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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.
