Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Since 1900 University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon
Volume 105, Issue 158
An independent newspaper
http://www.dailyemerald.com
Piercy
triumphs
in mayoral
primary
Kitty Piercy won with 51.4
percent of the vote, over
Nancy Nathanson's 45.9
showing in the election
By Parker Howell
News Reporter
Mayoral candidate Kitty Piercy out
lasted Ward 8 City Councilor Nancy
Nathanson on Tuesday night for Eu
gene's highest position, while incum
bent Ward 7 City Councilor Scott Meis
ner was unseated in a contentious
primary race.
mercy, a rormer state representative,
had a majority 51.4 percent of the vote,
according to Lane County Elections' un
official final tally, besting Nathanson, the
other front-runner, who pulled in 45.9
percent of the vote. Candidates in non
partisan races with more than 50 percent
of the primary vote automatically ad
vance to the general election, in which
they will run unopposed.
The race was tight from the beginning
of the night, with initial returns showing
Piercy with about 49 percent of the vote,
compared with Nathanson's 4.7 percent.
The trend continued throughout the
evening as local candidates and their
supporters awaited returns at the Lane
County Fairgrounds, watching Piercy
inch ahead with each return.
As the results came in, Piercy ex
pressed her excitement.
"We're close, you can't get much clos
er," she said.
Piercy said her volunteer supporters,
who "gave unstingingly," helped make
the race.
"I actually attribute it to a very, very,
very well-run campaign," she said. "That
enormous effort has gotten us where we
are and I'm privileged."
Ward 3 City Councilor David Kelly,
who represents the University area, said
he was excited by the results.
"I think (Piercy) will be a mayor who
can bring the disparate factions of this
city together," he said.
Ward 1 incumbent Bonny Bettman
beat challengers Tom Slocum and Adam
Walsh, receiving about 67 percent of the
vote Slocum received about 22.3 percent
of the votes, while Walsh pulled in about
10.7 percent
Bettman said she was pleased with the
early returns, although she didn't take
her race for granted.
"I'm really honored to enjoy the sup
port of voters in my ward," she said.
Turn to PRIMARY, page 5
Professors debate grade INFLATION
Tanyia Johnson Design Editor
Some cite recruitment
of better students as a
reason for increased GPAs
By Chelsea Duncan
Senior News Reporter
Grade inflation continues to
be a topic of debate both na
tionally and at the University as
students and faculty question
whether it is now easier to get
high grades, and whether
standards should be adopted
for grade distribution.
Vice Provost for Academic
Affairs Lorraine Davis said
the administration is con
cerned about grade inflation
because it has the potential
to undermine the value of
grading standards. But she
said it is unclear whether stu
dents receiving undeserved
grades is a problem on cam
pus because the University
lacks a mechanism to analyze
grade distribution throughout
the whole campus.
"That's a matter of who you
talk to," she said. "It's one of
those things that we do need to
pay more attention to."
A list of University GPAs dating
over the past 10 years shows a trend
toward higher GPAs for all class levels,
but some argue the increase isn't due to
grade inflation. Instead, they attribute it to
increased student quality.
Average SAT scores and GPAs for incoming
freshmen have been rising over the past few
years, according to the Office of Admissions.
The average GPA of this year's freshman class
is between 3.53 and 3.55, a rise from 3.47 last
year and 3.39 four years ago.
Director of Admissions Martha Pitts said
students are coming to campus with more ex
periences that have prepared them for a col
lege education.
"There are other indications that we're actu
ally bringing in stronger students," she said,
adding that faculty members have also said
students seem to be stronger academically.
Davis said administrators do not regulate
how professors decide to distribute A's because
faculty members have the responsibility to dis
tribute grades fairly and accurately.
"We expect that faculty will indeed be giving
A grades when A grades are deserved," she
said. "This is a prerogative of the faculty but in
deed, I do expea and hope that faculty take
grading seriously."
She said the idea of placing limits on the
number of A's faculty can distribute hasn't
been discussed in her department for about 10
years.
Biology Professor Emeritus Franklin Stahl
said he hasn't wandered from his grading stan
dards throughout his nearly 45 years on cam
pus. He said he uses a grading curve to ensure
only the top 10 to 15 percent of his students
receive A's, with the majority receiving B's or
C's. I le said grades lower than a C are "really
disgraceful."
"I've pretty much stuck with that," he said.
"I don't think I've inflated over the years."
English Associate Professor Emeritus
William Rockett said his grading standards
haven't changed over the past 38 years, either,
but he tries to give an equal number of A, B
and C grades.
"1 don't believe it has changed," he said. "I
do my best to weigh each paper individually."
Turn to GRADES, page 4
Average debt for loans increases by $500
Students who put themselves
in debt to pay for college have
several options after graduation
By Chelsea Duncan
Senior News Reporter
With graduation comes responsibility, and
while seniors are visualizing freedom from classes
and homework, many are also facing the reality of
thousands of dollars of debt.
Members of this year's graduating class who re
ceived financial aid throughout their time at the
University have to pay back an average of $ 17,000
after commencement.
The debt average is up about $500 from the past
six or seven years, Financial Aid Director Elizabeth
Bickford said. She said the number is comparable
to the national average.
She also said the level of debt many University
students will face after completing their under
graduate degree is "worth it."
"In the broad picture, it's actually not a bad de
cision to take out loans if you need to," she said.
The potential earnings students can expect to
receive throughout their future careers makes the
investment worthwhile, she added.
And there are ways to make paying off the tab a
little easier, such as loan consolidation.
"It can make it easier for students repaying one
lender rather than repaying three over time," Bick
ford said.
While consolidating loans can make payments
simpler, Bickford cautioned that the process could
extend the repayment period and come with high
er interest rates.
"Make sure that you're an informed consumer,"
she said about choosing a payment plan.
Most students can plan on paying about $200
a month during a 10-year period, depending on
variable interest rates and payment plans, she said.
This year's student loan interest rate, which
changes every year, is 2.82 percent. The highest it
can reach is 8.25 percent, according to the Office
of Student Financial Aid.
Students can contact the Office of Student Fi
nancial Aid or check out the Direct Loan Servicing
Web site at www.dlssonline.com for more tips on
how to find the best payment method for each
person, Bickford said.
Despite these options, some feel the cost of col
lege education is too great of a burden. Oregon
Student Association Field Organizer Rocky Dal
lum said students shouldn't need to be educated
on what is the best method of payment, but rather
universities and the state should work to lower the
cost of attendance. He said the amount of student
debt is a problem.
"When people know what kind of debt they're
going to end up in, it turns people away," he said
Bickford said from the 1998-99 academic yeai
until 2002-03, the amount of undergraduate resi
dents who qualified for need-based aid and at
tended the University rose by 24 percent. The
number of undergraduate residents who applied
for aid, attended the University and also worked
rose by 11 percent.
"It means needy students are looking at the
University as an option," she said. Bickford was
unable to provide statistics for students who actu
ally received financial aid, however.
Bickford did say the state needs to better sup
port students while they work toward their de
grees. She said the federal and state government
need to provide more grant assistance for finan
cially challenged students.
"1 think that's where some of the pressure can
be alleviated," she said.
Dallum said it is still a problem when students
have to work jobs throughout their education.
Turn to DEBT, page 4
WEATHER
INSIDE
NEXT ISSUE
LOW
50
HIGH
68
Campus buzz.4
Classifieds.10
Commentary.2
Crossword.11
Horoscope.11
Sports.7
Foolscap's last
slam is a last
stand for poets