Nil medical pair vows to continue abortions
"Abortions should be a part of the
total obstetrical and gynecological care
provided for the people of Nebraska."
That is the philosophy of at least
two doctors at the University Medical
Center in Omaha. Dr. G. William Orr
and Dr. Marvin L. Dietrich have been
the center of a controversy involving
the performing of abortions at the
Medical Center.
Orr and Dietrich were granted
part-time status on a 90-day trial basis
at the Medical Center by the Board of
Regents at its July meeting. The
doctors then opened a private clinic
for abortions, where they conduct
about 30 operations a week.
At the regents' Oct. 12 meeting,
the two doctors were itiurned to
full-time status and to
comply with University rules
governing abortions. The rules state
that no full-time faculty member may
perform abortions outside of the
Medical Center. The rog or its p :iy
had limited the number ui a '. .-.ns
that could be performed at the center
to 15 a week.
According to On, lie jnl !.K PvJi
have until Nov. 9 to con piv 'mmi die
rules. He said because ihey do out plan
to stop giving abortions at their clinic,
the regents could legally fin; them at
that time. He addetl, Inn vever, that lie
"can't predict wha! those people
(regents) will do."
A memo circulated to Medical
Cenlu ;.cpai tiueut chairmen by Dr.
Robert Messer, chairman of the
department of obstetrics and
gynecology, said the regents' actions
concerning 1he doctors could lead to a
"very .Luus : .us precedent," an article
in the Un.jih, World-Herald reported.
Orr and Dietrich said they
"wholeheartedly agree" with the
memo.
"A basic principle is being violated
by the Board of Regents," Orr said.
"The individual departments should
govern specific actions within that
department. This action by the regents
violates that concept."
Dietrich said he agreed with Orr.
"The question seems to be whether
the. Medical Center bus "die ability to
make decisions regarding its
operations," Dietrich said. "When a
lay body takes over and attempts to
make these decisions, that is a very
serious problem.
"Not one regent has the
qualifications, experience or expertise
needed to run this Medical Center. We
have a chancellor just like the other
campuses. The system was designed so
that each campus would run
semi-autonornously tinder the
direction of the t.iesident of the
system.
See abortions, Page 2.
dailu
ifibffcaskc&ifli
v.
friday, november 2, 1973
lincoln, nebraska vol. 97 no. 38
YD: Watergate
shakes students
By Vince Boucher
"Bad news, zilch, zero, nil."
That's how the quality of Nebraska's
representation in the U.S. Senate was described by
UNL Young Democrats (YD) president Bob Petersen.
Petersen, a senior in the College of Agriculture,
said, "I don't think they (Nebraska's senators) have
ever thought for themselves." On the Watergate
controversy, "Sen. Carl Curtis made an idiot of
himself," he said.
Referring to President Richard Nixon's firing of
independent Watergate prosecutor Archibald Cox, he
said the President placed himself in a precarious
position.
If the public had not made such an outcry, Nixon
would have proceeded on his own merry way," he
said.
Petersen said despite Nixon's announcement that
he would surrender the tapes to Federal District
Judge John Sirica's court, he thought impeachment
proceedings should continue.
"The Senate should have a trial, not tor
harassment of the President-but if he is guilty, fire
him, and if he is innocent, then lei's clear him," he
said.
He said that he believed the President did know of
at least the coverup of the Watergate' incident.
Petersen said students have been shaken by the
events of Watergate. Nevertheless, he said he thinks
they now are taking a more active interest in politics,
as shown by this year's increased YD membership.
"How to prevent another fiasco is now the
concern of students. Many people say politics is a
four letter woid," but the democi atic system is the
best one for self government, he said.
UNL YDs have about 25 members. Last year, only
about 10 or 15 students were active memliers, he
said.
"We're finding a lol of people changing parties,
not only the young. I believe, for the first time in
many years, the Demociats in Nebiaska will offer a
strong state ticket, stronger than evei before," he
said.
6
If Democratic Par ty Central Committee Chairman
Hess Dyas decides to oppose Hep. Charles Thorn; in
the 1974 congressional election, Dyas would be a
very desirable candidate, Petersen said.
"I think Thone has often foresuken his district to
follow a very narrow Republican viewpoint. I think
he has been a yesman to the President," Petersen said.
Petersen said Dyas is a "conservative liberal" who
would have a good chance of defeating Thone.
Gov. J.J. Exon will also Ire a very strong candidate
in the 1974 state election, he said.
"He may Ix; a little ruoie conservative than I like,
but for the first time in several years, the people in
outstate Nebraska have a governor ihey personally
can identify with," he said.
"The probelm with YD is that a lot of members
are not too realistic. People lend to dismiss them as
kids with ideas and nothing to go wuh them," he
said.
He said, "If the member, beome moie lealisiu,
then YD will be a more ciedible organization "
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YR leader fears
big government
By Vince Boucher
"People think that Wjienjate r. die r - :.ul t of only
a few individuals. The government is simply too big.
Big government leads lo big coiruppuu." said Mark
Cannon, president of UNL Young Republicans (YR).
"We're tired of being sen; wed by big government.
There is a good chance that future
administrations -whatever patty-will be corrupt
too," he said.
Cannon, a junior in pre dentistry, said his
involvement in Young Republicans came after a
growing awareness ol actions of Democrats and the
increasing strength of tin; federal government.
Contending "power has U;en perverted," Cannon
said the surge of power in Washington could be traced
to President Franklin Roosevelt.
"By the year 2000, politicians are liable to do
anything to stay in," In; said.
Cannon said he sees some pi ogress, though. "I'm
finally hearing people say that government doesn't do
everything right."
According to Cannon, the Republican Party did
not play a significant part in the Watergate' incident.
Rather the problem was the members of the
independent Committee to Re1 elect the Piesident, he
said.
Cannon said he is digusted by the "hypocritical"
viewpoint of most people who see the activities of
politicians as distinctly blaek and whit--,
"A good example' ol this is that YR und YAF
(Young Americans for Ficcdom) posters seem tcj last
about 24 hours on this campus," lie said.
In the 1974 state election, ihe Young Republicans
will be looking for very conservative candidates, he
said.
"We want a stionij no vote to lestrain power,
rather than a yes vote to increase government, he
s.iid.
Cannon said he was pi otid o! M hi .is I- a's senators
for providing negative voles vhir.h h.ivc helped keep
government in line and have pi evented it from
Incoming too powei ful.
He also praised Goveinoi J. James Cxon, a
Democrat, as "a pietly luir governor."
Cannon was critical of 1st I) is! net Congressman
Charles Thone. "On tin's latest mi)eaohment issue, he
is recording every phone call be gets.
"Once in a while, politician:, should stand on
principles of morality and not on public opinion," he
continued.
Cannon saiiJ impeachment has become a political
tool because it is not well defined constitutionally
what are grounds for thai action,
Cannon said the public Millers Itom a lack of
knowledge of national officials' political activities and
ultimately because power is not placed in their hands.
"Persons who do not vote in elections should I,
recorded as both voting against the ,,i idid,itcs and
against the whole government." he said.
Cannon esliniuled thee ,ie about 120 Young
Republicans at UNI.. Memb, i ship ibis yeai has l;cn
about Ihe same as last year
Most of (hem are ,jaio,t big government, he
.ml.
I here
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in
iioi, i-;h rsoii, ciimpus YD chairman.
Republicans somi? ol them I ones I y d,-i't M.long in
Ihe oigahizatiou," he said.