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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 10, 1973)
r cbiu Wednesday, October 10, 1973 lincoln, nebraska vol. 97 no. 24 Disputed faculty report sparks tenure controversy Demanding more time, long-range planning and stronger job security in case of financial cutbacks, the UNL Faculty Senate Tuesday attacked a report on financial reallocation, and tabled discussion until next month. In dispute was an ad hoc committee report "to shackle the administration's discretion" in cutting faculty jobs because of financial necessity, according to committee chairman Wallace Rudolph, UNL law professor. The committee was to set up guidelines to prevent a situation like last year when two faculty members were given unexpected dismissal notice on the basis of financial reallocation. The issue emerged after one member appealed it through a faculty Grievance Committee and. was reinstated. Opposition led by Harry Crockett, UNL sociology professor, said the final report was difficult to understand, ignored long-range planning and asked the faculty to approve its own termination. He said Nebraska is "miserly" in supporting the University and since lack of state funds would mean financial ruin, UNL should ask for a bigger budget. "We can make all the plans we want of what to do if we get more money," Rudolph said, but "what we're talking here is not what we'd like but what will happen if disaster occurs." He called all persons opposing the report Astronaut grounded Edgar Mitchell, Apollo 14 astronaut scheduled to speak Tuesday night as part of the Nebraska Union Talks and Topics Committee's Human Potential Series, was unable to complete his mission because of illness. Mitchell will speak later in the semester. "Polyannas" who wanted the committee to determine how to have more jobs and more money. All report opponents said they supported the committee's intention; most were in favor of more time to reconsider certain parts. Part of the debate was over "financial exigency" as handled in the report. Committee member Max Larsen, UNL math professor, said a faculty member can be fired now only on account of incompetency, removal of an entire department or a state of financial exigency. The last case is unchecked now, he said, and faculty can be removed or shifted at the administration's whims. The report restricts defining of "financial exigency" to the Board of Regents and the courts and says it must entail an actual loss of funds by the University, not merely "financial reallocation." The report sets up elected faculty committees to help make reallocation decisions as they arise. This includes dismissal of tenured or non-tenured faculty members. John Braeman, UNL history professor, said he didn't think the report guaranteed the intended safeguards and moved to disapprove it and appoint a new committee to study the problem. Desmond Wheeler, chemistry professor, said this was unwise and the original committee should reconsider it with input from other faculty members. Despite Rudolph's stand that he hadn't heard any worthwhile complaints to make report changes, the senate approved Wheeler's motion as a replacement to be considered in November. Earlier the senate tabled till next month discussion on restructuring the senate into a representative body. W ;,,. I, JX-JC VteMrt-.i-.. ft , J' V: V J j The Accounting dept. has ruled that students can't use calculators for tests. A student is challenging this decision. See story on Page 7. CSL discrimination groups to hear charges By Jane Owens A two-step process for investigating discrimination complaints at UNL is "almost ready to go," after more than three years of study and discussion, according to Donald Shaneyfelt, Council on Student Life (CSL) chairman. Chancellor James Zumberge, after approving a CSL proposal passed last January to establish a Committee on Equality and a Judicial Board on Equality, named members to the two groups last month. Shaneyfelt said he probably will explain the committee's charge to members at an organizational meeting this week. The Committee on Equality, established to prevent discrimination by race, creed or sex can investigate charges of "limitation of access to participation in education, social, cultural or other activities of the University," according to the CSL proposal. Disci imination also is prohibited in housing "supplied or tegulated by the University for students and staff, including fraternities and sororities," unless based on distinctions between the sexes, the proposal states. The committee also can investigate discrimination in off-campus UNL-sponsored activities. Members of the UNL community who have discrimination complaints should contact the Committee on Equality chairperson once the committee is organized and a chairperson named, Shaneyfelt said. The seven-member committee, which includes two faculty members, two administrators and three students, first will review policies and practices, then recommend appropriate changes. The Judicial Board on Equality can receive appeals from the committee and recommend policy changes. All xtions then will be forwarded to the chancellor, the proposal states. Two faculty members, two administrators and three students will serve on the board. Discrimination probably is not too widespread at UNL, Shaneyfelt said. "I doubt if the committee will teceive many complaints," he said "but it's still essential to hive a proper means of investigating allegations of discrimination." Shaneyfelt said he was aware of four or five cases of discrimination last year that should have been investigated. The establishment of a Committee on Equality and a Judicial Board on Equality initially was recommended in a 1970 Report 1 Racial Discrimination, prepared by John Robinson, former CSL chairman and chairman of the UNL English depai tmcnt. Robinson was asked to ptppate the report during the 1969-70 school year by NU president D.B, Vainer. A 1971 CSL proposal, based on the report, called for the establishment of the two bodies. Implementation of the Robinson Report ie( ommendations was delayed when former UNL. hesident Joseph Soshnik resigned in 1971 and administi ative offices were reorganised, Shaneyfelt sjid. Committee gives budget suggestions to senate "To the victor belongs the spoils" goes the adage. And the victors of this year's ASUN budget fight won't have as much to share. The ASUN Budget Committee, in i report released Tuesday, recommended that less money be given to UNL student organizations this year than last. The committee has recommended that $6,504.80 be divided among 22 student groups. Last year $6,996.69 was shared by 14 groups. Twenty-seven organizations had requested more than $35,000 this year. The recommendations are scheduled for approval at tonight's ASUN meeting. The committee has recommended that five gioups Ik; given $500 or more. The big winner appeals to be the Child and Infant Day Care Center, which has had $650 recommended foi it. The center requested more than $2,100 to operate the clay c.aic project. Other groups to whii h the committee has recommended giving $500 or more include: University Friends of the Arts ($500), Women's Resource Center ($50-1.80), Student Bar Assn. ($500) and the L Week Committee ($600). The committee recommended that five organizations be given no money. They are Mortal boat d, tin; senior women's honor society, the Residence Hall Assn.; the Walk lor Development Committee, a charity oicjaniaiiou; Young Democrats; .mil Ma.xq is, a theater group. It also has recommended that .ii e vil several groups receive less money tharT last year. Among thorn are International Club and the crew team. Last year, ASUN gave $1,200 to the (Jnb. If this year's recommendations ipproved by the senate, the group receive $100. It requested $895 The crew team also has hit rough water. The group was given $900 last year. This yeai S10U has been recommended. The team requested $10,800, the largest request of any group. In its guidelines, the Budget Committee said it refused to finance partisan political activities, social events, travel expenses foi conferences and scholarship piograms. AGUN President Aifu I lent y said Foe'day sin; doesn't e i!h; senate to .!iinrov the t tinmi end jts'ms tin,
