r
If-Trom One
I, Student To (SX II
j, 'ipffir ifeies '
v.
opinion
Student fee control
raises questions
Bruce Beecher, a senior in secondary education, is
president of ASUN.
Several years ago the State University of New
York found itself fighting to keep student fees out of
the control of the state legislature. Two basic issues
developed from this court case: first, whether funds
derived from student activities fees are state funds
subject to state legislative control, and secondly
whether the activities fee should be mandatory or
voluntary.
Implicit in both was the question of who should
control the disbursement of student fees. Since then,
these questions have cropped up on campuses all
across the nation and of course, Nebraska has done its
best to keep up with this trend.
The State University of New York, at last report,
lost its court case. But our University officials have
devised a way to sidestep the precedent-setting defeat
handed down by the New York courts.
They've decided to change the name student fees
to university fees so the Nebraska State Legislature
won't get any ideas about assuming control of
student fees.
But what about the students who are forced to
pay this mandatory fee? What say do they have in
determing the taxation rate or the recipients of
student fee support? I 'm sorry to say they have none.
Student fee rates and programmatical
appropriations are set by the Board of Regents and
are recommended by the University administration.
Of course, the University administration isn't
insensitive to student complaints about this injustice. "
It recently ersstsd esvsrsl spscsl tssk fsrca to
study areas receiving student fee support. These areas,
of course, have been researched in the past year by
every group from the Council on Student Life to the
University Motor Pool.
The administration seemingly wants to make sure
there is no stone unturned. Or could it be they're
stalling on taking action on student fees until a
critical regent's race is determined? Where does this
action leave students?
Students have braved the legislature's threatening
attacks on student fees, suffered the humiliations
brought forth in never-ending court appeals, and are
presently staggering through an endless barrage of
University investigation committees, complete with
token student representatives.
It seems to me, if the University of Nebraska is
really interested in producing responsible,
well-educated men and women, it should allow
students to experience a governmental system like
that used in soceity.
This would include allowing students to elect their
student government, and giving this government the
power to assess student needs, prepare a budget, and
set student fee taxes accordingly.
This way students would have the same voice in
determining what their taxes are used for as a
Nebraska citizen has.
Students who disagreed with the expenditures or
taxation imposed by their government would also
have the same recourse as a Nebraskan who is
dissatisfied with his government; either impeach his
representative or organize a ticket to defeat the
incumbents at the next election. If this system is fair
for Nebraska citizens why isn't it fair for University
students?
All of the universities in the Big-Eight conference
use a similar system. Why is the Univer ity of
Nebraska hesitant to give this control to student
government?
Could it be a fear that student government might
just demonstrate responsible management of student
fee money and become a powerful and effective
instrument for students?
LINCOLN COMMUNITY
CONCERTS
is having a
WORKERS IN FORMA TION
TEA
at the
LUTHERAN STUDENT
FOUNDATION
535 N. 16th Street
MONDA Y AFTERNOON
Sept. 18
ANYTIME BETWEEN
4 ,00 and 6:00
THSSWILD ADULT FUN
MUST END THURSDAY!
1 l
DAILY FROM 11:35 A.M.
11,'iij.i.ua.liPiHM''" ' i iinmniinniriiii i nniiii n i "- " - "
monday, September 18, 1972
w i
GIVE A HOOT!
DON'T POLLUTE
teetMfoa
o rp resents
in our fight
sy uwi.
a major step forw
: against pollution
ra
daily nebraskan
page 5