Debate gets students involved ■The goal of the debating political parties was not winning, but sparking political interest in the community By Tara Struyk for the Emerald The Campus Democrats and Re publicans met Tuesday night to fiercely debate their political views regarding several current is sues, but despite their divergent beliefs, the debate was designed by both parties with a similar goal in mind. “We hope the debate makes stu dents more politically aware of is sues of the government,” Campus Republicans chairman Stan Pul liam said. “We would like to create a more politically educated stu dent body.” The 8 p.m. meeting in the EMU Fir Room thoroughly covered five topics: missile defense, education, incidental fees, dealing with reces sion and President Bush’s energy plan. Jed McGuire, treasurer for the College Democrats, said his group has been doing research for the past two weeks and was prepared to help students become more in formed about both sides of the is sues. The first topic — and one of the more thoroughly debated — con cerned student incidental fees, an issue which has been prominent, on campus this year. McGuire introduced the De mocrats’ position on student in cidental fees, arguing that the current distribution of student fees to various groups on cam pus helps to foster diversity of opinion and ultimately con tributes to students’ educations. He also mentioned other perks of the student incidental fees, such as free bus service and cheaper child care for student mothers on campus. “The community gains from having more diverse opinions on campus,” McGuire said. Pulliam expressed the Republi cans’ concern that many students do not agree with the beliefs of the organizations that receive student funds and suggested that students be given more control over how their money is distributed. “What we need is incidental fee reform,” he said. Throughout the debate, the au dience of about 30 people re mained active, asking questions of both parties and challenging them on their views, particularly on the topic of a missile defense system, which College Democrat member Tim Johnson described as expen sive and ineffective. The Republi can group defended the idea, de picting it as a deterrent which can protect the country from enemies’ missiles. So who won and who lost? According to both groups, the debate itself was not the point. Getting students involved in politi cal issues that affect them is im portant, McGuire said, not win ning and losing. “I guess you could win some thing,” he said, “because you can win a presidential debate. “It isn’t about debating.” Tara Struyk is a freelance reporter for the Oregon Daily Emerald. Women in transition find support ■ A weekly meeting sponsored by the Women’s Center offers a chance for nontraditional students to make connections By Anna Seeley Oregon Daily Emerald Adrienne Wonhof-Gustafson re turned to school in September to ob tain a law degree after graduating from Southern Oregon University two years ago. Only this time, she is returning with a three year-old daughter to care for. Wonhof-Gustafson said she does n’t get extra money for being a stu dent parent, and she finds that hav ing to pay for childcare while attending classes is frustrating. “Spending the extra $500 is really stretching me thin,” she said. Students like Wonhof-Gustafson have to face college life with family responsibilities in addition to homework and midterms. To provide support and informa tion for nontraditional students, the ASUO Women’s Center now offers a weekly meeting, “Women in Tran sition. ” It is also a way for returning students, international students, older students and student parents to make friends and connections with people with similar problems and circumstances. “Women in transition are women who are in transition between a pri or life and a new life,” Women in Transition Coordinator Sayaka Mimura said. “I think many women are in this circumstance. ” Wonhof-Gustafson said she does n’t know many people on campus and hopes to meet other nontradi tional students at the meetings. “Taking a lot of classes with 19-year olds makes me feel old,” she said. Jamuna Golden, office assistant at the Women’s Center, said the meet ings could potentially offer more than just support to nontraditional students. It also gives them a chance to talk about issues, she said, and possibly explore solutions to some of their problems. The meetings are open to every one, including men, Mimura said. She added that meetings will start again next term, although the day and time have yet to be determined. Mimura said the meetings will provide a forum for people to share their stories with others and leam about the resources available on campus for nontraditional students. “The Women’s Center can pro vide information based on nontra ditional students’ needs and inter ests,” Mimura said. “To see women who are in the same circumstances is a great opportunity for nontradi tional students. They can make friends and connections.” For more information, students can call Sayaka Mimura at the Women’s Center at 346-4095. Anna Seeley is a student activities reporter tor the Oregon Daily Emerald. She can be reached at annaseeley@dailyemerald.com. Budget cuts continued from pagel be used for other OUS programs. However, OUS officials told board members Tuesday that all but $1.8 million had already been spent at the Cascades campus. Imeson then drafted a compromise. Watari said questions about the Cascades campus were not raised in time for the board to take any mean ingful action. However, Tuesday’s vote should convince the state that the board has not abandoned the Cascades campus, she said. , The proposal’s 2 percent budget cut would equal a net loss of $16.7 million dollars to OUS, including $1.8 million at the University of Ore gon. The 10 percent cut would exceed $80.9 million for the state system and $12.4 million for the University. Officials noted that while pro posed cuts at the University were larger than expected, they won’t break the bank. “The net change is a little more cost to us, but not a huge amount,” University Provost John Moseley said. “I can generally support this. ” Imeson’s proposal also directs Cox to oversee the startup of the Bend campus, to “ensure that ad ministrative overhead does not ex ceed the need on the ground. ” Board member Tim Young felt this addition was important to guar antee that the state does not expand the new campus while smaller uni versities lose state funds. “It sends the appropriate mes sage of ‘proceed with caution,’” Young said. “We don’t want to have a party and nobody show up.” John Liebhardt is the higher education editor for the Oregon Daily Emerald. He can be reachedatjohnliebhardt@dailyemerald.com. USE UUSELY® Every Watt Counts Energy Use OFF Conservation ON!!! 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