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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 19, 1972)
editorial Birth control For more than a century, birth control was a "we don't talk about it" subject at the University of Nebraska. And, like many areas which are ignored, it developed into a problem. Rates for both venereal disease and unmarried pregnancies rose at the University. But the state continued to pretend it just wasn't happening. $ The sexual revolution reached Nebraska and the state was rapidly overtaken by what,, one decade before would have been labeled as promiscuity. Luckily, a change did begin to come about. Students began to lobby for contraceptives. They joined Planned Parenthood and gained knowledge and an understanding of the situation and its implications. Finally, that interest began to show some results. Take, for example the Uniyersity Health Center. Within the past five years, the Center has made huge strides in curing the University's pregnancy and disease problems. A few years ago, things were strict at the center. Dispensing contraceptives was rare, cases of venereal disease and requests for birth control devices were DromDtlv reDorted to students' 1 i r- - i jjarents. A few years ago, it finally became apparent that the situation could not be ignored any longer. A part of the center's expanding program of sexual health care, the nurse also serves as counsel to women with problem pregnancies, assists in physical examinations, and answers general questions about contraception and University Health Services. For a $15 fee, any female University student can be given contraceptive tests, including a Pap smear test and receive a first month birth control, prescription. The procedure is not covered by student fees, according to Center officials, because the examination and prescription is strictly a free-will, non-mandatory procedure. Contraceptives are sold at slightly above cost to students, much below prices at most Lincoln drugstores. Today, the Center has a plan so comprehensive and well-organized that it has been commended by Planned Parenthood. Currently, the Health Center dispenses all kinds of contraceptives by prescription. To receive contraceptives, the student need only visit one of the Center's doctors and receive a prescription for the device. No parental permission or notification is required. Contraceptives may also be prescribed by the Center's family planning nurse. Added to the Health Center's staff this fall, the nurse prescribes contraceptives after conferring with students on methods available. It is difficult to measure exactly how much these alterations have affected the problems at hand-how many problem pregnancies were avoided, how many cases of venereal disease were prevented. It is interesting to note, however, figures show that the. number of pregnancies handled by the center has decreased from 161 in 1970-71 to 135 in 1971-72. The number of cases of gonorrhea, while increasing from 55 in 1970-71 to 75 in 1971-72 represented a decrease in rate of growth of the disease, far below projected rates. Whether or not this reflects the efforts of the Health Center is unknown. Students may not have used the Health Center treatment as much as in years past, reducing the figures. But it seems unrealistic to believe the decreases were totally divorced from policy change. All appearances are that the Center arid the Ur;,'ersity deserve applause for the work they have done in reducing these problems to size. In a conservative state like Nebraska, it is only slightly less than a miracle that these major improvements have come about. It can only be hoped the Center will continue pushing into an area that for too long was unheard-of. Jim Gray In order lo have a su-ccessfvl and "happ'day , arise early and be in a position to watch the sunrise. (Face the East!) 91 I " ' .b 01- in92 Ml ( - . Rave a ZappyDay.'.' i i.v urtz I 26 " ORH 'TO 9 (el H. I. Cough aiding humble imaginations michee coye "I want to know how each faculty member spends his week," Regent H.I. Cough said. Eyes darted about the room as visions of time clocks and punch cards danced in the air. "According to my calculations' Resent Cough continued, "the typical UNL faculty member spends approximately two hours 10 minutes and 30 seconds each week traveling to or from hisher office to the classroom; an alarming number (50.33 per cent) of faculty also spent two to three and a half hours and six minutes of their day in conversation and consultation with other faculty, and sometimes even students. "Of course, my study has only begun to unearth these highly valuable and significant relationships. Time will eventually tell. But being a professional man myself, I note with particular concern the following findings. My study has revealed that a majority of faculty spend at least 33 13 per cent of their day, in their office, by themselves, completely alone. "In other words, these people are allowed to spend one-third of their working day, behind closed doors, where their activities, let alone their thoughts, can not even be discretely observed, much less examined by alert and suspicious minds. So much is left to our humble imagination! "The serious implications of this unfortunate situation are too dire to predict, but other predictions can be made. I have been saving one final discovery for our discussioi. "My investigation, which incidentally is based on the famed Texaco plan (you know, the only man you can really trust is the one wearing a star or at least carrying it in his wallet-everyone else needs to be carefully regulated by an ever watchful eye), seems to suggest that there is a significant correlation between the amount of the time an instructor spends in the classroom and the third letter of that instructor's surname. I haven't the data here with me at this time, but I'd merely like to point out the potential importance of such information in the future hiring and firing practices. "For as we all 'kndw so well, it is only the time an instructor spends in the classroom that really matters. Higher education is a simple matter of big business-either the laborer produces the desired product, or another laborer is found to replace him." "I'm not interested in products or numbers," came a voice from the corner. "Who said that?" queried President Varnish turning his head to face the intruder. I did," came the reply. "Being the so-called product of this grand educational scheme, I think I have as much right as anyone else to contribute to this informal discussion. "For what it's worth, trying to regulate the teaching experiences of any group of people has never made too much sense to me. Until the University begins to reward good teachers for good teaching, just as it reinforces publishing for publishing's sake and research for research's sake, no amount of coercion is going to increase the quality of teaching in the classroom. "You may possibly get more instructors in front of students, but that doesn't mean you'll have finer or better qualified teaching. Unless the reward system changes, you'll never have as many good teachers as you realistically could." The silence that filled the room was finally broken by Regent Crawtoe. 'Though we will take your comments under advisement, this is a closed-public meeting. If you wish to address this body, please submit such a request In writing to our secretary. Until then, you are politely advised to restrain from such public displays. Any show of violence will be treated accordingly." And accordinolv. "S. uisi-ussion was resumed. . ' page 4 daily nebraskan thursday, October 19, 1972 .V-
