Some urge for a grandfather clause

By KYLE ODEGARD
Gazette-Times reporter

The Clemens Foundation's top priority is students. But some of those students don't know what in the world the foundation is thinking.

Oregon State University students receiving a Clemens grant expressed shock and disappointment that the foundation will suspend grants to those enrolled in OSU, effective this fall.

Several of those contacted, who learned about the decision through media accounts, said they thought the change was unjust.

"I was kind of upset. I don't really think it's fair they are punishing us for a few mistakes other people made," said Andrew Patterson, an OSU freshman in exploratory studies.

The Clemens Foundation suspended the grants, which about 150 OSU students receive, because of what it described as declining ethics and quality of education at the university.

The decision, which doesn't apply to other colleges, apparently was sparked by recent brushes with the law by OSU football players.

"It's not harming OSU; they have so many people here. All it's going to do is harm us, who are trying to get further in life," said Camilla Bettencourt, 25, a junior at OSU and a married mother of two. Though the Clemens Foundation takes care of tuition, she said she needs financial aid to pay for child care and books.

"There's no way I can go to school without the Clemens scholarship," Bettencourt added.

Freshman Brett Gholson, majoring in computer engineering, worried about transferring to another school where he would be in a less-successful program.

Students attending OSU on the Clemens Scholarship come from Philomath, Alsea, Eddyville and Crane. Many from Philomath live at home, to save money and to avoid debt.

Dani Warren said her daughter, Anne Sims, a 2004 Philomath graduate, attended OSU for financial reasons. "With the expenses of living out of town, even with the Clemens Foundation, she wasn't able to go to other schools," Warren said.

"I'm hoping and praying that the foundation will come through with a compassionate response to the students already enrolled in OSU and receiving the scholarship," she added. "They've done a lot of good for people. It's a wonderful gift they've given the community."

Kelly Howard, Clemens Foundation administrator, declined comment about the foundation board's decision, including whether a grandfather clause for current OSU students would be considered.

Students will soon get a letter explaining the situation, he said.

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. That figure rose steadily from less than $1.1 million in 1999 to $1.5 million in 2003, according to federal tax forms.

In 2003, the foundation made national headlines when it made an ultimatum to Philomath School District officials to make administrative changes, claiming the local schools had become too "politically correct."

Despite the previous threat of withdrawing grants, the foundation continues to provide scholarships to most students who apply for them.

The foundation also has given hundreds of thousands of dollars in recent years to support small local schools and other youth activities, according to federal tax forms.

One of the most notable recipients from 1999 to 2003 was the Philomath Youth Activities Club, which received $125,000 for the construction of a youth center, $150,000 to establish an endowment and $25,000 for a youth mentoring program.

According to its news release, the foundation has supported OSU for more than 40 years and from 2000 to 2004 awarded more than $2.2 million in grants to students attending the university.

The Clemens Foundation was started by former timber barons, the late Rex and Ethel Clemens.

Gabriel Sapp — a National Guardsman allegedly punched by a football player during a fight at the Headline Cafe in November — is a member of a logging family that goes back six generations near Alsea.

The team lifted the suspension of four players involved in the fracas, though one of them, Joe Rudulph, still faces charges of assault, harassment and disorderly conduct.

Within three months, OSU suspended four other football players for situations that involved police investigations.

Residents of the tight-knit community of Alsea — and others locally and throughout the state — have expressed outrage toward OSU and how it handled the Headline Cafe incident.

Students and parents contacted Wednesday, even those who disagreed with how the university dealt with problem athletes, thought that the Clemens Foundation's reaction was severe.

"It isn't our fault that some of the football players made mistakes," Patterson said.