v. ... .
1
EI PI HP w w rw ws-i msxar
lacking luster
be inore accurate, though -Iocs politically
shrewd, to compare AS UN Senate to a branch
of dictatorship, under which 20,000 plus
"citizens" are forced to pay tribute in the
form of student fees, which total $103 a year
for full-time students.
Todd McDaniel, at the helm of ACT and
presumably of giory, reportedly has
guaranteed that every item in the platform in
the "Services to Students" section wiii come
to pass if he and his politicos are elected
Such a blanket guarantee is foolish. McDaniel
in effect is saying that if ACT sweeps into the
non-power afforded by ASUN that, among
other things, some Free University courses
would carry academic credit, a r.uper staff
would be recruited to resuscitate the
Associated Student Ko-op, and the Legal Aid
to Student Office would be expanded and
some of the restrictions-whicb ones are not
listed would be removed. Another portion of
the guarantee is ostensibly intended to woo
East Campus support: an ASUN office with
regular hours would be set up, as well as a
year round book exchange, a branch office
for a student lawyer and a second
landlord-tenant office.
While such goals indeed may be laudable, it
is less than honest-especial I y in the light of
uncertain student fees allocations and the
election itself-to insist that they are
guarantees.
The USE platform certainly is not without
its own rehetoric. It talks about allowing UNL
students to drop classes until the last day of
the semester, removing D and F grades from
the transcript and initiating a methods course
for graduate students about to teach for the
first tima. Such oratory might sound
attractive to the freshman or sophomore -the
others are probably past caring -but when no
indication is aiven about oartv efforts
examination; are-" renwkaWy'mHan vjn-afcn "-bringing about such programs. They shoul d bir
'I-uihui iuui (JUJ, pi wiMViniui.uJiiuiuuH, vrivc UliNtlf Willi a yicmi ui acsn. I I ICI t .1 a IJVUU
In the beginning, students called it the
"Stupid Council." Then its name was
changed, and detractors embraced a second
misnomer: ANUS.
Wednesday the student "government"
tradition at UNL will be prolonged as ASUN
is involved in its most exciting and most
important event of the year: spring elections.
More than 70 students have bored their
way out of the woodwork and into candidacy
for seats on the ASUN Senate and college
advisory boards, or as ASUN executives. Only
a handful previously have indicated interest in
the senate or. its adjuncts; the intentions of
the others are suspect. .
President Nixon once said the Democratic
Party was one of too many visions and not
enough vision. It would be nice to say the
same about either of the major ASUN parties;
unfortunately, both foresee little of anything
new.
The campaign was short and lacking in
issues as well as luster and, the platforms of
both Active Communications Together Party
(ACT) and United Student Effort Party
(USE) are uninspired. Neither offers, any
major new -program or dynamic, workable
innovation in programs, services or student
advocacy, which might have served to
i rekindle student interest and input into the
1 senate. The major thrust of both platforms is
the carrying over of old programs and ideas,
with each, platform containing a litany of "Ws
support" and "We will continue."
The platforms, while not worthy of lengthy
?! t
claimed they were nearly identical "So what
difference does it make who gets elected?"
one might ask. For example,, each proposes
some sort of landlord-tenant resource center
to aid students in finding suitable off campus
housing. Both promise to dispatch senators
and others to outstate Nebraska to present
their case for the student regent bill to lobby
for other concerns. Each pledges to work
closer with the two Omaha campuses for a
joint effort in dealing with the Board of
Regents and the Legislature.
Of course, both conveniently neglect to
mention how the outstate junkets would be
financed or that a renters' resource center
would be a boon to students but a liability to
Lincoln's low income population. Better that
the senate determine means of enticing
students to stay in the residence hails.
The ACT people adroitly paralleled the
senate to a corporation, with each student
buying stock in it with student fees. It would
chance such changes minht come about
without senate intervention.
One of the most promising planks in either
platform is the USE statement of
all-University government. USE says it
commits itself to merqing the lobbying efforts
of the administration, students, faculty and
staff when dealing with such issues as parking.
Again, however, it's questionable how much
legwork the USE people have done to
determine the potentials of such a program.
Platforms generally - are written by the
executive candidates' and a few others. It
would be wise if voters did not vote along
strict party lines, especially since both
platforms are so much alike. It's unfortunate
thDt parties in recent years have kept
individual senator and advisory board
candidates' qualifications under cover. Of
course, voters then are more likely to vote the
straight party ticket rather than for the
candidate of whatever party who is likely to
do the best job. In future campaigns, a list of
a candidate's qualifications on his or her
poster would be in order.
In recent years, political campaigns on this
campus have brought with them much
promise. Then the election comes, and after a
year the "much promise" is answered by
precious little achievement. And so the next
election arrives and candidates tell their
yawning living unit audiences that "ASUN
doesn't have to be as bad as it was this year."
They're correct. Some years it gets worse.
Some of the problem is that the senate has
lost its prestige. Many of the real leaders may
be found on Union Board, Union Program
Council, the Performing Arts Committee and
even the Council of Student Life, a child of
the senate. Members of such groups report
they finish their tenure with a feeling of
accomplishment, with their efforts visible.
