At Wednesday’s coffee hour in the Multicultural Center, University President Dave Frohnmayer offered a challenge to more than 20 students concerned with campus issues.
“What’s the best way for administration to convey issues, facts and concerns to students of color?” he asked students.
Frohnmayer was joined by Associate Vice President of Student Affairs Anne Leavitt and Executive Assistant President David Hubin in addressing student concerns in a relaxed atmosphere. This was the second chat hosted by ASUO this year.
“We want people to know who (Frohnmayer) is. There are students who haven’t met him in the past but are interested in his opinions,” said ASUO President Nilda Brooklyn, who served as the discussion facilitator. “We want to give them a chance to get to know him better.”
The question-and-answer session included representatives from ASUO, the Multicultural Center, the Black Student Union and other student organizations.
Frohnmayer was challenged by the students to closer examine the University’s expanding enrollment, as well as the repercussions of this year’s projected budget cuts.
“We want to give students the best education we can in light of the budget cuts,” he said, adding that the University is considering extending the times of day classes will be offered and building more classrooms.
Students from the Oregon Students of Color Coalition mentioned the recent controversy about the Higher Education Act drug provision, requesting Frohnmayer sign his support for repeal of the act. While Frohnmayer did not sign on, he did agree to review the statement.
Students asked Frohnmayer about the possibility of a tuition increase in the 2002-2003 school term and how that may hinder low-income students and students of color from attending the University.
“It tuition goes up, (financial aid) will go up,” Frohnmayer said.
Leavitt said the University is continually making outreach
efforts. “We set goals to specifically attract a higher number of students and target them to become familiar with our campus,” she said.
Black Student Union co-director Haben Woldu then asked what the University is doing to retain students of color and maintain a low dropout rate. Frohnmayer said the number of ethnic faculty on campus has increased in the past five years and the University has conducted exit interviews in an effort to retain current employees for the benefit of students of all nationalities.
“If we have a more robust faculty of color,” he said, “we’ll attract more students of color.”
Regarding students already on campus, there were concerns about whether the dorms were a target for public safety patrolling since the fine for minors possessing alcohol increased.
Frohnmayer said there is no specific targeting. The only concern, he said, is public safety.
Frohnmayer also addressed the controversy around University policy on American Sign Language, saying only that the policy is not yet concrete.