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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 13, 1971)
Regents seek parents'OK of visitation policy A liberalized Student Guest Rights Program drawn up by the NU Regents' Ad Hoc Committee on Coeducational Visitation will be sent out for parental approval Jan. 19, according to a student member of the committee. Roger Story, president of the UL Residence Halls Association, said the new proposal is a combination of the proposal turned down by the Regents last summer and the guidelines set by NU Pres. D.B. Varner at the Regents' November meeting. THE NEW PROPOSAL, which includes no "open door stipulation or sponsorship requirement, was termed "a great thing, practically," by Story, one of the two students on the five-member committee. But Story said the proposal "doesn't have much to say" about the principle of student self-determination, since it maintains the current six-hour per day limit on visitation privileges. The short, five-point proposal recognizes the right of any student to live in a residence hall which does not permit co-ed visitation. The proposal requires written parental consent for each student under the legal age of majority (currently age 20) who wishes to live in a residence hall under the liberalized visitation rules. The proposal also provides that security measures such as registration of all non-University guests must be taken during visitation hours. STORY TERMED the proposal "much more general" than the one defeated by the Regents. He said the general proposal permits a greater degree of control by administrators over the security and minority rights sections of the proposal. Story said the committee split only on the six-hour question. Story and fellow student Debbie Loers, a Council on Student Life member, split with the administrators and Regents on the committee over that issue. The other committee members were Regent Robert Raun, Regent Ed Schwartzkopf, and Asst. Dean of Faculties Walter Bruning. At the Regents' Saturday meeting, Raun said the results JgJ MM MplMMWMy MMJMW En LJ Lo-iL 5S "ijnpn JAJ MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1971 LINCOLN, NEBRASKA VOL. 95, NO. 54 Regents hear administration report on birth control handbooks at UNL At their Saturday meeting the NU Board of Regents heard a report by interim UNL Chancellor C. Peter Magrath on the distribution of birth control handbooks at UNL. The report said that the books were originally purchased during the 1970-71 school year from McGill University at a cost of $526.23. However, the books that ASUN received were not the same books ordered. A political statement and photographs had been added to the birth control information. THE REPORT continued that ASUN tried to return the books but was unable to do so. Then ASUN decided to turn the booklets over to the Association for Birth Control (ABC) for distribution. There was an understanding that ABC would try to pay ASUN for its costs in acquiring the booklets. ABC so far has paid ASUN about $ ISO of the originial cost. "During the 197071 school year it was possible for ASUN requisitions to clear the Student Activities office in the Division of Student Affairs without one of the staff members personally reviewing the actual invoice," the report said. Now Ely Meyerson, interim Dean of Student Affairs, has "instituted a procedure for the careful review of all expenditure requests initiated by ASUN." ABC BEGAN its campaign to distribute the booklets this fall, the report continues. Only in Cather-Hall and Women's Residence Halls were the booklets distributed in mail boxes. The bookets were also distributed under room doors on two residence hall floors. UNL Interim Chancellor C. Peter Magrath said, "In my judgement, the objective that originally prompted ASUN to acquire the booklets was understandable and desirable. The purpose was to provide factual information on birth control to students. But it is also my view that this particular booklet substantially defeats its informational purpose by the inclusion of pictures that are of questionable taste and offensive to many." MAGRATH ADDED that political statements in the booklet also distract from its purpose. However, he noted that the booklets were purchased and distributed through elected student governments. The chancellor made five recommendations to the Board concerning the booklet. First he suggested that before there is any further distribution of the book that University counsel determine whether it is legally pornographic. Second, he recommended that, "ASUN and ABC be asked to place a disclaimer in the remaining booklets relative to the political statement in the handbook preface, and that an apology be tendered to any individuals offended by the pictures and the material." HIS THIRD recommendation was that ABC and residence halls distributing the booklet do so in such a way that it will not be distributed indiscriminately to all students. Fourth, the Chancellor suggested that Birthright participants have a full opportunity to express their views on the birth control and abortion booklets discussed in the booklet. Last Magrath recommended that CSL with the assistance of legal counsel review residence hall policies and procedures for the distribution of materials. The Regents placed the Magrath report on file and gave the administration oral permission to implement the recommendations it contains. THE BOARD ALSO heard a report on the progress of planning of the new NU systems office building. The facility will cost about $665,000 and should be ready for occupancy at the end of August, 1972. The Regents also approved a long-term contract between the University and the NU foundation, which is constructing the building, in which the Regents have agreed to pay the Foundation for space occupied by the University. The fund used to pay the rent will be taken from donations to the University. In another building project the Regents were presented with drawings and models for a proposed expansion