University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Associated Students of the University of Montana Montana Kaimin, 1898-present (ASUM) 9-28-2006 Montana Kaimin, September 28, 2006 Students of The niU versity of Montana, Missoula Let us know how access to this document benefits ouy . Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/studentnewspaper Recommended Citation Students of The nivU ersity of Montana, Missoula, "Montana Kaimin, September 28, 2006" (2006). Montana Kaimin, 1898-present. 4930. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/studentnewspaper/4930 This Newspaper is brought to you for free and open access by the Associated Students of the University of Montana (ASUM) at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Montana Kaimin, 1898-present by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Features Letters from Apple-icious the closet MONTANA Follow the Pages 6,7 Rainbow Page 2 Thursday, September28, 2006 Volume CIV, Issue 18 Students increasinglyK AIMIN fall victim to Internet scams ZACHARY FRANZ “The last year or so the Internet third-party entity that facilitates Charged with a petty crime? a Legal Services attorney. MONTANA KAIMIN scam stuff has really increased,” purchases. The buyer gives the They do not take cases involv- she said. “It’s just unbelievable payment to the escrow service, Take heart, alleged small-time ing felonies, or disputes involv- Either students have become what people will fall for.” which holds the money until the lawbreakers. You’ve got an ally ing large dollar amounts, she more gullible, or scams are more The scams are varied and con- product is delivered. That way, the in ASUM Legal Services. said. Also, cases must arise in sophisticated. Whichever the stantly evolving, but most fit into seller can’t just get the money and Legal Services is funded by Missoula County. cause, the impact is evident at two broad categories. keep the product, nor can the student fees and provides legal Nonetheless, it is a valuable ASUM Legal Services. In the first, students buy some- buyer get what they want and council to students for far less resource for students. The number of cases stemming thing on the Internet and don’t get refuse to cough up the money. money than it would cost outside “Most of the things we do are from financial trickery to which what they paid for. Instead, they The problem, Hamilton said, is the university. the things students need,” UM students have fallen victim get something inferior or nothing that it’s fairly simple to set up a The department is staffed by Hamilton said. has surged in the past couple of at all. That danger exists any time fake escrow service on the nine third-year UM law students Even if a case does not fit years, said Anne Hamilton, a purchase is made without a face- Internet that looks like it’s on the under the supervision of three Legal Services criteria, they can ASUM Legal Services attorney. to-face transaction, but it has been level. Then, the false escrow serv- attorneys. They deal with a wide still offer advice or refer students Three years ago, such cases were compounded by the rise of illegit- ice just keeps the money, either in variety of issues, including mis- to a reputable lawyer. virtually nonexistent at Legal imate escrow services, Hamilton cahoots with the seller or inde- demeanor crimes, landlord/tenant ASUM Legal Services is locat- Services, Hamilton said. This said. issues, consumer disputes and ed in the UC, office 112, and can See SCAMS, Page 12 year, there is about one per week. In theory, an escrow service is a family law, said Anne Hamilton, be reached at 243-6213. Governor proposes two-year Oval beach tuition cap to Board of Regents SEAN BRESLIN at the state’s community colleges, MONTANA KAIMIN technical schools and two- and four-year universities for the next BUTTE – Gov. Brian two years. Schweitzer announced a plan “If we can lay $50 million on Wednesday to cap tuitions at the table, we can deal with the Montana’s colleges and universi- ongoing expenses and hold those ties at their current rates. tuition increases to zero,” he said. Speaking to about 100 people at University of Montana the Montana Board of Regents President George Dennison was meeting, Schweitzer said tuition optimistic about the governor’s costs – measured in real dollars – plan. have quadrupled over the past 17 “This will make it easier to deal years. The increase has kept many with the problems that exist,” Montanans from getting a college Dennison said. Ashley McKee/Montana Kaimin education, he said. Although Montana colleges and Sophomore Ethan Dolentz, front, takes a quick nap Wednesday in the Oval along with several other people enjoying the “We have decreased the oppor- universities will have other costs, nice