editorial pimifefi pg
Balancing act
What may on the surface appear to be a
good move to insure that the Board of
Regents does not interfere with the planning
of campus conferences may in fact be the
worst thing that could have been done in that
area.
When ASUN President Bruce Beecher went
before the Board of Regents to propose an
alteration of the proposed University bylaws
which would demand that fee programs be
balanced over the entire year, he evidently
had good intentions.
According to Beecher, the proposal was
intended to keep the power to stop
conferences out of the hands of the regents.
Supposedly, the amendment would require
that the regents prove that a whole year
would not be balanced before they could alter
programming.
Unfortunately, this is not the case. By even
mentioning a requirement for balanced
programs in the by laws, the regents could
concievably be opening one of the worst
possible pandora's boxes in the direction of
the student.
The one element the amendment neglects
to recognize is the arbitrariness of the word
"balance" as it would be applied in a court of
law. Lacking a definition of balance, there is
every chance that if the regents dislike a
particular speaker or program paid for by
student fees, they could delay or even force
cancellation of the event.
This would involve a simple process of
taking the matter to court where, no doubt, a
series of temporary injunctions against the
yearly fee structure could halt the program
involved until contracts were voided and the
event impossible to reschedule.
If, on the other hand the courts did not
allow the delaying tactics, it might not be as
tough as anticipated to obtavn a decision
against the programs. The regents just might
prove to the courts' satisfaction that the
program would irretrievably unbalance the
entire yearly student fee program, making the
program invalid. Either way, student freedom
in programming would suffer.
In the original draft of the bylaw, there is
no mention of any power to stop fee
programs. The bylaws give students total
freedom to "invite and hear any person of
their choosing," a clear delineation of powers.
To add a section requiring balance would
only muddy the question and give future
regents the power to wreak havoc on future
programs if they wish.
Beecher's proposal, while probably made
with the best of intentions, could in this case
be the worst possible way to go. To include it
would be a drastic. mistake..
Parking pi
A short addition to Thursday's mammoth
parking editorial:
Students are paying for parking provided
for Big Red football fans. Or at least that's
the way it seems.
Every year a huge number of on and
off -campus students pay a $15 parking fee of
which, we are told, most goes to parking lot
maintenance and improvement. For this,
students are allowed to park in specific areas.
On game Saturdays, however, Husker fans
come poring into Lincoln bumper-to-bumper
and park in these same lots for nothing.
There's an inequity involved here.
Probably worse than the free parking
awarded to Harry Husker, however, are the
several lots which are reserved for members of
the friends of the Athletic Department: the
state's Beef Clubs, Touchdown Clubs and the
Husker Award Club.
Agreed, students exclusively are allowed to
park in the lots on weekdays and even until
10:30 a.m. on game Saturdays.
But why should fans who often pay $2 or
more to park in lots near the University park
for free in student-maintained lots.
It seems odd that the University, of all
places, would fail to capitalize on the greatest
possible Big Red moneymaker in years.
Jim Gray
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Honest Dick
and his
used car lot
arthuf
hoppe
lUftCliiOifti!
It was a month ago that Herbert Hanoy walked into Honest
Dick's Used Car Lot to look around and kick the tires.
He was immediately recognized by the firm's top salesman,
Henry. "Well, well, back again Mr. Hanoy," said Henry,
rubbing his hands. "And what can I show you today?"
"Frankly," Hanoy said, "I've been thinking about that red
and white, two-door Ceasefire Eight. Of course, it doesn't have
aiynchromesh political settlement ..."
"It's just the model for you, Mr. Hanoy," Henry said.
"Look at that automatic withdrawal system, that tripartite
power steering, those guaranteed free elections . . , "
"I bought a '54 French model once with guaranteed free
elections," Hanoy said suspiciously. "It fell apart before I
hardly got it home and nobody ever made good,"
"You're not dealing with those tricky Frenchmen now'
Henry said with dignity. "You're dealing with Honest Dick.
Look, I'm going to make you an offer you can't refuse. We've
got special E-Z terms on that Ceasefire Eight. This month
only."
"Well, it isn't exactly what I wanted," Hanoy said
reluctantly. "But if you can make me a good deal. . ."
"Just step into my office," Henry said happily. So they
haggled for hours and hours and finally came up with an
18-page contract with lots of small print. On which they shook
hands.
Naturally, Honest Dick, himself, was called in to look the
deal over. "Congratulations, Mr. Hanoy," he said, after reading
all the fine print. "You certainly got yourself a fine bargain
there. I don't see any reason we can't have everything signed
and delivered by next Tuesday-or Oct. 31 at the very latest."
So Hanoy went home and told everybody he'd bought
himself a used Ceasefire Eight. While he was somewhat uneasy
about it, all his friends said he was doing the right thing.
Then he got a call from Henry. "Everything all right?"
Hanoy asked anxiously.
, "Sure, sure," Henry said. "No problems at all. Delivery's
just around the corner. But first would you mind dropping by
for one more little chat."
"If there's no problems," Hanoy said, "what's there to chat
about?"
"Oh, just a little clarification of language. Like that part
about tripartite power steering. It seems it isn't exactly power
steering. . ."
"Look, we've got a contract and you promised to sign It by
Oct. 31," Hanoy said angrily.
"I think we promised to try to sip it by thsn," fUnry said.
"Confidentially, we're having little trouble over the title.
Seems there's this gentleman in Saigon who feel's he's the legal
ownen And to get his signature on th contract, I'm afraid
you re going to have to-er-up your price Just a little
and . . . "
"A deal's a doall" Hanoy spluttered. "Sign like you
promised I"
"Well, seeing we're not exactly the legal owners. . ."
"You mean to tell me," Hanoy shouted, "that you've teen
trying to sell me a car you don't even own?"
"Now, now, Mr. Hanoy, there's no need to get excited,"
Henry said soothingly. "I'm sure it will all work out After all, .
if you can't trust Honest Dick, who can you trust?"
But, unfortunately, Hanoy had already slammed down the
receiver.
Well, anyone who's been through a similar experience can
predict the outcome. Either you tear up the contract into
teensy little pieces, muttering curses, or you up the ante and
go through with the deal, feeling rooked and snookered and
muttering curses.
In either case, one thing's for sure: You certainly aren't fit
to live with.
(Copy right Chrortlcl Publlthlng Co. 1 972)
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page 4
daily nebraskan
friday, november 10, 1972
, s
