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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 29, 2002)
Fewer UO students receiving opportunity grant ■ Budget cuts left several students without Oregon Opportunity Grants in their 2002-03 financial aid offers by Katie Ellis for the Emerald Because of a decrease in state funding, a large number of Ore gon students did not receive the Oregon Opportunity Grant in their 2002-03 financial aid pack age. The Oregon Opportunity Grant was created in 1971 to give low income students access to higher education. At its inception, the grant was designed to cover tu ition, books and additional costs. According to the Oregon Stu dents Association, the grant is currently covering less than 11 percent of annual educational costs for the eligible students who receive it. It is estimated that nearly 10,000 students were turned away in 2001-02. Director of Student Financial Aid Elizabeth Bickford said the grant provided students with $1,254 for the 2001-02 school year. The amount of money stu dents receive from the grant usu ally increases every year but for the first time in at least 20 years the grant did not increase, she said. With a rising number of stu dents attending Oregon schools, the number of students receiving assistance from the grant de creased. Some students who re ceived the grant for 2001-02 year did not receive it for next year. Bickford said most of the stu dents who turned in the complet ed financial aid application form by mid-March received the grant, but many students who applied later were not as fortunate. Whether the grant will increase for the 2003-04 school year largely depends on the economy and the state’s budget. However, Bickford advises students who will be ap plying for 2003-04 school year to submit their applications early. Katie Ellis is a freelance reporter for the Emerald. Students who take time off have options for housing contracts ■ Many property managers lease on a nine-month basis, but with some planning, students can leave penalty-free By Diane Huber for the Emerald Students planning to study abroad, intern or move away from Eugene for a term next year may have difficulty finding a place to live during the terms they are here. Most property managers lease their apartments and houses near campus — meaning students sign a nine-month contract. If the renter breaks the contract, he or she usual ly must continue paying rent until June or until the unit is filled. “Some owners are concerned that if a tenant moves out in April, they will not be able to re-rent until Sep tember,” Chinook Properties owner Greg Young said. For that reason, most property nanagers are hesitant to rent Diaces month-to-month to stu ients, he said. If students want to begin their lomework now, here are a few op ions for finding a place to live. Regress to residence halls Students may have already grad lated from residence hall life, but t’s never too late to go back. Resi dence halls are surprisingly flexible n terms of how long students need :o stay, as long as students have an ‘educational reason” for breaking :heir three-term contract, Associate Director of Residence Life Sheri Donahoe said. “The residence hall contract is For the nine-month University cal 3ndar. But if they have an educa tional reason, we release students af their contract,” she said. Students must provide Univer sity Housing with verification of the program they are involved in, and they are free of their contract. But the process is already under way for next year’s living assign ments, so Donahoe advises students to apply soon. For more information, see http://housing.uoregon.edu/. Consider Family Housing University Family Housing of fers several options for low-cost apartments with a month-to month contract, including West moreland and Spencer View apart ments. The only requirement is that tenants must be enrolled stu dents over 21, though applicants with children are considered first, Donahoe said. She said getting a space in the one-, two- and three-bedroom apart ments can be competitive. “It depends on who’s coming to school that term,” she said. “Every term is different.” It s best to apply now for next year, she said, and applicants will then be put on a waiting list until space opens up. For more information, see http://housing.uoregon.edu/. Prepare to dial Nick Reich, office assistant at the University’s Rental Information Of fice, recommends calling around to different property managers to see if they have any month-to-month con tracts. He said most landlords and property managers require students to sign a nine-month lease, but there are a few exceptions. “It’s just a matter of finding them,” Reich said. And the farther away from cam pus, the more housing options. “If you’re willing to commute, you have a much better chance,” he said. Reich also suggests checking the paper for listings. Students do break their leases, especially later in the year, and landlords are eager to fill those spots. There are also always listings of people looking for a room mate to fill a space in their house. Be creative Some students plan ahead so they have someone to take their room if they know they’ll be moving. Others play it by ear. Bryan Ellis returned from studying abroad after fall term and drove around town until he found a house with a month-to month sign in the window. Mike Rozak returned from study ing in Russia in December. He found his link to his new living arrange ment at New Max’s Tavern. “I was quaffing Pabst and chatting with those around me, and an unlike ly conversation with a woman led to her providing me with the phone number of her ex-boyfriend, who was looking for a roommate,” he said. Diane Huber is a freelance reporter for the Emerald. GOT A STOllY IDEA? GIVE THE OHE A CALL! 346-5511 Now featured in the ODE: LISTINGS | Find them in the classifieds every Friday May 24,251 May 30-June 11 June 7,8 ® 8tn Benefit Matinee June 2 at 2pm for St.Vincentde Paul 687-5820x121 EMU Ticket Office 346-4363 UT Box Office avion* 346-4191 Hult Center 662-5000 [It!* A Robinson Theatre Production in Portland—at reduced tuition Classes meet at UO Portland Center, downtown. Donovan Gwinner, instructor £ Introduction to Literature ENG 104. CRN 41727. June 24-Aucust 16. 5:00-5:50 p.m. MUWH. College Composition I WR 121. CRN 41728. June 24-August 16. 6:00-6:50 p.m. MUWH. 2002 SUMMER SESSION • JUNE 24-AUGUST 16 Register by telephone now. Pick up a free summer catalog in Oregon Hall or at the UO bookstore. It has all the information you need to know about UO Summer Session, http://uosummer.uoregon.edu/ /Check out our web site 2002 UO Summer Session Classes Begin June 24. . V k J Book Your Summer in Oregon Pick up your free summer catalog today in the Summer Session office, 333 Oregon Hall, or at the UO Bookstore. You can speed your way toward graduation by taking required courses during summer. University of Oregon Summer Session http://uosummer.uoregon.edu/
