Council offers hope, doubts says Chalou
oka
by Bill Smitberman
Nebraskan Staff Writer
"The Council on Student Life
presents reason for hope, but also
reason for pesimism," according to
ASUN President Bill Chaloupka.
The council replaces the Faculty
Senate Committee on Student Affairs.
Unlike .this committee, however, the
council will have a student majority.
Chaloupka said the student majority
on the council is basicly a symbolic
gesture. There will be very few issues
with a straight student-faculty split
In voting, he continued. If the council
is to function, it will have to work
toward unified decisions like any other
committee, he added.
However, the symbolism of a
student-majority council is important.
Students will be more interested in
a council that is at least theoretically
student controlled, he said.
The council is to have authority over
all aspects of student life outside of
the classroom. Chaloupka explained
that it is the best plan yet devised
to give students authority over their
own lives while retaining faculty and
administration input.
He added that the council will be
engaged in a wide range of activities.
In theory, it has power over a great
many areas of student life.
What "real" powers the council will
have is the crux of the problem,
Chaloupka said. The Board of Regents
is the only power superior to the
council; therefore, it depends on how
the Board treats the council as to
how effective it will be.
He emphasized that the council
cannot possibly be effective if it is
In constant conflict with the Regents.
Chaloupka said there has been no real
dialogue between the Regents and
student government on relative posi
tions in student-life decision making
in the past.
"The council will not be able to
confront any central issues until the
question of this relationship i s
answered," he said. "From initial
observations, we probably can't ex
pect much cooperation from the
Regents. However, this remains to be
seen," Chaloupka added.
He sees the ASUN Senate as
becoming a more innovative body as
the Council takes up its job. He ex
plained that the senate has been a
major political battleground in the
past but that this will probably change
as time goes on.
"In the past, much of the senate's
time has been spent developing a
philosophy of student government and
planning for the future," Chaloupka
said. "This work has now led to the
formation of the council on Student
Life and is behind us."
He predicted that the Senate would
become a more autonomous group and
take the lead in implementing council
policy.
Vice Chancellor Dr. G. Robert Ross
said there are several areas in which
the council should have almost
autonomous power. He explained that
the council would be taking the place
of the Committee on Student Affairs
and this committee had independent
power in several cases.
The council should be able to make
Independent decisions in areas of stu
dent appeals o f administrative
decisions and in deciding eligibility
for student activities, he said.
The council will also have the job
of reorganizing three major sub-committees
of the Student Affairs Com
mittee. These are the publications
board, sub-committee on student
organizations, and sub-committee on
student social activities.
Ross predicted that relations
between the council and Board of
Regents will depend on the issues in
. volved. The Board seldom Interfered
with the Committee on Student Affairs
and he hopes the same will be true
for the council. The Board and the
committee have not been in agree
ment on the issue of coed visitation,
however, he added.
Ross said the council would not
greatly change his job in the Office
of Student Affairs. "What we have
done is to regroup and get the
students more involved," he con.
tihued.
He said the work of Student Affairs
will be enhanced by working with an
all-University body rather than a
faculty body. The staff of Student Af
fairs has been active in both forming
and supporting the idea of the council,
he added.
Dianne Theisen, ASUN first vice
president, emphasized that the coun
cil's effectiveness rests on the
cooperation of the Regents. If the
Regents constantly override council
decisions, students will quickly lose
interest, she said.
"The Regents obviously think the
council is a good idea," she continued.
"The real question is how they will
treat it."
The council will streamline faculty-administration-student
dealings, Miss
Theisen said. It will eliminate steps
and shorten processes in many
cases.
Most student and University groups
will continue to exist and function as
always. The council will make policy
in general, but it will be carried out
by existing organizations, according
to Miss Theisen.
She feels the Council should not
merely react it should investigate
and try to solve any problem that
it sees.
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1969
LINCOLN, NEBRASKA
VOL. 93, NO. 3
Proposal for
coed lounges
is set aside
Action on the proposed coed lounges
has been set aside momentarily In
order to concentrate elforU on get
ting the Council on Student Life pass
ed by the Board of Regents.
Proposals for coed lounges came
about last spring after the Board of
Regents denied the request for coed
visitation.
The issue has been presented to the
Board of Regents, but no decision
from the board is expected for another
three to four weeks, said Diane
Theisen, first vice-president of
ASUN.
"Right now, this whole issue Is very
touchy," according to Theresa Sledge,
IDA president.
She explained that the Regents don't
want to Implement the policy and the
students don't understand it. They
are afraid of losing privacy on their
floors, she said.
Miss Sledge emphasized that first
of all Uie student body must be
educuted as to what the coed lounge
program is so thut there is no
misunderstanding about it.
The proposal for coed lounges was
develoed last year by a group of
students from ninth floor. Abel Hall.
Dorms selected for the plan this year
Include Abel South, Schramm and
Pound, according to Miss Sledge.
