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friday, february 11, 1972
lincoln, nebraska vol. 95, no. 67
Students, city
clash over
East Campus
tree removal
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The 34 doomed pines on East Campus. . ."with a little imagination, the trees could be saved
by John Russnogle
The recent agreement between the NU Regents
-and the City of Lincoln for widening Holdrege St.
near East Campus which involves the destruction of
34 Austrian pine trees, has come under fire from
some UNL students and professors.
"With a little .imagination, the trees could be
saved," said Walter Bagley, associate professor of
horticulture. He suggested it might be possible to
leave the trees on an island. Such a plan would not
require much more land than is to be used now, he
said.
The rumor that the trees are about to die anyway
is not true, according to Bagley. He said the trees
could live for at least another 50 years.
Bagley said he thinks Lincoln should research and
develop a mass transit system to handle increasing
traffic rather than continue to widen streets. He said
cities have discovered that it is impossible to
construct streets fast enough to keep up with the
growing number of cars.
By continuing to construct new streets and
.to cars" which will eventually be outdated, Bagley
said.
Robert Obering, Lincoln director of public works,
agreed with Bagley concerning a mass transit system.
The problem, he said, is that people are not willing to
give up their cars in favor of mass transit. People will
continue to use cars until there simply is not a place
to park or it is financially unfeasible, he said.
"I wish we could get people to use a mass transit
system, because there are many problems involved
with widening streets and they are becoming more
complex," he said.
Obering said many hours were spent trying to
produce a plan which would avoid destroying the
trees, but the most feasible plan is that they be
removed.
Plans have been considered which would have
constructed a retaining wall around the trees, but it
was feared that this would destroy too much of the
root system for the trees to survive, he explained.
The only other alternative would have been to tear
down houses on the south side of Holdrege, he said.
Robert Holsinger, city traffic engineer, said the
area around 48th and Holdrege Streets is the main
accident spot in the city. He said Holdrege is carrying
its maximum traffic load at peak hours. Holdrege will
be widened between 45th and 48th Streets.
Some students are not convinced the trees need to
be removed. Women residents in Burr Hall on East
Campus have drafted a petition opposing the
destruction of the trees.
UNL student Sue Torgersen has also been trying to
start a movement to save the trees. She said she has
found limited interest, but is contacting ecologically
concerned organizations for help.
The trees scheduled for destruction were planted
about t900, "according to Harvey Werner, retired
professor of horticulture. He said they were originally
planted to protect an orchard from wind.
This is not the first time the trees have been
threatened, Werner said. In 1958 a large water main
was to be placed dangerously close to the trees. A NU
faculty committee conferred with city planners, who
then decided to put the water main one block south
of Holdrege Street saving the trees.
Actor Bikel knocks stereotypes
Every
"contain
comment,'
dramatic work should
a slice of life and a
' Theodore Bikel told about
100 persons mostly drama majors
during a Thursday afternoon session in
the Temple Building.
-
Bikel, a veteran state, screen and
television performer as well as an
author and folksinger, said he
particularly opposes musicals on the
grounds that they are "copping out"
by not being either a dramatic or
musical production.
Bikel alsc said he didn't buy the
traditional actor's stereotype.
"The lofty calling of an actor," he
said, "by no means exempts you from
the duties, responsibilities, privileges
and joys of citizenship."
Known for his performances in
such Broadway shows as The Sound of
Music and the movies The Russians are
Coming. . . . and more recently, 200
Motels, Bikel said one of his current
concerns is how to instill more artistic
desire in the public.
The problem, Bikel said, is that
Americans are "not a theater loving
people."
He noted that while plenty of
talent is available, 66 per cent of the
actors in the Actors Equity Guild were
unemployed last year.
"Surely the cultural centers of
America are not limited to
Broadway," Bikel continued.
"If a nation is to be remembered by
its arts, then how are we going to be
viewed?" he asked.
r
Senators reject
tuition hike
The Nebraska Legislature's
Appropriations Committee has turned
down a proposal which would have
forced tuition increases at NU and
state colleges.
Sen. Ramey Whitney of Chapped
had proposed charging students $5 per
credit hour for each hour between 12
and 16.
Students currently pay tuition
based on 12 hours per semester but are
permitted to take up to 16 hours
without an additional increase.
Committee members turned down
the proposal on a 6-2 vote. According
to Whitney, NU President D.B. Varner
opposed the plan.
In 'the Unicameral's Revenue
Committee a request was made to
divert $750,000 in annual cigarette tax
revenue into drug abuse programs.
The proposal came from Omaha
Sen. Richard Proud who asked that
one-half cent of the five cent per pack
cigarette tax increase approved in
1971 be switched from the proposed
UNL fieldhouse to the drug abuse
programs.
In other committee action, the
Education Committee voted 6-1 to
advance a bill permitting $500 tuition
grants to students attending private
colleges.
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Photo by Oall Folda
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