Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 30, 1985)
on Bin l -V -- i i v y it - --.- ii, i i t i n t n k i b Tuesday, April 30, 1985 University of Nebraska-Lincoln Weather: Occasional showers and thunder storms today, otherwise cloudy with a high of 68 (20C). Rain tonight with a low of 56 (13C). Partly cloudy on Wednesday with a chance of rain and a high of 71 (22C). Bob BrubachtrDally Nebratkan Student violinist take a 'bOVj..Page8 Vol. 84 No. 151 Some like their buns hot and butterod...Pageg rch to the Capito V1 : V a. . Mark DavisDaily Nebraskan t UNL students who marched to the state Capitol on Monday came up with other ways to pro test tuition increases. Clockwise from left: AUNL student watches some of his tuition money go up in smoke; marchers cross a street near the Capitol; the Nebraska state flag was lowered to half staff by the student marchers before they headed for state senators1 offices to hand them formal letters of complaint. An estimated 200 to 300 people participated in the protest. tmdemits camy Tbmdiget protest to state Capito By Gene Gentrup and Jonathan Taylor Staff Reporters About 300 university supporters chanting "More money" and "Hey Bob (Kerrey), do your job" marched to the state Capitol Monday to protest the Legislature's proposed NU budget increase and a probable tuition hike. Amid chants of "No way, we won't pay," and "We have a voice," ASUN President Gerard Keating told the protestors at the Capitol about his proposed "budget compromise," which would increase the NU budget by 2.5 percent, and would allow the university to function at last year's operating levels. The proposal also would increase faculty salaries by 5 percent. UNL and UNO students fesring a tuition increase in light of the smal lest proposed budget increase in years, participated in the march. Suzanne Scott, student regent for UNMC did net attend the rally as expected. Keying liter sad he believed "outside irJluonccs" chir.-sd her decision, ASUN cScisIj crjirfed the rsliy because they feared a 30 percent increase would be necessary to meet university budget needs if the Legis lature approves the $1.6 million budget increase. The NU Board of Regents had proposed a 12.6 percent increase for fiscal year 1985-86. Sen. Don Wesley of Lincoln, Keat ing and three other NU students spoke to protestors, emphasizing the need for students' voices. They also appealed to state legislators not to force the regents into raising tuition. NU President Ronald Roskens said last week that any "talk" of a 30 per cent tuition increase, in addition to the 10 percent increase already sche duled for this fall, was just a "rumor." At the regent's meeting earlier this month, Regent Kermit Hansen of Elk horn considered, but did not submit, a proposal to increase tuition by 20 percent. Roskens said the board will consider reductions in university operating expenses before looking at a tuition increase. Wesley told the crowd that state legislators spend their time determin ing who they are serving. He said it usually comes down to the regents. Wesley sdd, however, he believes the university exists for students. 'That's who it's for and that's wfcy we've got to listen to you," Wesley said. Wesley, who approached the mic rophone with his fist raised high, told university supporters that it was "time to take some action" and warned students of an attempt earlier in the day to tamper with university funds. "If you take away university funds, how can you have an institution of high opportunity and learning?" The tampering of university funds Wesely referred to was an amendment proposed by Sen. Dan Lynch of Omaha, which would cut about $400,000 from the university budget. The amendment would reallocate more than $330,000 of the $500,000 already appropriated for financial aid and use it to fund the State Scholar ship Program and another program matched by federal funds. Lynch said the amendment would raise need-based financial aid by 10 percent by cutting non-need-based student aid. Wesely said he was unfamiliar with the ASUN budget compromise, but planned to sponsor an amendment that would appropriate more money to the university. Although he did not know what he would do, Wesely said he was looking for possible revenue creating proposals and budget reallo cations favoring the university. UNL student Barb Meister, chair person of Farm Action for Concerns of Tomorrow's Society, said state legis lators must begin dealing with the "most drastic cause" of this year's limited amount of state funds the distressed agricultural economy. She criticized legislators for their "negligence" in dealing with the farm economy and not"treating the cause." "The ag economy is what's going to make us or break us in the long run," Meister said. - Between speakers, supporters chanted: "We want action" and "We want Eob," referring to Gov. Bob Ker rey, who was in Omaha. Willie Watkins, former president for UNL's AMkan People's Unioa told students it was their job "to let peo ple know that if you take away uni versity funds, how can you have an institution of high opportunity and learning?" "How can you educate and provide future leaders if you take away the basis of the university?" Watkins asked. Pointing to the Capitol building a few feet behind him, Watkins told supporters, "The buck stops right here at this building this is your money," he said. "Without us there is no university." After Watkins' speech, the crowd yelled: "No Big Red" and "Go Big Green." Keating said university students cannot absorb increasing university costs. "There can be no doubt that these decisions demand sacrifice from all partners involved, but it should not be expected that one partner should ' sacrifice above and beyond the rest," he said. By cutting and eliminating areas cf the university, we are cutting and eliminating the future of the state cf Nebraska and the opportunity for its people to develop their God-given abilities," he sdd.