Sparked by talk in Salem of a tuition surcharge for spring term, the ASUO Senate spent much of its Wednesday night meeting dealing with the accusation that it did not sufficiently involve students in decisions that affect them.
The discussion began with the appointment of a new senator, former Emerald columnist Deborah Bloom, to represent the University’s School of Journalism and Communication. Bloom said involving more students in ASUO would be one of her chief goals.
“I just don’t like the dichotomy between insider and outsider and I really want to see that bridged,” Bloom told the Senate.
Senators said they appreciated Bloom’s enthusiasm and appointed her. Bloom said she has no specific plans to reach out to students, but that she wants find out how to do so.
Bloom was one of three senators who had attended “UO Day at the Capital” earlier Wednesday, in which University students had the opportunity to talk to state lawmakers. Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s budget recommendation would give the University none of the money set aside for education in the federal stimulus package, instead allocating it to primary and secondary education and community colleges.
At the Capitol, legislators also discussed the tuition surcharge for spring term – $150 for in-state tuition and $350 for out-of-state tuition.
Only two University students who do not hold positions in the ASUO were in Salem on Wednesday and one member of the audience blamed a lack of student participation on the ASUO. Junior Ryan McCarrel gave as an example the communication between himself and ASUO President Sam Dotters-Katz over transportation to Salem.
“Sam texted me at 6:20 a.m. this morning to tell me how to get up to Salem,” McCarrel said. “If you want student involvement, get better organized.”
McCarrel said that the governor’s budget would not have placed as heavy a burden on the University if students spent more time lobbying in Salem.
“The legislators just said flat-out, you guys don’t have the political muscle or the political capital,” McCarrel said.
McCarrel encouraged the Senate to fight the tuition increases and many senators agreed. Sen. Demic Tipitino said the governor’s recommendation was not final and senators could lobby for changes to it by writing their representatives and talking to them face-to-face.
“I worked on half a dozen of their campaigns, so I could set up a meeting,” Tipitino said.
Sen. Cassandra Gray said Dotters-Katz’s changes to the Clark Document, which decreased student fees by $100 for spring term, would soften the blow of the potential increase.
“We did what we could on our end with the money we control,” Gray told the Senate.
Sen. Nick Schultz said recent decisions to reduce funding for the Oregon Student Association and eliminate the Oregon Student Public Interest Research Group had hindered student power in the legislature.
“If you’re going to be eliminating OSPIRG and if you’re going to be eliminating an OSA coordinator, then let’s step it up,” Schultz instructed the committee.
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ASUO looks for increased student voice
Daily Emerald
February 26, 2009
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