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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (March 2, 1973)
OQlIU Cfu friday, march 2, 1973 lincoln, nebraska vol. 96, no. 81 Student regent amendment's future uncertain ni, i i nn .,.,kL. Sen. Richard Marvel . . . seeks student representation on NU Board of Regents Health task force recommends 4 policy changes by Mary Voboril A task force investigating the University Health Center (UHC) said UNL has "one of the better student health centers in the country," but nonetheless offered 20 recommendations for the center's improvement. The statement was in a report which was released Thursday. The task force recommended the University: -Continue the inpatient service. Inpatient refers .to persons requiring hospitalization. -Sustain the hospital, pharmacy and dietary services without student fee support. "We have been assured that the dietary service can and will be made financially self-sustaining," the report said. "The December financial statement indicates that this is almost achieved." -Recognize that the research program is an integral part of the health center. "Such activity is appropriately supported, in part, by student fees," the report said. -Proportionately distribute operational costs for the Environmental Health and Safety Division among the three NU campuses, using non-student fee funds. The defined objective of the environmental health program is "to provide a healthful and safe environment in which to work, study, play and live." It calls itself a service organization and is equipped to survey areas of possible health hazards, such as swimming pool water quality and the collection and disposal of hazardous chemical wastes such as mercury. The report also recommends that the health education program, which includes formal courses in health and living unit health aides, should be financed with means other than student fees. The report also outlined results of studies on duties of UHC senior staff members, UHC personnel policies and funding procedures. The report did not touch on the subject of altering the current fee each full-time student must pay, which now is set at $21 per semester. These fees account for about two thirds of the center's total support. Other funding is provided by taxes and such agencies as the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. Continuation of the prepaid fee was recommended so that "the burden of the individual's medical costs is borne by the entire group rather than by the sick." Fuenning said the only way to implement decreases in student fee support for the Health Center would be to increase charges for services. UHC currently charges about 50 per cent less than private hospitals and physicians. Fuenning also quoted a section of the report that said prepaid student fees benefit the student consumer since insurance premiums can be obtained at a more modest cost.. Increasing the . charges would increase the insurance cost, Fuenning said. He said the entire thrust of UHC since 1947 has been toward health maintenance and preventing illness and injury. . ... , ; , The report is scheduled for discussion at Saturday's Board of Regents meeting. Each regent has received a copy of the 16-page report, which has seven appendices. Several regents contacted Thursday gave an optimistic prognosis for the report. "I thought it was a nice report. I was proud to see we had one of the best health centers in the country," said Scottsbluff Regent J.G. Elliott. Regent Robert Koefoot of Grand Island said he thought the task force did a "tremendous job. I agree with the report." He said the report convinced him the health center was a necessary part of the University, although last spring a joint report by Koefoot and Regent Robert Prokop of Papillion said the hospital should be closed because it was badly run, unnecessary and costly. Prokop said he had not had time to closely examine the recommendations, although he had read it. However, Propkop noted that the task force report gave attention to several areas he and Koefoot had brought up in another study released Feb. 3. "I have always been for student health services and have tried to get better utilization for student money" earmarked for health, Prokop said. The report was released by Ken Bader, vice chancellor for student affairs, after it had been studied by UNL Chancellor James Zumberge. He set up the committee in September, 1972. Sam Brower, ASUN first vice president, was the only student serving in the nine-member gourp, Others included Dr. Frank B. Stone, Bader, Virginia Trotter, Dr. Lee Stover, Ted Hartung, Alan Seagren, Russell Murray and Dr. Richard Hammer. by Steve Arvanette The Constitutional Revision Committee of the Nebraska Legislature took no definitive action Thursday on a proposed constitutional amendment which would aid a student to the NU Board of Regents. After a motion to kill LB323 failed on a 2-4 vote, another motion to advance the bill to the floor of the Legislature failed to get a second. At that point the committee voted to adjourn leaving the bill's fate uncertain. The bill was introduced by Hastings Sen. Richard Marvel. Crofton Sen. Jules Burbach questioned if a student serving in an advisory position to the board wouldn't "be more meaningful" than having a student with actual voting power. Marvel replied that he. didn't think such an advisory person would have the power a voting member would have. The bill calls for a constitutional amendment to be placed before the voters. If passed, it would increase the present eight-member board to nine. The ninth seat would be held by as many as three full-time students at the University. Further qualifications and manner of selection would be determined by the Legislature at a later date if the amendment is ratified. In arguing for the bill, Marvel told the committee that a student regent would encourage students to work within the University structure in their attempts at change. Such involvment would have additional educational value, he said. He said the decision making power also should be extended to those affecteu by the institution. Such a student serving on the board would bring a point of view not earlier represented, he said. The addition of a student on the governing board of Nebraska Wesleyan University has created a "community atmosphere" on the campus by drawing all sides together, Marvel said. Michele Gagne, ASUN first vice president, told the committee a five-member advisory board meet wltH the regents, usually prior to the monthly meetings. She said such a meeting is not sufficiently informative to be of much benefit. "Major decisions are not made in public meetings," she said. Gagne said the current advisory board has minimal influence on the regents "because we don't have access to information." Mark Hoeger, of the ASUN Legislative Liason Committee, said the purpose of securing a student regent was not to control the governing board, but to provide information on student concerns. The regents, Hoeger siad, have not had close contact with campus life for a considerable time. If a student were added, improved communication between the two sides would result, he said. Marvel agreed that "students are closer (to the quality of education) than any regent." Regents are "not present consumers of education," he said. A representative from the American Association of University Professors asked the committee to consider adding faculty representation to the bill. Scott Robertson, student representative serving on the Nebraska Wesleyan University's Board of Governors, said a student vote should be guaranteed if it is felt that student views are important. oyas, wno inuouucea ine mm uiuuuh, asncu wuy students should be given a special status. "The University belongs to the people of Nebraska," he said. Joining Syas on the vote to kill was Grand Island , Sen. Ralph Kelly. Voting against the motion' were Senators Gary Anderson of Axtell, Fred Carstens of Beatrice, Orval Keyes of Springfield and Duke Snyder of Omaha. Keyes offered the motion to advance the bill but no one offered a second. Regents to face 5 problems at meeting An ancient Chinese nobleman once said his problems always came in threes, but the Board of Regents doesn't seem to be so lucky. At Saturday's meeting, the Board will consider proposals for coed visitation and alcohol consumption in the dormitories, an $80 per person rate hike for next year's dormitory residents, the final report cf the University Health Center Task Force and financing for new married student housing units to be constructed on East Campus. A report on the dormitory rate increases is also scheduled by the UNL Housing Office. The meeting will be at 1 p.m. in the University Systems Building across from East Campus, and is open to the public.
