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thursday, September 27, 1973
lincoln, nebraska vol. 97 no. 1 7
Student battles dress code
A lawyer for the Nebraska Civil Liberties
Union (NCLU) confirmed he has been asked to
investigate the possibility of representing a
UNL student who was told not to report to his
student teaching assignment with the Lincoln
Public Schools unless he changed his clothing
style.
Mike Johnson, the UNL student who was
given a student teaching assignment at Millard
Lefler Junior High School, has alleged that
Principal Robert Knaub ordered him not to
return to the school unless he changed the style
of clothes he wore in the classroom.
NCLU attorney Bruce Hamilton said he hopes
to "negotiate a resolution of the difficulty to
please everyone." If that doesn't work, possible
legal action would be investigated, he said.
"I hope we can find a satisfactory answer to
the problem without litigation," Hamilton said.
According to Knaub, Johnson's typical attire
for teaching was blue jeans, work shirt and
waffle stomper shoes.
"One of the school's policies is that a staff
member dress similar to faculty members in the
classroom," Knaub said.
The Lefler principal said Johnson's dress was
not similar to any teacher in "this (school)
building or probably any (school) building (in
Lincoln)."
Knaub said Johnson was not "dismissed"
from student teaching at the school, but "chose
not to come back."
"I have an obligation to uphold the policies of
the Board (of Education)," Knaub said.
"He wasn't going to give an inch. He was
vehement; he wanted to dress the way he
wanted to," the principal said. "He knew what
the rules were when he began student
teaching."
According to the Lincoln Public Schools
Personnel Handbook for the 1973-74 school
year, wearing apparel for teachers requires that:
"Teachers are expected to set a good example
for students."
A NU Student Teaching Handbook states:
"Student teachers are to follow accepted
standards of dress and grooming in vogue with
the professional staff of the secondary
schools."
Bert Alfrey, professor in charge of secondary
student teaching, said the issue is not between
an employer and employe because student
teachers are "guests" in the schools.
"Nothing by law says the Lincoln Public
Schools must take our students," Alfrey said.
Ronald Joekel, associate dean in Teachers
College, said there is a "mutual benefit" derived
in allowing UNL students to teach in the
Lincoln school system.
Joekel said for a student to be certified to
teach, they must have student taught or have
completed a special program through the
University.
"There are a variety of options and
alternatives available," Alfrey said, if students
do not desire to student teach.
Alfrey said Johnson is now taking courses on
campus to gain his certification. Only 2 or 3 per
cent of the Teachers College students enroll in
this form of instruction, he said.
"We don't have a 'Mike Johnson case',"
Alfrey said. "He might have a case with the
Lincoln Public Schools."
According to Alfrey, Johnson was not
allowed to return to his teaching assignment
after he had agreed to make the appropriate
change because it was too late in the semester
and other teaching arrangements had been
made.
V":
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1 J
ASUN, CSL in nominee fight
n
By Bob Ralston
ASUN and CSL faced off over the issue of
Publications Committee appointments at
Wednesday's ASUN senate meeting.
"We have here together tonight some
illustrious members of CSL and they call
themselves the Peace Delegation," said Mark
Hoeger, ASUN first vice president.
Thus introduced, the Peace Delegation took
the floor to state its case for requesting eight
nominees from ASUN to fill the five
Publications Committee vacancies.
In response to the delegation's requests, Sen.
Dave Thurber later introduced a resolution to
send to CSL five nominees along with three
additional qualified names (from the nine
interviewees), with the understanding that the
original five are the ones ASUN wishes to see
appointed.
The resolution also called for the chancellor
and a joint ASUN-CSL delegation to come to a
final agreement on procedures for appointing
the Publications Committee.
Donald Shaneyfelt and Bill Freudenburg, two
delegation members, left before the vote on
Thurber's resolution, which passed 21-2.
Freudenburg had said earlier that the basis for
CSL's request for eight nominees was
See ASUN on Page 3
UNL student Mike Johnson may file suit against Lincoln
Public School system protesting its dress code.
Nebraskan rated All-American
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daily university division.
j Grant uJas used -for:
I O tuition board
1 0 facs Q books
room supplies
Brnsccllan(2ous cp&nscs
mill mi i I - - i
New grants program extends
financial aid to more students
1
By Dave Madsen
A new federal program designed to give
more students an opportunity to receive
financial aid has been instituted by the
Office of Education of the U.S. Department
of Health, Education and Welfare.
The new Basic Educational Opportunity
Grant Program-more popularly known as
Basic Grants-is being made available for the
first time this year. Full-time freshmen
students may receive the grants, according to
Jack Ritchie, UNL director of Scholarships
and Financial Aids.
Ritchie said if students wish to apply for a
Basic Grant, they must send a separate
application to Iowa City, la.
'Applications are available in Ritchie's
office, post offices, state employment
offices and from high school guidance
counselors.
Because the program is new this year,
Ritchie said, it is not funded fully yet. The
maximum award this year is $452 and the
average award is $200, he said.
If appropriation is sufficient to fully fund
the program in the future, students will
receive grant assistance equal to one-half the
student's cost of attendance minus the
amount the family can be expected to
contribute, he said.
Ho added, however, that it is doubtful that
the program will ever x; funded fully.
Ritchie said that about 400 UNL students
are now lx;nefiting from the program. He
said students must reapply each year to
receive more assistance.
Although the program is now limited to
freshmen, Ritchie said that the program may
eventually be applicable to all students. If
this happens, the Supplemental Educational
Opportunity Grant Program probably will be
dropped, he said.
The amount of each student's expected
family contribution and the amount of his
award is determined on the basis of a federal
needs analysis which is part of the
application.
Ritchie said that unlike loans, Basic Grants
do not have to lx; repaid. He said they may
be used for student's tuition, fees, room,
board, books, supplies and miscellaneous
expenses.
The Basic Grants are available to students
entering colleges, universities, community
colleges, approved vocational and technical
schools, and hospital schools of nursing.