I
Money bars Varner'sgoal of Wexcellence
Woody Vainer iu u builder.
UNl President Duiwood B. Varner has spent his
pcof.f.ii'jii.il dhd iwrsoort! liver, hu'idmg schools and
cultural art: prorjiams; modeling, coaxing and leading
proglottis ona institutions toward excellence.
iovvaid excellence: tnc title of his five year plan
fof boosting the University to the highest academic
stature in the Oirj 8 schools. F or three slow years, the
road toward excellence hds boon blocked.
And the ban ieade has been money.
With urgency in his voice, Vamer says, "I am far
from satisfied with what's happened. I've been
extremely disappointed with the level of financial
support we've received."
H.? continued, '"I thit-K i-nyon.-; .vho looks at the
jjppnrt vivff !eert yivon will realize that there has
i O'x-n m way to cove th", University.
! "While the buduet t-h ye.ir :d.i ..vici cornu
i ... i
:"iK"Oiii.';(j?7i(.rU, it came on the heels o two very tiqht
i I.M-i ji't years," he s.iid.
! Vainer was apopintd pn.-.'dent of NU Feb. 1,
i 19U. Priot tj bis fJwivisko position, he was
cl'.anceiior of Ockl.md University, Oakland, Mich.
Junoij his a imirii ,ti dti'ji' t'eie, em ' llment increased
from 570 students in 1959 to almtrt 0,000 in 1969.
While the university c;iev-, , Vjmer helped ('evelop u
major performing ei is center.
Eather, Varner was vice pttsident of Michigan
State University. His duties incladeri the
administration of financial cirants lor a multitude of
purposes.
Valuer's expeiienie with tin-mcii'l revui cos
permitting giow'ii m.i heip hi'r, i i he, dppr."ti:,;.l of
tb. an rent .itoation at tithto'i.
"If the st.iti; is really viious ehuut education,
then this is the y...ir o:.i ti jbould u.' met '' be
s.ed.
"I'm mote mrotiiM d f of ill, i n is money
.iv.ii1 tble. c-ne s-..r i. :n Viy m ' r.v ean't afford
to wippnrt mltication Iwt.' r tb in it b,.s " be s.jid
"fnis is the best i'C iv- -c yr if tb.; state has ever
k 'town," be1 a Ided.
Vomer iivrs iidv. J. J ! mp hmh ,n,iiks on his
hud'ji.tary ii er ; ,n ie; ',,! , r, r f ! i : i m i ; in them some
optinv ,:n.
"I think the governor's track record is
encouraging," he said. "In the last two years he has
demonstrated a veiy real interest in the University."
"I believe the f,i iv,. 1 1 ioi wi!l be williui) to support
the I 'niv-'i sil y to the i ,,!. a, en r-!ent possible,"
V,i: ner said.
lb' 3r.nl t.f I ! i n r '-, ,,!yi : ieci;:, appreciation
; ''" t'Pi't" of tb-
!, I " !i"V" tta y aie committed
to developing the Uuva nniw-ivt in the Bit; higlU in
the, decade."
flow has the live yen pi ii: fau d '
"It's moving aiong," Vaiii.T say;. " T manually,
t " i V'am r, (, r
" 'V y. al plan. He
no, it isn't progressing; it has fallen significantly
short"
Varner said task forces set up to investigate
deficiencies isolated in the five-year plan are
functioning well. Reports from those study groups
are due in the coming months.
Varner summarized his three top priorities for the
University. The first is, he said, "a major commitment
to improve the quality of teaching."
Increased financial reward for teachers, increasing
stipends to graduate students and increasing the
numl)cr of graduate assistantsbips are all components
of this move, he said.
Second, Vainer said he believes the graduate
departments themselves need improvement. "With a
little extia thrust, those departments could move and
achieve national distinction," be said.
Third, Vainer cites the programs of the College- of
Agriculture as having suffered from lack of funds.
"We've gone through three very august years," he
said. "We have not been able to keep pace with
soaring costs."
He said he has requested S1 million to strengthen
the tie between the College of Agriculture research on
campus and the practice of agriculture in the state.
"This is an area in which I have a great persona!
interest," Varner said. "This nation is viewed across
the world as having achieved a modern miracle in
agriculture,
"Much of this can be credited to land-grant
universities," he said. University extension divisions
and experimental stations have served as the research
and development aim of agriculture, translating their
findings to farmers, be ridded.
Vainer said it is crucial to reduce the lag
between the development of new agricultural
practices and their implementation.
Varner compared agriculture extension to his
philosophy about the per forming arts.
"I believe the University has an obligation to the
state in the arts to provide an opportunity for the
young and not so young to hear greatness," he said.
The "superb response" to past efforts to bring
performing ai tists out state has made Vainer more
adamant about the necessity of the arts.
"I he uits do not nav lor themselves," he said.
"Pheie i. no production line for an oboe player.
"Vet the cost is going up," he said. "This provides
us with an economic crunch that can Ix? met by
private suppoit and mostly by state and federal
government monies."
After three years, what is Varner satisfied with as
MU president;5
He doesn't hesitate. "I can't be satisfied
personally d it ix-comes evident that the University is
fiot going to move.
"I don't think we've done enough for the
students, but economics have not been adequate," he
NU President D.B. Varner
said.
Varner said he has been impressed by Nebraskans'
"warmth, responsiveness and genuine qualities."
Likewise, the community responsiveness and
leadership of Lincoln and Omaha has been good,
Varner said. "I have never once had any community
interests inject themselves into the University."
Despite these plusses, Vainer said be cannot lie
pleased personally until he is satisfied professionally.
"We can't gain any ground if we don't receive
increased financial support," he said.
And the plain truth is, we simply have not been
able to move.
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I j fit1. . ' r AfU.Y ror MAl'lNGy
El
Foosball Tournament
at the ))
Nebraska Union Games Area
Thurs. Nov. 15 6:00 P.m.
Doubles - Best out of 3 games
Trophies for 1st V 2nd place
Register at desk in North
basement of Union.
thursday, novcrnber 15, 193