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P.O. Box 3159, Eugene, OR 97403
Email: editor@dailyemerald.com
Online Edition:
www.dailyemerald.com
Wednesday, June 4,2003
-Oregon Daily Emerald
COM.\IENT\RY
Editor in Chief:
Michael J. Kleckner
Managing Editor.
Jessica Richelderfer
Editorial Page Assistant:
Salena De La Cruz
UO deadline
for FAFSA form
doesn’t cash in
Guest commentary
Unbeknownst to most University students, the University has
a rather deceptive financial aid policy concerning the Free Ap
plication for Federal Student Aid.
As many students know, filling out a FAFSA before March 1
gives a student priority when federal funds are disbursed. At the
beginning of each year, many students rush to obtain all the
necessary information that is needed to fill out the FAFSA so
that they can receive priority by sending in their FAFSA before
March 1. As it turns out, this might not do them any good.
I was recently informed by a financial aid counselor that I
had not received priority. When I told him that I had filled out
my FAFSA before March 1, he informed me that the University
does not use the date that a person fills out and sends in the
FAFSA. Rather, they use the date on which the federal proces
sor returns the verified FAFSA to the University.
Thus my completed FAFSA was filled out and sent in on Feb.
18 but was not returned to the University until the first week
in March because of lag time with the federal processor. So, I
am being punished, as it were, for something over which I have
no control whatsoever.
The University makes it sound like the deadline for send
ing in a FAFSA is March 1, but that won’t do you any good
with the system in place now. Realistically, one would have to
send in their FAFSA by the end of the second week in Febru
ary, at the latest, in order to receive priority. Does this seem
unfair to anyone else?
Either the University should change their policy, or they
should let students know that March 1 isn’t really the deadline.
So, if you didn’t receive priority funding and thought that you
should have, now you know why.
If you think this policy is unfair or deceptive, contact the
Office of Financial Aid and let them know.
Diego Rail is a sophomore chemistry major.
Opinions can t be
blamed for suicides
Guest commentary
I do not hate homosexuals. However, I am homophobic —
and proud of it! Vincent Martorano has received a lot of criti
cism for his May 9 Emerald article, “Homosexual men should
hide their disgusting acts.” He has been called homophobic,
judgmental and intolerant, and even implicated in the sui
cides of homosexuals. Such an idea is ridiculous, so get off
Martorano’s back!
As I already stated, I am proudly homophobic. I cannot
stand seeing homosexual couples holding hands — that
makes me homophobic. I find homosexuality unnatural —
that makes me homophobic. I do not support the “I’m perse
cuted” mentality that the homosexual community holds —
that makes me homophobic.
I support Martorano’s views that homosexuals should stay in
the closet — that makes me homophobic. I do not support gay
pride parades, and I resent the stealing and political use of in
nocent childhood symbols (i.e., the rainbow) — that makes me
homophobic. More power to the homosexual community, but I
wholeheartedly disagree with the community about their sexu
al orientation — that makes me homophobic.
I, like Martorano, am not calling for or condoning violence
against the homosexual community. I am just expressing my
views. I agree that homosexuals should stay in the closet. I was,
however, happy to sit on my opinions, keeping my mouth shut
until recent articles in the Emerald. After the implied accusa
tion that Martorano and people that think like him are some
what responsible for anyone’s suicide, I decided I have been
quiet for far too long.
Kudos to Martorano for having the nerve to voice his opin
ions on the “we accept ‘all’ views (as long as they agree with our
views)” liberal campus. Kudos to the Emerald for printing Mar
torano’s debate piece. This has truly been an interesting debate.
However, there is no way to blame a heterosexual person, sim
ply expressing their beliefs and opinions, for anyone’s suicide.
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« » * *
Steve Baggs Emerald
Letters to the editor
Part-time employees
should fight for low
insurance costs
Attention, persons working less than
40 hours per week for the University. The
PEBB Board is considering options for
2004 insurance. At this point there is no
talk of a subsidy, and the prices that car
ry Regence Part-Time Plan have risen.
Further, whether PEBB will receive any
increase in funding at all is in question.
We must testify, write and e-mail
PEBB to make sure there is coverage for
part-timers that is affordable. Otherwise,
we will be back to paying $170 per em
ployee to $270 per employee and family
or a 50 percent salary scale. PEBB sug
gested a catastrophic plan — this would
be a deductible of $4,000 to $12,000 —
basically, no insurance.
It only costs full-time people $2.22 per
month to help equalize our policies. Any
subsidy would help people have some
kind of coverage. All classified employ
ees have the right to benefits. Faculty
should be behind this as well, as there
are many part-time faculty at the Uni
versity. Speak up and speak out!
Access PEBB at PEBB@state.or.us.
Speak up and be heard or we will lose.
Support all of your employees; especially
those departments with funding for only
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part-time employees. Quality suffers if
your workers have no health coverage
because they can’t afford it.
Connie Berglund
University Health Center
Health care loan could
mitigate health care costs
I attended the GTFF rally in front of
Johnson Hall on May 21. They want a
better health care plan. This would be
expensive in these bad economic times.
I think I have a better idea. I think
that the University should set up a spe
cial loan fund to cover increased health
care benefits. This is because, while
the current income of graduate teach
ing fellows is low, statistics show that
their future income will be, on average,
very high.
For example, while high school
graduates make about $23,000 per
year, four-year college graduates make
about $41,000, and those with an ad
vanced professional degree make
about $80,000.
The loan might be repaid by a progres
sive “tax” on future income (or wealth)
with a high deductible.
This looks like a good investment be
cause if the students maintain their
health, their earning potential would be
higher. I think that University funds
should go to low-income workers rather
than to potentially rich folks.
Maybe some GTFs in business, econom
ics, math and statistics could come up with
a concrete proposal along these lines.
Dan Weiner
Eugene
‘Love-In’ degraded
into meat market
I saw the poster that advertised the
May 28 “Love-In,” and I wanted to
go. Get some sugar, maybe meet
someone special, find a summer ro
mance or at least get some validation
of my queer identity.
At 11:30 a.m., I am there. I see these
people, none of whom I am acquainted
with. They are sitting on the cold ce
ment. It looks like they are waiting. For a
bus, maybe. To take them someplace
where something is actually going on.
Immediately in my mind, there is the
whole “meat market” thing going on:
“Well, that guy is sexy, but he won’t re
ally be attracted to me, he can certainly
do better, probably has a boyfriend and
a girlfriend; how about that guy there,
he would be happy to get some atten
tion, I bet, but then, I’m not really at
tracted to him, am I?”
I was invited to sit with them, there on
the cold cement, but I declined and
walked away.
Marvin Hampton
senior
anthropology
Online poll
Each week, the Emerald publishes the previous week’s poll results and the coming week’s poll question.
Visit www.dailyemerald.com to vote.
Last week: Have you experienced harassment on the University of Oregon campus?
Results: 141 total votes
Yes, because of my sexual orientation — 9.2 percent, or 13 votes
Yes, because of my ethnicity — 11.3 percent, or 16 votes
Yes, because of my gender—9.2 percent, or 1 3 votes
Yes, because of my age — 3.5 percent, or 5 votes
Yes, other — 12.8 percent, or 18 votes
No —43.3 percent, or 61 votes
Leave me alonel — 10,6 percent, or 15 votes
This week: What was the most Important campus story this year?
Choices: University Assembly's anti war resolution; Luke Ridnour leaving early for NBA Draft; Local glass
blowers arrested by federal agents; Campus-area riot fall term; Conflict over KUCN programming and contmct;
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