An independent newspaper http://www.dailyemerald.com Summer is the time to sing Page 9 Thursday, July 17, 2003 Since 1900 University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon Volume 105, Issue 8 Jessica Waters Emerald Brigit McGraw (left) talks with Claire Dyrud and Kamran Rouzpay, members of her incoming-student group, during Sunday’s IntroDUCKtion session. McGraw is one of 12 people on IntroDUCKtion’s Student Orientation Staff. Guides to success Brigit McGraw and Dante Wiley are two students who help guide incoming students during the University’s summer IntroDUCKtion program By Ayisha Yahya Reporter Thousands of students join the Duck pond each year. As they take their first duckling steps through campus, they have a team of dedicated students to help them learn every thing from registering for classes to showering in the resi dence halls without getting athlete's foot. According to Student Orientation Programs Student Di rector Cathlene McGraw, Student Orientation Staff goes through three rigorous interviews before being picked for the job. SOSers then introduce new students and their par ents to academic and social life on campus during inten sive two-day programs called IntroDUCKtion, where the student staff answers questions, guides campus tours, or just gives reassuring smiles to those who might feel a little lost or overwhelmed by their new college environment. Jttrough the program, students also meet with advisers and register for classes. Dante Wiley and Brigit McGraw are just two of the 12 SOSers who are at the beck and call of excited and nervous new students on campus this July. On Sunday, July 13, McGraw's small frame is lost in a swirl of students as she holds up her sign and looks for her group. Her small stature conceals her spunk, but one can see it seeping to the surface, from her amicable smile to her mischievous brown eyes, from her pink sneakers to her red Turn to IntroDUCKtion, page 6 UO program marked for defense funds An appropriations bill would give a combined $7 million to a University psychology program and a technology company founded by professors By A. Sho Ikeda Reporter The U.S. House of Representatives ap proved legislation last week that includes $3 million for the University's Brain, Biol ogy and Machine Initiative, and $4 million for a ship-building software program devel oped by Eugene-based On Time Systems, Inc., founded by University professors. The funding, requested by Democratic Rep. Peter DeFazio of Springfield, was in cluded in the fiscal year 2004 spending bill for the Department of Defense. The bill now goes to the U.S. Senate, which will vote on its own version of the legislation that doesn't contain funding for the two University-as sociated groups. However, a joint commit tee will reconcile the I louse and Senate ver sions of the bill, which may then include funding for the two groups. 'The University of Oregon has distin guished itself as a renowned research insti tution," DeFazio said in a press release. "The Brain, Biology and Machine Initiative continues in that distinguished tradition." The $3 million included in the 2004 De partment of Defense Appropriations Art is in addition to more than $8.3 million De Fazio has already secured for the Brain, Bi ology and Machine Initiative, said Helen Neville, Brain Development Lab director. "We're very optimistic about receiving this funding," she said. Neville said money received from the Turn to Funds, page 5 Oregon students to blast fee hikes at OUS meeting The State Board of Higher Education on Friday will decide the fate of proposed tuition increases, and many student representatives are decrying those increases By Ayisha Yahya Reporter Students facing tuition increases and limited access to educa tion are speaking out as Oregon University System schools, grap pling with tightening budgets, call for changes to tuition and fee plateaus to ease fiscal burdens. When the State Board of I light er Education meets Friday to look at proposals to increase tu ition and fees for winter term, students from around Oregon will also be present to show how the proposals threaten their edu cation. The board will meet at Central Oregon Community College in Bend. ASUO Legislative Associate Gabe Kjos said five student repre sentatives from the University will attend the meeting. Kjos added that University students need to fight to keep tuition low and to make education more accessible, even though changes proposed PART 2 OF 4 Tuesday: Administrators warn of cuts without new tuition and fees standards Today: Student leaders prepare to discuss implications of tuition hikes Next Tuesday: Full coverage of Friday’s State Board of Higher Education decision Next Thursday: Students weathered tuition surcharges in winter and spring for the University are not as severe as for some other campuses. "We still want affordability for .students," he said, adding that University students support tuition plateaus. "If we take away tu ition plateaus, it makes sure that students are here for a longer time and will need to look for more loans." Oregon Student Association Legislative Director Melissa Unger agreed. Turn to Tuition, page 7 NEWS BRIEF Slated class cuts smaller than expected The University will only be forced to cut 60 classes in the 2003 04 school year, should the State Board of I ligher Education reject or delay proposed tuition increases, instead of the 100 classes ini tially reported. The new figure is based on a new recommenda tion by Oregon University System Chancellor Richard Jarvis. University Vice President and Provost John Moseley said Jarvis advised the State Board of 1 ligher Education that the University should delay instituting a $20-per-credit charge from 14 to 16 credits for resident undergraduates until winter term, and also de lay until winter term the implementation of a 15 percent discount for classes before 9 a m. Originally, the University would have been short $600,000 in the fall if the $20 charge was not applied, resulting in 100 classes being cut. Without the early class discounts, however, Moseley said the University will only be $400,000 short, which translates to about 60 lost classes for winter and spring term. "Our intention would be to offer those discounts at the same time we're able to have the $20 charge," Moseley said. The State Board will decide on Friday whether the University can institute the $20 charge per credit in the winter. While Mose ley said he feels Jarvis' recommendation is likely to take effect, he added that until the board makes a final decision, it is difficult to predict exactly what will happen. — Ayisha Yahya WEATHER LOW f r HIGH 58 " ., v 88 INSIDE Campus buzz.10 Crossword.11 Classifieds.11 Nation & World.4 Commentary.2-3 Pulse.9 NEXT ISSUE Summer health tips