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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 17, 1972)
dailu m n monday, april 17, 1972 lincoln, nebraska vol. 95, no. 97 V Candidates contest RHA elections Glen Murray and Gail Watson were elected president and vice president of the Residence Hall Association (RHA) Thursday night, but the election will be contested. Murray and Watson defeated Dennis Lavelle and Bob Brehm 531 to 167, but the losers have asked the RHA court to review election practices. The statement filed by Lavelle and Brehm, according to RHA president Roger Story, maintains that Schramm Hall should have been allowed to vote in the election; that RHA's policy excluding Schramm is absurd and that the dorm was excluded partly because of strong support for Brehm and Lavelle. According to Story, since Schramm is not an active member of RHA and has indicated that it does not want to be an active member, it is constitutionally unable to vote. At RHA council meeting preceeding the election. Story was overruled and Schramm was allowed to vote. Fifteen Schramm residents voted, seven for Murray and Watson, seven for Brehm and Lavelle and one for a write-in candidate. Statements contesting the elections were required to be filed by 7:00 the night of the election, according to Lavelle. "We had to contest the election before we knew for sure what had happened," he ' said. "At the time, it looked as if there were some irregularities in the vote count so we went ahead and filed the statement." After talking to several people, Lavelle decided to withdraw his contest. There were several questionable election practices, he said, but it would be hard to prove anything about their effect on the vote. Brehm, however, will take the issue before the RHA court Monday night He said he does not want a new election, but simply wants to protest "unethical and inappropriate actions" on the part of RHA president Roger Story. The day of the election a large poster endorsing Murray and Watson appeared in Cather Hall. It was signed by Story, RHA secretary Jane Romeiser and John Vihstadt, Cather RHA representative. The poster referred to Lavelle and Brehm as "inexperienced, and clearly unqualified candidates." "We were perfectly within our rights to endorse particular candidates," said Story. "We kept our official duties separate, and acted impartially. In any case, the poster would have affected only a small portion of the vote. "Up to that time, there had been no concrete facts present?! to the voters by either side and very little debate. The majority of the people had no idea wno to vote for, so we decided if no one else was going to say anything, we'd give our personal opinions. They were presented as personal opinions and I think they were taken that way." Brehm also contends that Story acted inappropriately by manning one of the voting booths in Schramm Hall. Story said he made no contact with anyone other than in handing out ballots. Turn-out at Schramm was light, and five people voted while he was at the booth, he said. "Roger Story was carrying out a personal vendetta against me," said Brehm. "We've had what you could call a feud over a lot of things. I was very active in the coed visitation movements and RHA was not. They had a secret meeting once on the issue and kicked me out. They finally approved the minimum proposal. I think we should have gone for 12 hours a day." Both Story and Brehm were disappointed at poor voter turn-out Brehm maintains that there was no publicity about the elections and that consequently most students didn't vote. "They (the current officers) weren't looking for a good turn-out," he said. Those who did vote war Influenced by Story's actions, he added. "I just don't think you can have a free open election when the president of RHA slanders one of the candidates." "We expressed our opinions," Story said, "out we acted impartially in our duties as officers." Summer Orientation may add minority hosts If there's enough money in the budget-and that question will be answered Monday-two or three foreign and minority students will be added as hosts for this summer's New Student Orientation Program (NSOP), according to Chris Harper, a member of a committee investigating that possibility. Interim Dean of Student Affairs, Ely Meyerson, said Sunday he would announce Monday whether the funds are available. Harper's nine-man committee, composed of ASUN representatives, NSOP personnel and members of an ad hoc student group, Friday urged foreign and minority student hosts be added to the program. None of the original 13 students selected as NSOP hosts are foreign or minority students. The committee cited three justifications for the suggested additions, according to Harper. They are: 1) adding minority and foreign student hosts would better convey the diverse nature of the UN L campus; 2) they would add to the general development of the NSOP program by providing another perspective; 3) they might be available to help with UNL's Special Services Orientation and Foreign Student Orientation later in the summer. The NSOP will be held during June and July. It is designed to acquaint incoming UNL freshmen and their parents with the University. An ad hoc student group earlier pressed NSOP administrators to redesign the procedure for selecting the 13 students who act as program hosts. Group members, claiming the NSOP was really a public relations program for parents, called for more student input into the host selection process. Harper, also a member of this group, contended that the hosts chosen weren't the most qualified of those interviewed, and weren't representative of the UNL student body. In subsequent meetings with NSOP administrators, it was decided to suggest foreign and minority student hosts be added to the program. Harper said if money is available for additional hosts they will be selected by an eight-member board, composed of four foreign and minority students plus Wirtz, a faculty member, an administrator and another student. Interviews for host positions would be held next week. Harper said. All foreign and minority students who applied for one of the 13 original positions will be contacted if the go-ahead is given, Harper said. Nine per cent of the original applicants were foreign or minority students, Harper noted. NSOP director and Coordinator of Student Activities Peter Wirtz confirmed Sunday that the student host selection process will be reviewed before the 1 973 program. XJ 3 in.- r Mi i I -A 1 111 2 t j.mmmmmm, ' J l .... t .At-, htm 4. v. !Wf iXii.:? Sunday in the park. . . near-ideal weather greeted relaxing students during afternoon jaunts to Pioneers Park.
