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"The program went through last year
with minimal kinds of concerns," Bader
said. "We made an effort from our side to
make sure they were getting the right
kind of advice from the faculty advisers.
And to make sure they were getting some
work requirements in the departments."
The PERP report card was satisfactory
as a result of the students' first good
marks. All of the original students came
through "in good order" academically,
according to Bader. In fact, Whitinq told
the Omaha World-Herald, their grades
were all As, Bs, and Cs. The original three
enrollees then were permitted to live at
the halfway house. But, Bader said, they
had rigid "expectations" from the
penitentiary's standpoint.
"They had to tell Mrs. Whiting where
they were on campus all the time," Bader
said. "That's not to say they couldn't go
into the library or the Union, but there
were some expectations.
!fi)W0OT
"It isn't meant to show a lack of trust,
but simply that there was trust on the
other end to help them (the convicts)
develop their own destiny with regard to
the educational program. "
The "expectations" allow them to mix
with students on campus in a limited
fashion. For instance, no convict is
permitted to talk to any woman when
she's alone. And the extracurricular
activities allowed are almost nil.
"It depends what you mean by
'extracurricular," Bader said. "They can
participate in things only to the extent
that they can go to the Union and listen
to a speaker or qet a Coke. But as far as
being involved in student organization,
that is not now, I believe, possible.
"I realize that education has many
parameters. I think we have to think of
rehabilitation on the broadest parameter.
But we've got to face the fact that these
men have a serious commitment and
they've got to get themselves
academically sound first."
Officials at UNL and at the Penal
Complex have decided to keep the names
of the convicts a secret and the convicts
are not required to reveal their
backgrounds to students.
"We want to retain the anonymity of
these individuals," Bader said. "I think
there would be undue pressure brought to
bear if they would be put on a pedestal as
being different than any other student."
The first year of the PERP was run on
a relatively informal basis between UNL
and the Penal Complex. But this year an
advisory board was formed. The members
of the board are: Warden Charles Wolff,
Bader (the chancellor's designee),
Radcliffe (the faculty adviser), Larry
Bundy (representing Academic Services),
a release student and a student preparing
for the release program.
The board was formed "so we would
know the expectations of the
penitentiary and more importantly to
make sure that we are providing all the
resources available here on the campus
for a social environment and an
educational environment," according to
Bader.
Although the alliance of UNL and the
State Penal Complex is certainly an
innovative one, it is not without
precedent. Some states, particularly
Washington and Oregon, allowed large
numbers of prisoners to attend classes on
campus.
"Most of the states have failed because
they haven't developed a philosophy that
puts more emphasis on quality than on
sheer numbers," Bader said.
It '&t
til U h i , 1 -Ht ' 4
Bader, center . . . relaxes with UNL Chancellor James Zumberge, left and
Nebraska Union Director Al Bennett.
One campus that has run a similar
program for some time is Southern
Illinois University at Carbondale. There, a
degree program is offered within the
institution itself. The educational release
program admits any inmate eligible for
parole.
At any one time, the Illinois program
may have 20 to 25 students enrolled. And
some students have graduated.
But Bader doesn't anticipate that
volume of individuals in the local
program. Although expansion is a definite
possibility it may take other directions
than just numbers.
"We can expect a leveling out of
individuals in the program at any one
time of around 12 to 15," he said. "I
don't anticipate a large number ever on
our campus. We would not have any
concerns if there were. I don't see any
great risk factor."
Sometime next year, one of the
participating students will probably
receive his degree. And that will certainly
be cause for a PERP victory celebration.
But the threat of failure hangs over the
program at all times.
"If failure ever happens academically
it is going to be a travesty," Bader said,
"because failure is not a good thing in
terms of rehabilitation. We're all
conscious that we want to do everything
possible on our end to make it possible
for the inmates in the program to
succeed."
J .
v crrj,N -
' 'if j t
X X c m
Janet Krause . . . coordinates the program at UNL.