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Wednesday, march 22, 1 972
lincoln, nebraska vol. 95, no. 89
Beecher, Baldwin dominate final debate
Senators Roy Baldwin and Bruce Beecher fielded
most of the questions from an audience of about 65
students at Tuesday night's final ASUN presidential
debate in the Abel-Sandoz dormitory cafeteria.
The other two ASUN presidential candidates. Sen.
Bill Schwartzkopf and Sen. Steve Christensen
participated only occasionally.
In the two-hour discussion, Beecher said a handout
printed by Baldwin's All University Party (AUP)
slandered himself and his Concerned Students Party
(CS). "They misrepresented my stands on ASUN
issues such as coed visitation; simply because they
didn't qualify their statements," he added
Beecher said he voted against an ASUN coed
visitation resolution in which the Senate gave full
support to the Residence Halls, because the
resolution give Senate executives the power to spend
as much money on the visitation confrontation as
they wanted.
The senator said the dormitories represent only
one fourth of University students and it wouldn't
have been fair to spend an excessive amount on the
visitation issue.
The AUP document stated without qualification
that Beecher voted against the measure.
Beecher said the ASUN Senate should not have
aligned itself with dormitory dwellers but played an
intermediary role between students and
administration.
Beecher wants to move the weekly meetings of the
ASUN Senate from the Nebraska Union basement
conference rooms to what is now a study room on
the main floor. The senator said the study room it
poorly located for studying because of noise from the
nearby record store. "I think most students would
like to get off in a secluded place to study such as
conference rooms," he added.
Beecher said the main floor location of senate
meetings would encourage students to drop in on the
sessions.
Concerning student cooperative plans, Baldwin
said members of his party would conduct an
investigation this summer on the feasibility of a
student bookstore.
Beecher said he has already done the initial
research on some cooperative projects and would be
ready to implement them this fall.
"We don't know exactly what students want and
what the regents will allow in the way of cooperative
projects," Baldwin added.
Beecher spoke against cutting the size of the
Senate, as the proposed new constitution would. The
senator said the University of Maine has a
100-member student senate that has been very
effective in representing about 10,000 students.
Baldwin said a smaller student government, as set
up in the new conilitution, would allow voters to get
to know candidates for student government because
there would be less of them. "Students would have
no chance to interview candidates running for a
100-member Senate to see what their stands are on
campus issues," he added. -
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- - Photo by BiH Oanz
The last debate. . .ASUN presidential candidates Bruce Beecher, Bill Schwartzkopf,
Roy Baldwin and Steve Christensen. -
New bylaws
outline rights,
responsibilities
by Carol Strasser
The first rough draft of new bylaws for the NU
Board of Regents has been completed by the
University Governance Committee established last
spring.
The 140-page document outlines the rights and
responsibilities of students, faculty and
adminstrators.
The Governance Committee composed of
students, faculty, administrators and regents'
representatives is expected to revise the document
end szbzit a frad rspsrt to th rgyrrts in June,
according to James A. Lake, president of the Faculty
Senate and a member of the committee.
Lake has' described the bylaws as a broad and
general constitution for the entire University of
Nebraska system. Each campus, Lincoln, Omaha and
the Medical Center, must then write a second
document of rules to fit its specific circumstances, he
said.
As the document now stands, the regents must
delegate to faculty and students the authority to
develop systems of self-government, either iri a
separate or combined agency.
The faculty government would have the authority
to adopt a code and procedures to protect academic
freedom. Matters of academic freedom and faculty
status, by a two-thirds vote of the governing body,
could be appealed directly to the regents.
The student governing agencies are empowered to
set their criteria for student membership. Powers of
the agencies include involvement in budgeting funds
collected through student fees. Student
representatives are empowered to serve on all
committees relating to non-academic aspects of
student life.
Under the section entitled "Rights and
Responsibilities of Students," the University is
required to publicize and make available all current
rules, regulations and policies affecting students.
It states that admission to the University can't be
denied on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion,
political beliefs or national origin.
In the academic area, students must be informed
of the requirements, standards and evaluation
procedures at the beginning of each course.
Each college or school must provide a
faculty-student appeals committee for students who
believe that the evaluation of their academic progress
was "prejudiced or capricious." Procedures must be
instituted to change the evaluation if the committee
so determines.
Each campus is required to adopt rules relating to
student discipline and activities in consultation with
student representatives.
The document outlines the minimum procedures
guaranteed a student prior to disciplinary action by
University officials.
These include the student's right to be informed in
writing of all charges and evidence, to present
evidence in his behalf, to maintain his status in the
University while the case is pending and the right to a
hearing before a regularly constituted board.
At the hearing, the student would have the right to
appear with an advisor of his choice, hear all
evidence, question all witnesses, testify and present
his own witnesses and to appeal the decision.
The document states that the burden of proof is
on the person bringing the charge, and a decision by
the regents must be "based solely on the evidence at
the hearing."
Under the proposed bylaws, the University would
be prohibited from duplicating civil authorities'
actions against a student if the offense occurred off
campus, unless the ' interests of the academic
community are "clearly involved."
Confidential student files, including disciplinary
procedures and counseling, wouldn't be released
without the student's approval.
Occupants of University owned housing would be
protected against unwarranted or unreasonable entry
and search.
The document outlines procedures for faculty
members to appeal dismissal from the University.
Each campus is empowered to establish a grievance
committee and academic freedom . and tenure
committee.
A staff member dismissed must be informed in
writing of the cause and has the right to petition the
grievance or academic freedom committee.
The University would have the burden of stating
reasons justifying the dismissal and proving that
"adequate cause exists."
In any procedures before the academic freedom
committee, the dismissed person would have the right
to representation by an advisor, present evidence and
witnesses, cross-examine and to examine all
documents. '
However, Lake pointed out that,' legally, the
regents can't be bound by a decision of the
committee since the Nebraska constitution vests final
power in them.
The American Federation of Teachers (AFT)
chapter at UNL passed a resolution suggesting that
the regents accept the academic freedom committee's
decisions unless the regents state "strong and
compelling reasons."
AFT also suggested that a provision be added to
the bylaws which would allow for review of
administration staff by faculty to determine their
continuation in office.
Polling places
Polling places for the ASUN elections Wednesday are:
Nebraska Union, main lounge, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Nebraska Hall, 16th street entrance, 8 a.m. 8 p.m.
Andrews Hall, Room 10?, 8 a.m. 5:30 p.m.
Hamilton Hail, East entrance, 8 a.m. 8 p.m.
East Campus Union, 8 a.m. 8 p.m.
M and N Building, Main entrance, 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
