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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 11, 1971)
I Police arrest four students See other pictures and stories page 3 h I . .TV. CslT-i Til iminiiiwii V r D ISM THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1971 LINCOLN, NEBRASKA VOL. 94 NO. 60 Administration sit-in leads to arrests by STEVE STRASSER Staff Writer Three University of Nebraska students were arrested in Chancellor D. B. Warner's outer office reception room about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday after a sporadic 5-hour sit-in protest over the case of fired NU teachers Stephen L. Rozman and Duke Hubbard. Michael Barret, Michael Richardson and Dave Ratliff probably will be arraigned in Budget committee hears testimony on Nebraskan fees by JIM PEDERSEN Staff Writer The Legislature's Budget Committee heard over two hours of testimony on a bill to prohibit student fee funding of the Daily Nebraskan, Wednesday, but postponed a vote on the bill. Sen. Terry Carpenter, the sponsor of LB 70, told the committee that "it is now the responsibility of the Legislature to handle such matters. "The Regents have not excercised their responsibility. They have already said they are run by the faculty. A student newspaper that gives information on birth control and abortion isn't a newspaper at all. I wouldn't want my daughter to see this paper." Charles Oldfather, attorney for the Regents, was not permitted to testify because of the length of the hearing. He told newsmen, however, that on behalf of the Regents he was to speak against the bill because the Regents felt the measure would have the effect of destroying, the campus newspaper. LB 70 was supported by several University students including ASUN senator Bruce Wimmer. Wimmer said the predominant opinion of University students is one of displeasure with the content of the Daily Nebraskan. Ms added, however, that the real issue was "whether the students should be forced to pay for a paper they don't want." The news coverage is "tainted," Wimmer said, "and the paper generally embarrasses students." Wimmer distributed several copies of the Daily Nebraskan which he said illustrated his points. Wimmer acknowledged that the Board of Regents should logically control the affairs of the University including the issue of funding for the newspaper, but he charged that " the Regents had refused to do anything. Wimmer's testimony was followed by David Haas of Lincoln representing the Institute for Political Analysis. Sen. Herb Nore of Genoa asked Haas if, "Peking and Hanoi might be planting students in positions on the newspaper and in student government." Haas responded that he had no knowledge of such activities.' Ralph Larson of the Committee for Undisrupted Education, also spoke in favor of the bill. Testimony against the bill revolved around the contention by some members of the newspaper staff and a University faculty member that suspension of student fee support would kill the newspaper. Fritz Shoemaker, ASUN legislative lobbying committee member, pointed out that half of the Daily Nebraskan's financial support comes from student fees. Without fees, he said, the paper would have to close down. Shoemaker contended that the students are generally happy with the paper. He pointed to a national marketing survey which showed that 95 per cent of students at the University read the paper. Both Shoemaker and Mick Moriarty, the current editor, explained the system of staff selection through the Publications Board. They said the Publications Board does excercie control over the newspaper. "If the Daily Nebraskan stops publishing," Moriarty said, "there will be no control whatsoever over campus literature." Roy Baldwin, a member of the Publications Board, also took issue with Wimmer's statement that students were dissatisfied with the paper. He said the Board had received only one complaint in the past year. Of the opponents to the bill, only Adam Breckenridge, professor of political science, directly raised the issue of freedom of speech. Brekenridge said he did not always agree with the paper, but added that he didn't agree with some of the statewide papers either. "Whether I agree or not is not the point," he said. "Students may make mistakes, as we make mistakes, or distort, as we distort, or even be disrespectful, as we are disrespectful towards them. But they should have the right do do these things." The passage of LB 70 would mean the end of a newspaper on the University campus, Breckenridge added, and a campus newspaper is vital to every university. Sen. Richard Marvel, chairman of the committee, closed the hearing because of the late hour even though several other individuals were ready to testify both for and against the measure. Lancaster County Court Thursday moring for failure to leave a public building after its closing time. Patrick H. Healey, a Lincoln attorney, will represent the trio. The three students were released to his custody Wednesday after booking at the Lincoln jail. The arrests stemmed from a march on Varner's office following a 10:30 a.m. Nebraska Union rally at which Stephen Rozman told students "your own interests are being threatened" by the Regents' decision to terminate his contract. Calling the University a repressive institution, Rozman said such institutions "only take notice of protest when it is externalized. Rozman left the ballroom after his speech. NU student Barret took the stand and said, "I'm not willing to be a good boy any longer." Barret, a part-time student, read a statement which said in part, "We now are compelled to stand firmly against disruption of the educational process and against p o 1 i t i c iza t io n of the University." Promising "peaceful, non-disruptive and dignified action," Barret led about 30 demonstrators to occupy the outer reception room of Varner's office. Barret's statement said the group would leave when: (1) the Regents had promised to meet with all the students to answer questions; (2) Rozman had been rehired; (3) Duke Hubbard, assistant professor of educational administration had been rehired; (4) Michael Davis had been hired. The demonstrators settled down into chairs and on the floor of the office, leaving aisles open in an effort to avoid disrupting office routine. Varner's secretary, Louise Ward, distributed astrays. The protesters, whose ranks swelled to about 50 by noon, talked strategy for the first 45 minutes of the occupation. Graduate student Betty Munson drew applause for urging the protestors to be "very moderate" in order not adversely influence next Monday's Faculty Senate meeting. Then the group decided further applause was disruptive, and would be avoided. At 11:50 Hubbard dropped in briefly. Asked by a student if he thought the Regents were politicizing the University, he said, "I can't understand their actions. I don't see how any faculty member could stay here after Rozman 's firing." At noon Varner walked into the reception room from his inner office. After reviewing his participation in discussions with students in the Regents board room and at the ASUN meeting Monday, Varner said, "I've answered your questions the best I could. I know you are disturbed and concerned. "There's nothing I can do now," Varner continued. "I can't change the Regents' decision. "There's no way the University can operate without orderly procedures. This is disorderly. "If you have not left this office in 15 minutes," Varner stated, "We will take disciplinary action." At 12:20 Rozman walked unexpectedly into the room, asking Varner "What's happening? Do you want these people to leave?" Putting his arm around the Chancellor's shoulders, Rozman told Varner "you never did much for me, but I don't have any hard feelings. I know you're doing what you have to do." Turning to the crowd, the political science assistant professor said, "If you get arrested it's going to dissipate my resources. I'm going to be concerned about each of you. "I want to fight the repressive situation on this campus, but now I might have go give a lot of time to getting people out of jail. Tactically, perhaps, that would be unwise," Rozman said. "Perhaps it would be better if you left." Students then began arguing with Varner over whether the gathering was disruptive. Turn To Page 3 i ! I V 3 t 1 i '... I' ?' 'A l-v.