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Editor's note: Nebraska Free University (NFU) opens
registration Wednesday with a registration earnival. Booths
will be set up in the north Union and in dormitory lobbies
until Friday.
In this issue of EXTRA writer tori Demo examines this
year's NFU, while Dave Madsen reviews the history of NFU
from its conception in 1967. Reporter Jane Owens looks at
three successful "free" universities in contrast to NFU,
which dropped to an enrollment low of 50 students last
semester.
By Lon Demo
rab all the free stuff.
And students usually do.
However, last year UNL students failed to take
advantage of what the Nebraska Free University (NFU) had
up for grabs.
And NFU, after enjoying success in 1971, suffered a
decline in participation.
David Howlett, NFU chairman, is optimistic that this
year's program will be more successful in participation by
both the university and outside community.
And he may have reason to be optimistic.
Howlett estimated that 300 students participated in 33
courses during both semesters last year. This autumn he has
lined up 60 courses that will be taught by community as
well as university persons.
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David Howlett
"We are trying to make the NFU as available as
possible," he said. "We are getting more courses out into
the community in hopes of getting non-university people
interested in registering. And we are putting many of the
courses back into the dorms where they can reach more
people."
Howlett- said that he would be "happy to have 500
people enrolled in the first semester courses."
"But this is probably a very, very high estimate," he
said.
Even though NFU did not enjoy great success last year,
ASUN boosted its operating budget $200, giving the
committee $1,500.
ASUN President Ann Henry said she favored the budget
increase to help the program.
"This program is an important part of the informal
education," she said. "This increase in the budget gives
more leeway, so they don't have to worry about money."
Most of the NFU budget goes toward publicity including
printing a course descriptions brochure.
"Printing costs a lot. If you're limited to money in
printing your brochure, you can't fully describe the courses
so people will want to take them," Henry said. "This is one
of the things that happened last year."
Henry also said she wanted to help the NFU because she
thought the courses offered this semester provide areas of
study not offered in other classes.
These courses range from academic courses such as
parliamentary procedures, theology and the history of the
Nebraska Democratic Party to non-academic courses such
as stereo system repair, cocktail hostessing and beginning
camping.
Howlett said he stresses the flexibility of the courses and
their ability to bring persons together who would otherwise
not get together. (letting college credit for taking the
course is not the purpose of the NFU, he said.
"I do urge those who want to get credit to ask a
professor to sponsor them as independent study. They can
do the work this semester and (hen use that work to get
credit next semester," lie said.
He said his biggest hope for the NFU is to take it
community-wide. He said he would like to start by getting
more community persons to teach courses.
"I want to set up registration booths downtown and at
Ciateway, so that community people can have a chance to
hear more about NFU and to register lor it," he said, "liut I
haven't inquired or received permission to do this yet."
Ken Uader, vice chancellor lor student affairs, said he
has heard about liowlelt's desne to take the NFU into the
community.
"II this helps gel more people involved, then I think this
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