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here should be more discussion between
Regents and students because "discussion
breeds understanding and understanding
II breeds trust," according to Regent B.N.
' Yl Greenberg, M.D., of York.
Li "Students have a very real responsibility
to present their ideas for review and discus
sion within the University community," he
said. "In recent years some student suggestions
have been of significant importance to the Regents
in their deliberations."
He added that it is unfortunate more students
have not been constructively involved in policy
making. Greenberg said students should have a voice
in their non-academic life at the University, but
should understand that the Regents have a
responsibility to their electorate concerning the
general direction of the University.
It is necessary for a Regent to have contact
with students, faculty and administrators alike,
Greenberg emphasized. He added that each of these
, factions has a valuable viewpoint and that a
Regent cannot do a good Job without understanding
them all.
"Students certainly have the right to be involved
in the evaluation process of faculty members,"
he said. "I believe other members of the academic
community must be involved in evaluation, too."
Greenberg added the tenure system of faculty
advancement is a sound way to build a good faculty
when it is used as an incentive.-
"It should never be allowed to become a crutch
or a faculty member's licence for intellectual
retirement," he said.
Greenberg is the Regent from the Fourth
district. The 66-year-old ear, eye, nose and throat
specialist received all his academic degrees from
the University of Nebraska. He has been a Regent
for 17 years since he was first elected in 1952.
"A major obstacle in student representation
on the board of Regents is the matter of continuity,"
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he said. "Regental terms run for six years and
few of our students are on campus for that duration
of time."
Greenberg said the University must find better
ways to apply its brain power to solve economic
and environmental problems of society.
"It is my belief that state and university social
and economic progress are inseparable," he added.
"It Is imperative for Board members to seek out
professional staff members who have the ability
' to identify the problems of the state and suggest
remedies."
PAGE 6
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U
robably the most critical problem facing
the ITnivprsitv in thA future is its finances.
0 J said Regent John G. Elliott of Scottsbluff.
"The University was established by the
state in the public interest," he added. "We
must find ways to be more responsive to the
state's needs and gain its further support."
He said that it is not difficult to balance the
interests of the University with the interests of
the state in his job, because the interests are basi
cally the same.
"The University community is part of the state
and has made important contributions to the
development of Nebraska," he commented.
Elliott said he considers it his job as a Regent
to understand the functions of the University and
support its purposes and goals. A Regent must
also help prepare the University budget and be
in a position to explain the needs of the University
to the public, he added.
Students must bear in mind that the Ad
ministration and Board of Regents have a
responsibility to the public concerning non-academic
life at the University. Students should have a real
voice though, he said, and they have had active
participation in decision making through elected
student bodies.
He added that dialog between students and
the Regents Is very important and there should
be as much Interaction as possible.
Elliott said students are sometimes punished
by the University for a violation of law that has
already been punished by civil authorities because
"the campus should not be a sanctuary where
unlawful acts go unpunished."
"Students have definite obligations to the
academic community and the discipline of the com
munity should be applied." he added.
He euid that harsher University penalties for
use of marijuana than for the use of alcohol by
a minor stem from the attitude of state courts.
"The State punishment for marijuana is more
severe than that for a first offense possession of
liquor, even though both are misdemeanors," Elliott
suld.
He commented that students should definitely
be Involved in evaluation of faculty memebrs. The
Administration should also be involved in the
evaluation process, he said.
Elliott, 73, is the oldest Regent and has
represented the sixth district since 1952. Elliott
attended Nebraska Wesleyan University and the
University of Nebraska where he won membership
in the Innocents society. He is currently an in
surance and banking agent In Scottsbluff.
THE DAILY NEBRASKAN-
tudents must be involved in the Univer
sity's decision-making process, according
to Richard L. Herman of Omaha the only
Regent who voted against formation of the
Council on Student Life.
He continued that students must have a
responsible but understanding voice in Uni
versity affairs.
"Students should have the right to make
decisions that affect only themselves," Herman ad
ded. "However, they also must understand why
sometimes their decisions cannot be the only con
sideration." He said that in some cases students may not
have an overview of the situation because they
are actively involved in University life. They may
think a decision concerns them alone, when it really
has a much broader effect, he added.
The idea of. a student Regent, elected under
either current state law or a revision of the state
constitution, is opposed by Herman. The idea would
put too much pressure on the person involved,
he said. A student might also find the time required
for research in a Regent's job to be prohibitive,
he said.
Herman has been a Regent from the second
district (Omaha) since 1966. The 49-year-old Army
veteran attended the University of Washington and
the University of Nebraska. He is currently in
the petroleum transport business.
"It is my job as a Regent to use the best
of my ability and available resources to improve
the University," Herman said.
To be effective in this job he said Regents
must work with faculty, administration and students
to find where funds are needed. They must then
work with the legislature and people of the state
to obtain these funds, he added.
Herman described the Board as an elected
transmission agent between the University and the
public. It also operates much like the Board of
Directors of a large corporation, he said.
Herman said he felt Board decisions should
be influenced by all segments of the University
community. "I draw my information on what
students are thinking from personal contact, The
Daily Nebraskan and contact with parents, ad
ministrators and faculty."
Concerning faculty and faculty evaluation, ho
said he could not comment on the effectiveness
of tenure as a way to build a good faculty because
he had never been involved with a school where
tenure was not used. The University is building
a good laculty though, he added.
Herman said student evaluation of faculty is
a good thing. He continued that other methods
need to be devised to get more of the academic
community into an evaluation process.
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 1 970
