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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 9, 1971)
7 XI HK1 mm CJ uu TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1971 LINCOLN, NEBRASKA VOL. 94 NO. 58 n.nr i President Soshnik...reiterated his view that the Regents acted logically and equitably in not rehiring Rozman before a group of students in the Regents board room. Students visit Varner's office to ran about Rozman dismissal by GARYSEACREST Staff Writer "We don't agree on Rozman," Chancellor D. B. Varner told a group of about 50 students who had marched to his office Monday to protest the dismissal of Stephen Rozman, "but at least we should be talking." And talk they did. Varner and President Joseph Soshnik both held meetings Monday in Varner's office with students who protested what they called threats to academic freedom as evidenced by the Board of Regents' refusal to re-appoint Rozman and hire Michael Davis, a University of Michigan graduate student. "If the policy of the Regents become repressive, I would resign," Varner told the students. "But I don't see any repression." The Chancellor added, "Without qualification, I can stay to the best of my knowledge, Rozman was not fired because of his political beliefs." Varner repeated his belief that Rozman's actions during last May's occupation of the Military and Naval Science Building were "inappropriate." The heart of the argument concerning Rozman4 Varner said, was the definition "inappropriate." The Regents Saturday voted unanimously not to reappoint Rozman despite the report of a special fact-finding committee which concluded that the political science teacher was not guilty of "inappropriate actions" during last May's anti-war protests. Responding to questions about possible actions students could take to protest the ouster of Rozman, Varner said, "the courts will have to determine the case." But he advised "the students to contribute to Rozman's legal defense fund. The Chancellor agreed with the students that the University should establish "more specific" guidelines for the hiring and dismissal of teachers. Several of the protesters told Varner that students are frustrated because they lack power in University affairs. Varner said that students' voices should definitely be heard in University affairs, but he reminded the protesters of the responsibility the Regents have to the state's taypayers. Then it was Soshnik's turn to confront the students. "Given the information the Regents had on Rozman, they acted logically and equitably," Soshnik said. "Steve Rozman was not fired because he took a political position." Although he expressed agreement with the Regents' decision not to re-appoint Rozman, Soshnik said he had "real qualms" about Rozman's dismissal because the political science teacher's "professional life has suffered real damage." Before they visited with Varner and Soshnik, many of the students marched through the Administration Building chanting, "Rehire Rozman." However, the marchers were stymied because most offices were closed for the lunch hour. When the protesters arrived at 1 p.m.., they found the door to Varner's office open and the chancellor waiting for them. The group crowded into the Regents' board room and talked to Varner and Soshnik for about an hour. Although fielding sharp attacks from the students for the Regents' decision to oust Rozman, the two NU administrators remained calm during the confrontations. "Here we are beating our heads against the wall talking to administrators," concluded one student. " Instead we should be talking to the Regents who have the real power." I & i v 3' u W :1 "At least we should be taIkir.,"...Varner told students who visited his office to taik about the Rozman dismissal. Voluntary strike proposed A group of students have added plans for a voluntary student strike to Tuesday's array of events sparked by the dismissal of Stephen L. Rozman from the University faculty. "This strike is being called in order for students to dedicate their time to working with the Rozman matter," said Michael Richardson, one of the students involved. "I hope that all concerned students will join us in this strike so that justice can be served." An 1 1 a.m. press conference with Rozman has also be scheduled in the Nebraska Union Tuesday, Richardson reported. At 3 p.m. speakers, including Rozman, will address a meeting of concerned students in the Union, he added. Action delayed ; administrators add JL HOO by DAVE BRINK Staff Writer In a late evening meeting as confusing as the Stephen Rozman case itself, the ASUN Senate decided to postpone until Wednesday action on seven resolutions concerning the Rozman case. The resolutions ranged from support of Rozman to appeals for censuring the Regents to simply thanking Chancellor D. B. Varner and President Joseph Soshnik for speaking at the meeting. About 500 people gathered in the Nebraska Union ballroom in anticipation of the specially- called ASUN meeting-which had been scheduled for 8 p.m. However, after a 20-minute delay, the meeting was rescheduled for 9 p.m. to avoid conflict with a play being put on as a part of Black History Week in the adjacent Centennial Room. But the students-and one of the widest arrays of administrators seen at a recent student meetingwaited pariently until the nearly two-hour long meeting finally began about 9:15. Varner, AQITM Shosnik, Dean of Faculties C. Peter Magrath and other top administrators were present. Stephen L. Rozman, assistant professor of political science, was in the audience. During his response to questions from the Senate and the audience, Varner said many of his opinions would be disliked by the crowd but he said he would "rather be honest" than popular. "I am convinced that these men (the Regents) made this decision on the basis of what they thought was right," he said. Varner said that to his knowledge there was no issue of academic freedom involved, but rather the question whether Rozman had behaved inappropriately during anti-war activities on campus last spring. When he was asked if he would challenge a decision of the Board with which he disagteed, the Chancellor jokingly pointed out that he has no tenure. More seriously, Faculty Liaison may comment on Rozman case The Faculty Liaison Committee held a private joint meeting Monday evening with the five professors on the Fact -Finding Committee that investigated the Stephen Rozman matter. Wallace C. Peterson, professor and chairman of the economics department, who is acting as head of the Liaison Committee, said his group would have no comment on the Rozman case until the Tuesday afternoon Faculty Senate meeting. he said: "I have to make a decision I can live with." He added that he would resign if he found the Regents were behaving in a repressive manner or destroying academic freedom. Soshnik concurred in Varner's statement. The President added that Rozman has not been convicted of any violation of civil law, but the non-reappointment of a non-tenured faculty member is different than a conviction on legal grounds. When Rozman went to the microphone to ask a question some of the audience sat .silently but most gave him a standing ovation. He criticized Shosnik's comparison of his case with two other political science teachers who have also been asked to leave the University. Rozman said the two were dropped because they didn't receive their doctorates as expected. Rozman said he has been commended for his teaching and research.