, editor. Catharine Kendall, Azle Malinao-Alvarez, Jeffrey Stockton, photographers. Michael Crisp, Matthew Landan, Tom Patterson, Lindsey Walker, photo technicians. Design: Katie Nesse, editor. Kelly Berggren, Leigh-Ann Cyboron, Katie Miller, designers. Bryan Dixon, Giovanni Salimena, illustrators. On-line: Jake Ortman, editor. Broc Nelson, webmaster. ADVERTISING — (541) ^46-S712 Becky Merchant, director. Melissa O’Connell, Van Nguyen, advertis ing assistants. Rachelle Bowden, Doug Hentges, Nicole Hubbard, Jesse Long, Adam Rice, Amy Ruppert, Hillary Shultz, Chad Verly, Emily Wallace, Lisa Wood, advertising sales representatives. CLASSIFIEDS — (541)3464343 Trina Shanaman, manager. Erin Gauthier, Lauren Howry, Tara Rother mel, staff. BUSINESS — (541) 346-5512 Judy Riedl, general manager. Kathy Carbone, business supervisor. Sarah Goracke, receptionist. Michael Higgins, John Long, Sue Ryan, Jesse Wallace, distribution. PRODUCTION — (54D346-4S81 Michele Ross, manager. Tara Sloan, coordinator. Goro Harumi, Laura Lucas, Laura Paz, Randall Tipton, Ross Ward, ad designers. Read Jake Ortman's Computer E Technology column. Only at uiuiiu.dajlyemerald.com