The lounges would be the lounges
on each floor. Floor residents
themselves would be able to select
the times and occasions when the
lounges would be open for coed
visiting. Housing staff members and
floor leaders would have the
sponsorship responsibility.
Miss Sledge explained that the coed
lounges would be the means for pro
viding a place for people to meet
with others of the opposite sex.
riri
3 ' :'-;;iLJ;:;pii
Con
troversy persists
on coed visitation
An empty podium and an inattentive audience typified the initial
Hyde Park for the 19G9-70 year. Although a large crowd turned
out for the 3:30 p.m. session, few people had anything to say.
by John Dvorak
Nebraskan Staff Writer
Although the President dfthe Board
of Regents and University ad
minlstrators deny that housing
regulations have been changed by
Regent and University action taken
this summer, Coed visitation and
other dormitory rules continue to
spark controversy.
In a July meeting, the Regents
denied coeducational visiting
privileges to a group of graduate
students living in Selleck
Quadrangle.
Lincoln campus President Dr.
Joseph Soshnik then notified by mail
all students contracting for dormitory
space that if the Regents' action
makes "residence hall living un
desirable" the dorm contract would
be voided.
However, ASUN President Bill
Chaloupka feels that the Regents' ac
tion strongly Implies that the grounds
of "undesirable living environment
within residence halls" is a basis for
Committee hits white racism
A unique departure from the com
mon form of a research committee
has been devised by the head of the
ASUN Human Rights Committee, Phil
Mcdcalf.
Noting that In the past ASUN com.
mlttecs would often wander aimlessly
because of internal conflict, Modcalf
has introduced a "task-force
research" group which will meet each
Thursday at 7; 00 p.m. in the Union.
The Human Rights Committee will
Initiate this concept with public
discussions on racism, chemical and
biological warfare, the military-Industrial
complex, education and
chnuvanlsm.
The "task-force" group will attempt
to avoid Internal destruction by
avoiding demands for consensus. "If
someone doesn't like what I'm saying,
doesn't like my thing," said Medcalf,
Upperclassmcn Form TINKs'
A newly formed student organlza
tlon called Freshman Indoclrinators
of Nebraska Kids has been formed
to help freshman get accustomed to
college life. The organization started
Its operation last week and throughout
tho year will assist freshman with
problems they will encounter at the
University.
Ressa Almy of Greenwood and
Theresa Sledge of Omaha are the
main organizers of FINKs. FINKs
currently has 12 0 members and is
organized on a local level with
members in every dormitory.
Miss Sledge said FINKs was
organ zed because during the start of
school "in the past there was no
organized activity In which the
dormltoryfreshmencould
participate." She added. "Freshman
have many fears of college life and
we thought this would be a good time
to orient them."
Last week FINKs started their pro
gram by helping the freshman move
hit o the dormitories and orienting
them to University life. The FINKs
also assisted freshmen with locating
classes, registration, meeting their
advisors, and buying books.
Also Included in the program was
a Friday getting acquainted session
In all the dorms, an IDA-IFC Dance
Saturday night, and the University
convocation Sunday.
Miss Atmy said of the orientation
that "the first year it was tried i
was quite successful. It helped take
the scare away from the new
freshmen." She added that the first
week of the program helped develop
communication between the freshmen
and the upperclassmen, and that
without . the program "this type of
relationship would not have developed
as quickly. '
"Since this was the first year it
was tried I'm pleased with It," com
mented Miss Sledge. "What pleased
me the most was the enthusiasm of
the upporclassmen."
The FINKs plan to continue their
program for the remainder of the
year. Miss Almy said "The main thing
we will do Is to work on the dorm
floors to strengthen floor government.
Also we will work with academic ad
vising throughout the year."
Miss Sledge, president of the Int
er Dormitory Association (IDA),
commented on the organization's
upcoming year: "Everything we will
be working on will be for the purpose
of familiarizing the students In the
residence halls with IDA and what
the Association can do for them. We
want to do things the kids want so
we can benefit the residence halls."
Also included in the IDA program
this year Is the publishing of a
brochure about the residence halls
and a newsletter Informing the
dormitory students about IDA avl
campus events. Miss Sledge also said
that hopefully the J DA will be working
with ASUN on the university visitation
policy in the dormitories. '
"then let him go out and do his own
thing and present it to us." The
research group may appear to be
based on anarchy. Medcalf feels that
"leadership is to have no leaders, just
everyone on the same level."
What tikis expression of
"participatory democracy" may lack
in organization, it may gain in
furthering Medcalf's idea of "Internal
and external education" of an in
dividual. Ideally, a free association
of opinions and ideas would create
an awareness to each person not only
as an audience member but as a
participant.
Medcalf Is especially enthused about
"Institutional racism," one of the
topics tho group will deal with. He
noted, "This will be the first time
anyone will deal with the white com
munity concerning racism. Racism
ought not be the concern of the black
community. It ought to be the concern
of the white community. Racism Is
white supremacy."
