An independent newspaper
Angelou visit/Page 5
Tuesday, February 18,2003
Since 1900 University of Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Volume 104, Issue 101
Oregon education cuts worst in nation
Simultaneous cuts in education
spending and an increase in tuition
are to blame for rock-bottom ratings
in affordability from a new study
Jan Montry
City/State Politics Reporter
Oregon is cutting funding for higher education
at a rate higher than any other state in the coun
try, according to a study released this month.
The study, conducted by the National Center
for Public Policy and Higher Education, con
eluded that Oregon had the highest decrease in
state funding for colleges and universities —11
percent — making Oregon’s current economic
situation the worst for affordability in the nation.
The results of the study follow a continuing
trend of degrading affordability in Oregon. Last
year, the same public policy group gave Oregon
an “F” in affordability, down from a “D-” in 2000.
“I think it’s a sad day,” said Loren Stubbert,
Oregon University System assistant vice
chancellor for budget operations and plan
ning. “It’s extremely frustrating.”
Stubbert said it was startling that Oregon was
ranked number 50, which was definitely not the
end of the scale he would like to see the state on,
but not surprising because Oregon’s recession is
lingering longer than in other states. This pro
longed slump is forcing the state—which has al
ready made 888 million in cuts from its ap
proved 2001 budget — to make choices about
which essential services to fund first.
“I think we’re certainly deserving and in
need,” he said. “But at the same time, we have
to recognize competing demands.”
Oregon Student Association Executive Di
rector Alisa Simmons said that although the
group plans on fighting hard for more funding,
the future looks grim for the growing margin of
people who need aid.
“We can’t keep locking folks out of an edu
cation,” she said.
But with the economy in such a dire state
and no solutions on the horizon, Stubbert said
the state may have to decrease enrollment to
maintain services.
“We have to consider that as one possible op
tion,” he said. “But it’s not the first option we
want to consider.”
Turn to Funding, page 12
Identity theft
can be a
problem for
students.
Keeping
personal
information in
a safe place
and shredding
discarded personal
documents can help
reduce the risk of
being victimized.
Photo Illustration
Officials stress the role of public awareness
in preventing identity theft after a University
student reported a questionable phone call
Caron Alarab
Cri me/Safety/Tran sportation Reporte r
On Jan. 25, an unidentified female student was called at her
residence hall room by an unconfirmed company and asked
to provide a slew of personal information for financial aid pur
poses. After becoming suspicious of the caller’s intent for the
information, the student canceled her credit cards, restrict
ed her bank account access and reported the incident to the
Eugene Police Department. But in the opinion of Department
of Public Safety officers, EPB ^fficers and the Federal Trade
Commission, post-incident actions are not half as important
as public awareness and prevention methods when it comes
to potential identity theft.
“It’s a big epidemic,” EPD Community Service Officer Erik
Humphrey said.
Considering identity thieves can use personal information
for everything from opening new credit card accounts to buy
ing cars, Humphrey suggests safe-guarding all forms of infor
mation that could possibly be used in the crime.
“A Social Security number is the floodgate,” he said. “If
someone has multiple forms of identification, it’s much worse.”
The Federal Trade Commission offers a wealth of advice on
Turn to Theft, page 12
I Court reviews
PFC budget
recall process
The ASUO Constitutional Court has halted
PFC activities pending an investigation into
budget recall protocols
Brook Reinhard
News Editor
Activities of the ASUO Programs Finance Committee
I are being put on hold until the ASUO Constitution Court
can rule whether PFC has appropriately conducted
budget recalls.
While PFC members are still holding normal office
hours, the committee canceled its normal Monday meeting
and will probably have to postpone its Wednesday presen
tation to the Student Senate.
(Oregon Daily Emerald editor in chief Michael J. Kleckner
filed a petition for review with the court Friday, asking jus
tices to halt the recall process because PFC has no estab
lished procedures or protocols governing budget recalls.
The court issued a temporary injuction Friday against any
further PFC recalls and has six days left to determine
whether PFC conducted recalls properly.
PFC Chairwoman Kate Shull said if Constitutional Court
justices do not reach a decision soon, the committee may
have to skip further recalls and leave the budgets for the
Emerald and Career Center untouched.
In an effort to speed up the process, Student Senate has
submitted its own brief to the court, asking justices to rule
in favor of PFC because the committee appeared to have
followed correct meeting procedure in recalling budgets.
Shull said PFC also plans to make arguments in the case.
Court justices will decide the case based on one cen
tral question: Did PFC follow correct meeting procedure
when it conducted recalls? The issue is complicated be
cause PFC has no rules governing how recalls are con
ducted — so the dispute will only be resolved by consult
ing Robert’s Rules of Order, which is how most public
meetings are conducted.
“We did follow Roberts Rules of Order,” Shull explained.
“But we used incorrect terminology, it appears. We’re now
looking how to go back on that.”
Turn to Budget, page 8
Weather
Today: High 52, how 40,
mostly cloudy, scattered showers
Wednesday: High 50, Low 35,
showers likely, light wind
Looking ahead
Wednesday
They travel around the state in
a bus — to get out the vote
Thursday
Drug offenses may no longer
cost students their financial aid
Art professor blends
design, exploration
Professor Leon Johnson offers
unusual classes taught with
an air of‘pleasurable inquiry
Ayisha Yahya
Freelance Editor
When Leon Johnson talks about his
work, it is hard to ignore the passion he ex
udes. It wells up in his voice as he sits in his
Lawrence Hall office. His office symbolizes
that passion, too. It’s a cozy space filled
Ducks
with books and pictures, and the lighting is
much like the glow of a fireplace.
The art and multimedia professor is
more than a teacher: He is an artist, a de
signer, a painter and performer whose
works appear in almost every medium —
canvas and film, print and theater.
For Johnson, art is more than an ex
pression of beauty — it’s an avenue he
uses to put the world in perspective. For
him, art is his tool for commenting on so
cial issues and allowing his students-to do
the same.
Turn to Johnson, page 4
Mark McCambridge Emerald
Associate Art Professor Leon Johnson, who teaches University art and
multimedia courses, gives an animated lecture to his ART 101 students.