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monday, September 18, 1972
lincoln, nebraska vol. 96, no. 9
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Tuition invoice
features new
PACE method
PACE has a new face.
In August, Paul Breckenridge became
coordinator for the UNL student-supported
financial assistance fund-the Program of
Active Commitment to Education (PACE).
The idea for the program was conceived
by an ASUN ad hoc committee in the
summer of 1970. Students adopted the
program by referendum vote in the spring of
1971. Since its inception PACE, has been
coordinated by the ASUN Human Rights
Committee.
The program, Breckenridge explained,
provides financial assistance for low-income
students through an optional $3.50
assessment each semester on tuition
statements. More than $50,000 was
collected last year, he reported.
"Students might ask, 'How does PACE
differ from the financial aid program?'"
Breckenridge said. "Financial aid is a federal
program and has many conditions. PACE
fills in the many gap;, in these federal
programs. There are no restrictions for
PACE funds other than financial need."
The new coordinator pointed to an
important change in the PACE fund drive.
Last year students had to check "yes" on
tuition statements if they didn't want to
participate in the program. Otherwise they
automatically gave to PACE, because the
assessment was included in their tuition
payment.
But students now must check the "yes"
box in the tuition statement in order to give
money to PACE.
'The change was an attempt on the part
of the regents to make the program more
voluntary," he said. Some students had
complained to the Board that they paid the
fee without realizing it, he explained.
About 30 per cent of all UNL students
gave to the PACE fund last year,
Breckenridge said. He said he couldn't
predict what percentage of students would
give under the new system.
"It (participation in the program) might
go down this year, but we hope not," he
said. "Maybe I'm too idealistic, but if
someone wants to give money, why should it
make any difference what system is used?"
Breckenridge urged students to "say yes
to PACE" when they receive tuition
statements this week.
$3.50 is two pitchers of beer and a pack
of cigarettes," he said. "You can really help
people with that money. Who knows? The
students who give this year may need PACE
benefits next year."
Schwartzkopf may
be challenged
by Michael (O.J.) Nelson
A possible petition candidate, Jean S. Theisen, 43, of
Lincoln, may challenge Board of.. Regents Chairman Ed
Schwartzkopf in the November general election.
Theisen indicated Sunday that she has been collecting
signatures, but has not reached a final decision on whether to
enter the race.
She said she has "always been interested" in University
affairs and that interest might evolve into some kind of greater
involvement.
A petition candidate for the board seat would need about
750 signatures to be on the November ballot, according to
Secretary of State Allen J. Beerman. He said Sunday the
deadline for filing the signatures is 5 p.m. Monday.
Theisen said Sunday she did not know how many signatures
she has collected.
If she does not file, Schwartzkopf could be unopposed. His
original opponent, S.H. Brauer, of Lincoln, dropped out of the
race earlier this month for what he termed "personal reasons."
Brauer finished second to Schwartzkopt in the April 9
primary, defeating former UNL graduate student J.J. Plant.
Theisen is the wife of C.B. "Cab" Theisen, a highway
construction company executive. She is the mother-in-law of
ASUN President Bruce Beecher.
Her daugher, Diane Theisen Beecher, served as Asun First
Vice President during the 1969-70 school year.
Theisen earned her bachelor's degree in interior design at
Students respond
to tuition changes
by Adella Wacker
The seniors just smiled. Two graduate students,
' who take fewer hours than most undergraduates,
were happy.
But other UNL students, most of whom will pay
more tuition next fall, were concerned about the new
tuition plan.
The Board of Regents last week reduced resident
tuition from $18 to $17 an hour (non-residenti rates
from $48.25 to $46), but will charge students for
each hour they take.
As a result of this plan, most full-time students
will suffer a tuition increase.
"It won't make it impossible, just harder for
students whose parents foot the bill, she added. Joan
Schmaderer said. The new plan wouldn't hurt
students whose parents foot the ball, she added.
Schmaderer said she plans to continue working
while taking 14 hours next fall and will try to avoid
having to take out a loan.
Although he doesn't pay tuition himself,
sophomore Rick Spady said the change will "make
my old man grouchy."
Steve Sampson agreed the new plan would shake
up parents who pay tuition.
Junior Jeff Anderson, however, flatly said
eliminating the free zone between 12 and 16 hours
means he'll stay in school longer.
Because he works during the school year to pay his
tuition, he said he will take less hours next fall.
Freshman John Dobitz said students should pay
by the hour instead of having the free zone. But at
the same time, he admitted the approximately $70 a
semester increase he must pay next fall is "really
going to put a monkey wrench in the works."
Dobitz, who will take 17 or 18 hours as a chemical
engineering major next year, said he hopes to make
up the difference by picking up a small scholarship.
One reason given by the regents for the increase
was to help recover revenue lost by a change in
Nebraska residency laws. About 1,000 UNL students
would be eligible for the residency change, making
their tuition lower.
Students interviewed seemed divided over the
change in non-resident tuition, depending on how
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badly the student was being hurt.
Freshman Mary Lou Trenary said, "It's good
out-of-state students got a break, but it still hurts
me."
Trenary, who lives at home but pays her own
tuition, said the number of hours she takes next year
will depend upon her money situation at that time.
A married student whose wife also goes to school
must consider the effects of the new plan times two.
Jim Neunayer and his wife both are juniors in
Techers College taking 13 hours this semester.
Neunayer's wife had planned to take more next year
so she could graduate but now doesn't know if she
will, he said.
Like most students interviewed, Neunayer hadn't
figured yet how much in dollars the plan would
change his tuition bill. He said he didn't think the
non-resident changes were fair because "the
University is for students in this state."
On the other side of the question, a senior from
Memphis, Tenn., said the non-resident status changes
are good because they encourage more out-of-state
students to come to the University.
He said it's bad when a university gets too many of
the same kind of people-only Nebraska students. A
university needs different ideas coming into it
brought by students from other states, he raid.
Although he won't directly be affected by the
tuition change, he said it was just another example of
paying more but not getting more from a university
where everything already is expensive.
Graduate student Tore Arnesen came the closest
of anyone to expressing delight about the new plan.
He said the changes help him all around.
Because he takes no more than 12 hours, he said
the new plan will reduce his tuition if he still goes to
UNL next fall. It will help most graduate students, he
said.
Arneson, who originally is from Boston and went
to undergraduate school in Wyoming, also may
qualify for resident tuition rates next year.
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