Foundation board cites ‘declining moral ethic,' academic changes at university

By KYLE ODEGARD and BECKY WALDROP
Gazette-Times reporters

PHILOMATH — The Clemens Foundation announced Tuesday that it would suspend its grants for students attending Oregon State University starting next fall, due to what it considers a decline in ethics at the school and its quality of education.

The foundation, based in Philomath, has paid for thousands of rural Benton County high school graduates to attend college. This year, it provided more than $1.6 million in tuition for 600 students, according to a foundation news release. About 150 of those recipients are attending OSU, a university official said.

The Clemens Foundation, started by former timber barons, the late Rex and Ethel Clemens, notified the university Monday of its decision.

The foundation's board, including relatives of the Clemenses, apparently was upset with university and athletic department disciplinary decisions concerning behavior by football players, and their recent brushes with the law.

In 2003, the Clemens Foundation made national headlines when it issued an ultimatum to Philomath School District officials to make administrative changes, claiming the local schools had become too "politically correct." The scholarship program's eligibility requirements were altered to reflect the foundation's values.

However, school officials from Philomath, Alsea and Eddyville recently said the foundation continues providing scholarships to most, if not all, students who apply for grants. Students from Crane also can get Clemens grants.

Federal tax forms show the value of the foundation's scholarships awarded steadily rising in recent years. From 1999 to 2003, the most recent year from which figures are available, the value of scholarships climbed from less than $1.1 million to $1.5 million.

The grants have been equal to the tuition charged by the school a student chooses to attend, but not to exceed the tuition charged by OSU for undergraduate resident students.

In its news release, the Clemens Foundation said its board had "serious issues with the quality of education at OSU, ranging from a shift in academic purpose to a declining moral ethic, which has prompted the decision to suspend the grants.

"The university's recent leniency toward the unlawful conduct of certain student athletes has tarnished the school's reputation as a character-building institution," the statement continued. "Ignoring the fundamental principles of good citizenship does not set a good example for students and students are the Clemens Foundation's first priority."

In a span of three months this school year, OSU suspended eight football players following situations that involved police investigations.

In November, there was a fight involving four black football players and another group, among them white National Guardsmen, at the Headline Cafe. OSU football coach Mike Riley lifted the players' suspensions last month, though Joe Rudulph still faces charges of assault, harassment and disorderly conduct for allegedly punching Guardsman Gabriel Sapp.

Also in November, a player was involved in another fight at the Headline Cafe after the Civil War football game. That same player was cited in December for a March 2004 bar fight at Senor Sam's Cantina. On Dec. 21, a reserve freshman was involved in an altercation as well. Two players were arrested for allegedly robbing a cab driver and trying to pay him with marijuana on Feb. 11.

The foundation said it had expressed concerns to OSU and that the university had no plans to modify its current course due to state mandates.

OSU Vice Provost for Student Affairs Larry Roper said he talked to Steve Lowther, a Clemens Foundation board member and nephew of the Clemenses by phone on Monday. Roper said the foundation did not make any demands of the university, rather Lowther was informing him of the board's decision to suspend the scholarships.

"They had already developed a press release," Roper said Tuesday. "My sense was that he wasn't requesting anything of us."

Roper said he was concerned for the 150 students attending OSU on Clemens scholarships.

"I think that it is unfortunate for them," Roper said.

Foundations usually help students, he said.

"Usually the money follows the student, and it's not necessarily tied to how the institution operates," Roper said.

The university is interested in assisting those students affected by the changes so that they can continue to attend OSU. Roper said there didn't appear to be anything the university could do to appease the foundation. He offered to attend a Clemens Foundation board meeting, but he said Lowther didn't seem interested.

"It seems like the only thing that we could do is to change our educational philosophy. I'm not sure that's reasonable, and I'm not sure we could fashion in it a way that could meet the foundation's expectations.

"They're looking for an institution that's aligned with their values. They want an institution to operate within the values that guide their foundation."

The Clemens Foundation says that it has supported OSU for more than 40 years, and awarded more than $2.2 million in grants to students to attend the university in the last four years.

Philomath High School's administration, which was surprised by the change, declined comment on how it would affect Philomath students.

"They're a private foundation, and they're not in any way affiliated with the school. We respect their right to make decisions according to their beliefs and principles," said Jon Bartlow, vice principal.

"That scholarship is a great gift," not a privilege, said Mike Crocker, a high school social studies teacher.

"It's their money. People might not agree with what they do, but they have the right to do that," he added.

"I'm just blown away, I'm really sad to see that," said Kay Glathar, a Philomath teacher whose son Anthony Glathar is a senior at OSU.

Many local OSU students still live at home, and Glathar worried that they might not be able to afford housing at another school, or end up saddled with debt.

"I just feel like Anthony had a wonderful experience at OSU, much more than I anticipated. Everybody's not a football player," she added.

Current PHS students Ryan Bitterman and Kelsie Longway don't think it is fair for the Clemens Foundation to target OSU.

"They shouldn't worry about which college they go to," Bitterman said.

"I don't think it's right that they're discriminating against OSU," said Longway, a senior. "That's where a lot of the kids go. I can understand them not being happy with OSU. But I don't think pulling the scholarships is the right way to go."

In 2003, Longway was the president of the Gay-Straight Alliance, one of the student-interest groups that the foundation previously noted as part of its ultimatum for the school district to make changes.

On Tuesday, sophomore Elise Kruse sat in front of the school in the sunshine and waited for her ride home. She didn't know what college she would attend in a few years, but said she was maybe thinking about going to OSU.

Maybe not anymore.

Kyle Odegard can be contacted at kyle.odegard@lee.net or 758-9523. Becky Waldrop can be reached at 758-9510 or becky.waldrop@lee.net.