weather. According to the National Weather Service, the high of 73 degrees was above average for normal tempera- tunities for families in Montana to such as facility maintenance, the tures in late September. live the American Dream,” Schweitzer’s goals are clear, said Schweitzer said. “We must David Ewer, budget director with reverse that trend.” the governor’s office. Proposal for COT branch in To achieve that goal, “This is not about infrastruc- Schweitzer said he will campaign ture; this is about affordability,” for legislative candidates who Ewer said. support his college affordability The plan would not call for an Bitterroot faces opposition plan. The plan would offer $50 increase in taxes, Schweitzer said, million in new funding to the but would be paid for by “read- SEAN BRESLIN Montana University System and justing priorities” in funding and MONTANA KAIMIN “We just thought that we were Other Board of Regent News cap tuition costs at current levels by the state’s growing economy. long overdue,” Clark said. But Good offered a different The Staff and Compensation $50 fee increase BUTTE — The Montana Board plan: a COT branch in Hamilton at Committee approved three-year of Regents heard opposing argu- a cost of roughly $4 million. contracts for football and men’s ments yesterday from Bitterroot Opening a COT branch would and women’s basketball coach- approved for law, Valley residents and the bring an accredited institution, es at UM and Montana State University of Montana regarding with student services already in University. Although propo- higher education options for the place, to Ravalli County, Good nents argued that three-year journalism students valley. said. contracts would help attract and During a Workforce Development While Good stressed the need to keep quality coaches at the SEAN BRESLIN Committee meeting, Barry Good, approve the proposal so UM could schools, Student Regent dean of the College of request funding from the Heather O’Loughlin wasn’t MONTANA KAIMIN Technology, outlined a plan to Legislature in January, Regent convinced. open a 15,500-square-foot COT Chairwoman Lynn Morrison- “I’d be surprised if this BUTTE – A Montana Board of Regents committee approved an facility in Hamilton. But the Hamilton asked both parties not to helps,” O’Loughlin said. increase in student fees Wednesday to help with construction and reno- Bitterroot Valley Community rush to a decision. But UM President George vation costs at the University of Montana. College Exploratory Committee, a “I would urge caution here and Dennison said the benefits of The measure, passed by the board’s Administrative, Budget and Audit grass-roots organization, wants urge continued discussion and three-year contracts go beyond Oversight Committee, would require journalism and law students to pay support for something a little cooperation,” Morrison-Hamilton the coaches. an additional $50 in facility fees in order to furnish the new journalism more homegrown. said. “It’s the student athlete that’s building and renovate the UM Law School. The general student popu- Victoria Clark, spokeswoman Regent Lila Taylor agreed. really critical here,” Dennison lation would see an increase of just $1.25. The measure will go before for the exploratory committee, “I hope that both sides would said. Three-year contracts for the full board later this week for final approval. said local control of a community work together” to develop a pro- coaches would mean that the Although the increase will mainly benefit journalism and law stu- college would better serve the posal for the Bitterroot, Taylor coach recruiting student athletes dents, the bulk of the money will be coming from the student body as a needs of the Bitterroot Valley, an said. would probably be the same whole, said Bob Duringer, UM vice president for administration and area of the state that has seen dra- Although Bitterroot Valley resi- person who coaches the ath- finance. matic growth since the 1970s. dent Richard O’Brien called UM’s letes, he said. But Jerry Brown, dean of the Journalism School, argued that students While discussing higher education efforts “self-serving,” Jim Foley, The measure will be sent to at large would benefit from the new building, citing other departments’ with community members, Clark UM’s executive vice president, the full board for a vote later plans to use space in the current Journalism Building. said she found a need for a local disagreed. this week. “If we don’t get our building adequately furnished, we can’t vacate institution that could provide “All we ever wanted to do was that space,” Brown said. The vacated space could also be used by the training for knowledge-based serve the needs of the Bitterroot,” Law School while its building undergoes renovation, he said. jobs.