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COnSTITUTIOMl AMEND! -IB
Nonelection for
nongovernment
Editor's note: Vince Boucher is the Daily Nebraskan associate
news editor. He was an AS UN senator in 1972-73.
"He trudged along, unknowing what he sought,
And whistled as he went, for want of thought. "
-Dryden
The ragged remnants of the current ASUN campaign prove
that body is scraping bottom.
Characterizing student government during the last three years
is an ever increasing nonentity. There has been nonviolence,
nonaction, nonprogress and non unity, Students in government
have faced noneffectivcness and noninvolvement.
And now, there is a noncampaign. If the whole campus closed
its eyes for longer than a minute, we all could have missed it. As
it is, most of us will. Ergo, the nonelection..
Student leaders will claim some progress has been made during
the past year. Yes, the campus now has a bigger Ko-cp, a student
legal services program and the book exchange still is running.
Without demoting the importance of these efforts, anyone in
government or even loosely associated with it knows that all of
these are the result of the actions of individuals.
I' '-a
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J &j
ooimon
Individuals worked on the book exchange. A person with good
business acumen was hired to boost the Ko-op and did an
excellent job. Two ASUN executives wanted a student lawyer and
did most of the work to get one.
Yes, limited achievements. But what of Influence? What of
clout? What of the 35 or so senators that were elected last spring?
They followed the predictable pattern. Predictable because it,
happens every year.
Some students run because it will look good on their records.
Employers like to see that kind of thing. Most of these senators
resign within six months becaused they are bored or "didn't
realize it took so much time."
Some students run because someone else who is running thinks
they would do a good job. These people usually are motivated by
a commitment and will have some time to give to senate. Some
find out soon after election that trie structure for change is
cumbersome, and the power needed for change is lacking.
Then there are the true politicos, gunners who often want a
higher office in the future for whatever reasons. They often work
on one project with varying degrees of success, so they have some
notability based on their achievements.
People are not only to blame. Even the most devoted senator
will realize the problem is also with senate ltsif. Senators can
pass resolutions until they exhaust the forests of Canada, thay
can investigate until they drop in their tracks, md they can look
for causes until they have found tharrt ell. But they can't resSiy
change anything until they have tome power.
The senate votes on its budget, but only after administrative
approval. Policy on non academic matters is decided by tha
Council on Student Life (CSL). Academic changes linger between
student and faculty senates and advisory boards and and college
faculties. And the plethora of committees and subcommittees and
tar.k forces of these groups is confusing to all.
All the governmental groups could be replaced by one
all-University senate which would have a limited number of Joint
faculty student committees. If this senate passed a resolution,
you can bet the administration would listen. It has happened
elsewhere.
Power is important, for in the end it Is power which moves
universities into tha future. In a state Sk Nbr;fca, whers ths
University if often misunderstood by tha conservative
constituency, the power is even tmrs crucial.
Now, all of the governmental groups play off each other,
duplicating efforts and in many cases obstructing one another. In
what nook or cranny does the power really exist?
No one knows, least of all the students who still try to follow
it. And ever less, those students who have never seen it.
monday, march 1 1, 1974
Preamble: We, ths students of tha University of Mebra.ka-Lincoln, realizing the
need for a more effective Student Association hereby establish this Interim
constitution to provide for an orderly transition to a new permanent constitution.
Article I Name
The name of this organization shall be the Association of Students of the University
of Nebraska of Lincoln, herein referred to as ASUN. '
Article 1 1 Purposes
The primary purpose of this interim organization shall be the drafting and
establishment of a new permanent constitution for ASUN.
It shall also act in a custodial capacity in the administration of the existing
functions of ASUN.
Article HI Membership
All regularly enrolled students in the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, shall be
members of the Association and shall be entitled to take part in all activities of the
Association as herein after outlined.
Article IV Powers
Section 1. Establishing a new ASUN Constitution
The interim organization shall take such steps as necessary to draft and present
to he student body for approval a new ASUN Constitution.
Section 2. Cuntodial Power
A. Power Relating to Organization
1. To recognize all proposed new tudent organization and to approve their comtltutloni, without
iAhli-h rarnnnltlon and aonroval an oraanlZQtlcn (hail not be Dermttd to function.
2. To etablih, by majority vote ot the Board of Trustee, new end uniform condition for the continued I
approval of existing student organizations,to demand compliance witn saia new conamons wmim
reasonable and stated length of time, end to revoke, by conviction In Student Court, the constitutions
and rloht to function of organization falling to comply.
3. To schedule endor conduct all student elections of general University Interest, not excluding those for
contests sponsored by subordinate organizations.
4. To make all student appointment to UNL committees, boards, and oiher appointed positions on
campus organizations.
B. Powers Relating to Ad Hoc Assemblies
1. To organize andor control all student rallies or demonstrations.
2. To organize aruior control all student migration.
C. Power Relating to Remove) or Disqualification
1. To suspend or dismiss from office, by conviction In Student Court, any student executive of the
government of the Association who shll refuse to carry it legislation Into effect.
2. To disqualify, vuspend or dismiss from Association office, for a stated length of time, by conviction of
the Student Court, eny student, who shall violate duiy-encated ordinance, regulation or other
legislation of the Association.
D. Powers Relating to Liaison - .
1, To serve a liaisoa between twdfit andrfacotty, ttftWtadtent tfW Board of Regents andor
their representatives, .between students and,the ttatedegisiature, and between students and the general,
public at such time as the general welfare of the student 'andor the University shall require such
service.
E. Powers Relating to General Welfare
1. To exercise any other powers necessary for the general welfare of the student
Article V. STRUCTURE
Section I Board ot Trustees
A. Composition
1. The Board shall cons'st of 38 elected ASUN representative of the 1974 election and the faculty
advisor.
2. The Board shall elect persons to fill any vacancies when deemed necessary.
B. Format of the Board of Trustees
1. Chairman-trie position cf Chairman of the Board shall be filled by the person elected as President
In the 1974 election.
2. The chairman's duties shall be.
a. presiding chairman of the Board with vote
b. to perform the necessary administration function head of the Association
c to til! the role of student body president
Twn viro-Chairmen-tha cotitlon of Vice-Chairmen of the Board shall be filled by the person elected
"Second Vice-President" In the 1974 election. The duties of the Vice-Chairmen shall be designated by
the Board.
4. Duties and Power of the Board
a. to draft a new permanent ASUN Constitution
b. establish Its own procedures end rules for administration and policy making
c. to. If H3iuc necessary, remove the chairman andor vice-chairmen by a two-thirds vote
d. to prepare If necessary an annual budget for submission to the Fee Allocation Board
Section 2, Interim Student Court
A. Composition
1. The Interim itudent court hall be composed of the persons appointed to the tudent courr by the
'73-74' sonata.
B. Judicial Power
1. The Judicial power of the Student Court shall extend to the following controversies:
1. matters of Impeachment ,
2. matter of Interpretation of this constitution
3. meturs of contested election '
4. matter concerning organization when referred to the Court by the University of Nebraska
Administration, the Student Senate, or an Individual student,
C. The appeal til eny decision of the court shall go to the Council on Student Life.
Artlcie IV Ratifying New Constitution
Setlo.y Publication submmd tQ tht ftudnt body for approval end must
be published in the Daily Nebraska at (east 3 time prior to the referendum at no less than one week
Intervals.
SV.0VheBr!ew"c.n0smutlon shall become effective upon the affirmation vote of a simple majority of at least
1 6 of the i tudent body
Section III Failure to establish new constitution . ,
1. If new constitution Is not In effect by November 18, 1874, the constitution In effect on March 7, 174
will again be In effect.
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