Oregonians deem college costly yet essential
■ A survey reveals that most
people wish higher education
were more widely available
By Brooke Ross
Oregon Daily Emerald
Most Oregonians believe that
while a university education is too
costly, it is necessary to land a good
job and maintain a good quality of
life in the state, according to a re
cently released Oregon University
System survey.
The survey, conducted by the
Portland-based firm of Davis and
Hibbitts, Inc., was based on a
statewide poll of 600 registered vot
ers. The results showed that 45 per
cent of those polled think tuition is
too high for public state schools.
Yet even though those polled said
higher education was too expensive,
more than 80 percent said Oregon’s
universities and colleges compete
with the best in the nation. University
faculty and students had mixed reac
tions to the survey results.
Van Kolpin, an economics profes
sor and department head, said he
didn’t think tuition was too expen
sive in general, but said he under
stands it is expensive for some stu
dents.
“I definitely don’t think tuition’s
too high, but at the same time, I
know it’s hard for some students to
pay it,” he said.
Kolpin said tuition at the Univer
sity is more affordable compared to
other schools, but if it were lower,
more students could probably pur
sue a college degree.
“I paid my own way through
school myself when tuition was a lot
lower, and it wasn’t easy,” he said.
Monica Hernandez, a sophomore
economics major, is currently pay
ing her own way through college.
Hernandez said tuition is too high.
She said she depends on financial
aid loans and her work study job to
pay for her education because her
parents are not in a position to sup
port her financially.
“I don’t know what other univer
sities charge, but if tuition was low
er, it would make it a lot easier on
everyone,” she said.
Hernandez said the thought of hav
ing to pay back student loans one day
has left her worried about her future
financial situation, a fear shared by
12 percent of those polled.
She said paying back her loans
will be a challenge, unless she can
land a well-paying job after she
graduates. She said her degree will
likely make that possible.
Hernandez is not alone in placing
her hopes on her degree. Of those
polled, 78 percent believe that in
five years, it will be more important
than it is now to have a degree in or
der to secure a well-paying job.
The survey also found that 90 per
cent of polled Oregonians believe
that making higher education more
widely available is key to maintain
ing the state’s quality of life.
Martha Pitts, University director
of admissions, agreed. She said the
quality of life in Eugene definitely
depends on the success of the Uni
versity.
Pitts said the University con
tributes more than $100 million a
year to Oregon’s economy, and Uni
versity employees alone generate
more than $9 million in state in
come taxes.
“For every $1 that the U of O gets
from Oregon taxpayers, the Univer
sity raises $5 from other sources,”
she said.
According to the OUS survey,
What 600 Oregon registered voters had to say:
Are our public universities doing a better job than five years ago?
2001 34% better 10% worse 37% same
1999 23% better 10% worse 43% same
Do you think tuition at Oregon’s public universities is too high?
2001 45% too high 36% about right 3% too low
1999 51% too high 31%about right 3% too low
Will a college education be more or less important in five years?
2001 78% more 3% less 16% as important
1999 67% more 5% less 26% as important
How do you view future economic conditions in Oregon?
2001 30% better 21% worse 45% same
1999 31% better 18% worse 45% same
SOURCE: Davis and Hibbitts Inc.
about 10 percent more people are fa
miliar with the University than they
were when the last survey was con
ducted in 1999, but University
opinions about the reason for this
increased recognition differ.
Esther La Pointe, a sophomore ex
ercise and movement science major,
said the University’s increased pop
ularity has more to do with media
events than anything the University
has done specifically in terms of ac
ademics.
“I think the whole Phil Knight sit
uation put us in the media more,”
she said.
However, Pitts said the Universi
ty’s has intensified recruitment ef
forts and the establishment of more
scholarships have increased recogni
tion at the state level.
“I think these efforts have gar
nered a lot of attention around the
state, even with people who don’t
have school-age children,” she
said.
Gunfire causes school cancellation, rerouting of buses
■ A Eugene resident is
arrested and charged with
reckless endangerment
By Darren Freeman
Oregon Daily Emerald
Police stopped traffic along four
blocks on West 18th Avenue Tues
day morning after receiving reports
of gunfire.
The shots were reported at 7:30
a.m., and the Eugene Police De
partment blocked off 18th Avenue
between Monroe and Friendly
streets, notified residents to stay in
doors and suggested that adminis
trators at the nearby O’Hara
Catholic School keep students
away from windows.
After more shots were fired while
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officers approached the scene, an
EPD SWAT team was called to re
spond, according to police reports.
Police arrested Douglas Monty
Worley, 57, without conflict at 8:30
a.m. He is charged with reckless en
dangerment and unlawful use of a
weapon. Police confiscated several
guns from Worley’s apartment, in
cluding a shotgun, two rifles and
three handguns.
The EPD does not know the mo
tive for the shooting, but officers
learned that Worley was dealing
with personal problems and sus
pected that he had been drinking,
according to police reports.
The EPD used its first-in-the-na
tion Community Emergency Notifi
cation System to rapidly call 498
area residences and warn people to
stay indoors.
O’Hara Catholic School officials
evacuated the school’s 88 elemen
tary students and canceled classes
for the day. Before an arrest was
made, students were led out of the
school’s 16th Avenue entrance and
to a nearby church. Parents were
called to take the children home.
As many as seven Lane Transit
District buses were rerouted during
the police action, causing some Uni
versity students to be late to class.
But buses were back on route as
soon as the arrest was made.
“It didn’t cause us much disrup
tion at all,” LTD marketing manager
Ed Bergeron said. “We were able to
get around it.”
Calendar
Wednesday, Feb. 7
Career Education Expo: “Human and Social Services Career Paths.” Noon-1 p.m.
River Rooms, EMU. Free.
Center for the Study of Women in Society presents Mary Wood, English: "This
Puzzling Case: Narratives of Schizophrenia.” Noon-1 p.m. 330 Hendricks Hall. Free.
Russian Film Series: "The Second Circle,” Aleksandr Sokurov’s study, in Russian
with English subtitles, of family relationships and mortality. 6:30 p.m., 115
Pacific Hall. Free.
Meeting: Information session about Queretaro, Mexico. 4 p.m., 214 Friendly
Hail. Free.
Black History Month
The Black Student Union will host the following events:
Today: Black Expressions Exhibit in the Multicultural Center. The exhibit will
include a photo and art display.
Feb. 16: Black Heritage Ball at the Red Lion Hotel. The event starts at 10 p.m.,
and thetheme will be “Harlem Nights: A Black Diamond Affair. ”
Feb. 20: Celebrating African-American Achievement Night in the EMU Ballroom.
The event, starting at 7 p.m., will honor prominent African-Americans in Oregon.
Two events have yet to be scheduled: a poetry night and Taste of Blackness, a
meal featuring soul food.
Oregon Daily Emerald
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