The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, February 12, 1971, Image 1
Regents Prokop, Schwartzkopf: protest hurts CO CM - cc D CC 00 LU LL q cc Two University of Nebraska Regents said Thursday they fear that continued protest by University students in the wake of Stephen Rozman's firing will kill the University's already ailing case with the Unicameral and the people of Nebraska. "We're going to be picking up the pieces in the Legislature for a long time," Regent Edward Schwartzkopf of Lincoln said. "It seems they (the protesters) were playing right into, the hands of a few people. down at the Legislature." Regent Robert J. Prokop of Papillion added that the continuation of protests "will destroy any case we have in the state of Nebraska at this point." But he affirmed the right of lawful dissent, saying: "In this case it might even have been justified. Dissent is the pillar of democracy." Prokop criticized those "individuals who obviously wanted to be arrested." Chancellor D. B. Varner had no alternative, he added. Prokop added that he would be "most disappointed" if the Division of Student Affairs didn't take action against the students arrested Wednesday. He also said that protesters' actions would produce no results since Rozman's case has been "completely studied" and "will not be brought up again" by the Regents. Schwartzkopf agreed with Prokop that protesters are "wasting energy where they aren't getting positive results." "They're fasting, so what?" he said. "I would rather see students sit down and come up with a positive plan." Schwartzkopf plans to accept ASUN's invitation to appear at a special meeting Feb. 16. Prokop can't attend the meeting since he will be on call at the University of Nebraska Medical School, but said that he is "open to any group." Both Regents spoke to campus groups Wednesday night. Prokop addressed members of the Inter Fraternity Council and Panhellenic. Schwartzkopf spoke with students at the Alpha Phi sorority house. Commenting on the Regents' resolution not to hire Rozman, Prokop said he based his decision to vote for it on evidence from faculty and administration. He added that he felt the Holtzclaw committee had violated the faith of the Regents in reaching a conclusion. The committee was instructed only to find evidence, Prokop said. The committee concluded W Schwartzkopf . . . "rather surprised." Arrested 4 may include non-students Two of the four persons arrested Wednesday in connection with sit-in demonstrations in University buildings may not be students, according to Ronald D. Gierhan, assistant in student affairs. "We are checking the records to make sure we are right," Gierhan said. He would not say which of the four may not be students. All four told newsmen they were students or part-time students, he said. The four men were arraigned Thursday morning in Lancaster County Court on misdemeanor charges of failing to leave a public building during hours it is normally closed after being ordered to leave by a police officer. After they pleaded no contest, Michael Barret, Michael Richardson and Dave Ratliff, who were arrested in the chancellor's outer office, were fined $50 and court costs by County Judge Ralph W. Slocum. Ron Kurtenbach, who was arrested outside the President's office in Love Library late Wednesday evening made the same plea and received the same sentence. Ratliff, who has been active in student government, is not an ASUN senator as reported in Thursday's paper. The Students are temporarily suspended from the University and will have hearings before the Student Tribunal early next week, Gierhan said. The administrator added that hearings must be held within five school days of a temporary suspension. He explained that the Tribunal has the power to "recommend" appropriate action to the Office of Student Affairs, which makes the final decision. About 90 per cent of the time Student Affairs accepts the recommendations of the Tribunal as they are, he said. He said he "didn't really know if the Office would accept the recommendations, but added that he "would like to." Normally, the Tribunal returns its recommendations the day after a hearing, Gierhan said. It then takes the Student Affairs office a day or two to Turn to page 8 V "'," V'T': - , ? V w Prokop . . . "destroying case. in its report that Rozman was not guilty of inappropriate action during last May's occupation of the Military and Naval Sciences Building. Prokop noted that the fact finding committee has stated it felt the Regents had made a decision before meeting with it Friday night. The Regent emphatically denied this. "The decision was made after a discussion following this meeting," he said. Schwartzkopf said that he decided to vote for the firing of Rozman from evidence presented by the fact finding committee. Its report showed that "wherever the action was, there was Stephen Rozman," he said, "The University hired him to teach in the classroom. He was not there." A letler from seven University faculty members which stated that they, like Rozman. did not leave the M & N Building May 5 after President Joseph Soshnik declared that the occupation was disruptive, "rather surprised" Schwartzkopf. "I was also surprised that they did not step forward before the Regents decision," he said. "It would have been much more effective then." Schwartzkopf said that before he would consider any action against the seven who signed the letter, he wanted more evidence of their presence in the building and the degree to which they participated. "We have to be careful," he said. Union Interviews Interviews for the two student-at-large seats on the 1971 Nebraska Union Board will be Saturday. Any full-time student who is not nowor has not beenaffiliated with the Associated Students of the University of Nebraska (ASUN) or any of its related bodies, or with the Nebraska Union Program Councij or its related committees, may interview for the two student-at-large seats. (The Union Board should not be confused with its agents in charge of implementing programs, the City and East Campus Program Councils.) Interested students can apply in Room 200 Nebraska Union. YR's give Varner warm reception Chancellor D. B. Varner spent much of the past week taking criticism from outraged students for the Board of Regents decision not to rehire Stephen Rozman. Twice during the week office was occupied by protesting students. But Thursday night the Chancellor was given a warm reception when he addressed a meeting of the NU Young Republicans. "The last few days I've had a lot of help with my work." Varner joked, pointing to students in the audience who had occupied his office this week. "My biggest objection." The Chancellor said of the occupations of his office, "is that I ought to work with 20,000 students instead of the same 40 to 50 students in my office." A student, who had earlier occupied Varner's office, asked the Chancellor the specific reasons why Rozman was dismissed. "The University cannot operate effectively," Varner replied, "if the faculty are participants in a disruptive activity." He added that the atmosphere during the occupation of the Military and Naval Science Building last May "was one of disruption." "You know where we erred," the Chancellor told the crowd of about 50, "we should have ordered the building closed at 11. However, given the frustrations of the day we decided to negotiate with those occupying the building." However, most of Varner's remarks Thursday concerned the University's budget. The Chancellor outlined the grim prospects ahead if the Legislature adopts Gov. J. J. Exon's budget recommendations for the University. Varner said the University for the next year is faced with its first cutback in state funds since the 1 930's. Asked if the University, faced with a financial squeeze, will divert funds from the independently financed Athletic Department, Varner said: "They (the Athletic Department) do not have a backlog of funds that could be diverted to other parts of the University. If we said to the football coaches give us some of your funds for the library, then in a few years our football team would be last in the Big Eight, just like our graduate program is now."