OQlIU
thursday, September 13, 1973
lincoln, nebraska vol. 97, no. 9
Suter:
police
story
ill-timed
Editor's note: Although it is Daily Nebraskan policy to
publish letters to the editor on the editorial page, the editorial
board decided that because of the issue at hand an exception
to this policy was necessary.
The following letter was delivered Wednesday to Daily
Nebraskan New Editor Tim Anderson by Ombudsman Jim
Suter. I he letter is a response to a story printed in
Wednesday's Daily Nebraskan that concerned UNL campus
security and an alleged attempt by officers to copy
confidential information from Suter's office.
Although the letter is critical of the Daily Nebraskan, Suter
agreed that the basic facts in the story were correct. Parts of
Suter's letter were paraphrased for space purposes.
Suter first says he wishes to make it clear to the university
community that he did not contact the Daily Nebraskan about
the Campus Security situation. He stresses the confidentiality
of his office as the reason.
The Daily Nebraskan learned of the situation through an
informant and then contacted Suter. He writes, "Since articles
had appeared previously in the Lincoln Journal and because
the reporter already had information from other sources on
this matter and indicated an article would be published
irrespective of whether or not I answered questions, I did
deem it appropriate to try to keep the story as accurate as
possible without violating confidences."
Suter then relates the interview with the reporter in which
he agreed only to answer specific questions and clarify any
misconceptions implied by them. He says "This format was
agreed upon with the additional understanding that I would be
consulted regarding the timing of the publication of the article
and that I would be allowed at least a few days to continue my
efforts to clarify, review and help to resolve the issues in
ft.
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Ombudsman Jim Suter
question. The reporter said he saw no problem with this
approach and that he would work it out with the editor.
"About half an hour after this interview, I was called by the
editor who said that in good conscience he could not honor
this agreement and that an article would be published
immediately. I attempted to dissuade him, but it was his
judgment that the public's right to know was of paramount
importance. Again, with all due respect for the rights of the
press and the public, I responded that in my judgment such an
article at this time would serve only to exacerbate existing
problems and make the negotiations regarding resolutions (of
problems among Campus Security personnel) more difficult.
Accordingly, I stated that the interests of the university
community would better be served by allowing a few days for
clarification and resolutions of the problems before publishing
the story."
Suter says he believes it would have been more appropriate
to publish a story that was more accurate. This could have
happened, he says, if the Daily Nebraskan had waited and then
published a complete account not only of the problems but of
their resolutions as well.
He continues: "While I fully recognize and support the
right and obligation of the press to inform its community, I
am most distressed by the manner in which the article in
question was handled. I consider the article to be ill-timed,
misleading and, in some respects, irresponsible."
The article's headline, Suter asserts, was misleading. The
headline read "UNL police blamed in break-in attempt." He
says, "I do not, myself, know who is blaming them, uniess it is
the Daily Nebraskan. Further, this banner line connotes that
the Campus Police were involved in a conspiratorial attempt to
break into my office. The fact is that one, and only one,
member of the Campus Security force is involved."
Suter says he believes the Campus Security force is an
"honest, dedicated, hard working group of people who are
stuck with one hell of a difficult job and who, in the main, do
a good job at what is often a thankless task. They are
underpaid, frequently misunderstood, and capable of making
mistakes; however using the poor judgment of one oerson to
impune the entire security force serves no end but to generate
and increase mistrust and alienation between the officers and
the rest of the University community."
Suter says the article also is misleading because it is not
made clear that statements attributed to him were actually
answers to questions being asked by the Daily Nebraskan
reporter.
"An Ombudsman cannot be effective if people fear that he
is going to 'blow the whistle' on them, particularly by going to
public forum, unless it is his last resort," he says.
Suter also says one statement is inaccurate, He says the
reason that he put new locks on his doors was not to keep the
police out, as the article said. He had been thinking of having
them changed for some time, he says, Ijecause of the
confidentiality of his office. The incident with the security
officer only precipitated his doing it now, he says.
Suter summarizes by saying that the ai tide has made the
resolution of existing problems more difficult; could have been
more comprehensive, complete and less misleading if it had
been written later; created the impression that the
Ombudsman might have been attempting to coerce or
intimidate through "public exposure"; and impuned the whole
Campus Security force because of the unresolved situation
involving one person.
Sexuality, camping, yoga all part of Free U
Dave Howlett has his wotk cut out for him.
Howlett. is chairman of the Fiee Univi;isity
Committee, and his work is rousing Fiee U from last
yi .,r ' lethargy.
"i think there's a common feeling that Fiee U
vvni downhill last year and we're trying to build it
nr. :i'j'.i'H," Howlett said.
",V, ol lodjy ve have about 25 courses lined up.
V''.'ic Mil! looking for moie people 1o offei courses 01
one day wot Kliops or seminars."
Howlett said Sept. 19 is the deadline for
registering for courses to be published in the course
description booklet. He said that Free U will run an
ad in the Daily Nebraskan for any courses that come
in late.
Student registration (or Fiee U will he Oct 3
thiounh !) 7 lie cost is Si.
Houk'tt -..lid, In: is planning a program to publicize
I mt I J on the Union plaa, Oct. 3. He said teiialive
;;'.i!v, have been made to set up a registration and
ii i'or m i . it ion fxiol h.
"m ',i'!,n.j to Hov.'l'tt, fiee U now has te-achcis
r die ' !! -iwiu'i coiascs: how to become a pilot,
!,-.. n't .ii"l i op.ii i in') stereo systems, political tap
v v.ioi i .mil the ocelli !,
Men's liberation, women's liberation, gay
liberation, fencing, mountain climbing, bicycle repair,
sexuality, beginning camping, ham radio operation,
meditative yoga and physical yoga.
Basic bartending and cocktail hostessing, history
of jazz, science fiction, photography, mind control,
paiiiamcntaiy procedure, theology and history of the
Nebraska Democratic Parly by Hess Dy.is.
In addition, Free U has scheduled workshops on
community action research and death and dying,
Howlctt said.
Hovvlelt said Free U will also be woi king with the
Human Potential Conference Series. T he series will
present four speakers on the potential of the human
mind. Hovvlelt said he hopes to set up courses on
each of the topics.
I he seiies' first speaker is Dr. Andrew Weil, author
of The Natural Mind. Weil will speak on Sept. 20.
Howlett said the mind control course, offered by
Yuko Yates, will follow up on Weil's speech.
r ice U also plans to olfer a two day conference on
consumerism and woi Id economics. Howlett said
R.ilpii Nader .md John Gardner of Common Cause are
i in, considered as speakers, as well as business
executives and local consumer advocalcs. Howled
said he would like to follow up this conference with,
courses also. j
Howlett said other ASUN chairpeisons have
shown interest in the conference proposal, but where
financing will come from remains to be worked out.
Howlett said he would like to see Free U become
financially independent of ASUN. (ASUN boosted
Free U's budget $200 this year to get the program
back on its feet, according to ASUN President Ann
Henry.)
"One of Free U's basic philosophies is to fill a void
in the University curriculum, to offer academic and
nonacademic courses not offered by the University,"
Howlett said.
"This year I see a new direction in Free U's
philosophy. I would like to see Free U go
community-wide. I think it will have to for its own
survival," he added.
"Other free universities, such as the one that started
at the University of Denver, have successfully gone
community wide. I think Lincoln is a large enough
city to support a free university if it is managed
properly. I think a free university should try to meet
all of the people's needs," Howlett said. i