The mllltary-lndustrial-labor union
academic complex in America, which
Medcalf believes Is responsible for the
present "denial of self-determination"
of minorities, will be scrutinized.
The committee's inaugural attempt
could cause some controversy. Med
calf contends that integration Is not
necessarily antiracism, and that black
progress with respect to whites in
America is a myth.
He also feels that within every white
man is an Innate racism that has
created an "Irrevocable contradlc
tlon" In the U.S. which will force
racism to exist forever.
However, the committee will not
Immediately strive for any clear-cut
accomplishments. "1 work in direc
lions, not at goals," Medcalf said,
exceptions to the entire housing
policy."
Currently, freshmen and
sophomores, or students who do not
turn 20 before October 15 of a given
year, must live on campus. The
Regents have twice turned down pro
posals for coeducational visiting.
If the students feel that the
dormitories offer undesirable living
conditions because of these or other
factors, the students should be able
to move out of the dormitories,
Chaloupka said.
Richard E. Adkins, president of the
Board of Regents, says no.
"An August 15 letter from Dr.
Soshnik answers the question entire
ly," he said Thursday afternoon.
In the letter to Chaloupka, Soshnik
stated, "My letter of August 5 (to
dormitory students) was written, at
the direction of the Regents, to deal
with a specltlc question. I do not
believe that the Regents Intended that
this communication be considered a
change In policy or a spedul prece
dent tor future procedures and prac
tices." Ely Meyerson, NU's new housing
director, commented Thursday,
"President Sosnuik Intended to speak
to students who were singularly
dissatisfied with the Koycnt's action.
This was an unusuul set o f
circumstances that have now pass
ed." Adkins agreed that action by
Soshnik and tne Regents had no long
range Implications. It was intended
only to deal with the Immediate
situation.
Dormitory regulations will not
change, in the near future, eltner,
Adkins continued. Tho policy now is
simply "no coed visitation."
On campus living regulations, and
coea visiiuuon as wea, is oy no means
a dead lssuu, t'naloupKa continued.
He am rim vice President
Oiuiie Inelsen intend to press the
inauer aurui uie semester.
Meyerson, who began work as
housing uuector August, 15, agreed.
ACiUuny many otiier scnools nave
more aousiiig le&uiutions uwn tne
university ot Aeoraska uoes, ne
poinieu out. He added that n was
impossible to speculate if any of the
NU's housing regulations would be
changed in the future.
The new housing director, who
formerly worked at the University of
Wisconsin and the State University
of New York, Indicated that he would
support a limited coeducational
visitation plan.
"Professionally and personally I
could support a limited coeducational
plan if it were well thought hrough
and administered by the students,"
he sa id.
He hastened to add that an
unlimited visitation plan could turn
the dormitories Into rooming hronses
and defeat the very things the
University stands for.
Meyerson, of course, disputes
Chaloupka's contentions that Soshnik's
letter, in effect, means that students
may move out of the dorms after
certifying them "undesirable."
He cautioned against abolishing all
the rules completely. "It Is really im
possible to predict how many students
would move out of the dorms," he
said.
"If we opened the doors entirely,
we might not be able to fulfill our
commitments to the many students
who do want to live in the dorms,"
he pointed. "We must be able to run
the halls at the lowest possible cost
to the student, which we couldn't do
if the dorms have a low occupancy
rate."
Residence hull fees this yeur were
raised to $U80 or $440 a semester,
up $00 over 15XM1-19G9. This was clue
to Increased operating costs.
Concerning the undesirability of the
dorms, Meyerson said there is ob
viously some dissatisfaction, but no
one knows how much.
"It will be one of my strongest
commitments this year to learn where
the problems lie," Meyerson said.
"Maybe we would be able to make
some changes more to the liking of
the residence hall students."
Adkins agreed saying, "As far as
I know it has been the ultimate goal
of students, staff and the Hoard of
Regents to have residence halls in
which all students desire to live.
Omaha live-in
is planned for
October 10-12
The first "Live-in" this semester
on Omaha's near north side is planned
for the weekend of October 10-12.
"For the past two years 'live-Ins'
have proven helpful In understanding
some of the dynamics of the Inner-city
and ghetto life," said Mel Ltietchens
of the Wesley Foundation.
"Participants take sleeping bags
and sleep on cots in the Urban Studies
Center on North 25th Street In
Omaha," the retreat organizer ex.
plained. "Community and North Side
leaders speak on life in an American
inner city."
The "Live-In" is open to anvone
who wishes to attend. Friday, Sept
ember 26, is tho deadline for
registration at the Wesley Foundation.
The $16 registration fee covers meals,
lodging and speaker fees. Cars pro.
viding rides will leave the center at
4:30 p.m. on Friday. Informal dress
will be appropriate and the group will
return on Sunday afternoon.
Participants should take a sleeping
bag or bedroll and personal items.
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