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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 3, 2001)
Scholarship preps students ■The McNair Scholars Program allows graduate students extra time and money to work on research projects By Anna Seeley Oregon Daily Emerald Graduate student Michele Rutheiser began her first day of graduate school with an idea of what it was going to be like — be cause of the McNair Scholars Pro gram. Rutheiser is one of 19 students who participated in the program last year. McNair students attend workshops throughout the year and work on graduate-level re search projects that they present in a symposium during the summer. Students are paid a $2,800 stipend for their research. Offered annually, the McNair Program’s aim is to help qualified students prepare effectively for graduate school, McNair coordina tor Gail Unruh said. He added that the program is es pecially meant to increase educa tion opportunities for low-income students, first generation college students or members of a tradition ally underrepresented group in graduate school. Rutheiser said the program was a good experience, but a lot of hard work. “Overall, I enjoyed my experi ence, though many program-relat ed activities made balancing my schedule quite challenging,” she said. “Nonetheless, it was well worth my time and effort.” The McNair program was named after Ronald E. McNair, who was the second African-American to fly into space and one of six members aboard the space shuttle Chal lenger, which exploded shortly af ter lift-off in 1986. Funding for the program began in 1988 and has since been offered at universities nationwide, but it was introduced to the University in 1999. Unruh said a big portion of the program includes optional research projects that students present with the help of faculty advisors. The program is open to all majors, and research topics range from science and mathematics to journalism and psychology. Abstracts from previ ous projects are now available for viewing at Academic Learning Ser vices. “The research is really the key to the program,” Unruh said. “In a sense, everything they do there is kind of modeling the work they will be expected to do as graduate students, so it is kind of the back bone to the whole effort.” Students accepted in the fall will attend workshops in the winter and begin searching for research ideas, he said. But most of the re search is done in the summer. Not only do students get to see firsthand what graduate research is like, but they also benefit from the program in other ways, Unruh said. For example, the program’s workshops assist students in com pleting graduate school applica tions and interviewing for gradu McNair Scholars Program Information What; Informational meeting about the program, and a piace for interested students to pick up application forms When: 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 9 Where: Grayson Hail Applications are due Nov. 2, Source: Gai) Unruh, coordinator of the McNair Scholars Program ate school, he said. He added that graduate schools across the country offer incentives to applicants who have completed the program, such as graduate level tuition awards and GTF positions set-aside specifically for McNair students. “I was offered full-tuition schol arships and graduate teaching fel lowships at two of the universities to which I applied,” former McNair student Diane Teeman said. Teeman, who is now a graduate student, added that she also re ceived financial assistance in studying for and taking the Gradu ate Record Exam and waivers in applying to graduate school. “I didn’t realize how exception ally advantageous it would be to be a McNair Scholars Program partici pant,” Teeman said. “It would take pages to tell you all the program has done for me.” Anna Seeley is a student activities reporter for the Oregon Daily Emerald. She can be reached at annaseeley@dailyemerald.com. News brief Slow economy could reduce energy consumption Ironically, a sluggish economy could provide financial relief to students paying energy surcharge fees and higher energy bills. “I think a slowing economy means less energy will be used,” University Provost John Moseley said, because so much energy is purchased on the spot market. An economic downturn likely means less energy will be purchased. The University instituted a $30 energy surcharge in student inci dental fees last spring and hopes the culmination of the fee and more vigilant conservation by University students and officials can cover the rising cost of scarce energy. Moseley said the fee could drop if energy costs drop, and it will never be more than $30 each term. In fact, schools can’t raise the sur charge above that rate because the Oregon University System gave its seven schools, including the Uni versity, a price ceiling for the fee. “There is a level in the current operating budget that they can enact the surcharge up to a cer tain level,” OUS spokesman Bob Bruce said. “Up to $30 per term.” — Eric Martin CRIME WATCH {Reported from Sept 26 to Oct 1) Wednesday, Sept. 26,12:13 p.m.: DPS officers received a report of a stolen backpack from the EMU. Wednesday, Sept. 26,5 p.m.: DPS officers received a report of theft from a vehicle at Westmoreland family housing. Monday, Oct 1,1:45 a.m.: A femaie student reported her bicycle stolen on ! Alder Street. ; Monday, Oct. 1,10:25 a.m.: Officers received a report of a bike theft at the Department of Public Safety. Monday, Oct. 1,3:10 p.m.: DPS officers received a report of a backpack l stolen at the Knight Library, Monday, Oct. 1,6:43 p.m.: Astudent reported a wallet stolen at Lawrence Half. [ Monday, Oct. 1,9:23 p.m.: A student reported a wallet stolen at the Student Recreation Center. [ Tuesday, Sept. 25,8:50 a.m.: DPS received a report that a window was | broken at Prince Lucien Campbell Hall Friday. Sept. 28,8:42 a.m.: DPS received a report of damaged vehicle tires at the PLC parking lot. Wednesday, Sept. 26,12:31 a.m.: DPS received a report of damaged doors at Lawrence Hall. Theft Vandalism Substance Abuse Thursday, Sept, 27,1:10 a.m,: A liquor law violation was reported at the Agate Street crosswalk. Friday, Sept, 28,2:89 p.m,; Officers confiscated drug paraphernalia at Westmoreland family housing. Saturday, Sept. 29,12:49 a.m.: Officers contacted four people for possession of less than an ounce of a controlled substance at H.P. Barnhart Hail, formeriythe University Inn. Saturday, Sept. 29,1:46 a,m.: Officers contacted six people for minor in possession of alcohol at H.P. Barnhart Half, Sunday, Sept. 30,12:01 a.m.; Officers contacted one person for open container at the Agate Street and 13th Avenue intersection. Sunday, Sept. 30,12:32 a.m.: Officers contacted three people for possession of less than an ounce of a controlled substance and alcohol violations at H.P Barnhart Hall. Sunday, Sept. 30,12:51 a,m.: Officers contacted three people for possession of less than an ounce of a controlled substance at H umpiy Lumpy lawn. Sunday, Sept. 30,1:44 a.m,: Officers contacted one person for open container at the Bean Hall turnaround. 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