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Tuesday, July 1, 2003
Since 1900 University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon
Volume 105, Issue 3
University slated to update student privacy code
The University is gearing up to revise
its 'Student Records Policy,’but some
of the changes are drawing fire
By Jared Paben
Freelance Reporter
If the federal government wants to
find out all about a student, it can. If it
wants a student's social security num
ber, it can get it. Mow about a list of
personal characteristics, such as birth
marks or tattoos? It can get that, too,
along with photographs from the
University. If the request comes in the
form of a subpoena with a request for
secrecy, nobody will tell the student
about it, and there is nothing the Uni
versity can do.
In 1996, when Congress began
enforcing 1994's Improving Ameri
ca's Schools Act, the federal govern
ment obtained authority to force
universities to surrender student in
formation to law enforcement agen
cies without telling the student.
Now, the University is updating its
"Student Records Policy" to bring it
in line with these federal regula
tions, and the process is drawing
controversy from all over campus.
The biggest change in the new pri
vacy code is the University's legal right
to hand over student information to
federal law enforcement agencies
without notifying the student. Al
though the University has been
bound by these regulations since
1996, the situation has never arisen
here. Given the time lapse, adminis
trators said they thought it was time
to update the policy.
This decision alone has drawn the
ire of many on campus, including bi
ology professor Frank Stahl, an out
spoken opponent of such laws. He
argues that students should be noti
fied of the release of their informa
tion so that they can seek legal coun
cil for defense or to block the release
of the records.
Stahl and student groups on cam
pus are also angered by the steps the
University has taken to update the
code, which they claim have been
kept out of the public's eye. Specifical
ly, Stahl claims that Melinda Grier, the
general council to the University, and
other members of the administration
have failed to adequately inform me
dia, student groups and the Faculty
Senate of the changes to the privacy
code. Stahl cites the administration's
failure to adequately inform the pub
lic of a June 3 pre-hearing that fell
during Dead Week. He said that the
meeting, as well as a June 20 meeting,
were held at times in which students
Turn to Privacy, page 3
Stalled senate bill
seeks tuition cuts
for illegal aliens
Supporters of SB 10 say it will help the state in the long run;
critics contend that it would drain the state of nearly $1 million
By A. Sho Ikeda
Reporter
A recently introduced Oregon Senate bill would extend in-state
tuition to illegal immigrants and their children who plan on at
tending Oregon universities.
Senate Bill 10 would require a student to have lived in Oregon
for at least three years while attending a high school. Additionally,
the student would have to plan on becoming a U.S. citizen or a
legal resident alien.
Currendy, non-legal aliens and their children must pay out-of
state tuition in order to attend any school in the Oregon Univer
sity System.
"We want everyone to realize that this bill benefits every stu
dent," said Gabe Kjos, ASLJO legislative associate. "We will get a
chance to increase diversity on this campus, so it is a win-win sit
uation for every student."
Kjos said that about 150 to 250 students from around the state
and the University attended a June 17 rally in Salem to support
the bill.
Turn to SB 10, page 3
NEWS BRIEF
Loan rates at all-time low
Federal student loan interest rates fell to a historic low today,
giving students a greater opportunity to pay for college and con
solidate old loans.
Interest rates on Federal Stafford loans issued after July 1, 1998,
will be reset to 2.82 percent for in-school payments and grace and
deferment periods, and to 3.42 percent for repayment. Interest rates
for PLUS loans issued after July 1,1998, dropped to 4.22 percent.
Rates on recently issued loans have fallen a total of 4.77 per
centage points during the past three years.
Besides providing a ripe opportunity for taking out new loans,
the new loan rates are also favorable for loan consolidation.
When students consolidate, current federal loans are repaid in full
and a new loan is created with the lower interest rate, which in
turn lowers monthly payments.
Students interested in consolidation can do so via a private in
stitution, such as Sallie Mae, or through the federal government.
Information on Sallie Mae can be obtained at
www.salliemae.com, and information on government consolida
tion can be obtained at http://loanconsolidation.ed.gov.
— Jan Tobias Montry
MALT ASSAULT
Jessica Waters Emerald
Les Brod, assistant beverage manager at PC Market of Choice, restocks the cooler with so-called malternative beverages.
Maltemative law shelved
A bill en route to the governor’s desk
would overturn the policy limiting
malt liquor sales to liquor stores
By A. Sho Ikeda
Reporter
Students came close to losing
some of their favorite alcoholic bev
erages from their local corner store
because of a state ban on "malterna
tive" beverage sales. The Oregon Leg
islature overturned the ban early last
week; however, Oregon Gov. Ted Ku
longoski must still approve the poli
cy reversal.
Under the Oregon Liquor Control
Commission's rule, the sale of maker
native beverages such as Mike's I lard
Lemonade and Smirnoff Ice would be
restricted to liquor stores.
The OLCC's policy was aimed at
aligning with federal regulators' pre
liminary conclusion that most malter
native beverages derive a majority of
their alcoholic content from added
liquor, not from malt.
"It's ridiculous," said Lauren Manes,
a recent University linguistics and
French graduate.
Manes said if that the OLCC kept
the regulation, she would have pur
chased beer solely from grocery stores,
because the closest liquor store is
miles away.
"It seems silly to sell beer and wine
at a grocery store and not other drinks
that aren't hard liquor," Manes said.
House Bill 3130, which revokes
the rule, passed 22-4 in the Oregon
Senate and will now travel to Kulon
goski. If the governor signs the bill, it
will allow grocery and convenience
stores to sell malternatives until the
end of2004.
"The whole ban seems pointless be
cause those drinks aren't much differ
ent than beer," said Carrie Ferderer, a
clerk at the Alder Street 7-Eleven. She
said that it would be pointless to ban
malt beverages from convenience
Turn to Malt, page 4
WEATHER
4
LOW
48
ftJSf'L!
nlun
75
INSIDE
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Campus buzz.3
Classifieds.7
Commentary..2
Crossword.7
Nation & World.4
Sports.5
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