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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (March 3, 1972)
doi friday, march 3, 1972 lincoln, nebraska vol. 95, no. 79 Fowler recalls University year by H. J. Cummins "Quality in student life" was the central theme in Steve Fowler's campaign in the spring of 1971, and on his mind Thursday morning as he reminisced about the year that campaign led him into. The out-going ASUN President's platform a year ago promised his party's "overriding concern will be the expansion of student initiative, representation and commitment." And Fowler said his and the University Coalition's (UC) general philosophy throughout the year has been to "work for greater student serf-determination-students' right to set their own directions in education, housing, life in general. "Things were accomplished this year," Fowler said. "A lot of energy and money were expended." Areas of concern have included building student economic and political power, encouraging students to use their newly won votes, lobbying for students at the state Legislature and providing information of need or interest to students. Fowler said the controversy aroused by some of ASUN's projects exists largely outside the University community. "Our projects, particularly the mphasis on student services and information are of interest, and value, to targe portions of the student body. "I'm concerned that groups outside the University are making judgements as to what is needed for students on this campus," he said. The Time-Out Conference on Human Sexuality was better attended than those in previous years, Fowler said, adding that the up-roar from outstate Nebraska was not as important to him as the expressions of UNL faculty and students that they "found it to be a topic well worth discussion." And the birth control handbooks-ordered by last year's ASUN administration and fully endorsed by this year's-were defended by Fowler on the same principle. "There were 10,000 of them distributed in less than a year and there really was not a well-organized plan of distribution. Most students had to make an effort to pick them up someplace," he noted, saying that proved a need for the information existed. Most recently, ASUN has actively supported a threatened mass violation of coed visitation rules by Residence Hall Association (RHA) members. Fowler said he believed the RHA plan was "more than justified-they've been very patient in their effort to eliminate those absurd rules." It is just another instance, he said, of "students being allowed to determine what is appropriate for themselves." It is also an example of his contention that UNL students are not apathetic. Fowler said. "Students, like everyone, are primarily interested in an issue when it directly affects them." he said, "and large numbers of students were mobilized for the visitation issue." Outlining the year's projects, Fowler said expanded student services include a record store with twice as many records as the year before (and the lowest prices in town), an art and gift shop, copy shop, two book exchanges (where students could buy and sell used books among themselves) and giving money to child and infant day care centers. Politically, ASUN helped with a campus voter registration drive, and expanded their Legislative Liaison Committee which united with similar committees from most college campuses in the state. Educationally, ASUN Free University coordinated group independent study; ASUN helped set up study programs for the interim periods between semesters and sent special inserts to all students with their registration forms to explain new pass-fail and independent study programs. In programs, ASUN sponsored the Time-Out Conference on Human Sexuality, a Prison Teach-in, and is supporting the March 6-13 World In Revolution Conference. And in the area of human rights, birth control handbooks were made available-and Fowler said more may be ordered; tenant rights handbooks will be" mailed to all married students soon; and an ombudsman to present student complaints to administrators will begin his duties March 11, due to efforts by ASUN beginning early last summer. Looking ahead. Fowler said he sees some encouraging signs for the campus and the senate that will be elected March 22. A full-time dean of student affairs will mean more administrative attention to student needs, Fowler predicted, and the adoption of a new ASUN constitution-making the senate a smaller, hopefully more cohesive, body-will mean more active planning and implementation of student programs. He said his administration has carried through on many programs begun under his predecessor, and he said he hoped for the same type of continuity in the future. "If ASUN is to offer meaningful services for students, it's going to have to work on projects that take more than one year to develop," he said. Looking ahead to his personal future. Fowler said he hopes to graduate at the end of the summer. Asked what would be next, he only said, "We'll see." "A draft number of 49, and indecision about what he really wants make his plans "pretty tentative," he said. Senators study anti-war paper State Sen. Terry Carpenter of Scottsbluff received permission Thursday morning from fellow senators to have printed in the legislative journal a statement drafted by Nebraskans for Peace and to hold a "public meeting' on the statement. Specifically titled "Indochina War Resolution," it asks that "this body (Nebraska Unicameral) urge the President and the Congress of these United States to immediately cease the air war, withdraw all the U.S. troops in Indochina, end all support for the Thieu dictatorship, and turn their attentions to growing socio-economic problems and growing unrest here at home." The statement was not introduced in the Legislature as an official, legislative resolution. Carpenter stressed that he does not support the statement at this time but feels an open, public meeting should be held on the issue. The resolution charges the Indochina war with causing an "increasing disregard for N domestic problems, growing unemployment, ineffectiveness of our welfare system, and deterioration of our environment." "The current government of South Vietnam is an open military dictatorship," it added. 'This year's resoltuioh is aimed at the air war in Indochina," Nick Meinhardt, coordinator for Nebraskans For Peace said. A similar public hearing was held last spring on the north steps of the state capitol. Meinhardt noted several senators had been contacted about sponsoring the resolution. .The purpose of the planned meeting, according to Meinhardt, is "to provide a forum by which people can make their views known." He hopes the meeting may "possibly attain. Unicameral consideration of the resolution." The resolution also states: "The once proud image of our country continues to deteriorate rapidly. . . the American people have been bled white in a war that cannot be won." Carpenter could not be reached late Thursday as to the date, time or place of the planned meeting. Post -game disturbances close championship Friday night's All-University intramural championship basketball game between Kappa Alpha Psi. UNL's black fraternity, and the Celtics, a team composed of off -campus students, will be closed to the .public because of trouble resulting after Thursday night's semi-final game between Kappa Alpha Psi and Abel VII. According to Phil Sienna, UNL Men's intramurals director, Thursday night's trouble resulted from a technical foul called by one of the referees on Kappa Alpha Psi because of their storekeeper's abusive language. Avel VII missed the technical free throw and Kap.M Alpha Psi went on to win 57-49. 'After the game the fans and referees discussed the call. A Kappa Alpha Psi fan, according to Sienna, came down from the stands and hit one of the referees, but not the one who had called the technical. The fight was then broken up by one of the Kappa Alpha Psi basketball players. The referee who was struck was not seriously injured. Sienna said in order to avoid another disturbance, the public will be excluded from tonight's championship game between Kappa Alpha Psi and the Celtics. However, KRNU Radio will broadcast the game starting at 7:45 p.m.