of Memorial Stadium. They approved continued planning for the structure and authorized bids to be taken. A LINCOLN-OMAHA split showed itself in voting for architects on the Home Economics building and on preliminary plans for a new college of law. Regent Edward Schwartzkopf of Lincoln moved that the Lincoln firm of Unthank and Unthank be granted the contract for preliminary planning of the College of Law Building. Regent James Moylan of Omaha proposed to amend the motion to give the contract to Dana, Larson, Roubal and Associates in Omaha. Schwartzkopf noted that it had been Moylan's idea to spread University business around the state. "Is the idea to spread it around as long as it's in Omaha?" Schwartzkopf said. "I don't see how you can do this in good conscience." "Maybe I don't have a conscience," Moylan replied. Dana, Larson, Rouble and Associates were awarded the contract. IN THE NEXT ITEM of business Schwartzkopf moved that the firm of Harold Hoskins and Associates, Lincoln, be retained to complete planning and specifications for the proposed College of Home Economics building. Turn to page 7. of the parental survey should be ready at the Board's March meeting. AT THE NOVEMBER meeting, Varner suggested a liberalized policy should be accepted if 50 per cent or more of the parents respond that they approve of a modification. A similar survey will be sent to dormitory students in January, to gauge their reaction to the proposal. Parents and students are asked to have the surveys returned by Feb. 4. If the proposal is approved by parents, students and Regents it could conceivably go into effect in September. Story said the surveys will be sent out two days after students return for the second semester in order to lend that much more credibility to the parental responses. But he urged students to lobby in favor of the proposal over the interim break; THE PROPOSAL apparently lost the support of a third Regent Saturday when Regent Robert Prokop of Wilber changed his November abstension in the vote which set up the visitation committee to a no. He said he took this action to show his displeasure at students who he said were taking governance into their own hands. Schramm Hall students recently rejected the right of the Regents and the administration to dictate their visitation policy. ASUN slates special meeting with Varner A special student senate meeting will be held at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Nebraska Union to discuss the Regents' decision on student fees and its implications, according to Michele Coyle ASUN 1 st vice president. President D. B. Varner will be present to explain the decision and answer students' questions. A motion by Regent Robert Koefoot of Grand Island at a meeting Saturday called for the suspension of all expenditures by the student government and student union on all campuses until a policy can be worked out giving the Board, more control over the use of student fees. VARNER SAID he would attempt to have a committee draft a policy proposal in time for the January Regents meeting. The policy called for in the resolution should "include newspapers, other student publications, and all other uses." In the interim, Varner was given the authority to "continue normal operations of the Student Union Buildings and related services." Coyle said Sunday, "It appears everything we had planned to do December through January will probably be labeled as legitimate, and we'll be able to do it." However, she avoided a positive statement until after the meeting with Varner. FINANCING FOR THE ombudsman, scheduled to begin operation second semester, probably will be considered legitimate, Coyle added, as will the speaking tours and other activities planned by the ASUN Legislative Liaison Committee for the interim break. Nebraska Union Director Al Bennett and Union Program President Kerry Winterer gave official "no comments" Sunday concerning the freeze on program funds. Bennett said, "Until our board and our Program Council can review the directive and engage in discussions with administrators-we have no comment." Winterer said an open meeting of the Union Board has been called for 1 p.m. Monday and he predicted a meeting with Varner will be scheduled soon. AFTER THE REGENTS meeting, Koefoot said the intent of his resolution was to restrict student fee expenditures by requiring that Varner approve all expenditures until guidelines are established. Varner said he understood he is to use the "rule of reason" in administering the suspension. "This will not stop everything," he said. Koefoot's motion came in the wake of a report by UNL Interim Chancellor C. Peter Magrath on the distribution of birth Turn to page 2. Schwartzkopf requests housing study funds University of Nebraska Regent Ed Schwartzkopf said recently an application has been filed with the office of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for a $25,000 grant to finance a housing study. Schwartzkopf said a decision on providing more married student housing for UNL would be delayed pending the outcome of the application and the study, if the application is granted. Schwartzkopf said the study should take "a month or six weeks" once the grant is received. A group of Lincoln residents held a sit-in Wednesday at the University to protest the lack of married-student housing. The group contended the University should provide student housing so students would not compete with low-income families for community housing. Schwartzkopf, who is chairman of a special Regents committee on housing, said he was disappointed with the protest. "I couldn't see where that kind of protest will solve the problem," he said. "We shouldn't attack people, we should attack the problem. Special issue Wednesday Wednesday's Daily Nebraskan will be a special Christmas issue, which will feature a special on the Orange Bowl game between Nebraska and Alabama. Wednesday's newpaper will be the last issue of The Daily Nebraskan for this semester. '-an .- 1 , i I"'., f 8f,r..-.v f ' f "(