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thursday, mch 1, 1973
lincoln, nebrasKa.vol. 06, no. 80
rfu
Ne w rules confuse
future of retarded
4
Brian Mills
ASUN toasts liquor request
With dormitory rate increases on the
agenda for Saturday's NU Board of Regents
meeting, the ASUN Senate Wednesday
passed a resolution urging that alcohol
consumption and coed visitation privileges
be granted to enhance dormitory living.
Another resolution that was passed
recommends the University attempt to
"improve the living environment of the
halls.. .and cut unnecessary costs."
ASUN also will invite UNL Housing
Office representatives to report to the body
next week on the proposed dormitory rate
increases.
The two original resolutions were
introduced by ASUN Sen. Bill Fruedenburg
and Sen. Ann Henry.
Freudenburg's resolution stated that
"dormitory rates should not be raised."
Henry's said "dormitory rates will inevitably
increase."
Both recommended liberalization of
alcohol and coed visitation policies, although
Freudenburg's original bill was more critical
of spending policies of the UNL Housing
Office.
"The very least we can do is minimize the
economic effect on the students,"
Freudenburg said. "It's up to this group to
stand up for the rights of students."
Henry said she had been investigating
dormitory rate increases.
"After talking to the Housing Office, I
can't see how they can cut any more,"
Henry said. "You have to pay to eat, and
food prices are rising."
Because rate increases will definitely
come and dormitories will be forced to
compete with off-campus housing, alcohol
and coed visitation liberalization will help
on-campus students "get as much for their
money," Henry said.
Both resolutions were passed by the
senate, but Freudenburg's clause
condemning the rate increase was amended
out of the final resolution.
In other action, Henry reminded the
senate that the bill providing for a student
regent comes before a legislative committee
Thursday for hearing and urged everyone to
attend.
"Student interest is very important on
this bill," she said. "You don't have to say
anything, just show your interest."
ASUN President Bruce Beecher reported
on the progress of the library study being
done for ASUN by a consultant firm.
"I've been really impressed with the kind
of work they've been doing," he said.
"(UNL Chancellor James) Zumberge
indicated things are reallv going to roll
now."
by Tim Anderson ",
Many mentally retarded Children currently enrolled in
programs at the Lancaster Office of Mental Retardation (LOMR)
may soon find themselves forced into the Beatrice State Home.
It could happen, according to Ann Coyne, director of
community services at LOMR, if proposed regulations for social
service recipients are adopted. They will become law March 14.
-Xv v; . i :' '
The Health, Education and Welfare Department proposal
would further limit federal payments to statesJjy allowing funds
only for acturl welfare recipients or those expected to be on
welfare within six months, she said.
. . , " '
Currently, federal fundi are available for persons who have the
potential to become welfare recipients within five years.
Locally, this would mean that of the 62 children enrolled in
the Human Development Prdgram at LOMR, 55 would be
ineligible, Coyne said.' t
"The program cost us $24,300 in January," she said. "If the
cuts had been in effect then, we would have lost $17,500."
Thirty-one children fire enrolled in the residency or hostel
program in Lincoln.':;' N;l,-.(Uflify if the proposals are
adopted, she said. .'
. '-.-v' y.. .(- ' '
In January, the hostel progratn cost LOMR $11,000; the loss
because of cuts would have been $8,800, she explained.
In addition, LOMR wdul.ldse almost half of its money for
social workers, she said.-, v -
'.'''.'
"If all these children are; shut out of our programs, they've
only got a couple of chbice;6f where to go. They can either go
home which may be in some isolated rural section with no special
schools, or they can go td Beatrice"
What, if anything, can be done to stop proposed changes from
being adopted? ,'t . ..
' " '''" ' 'v-v ,'.
"We've set up a booth Irt fei north entrance of the Nebraska
Union to try to get ittMI t) '; jMgny 'a petition opposing the
proposals and we're fatting fimtV'&s&d response," Coyne said.
"However, what we tally need is some letter writing," she
said. "If people would write' fo the administrator of Social and
Rehabilitation Services in Washington, D.C., it would really help.
"Philip Rutledge is'the administrator and it will have to be his
decision to reassess these proposals. But those proposals go into
law in two weeks-we just don't, hive much time."
W'v.
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Ete&fcy Kobza
photos by Dan Ladely
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