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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 21, 2001)
Smith, Wyden visit Eugene ■The two Oregon senators stopped in Lane County Tuesday to promote upcoming legislation By Aaron K. Breniman Oregon Daily Emerald Oregon Sens. Gordon H. Smith and Ron Wyden visited Eugene on Tuesday to announce plans for bills on hunger and education, which are slated for introduction in the current legislative session. Visiting Eugene simultaneously by coincidence, the senators made separate appearances and did not speak together. Smith, a Republican from East ern Oregon, announced his plan to introduce the State Hunger Assis tance in Response to Emergency Act to a crowd of about 30 people at the Food for Lane County ware house in west Eugene. “There is no excuse for a state with as big a heart as Oregon to have such a hunger problem,” Smith said. Surrounded by pallets stacked ceiling-high with banana boxes full of food, Smith reiterated his support for assisting the country’s hungry. His plan directs the mon ey^ to each state’s Department of Human Resources for needs that “ought to be met.” “There is abundant room at America’s table for everybody,” he said. Smith referred to a recent study by the U.S. Department of Agricul ture on state-by-state hunger-inci dent averages to emphasize the need for federal aid. According to the study, Oregon residents have the highest per-household hunger rate in the United States, with 5.8 percent of families going hungry at some time. “The important thing to remem ber is that there are human faces associated with these statistics,” Smith said. Smith’s bill would eliminate a requirement that often prevents federal money from going to the 10 states with the highest rates of hunger. The requirement forces states to match government fund ing for hunger-prevention pro grams, but states that can’t match bMITH the lunds don’t receive the federal aid. If Smith’s bill is ratified, the 10 hungriest states would receive federal aid even if they can’t match the funds. “We’re go mg to drop the match, give them the money and reach the people,” Smith said. “The money will en able state officials to publicize places where people can come to eat.” WYDEN Joining Smith were representatives from local food distribution centers and families that would benefit from the bill. Marge Williamson, a volunteer with uommunuy rood ior uresweii, ex pressed optimism about Smith’s proposal. “The spirit around here is that we’re doing work, but we’re hav ing fun doing it,” Williamson said. “The main thing is that we help.” Sen. Wyden was also in town promoting legislation. He began his visit by touring Applegate Ele mentary School in Crow, where he introduced an education initiative that would provide extra funding for schools in rural, outlying areas. The Rural Education Develop ment Initiative would provide $300 million per year for a three year period to eligible rural school districts nationwide. The legisla tion is being co-sponsored by both Republican and Democratic sena tors. “There is no federal initiative that focuses on rural school dis tricts," Wyden representative Lisa Markgraf said. “Approximately 46 percent of schools are located in rural districts, but they only re ceive 22 percent of the education funding.” To receive these funds, districts would be required to have 15 per cent of students come from fami lies below the poverty line. The plan would provide struggling dis tricts with money to improve a range of categories, including tech nology improvements, academic enrichment programs and profes sional development for teachers. Wyden concluded his visit to Eugene at the Eugene Hilton Con ference Center, where he spoke on the availability of options for ter minally ill patients. Wyden has long been involved with policy re garding options for the terminally ill. In 1998, he formed a working group to determine what role the federal government should play in end-of-life policy. Smith also attended a Eugene Rotary Luncheon at the Eugene Hilton, where he discussed the re working of an education bill that he has been collaborating on with Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass. Other topics discussed related to natural resources, including an update on an agreement that he brokered last year regarding the Steens Moun tain range. UO-LCC program begins in fall ■ Ihe Dual Admission Enrollment Program aims togive more students more access to higher education By Brooke Ross Oregon Daily Emerald Lane Community College stu dent Susie Jiing hopes to attend the University next year, but is worried about her credits transfer ring successfully. “I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of weirdness in transferring my credits,” she said. “I’m worried about having to take more classes than I have to.” Because most classes at LCC are three credits and the standard at the University is four, transferring credits is just one hurdle LCC stu dents such as Jiing have to jump when trying to attend the Univer sity. To make transferring easier and higher education more acces sible to more students, however, the two schools have teamed up to create the Dual Admission-Enroll ment Program. The new program will be offered to 100 LCC freshmen for fall term 2001-02. In an effort to eliminate excess paperwork, students will need to complete only one admis sion form and one financial aid form, and pay one application fee. Students will also be able to take classes at both schools simultane ously, so general requirements can be completed at LCC while stu dents pursue their major require ments at the University. Elizabeth Bickford, University director of student financial aid, said by being able to attend both schools, students can take advan tage of LCC’s lower tuition costs while receiving credits from the University. “It’s a wonderful way to blend the opportunities of both schools and lower tuition,” she said. Bickford said one problem for current University students who It's a wonderful way to blend the opportunities of both schools and lower tuition. Elizabeth Bickford University director, student financial aid y j need financial aid is they have to take at least 12 hours per term to receive support, and if they split those hours with LCC, they are not eligible. But she said the new agreement will make it possible for students to attend both schools and receive support. “This is just one of the benefits of the program that will really help students out,” Bickford said. Helen Garrett, director of enroll ment services for LCC, said she is confident about the future of the program. “Students have been navigating the two schools on their own, but now we’re going to help them as a team,” she said. Garrett said Oregon State Uni versity already has a similar agree ment with Linn-Benton Communi ty College, but the LCC-University of Oregon program is starting out small during its first year. “We want to give it care in its first year to make sure things get rounded out,” she said. Garrett said each school offers opportunities the other does not. i While LCC offers night and week end courses, the University offers certain upper-division courses that LCC does not, she said. “Students get to tap into every thing both schools have to offer, and we’re giving them structure as they navigate through both,” she said. Bickford said it is unclear whether the dual program will one day expand to include all students from both schools. “It’s going to depend on the suc cess during the first two years,” she said. “It’s very complicated to put a program together like this at the administrative level.” So for the time being, Jiing and other students in her position will have to deal with the current com plications of transferring between the two schools. “I hope it all works out for me,” Jiing said. “I’m just thinking about my future.” ^iff Dierincjer JlCemorialService cS/s/er and driendto JKany Gand felly hi Ulylf (candles willde providedrJ J~faywarcf Gflefcf lofecfnescfay, GfeSruary 21 at 6:30p.m. Odease feel free to call434-2488 with any questions. Sponsoreddy Qlniversity of Oreyon jtfousiny and JCappa Delta Sorority 01 Live and Learn Japanese! . 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