Not so with ASUN.
In any 'use, sTud"r..s si.nl are lured into
ca- for ASUN. Both ACT and USE
ru.ii in their numbers several candidates
whose reputations as student leaders already
are established. Other candidates are likely to
work hard and not drift away after the
election. Among them:
-Sharon Johnson, first vice president.
David Hewlett, second vice president
Tim Evensen, Pat Jacobberger, Thomas
Kauf, Dennis Onnen, Jana Hills, Scott
Svoboda, William Norton, Arts and Sciences.
Blaine Camp,' Tom Camp, College of
Business Administration.
-Carolyn Grice, Jim Macomber, Mark
Hoeger, Teachers.
Tony Ramirez, Archietcture.
Michael Jacobson, Agriculture.
John Vihstadt, Brian Waid, graduate and
professional.
-Wallace (Carv) Peterson, Nancv Stohs.
Arny-Sfri'jttrdrs, f1Jeah Schulling, Jeanice
Gro'rUdr-aU itdvisorVoards. ;
The position of ASUN president is lucrative
and potentially prestigious, especially if the
student regent amendment is approved next
November- The Daily Nobraskan does not feel
either Ron Ciingcnpeel or Todd McDaniel
would make a good president, one capable of
representing the entire student body, one who
would be a true leader and would inject much
needed life into the senate. Their
qualifications don't say much. Both Pat Olson
'Celibacy, Lysterine and Anti permissiveness)
and Ron Sindelar (United for One) have had
more experience in student affairs and
services than Ciingcnpeel and at least as much
McDaniel. Sindelar probably promises the
best deal for students-a $1 refund to
everyone who votes in the campaign, should
he get elected.
therein lies the joke: probably the best
presidential candidates aren't really running.
Mary Voboril
Springtime
runners
not always
streakers
What Is done In Lincoln, Neb., on a spring (.veiling, when
you have nothing In particular to do? You cast off your
clothes, find a crowd and prance through it, of routy.
Streaking has arrived, amid a media barrage rivaling the
"fie-ereet tha President" foiiics of 507, t
t - X .it -Li i: i i . .i
u, oi an wings, Has Tina.iy orougnr. mo masses to
streets. But these masses couldn't care less which Wd
ROTC building is. It has ail the necessities of the
movements: chntln, police with rug'. t stick and anf-uv
lacking i cause, it has acquired the flavor of a f.?. brr.l a
Fair,
Li
die
old
Hut
iohn .michael oshea
! j& (5
p.
- 9
4 iSHiU
Lincoln was ready. It was warm md dull, and after a widut
of boozing, th ilmn wm dps for streaking and it came.
It also is the election season end, thouyh U; Ufit i f,ir
from ripe, thty art coming nyw?y, j have? novcr hh?d ACUN
elections, though I've teen Involved in several. Thf;y take
much time, make enemies of friends, waste h-;lf mn',nh
talent and prove nothing.
This year's installment gives Istth UjUvAao" of Uhj
different. This not to lay trial tf--n aie fr,t utm t:H!-:M
people running. But unfortunately, yyu, '', voUw,, wii! nut g' t
a chance to hear from moct of them.
Candidates for ASUM Senate eowsiiturifl take the back
seat to executive hopsfu! in tha elections. Since the ad.- ,f
thf' party, senate candidates tend to be seen in terms of extra
money for the party coffers and a working staff for th
executives. C en when parties are formed, quality is sacrified
fwr the "face" candidate who can assure votes.
The resuit of this is twofold. First, tne voter has no basis to
def.idr; how hc ought to cast his vote, other than party
affiliation (this provides the independent candidate one more
obstacle). Second, the senate tends to be made up of faces and
bodies, but few minds.
It is in response to this that I feel moved to make a few
endorsements of senatorial candidates.
The United Student Effort Party UGL) by far exhibits the
strongest senate slate. The best candidates: Carolyn Grice, Jim
Macomfyer, Mark Hoeger, Steve Cvcans, CHI Norton and Scott
. Among the indent id.-nts. John Vih-.'tadt, Tony Williams,
J;!W Tetcr, a write-in candidate in the College of Arts and
Scc-nces, exhibit the re3tr,t ?-Mcnti-.
ho'ii the Arrive Communications Together Party (ACT),
Julie Suttei field, would rrke the best senator.
This is not to say these are tha only good senate candidates,
Hather, the are candidates 1 can personally endorse because
i't tneir past record s strong, capable people.
tor thtj
As
executive 'andiditcs. t will mb nn
eiK.oaemcnn. ihere i, more than enough information
distributed from til sides to enable comparison of Ihe stands
and qualifications of the various, executive hopefuls.
hi clo',f,g, let me spoloyi8 for luring you into this
te.ativtiy uninteresting public;-! column with what promised
Jo be a waty, thought provoking analysis of thy battalions of
bare bodies. For now we'll leave the analysis to the
. ,? '-.cysts, iney re much more suited to it t!un I.
page 4
daily nebtd'J' a
momJay, march 11, 1974
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