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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 26, 1974)
ri "Wi O- f& monday, august 26, 1974 lincoln, nebraska vol. 98, no. 2 TKE men in dorm II I S - 1 i i .in i' ' 'W V. t : . . -' riggers opposition By Ivy Harper The handling of a recent decision allowing fraternity men to move into a residence hall has triggered strong reaction among those involved. , Fifteen members of Tau Kappa Epsilon have contracted with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Housing Office for eight rooms in the basement of Heppner Hall for one year. Heppner facilitates the Centennial Education Program. Nelson Potter, Senior Feliow at Centennial, said he was never notified of the decision officially or unofficially. Such a move, he said, affects the Centennial community because of the proximity of the eight rooms to their work areas. Potter said that Centennial had no specific plans for the eight rooms but that some Centennial students are now being denied requests to have rooms by themselves. In the past, the rooms had been used by Centennial students, but when resident enrollment dropped last year the rooms were closed. Schuyler Houser, Fellow at Centennial, said, "This has come as a complete surprise to us. We hope to work more closely with the Housing Authority in the future." Richard Armstrong, director of housing, said that he agrees with Potter and Houser that courtesy was violated and that they should have been notified. Armstrong said the decision was arranged while he was on vacation but that Associate Director, Fawzi Hermes, "made every attempt to contact them." -Hermes said that he tried to contact Houser and Potter but that they were not in Lincoln, this summer. HS said that" by the time' the 'decision' needed to bg made, It was impossile to let them know ahead of time. The TKE house at 425 University Terrace can house 38 persons but-the fraternity is trying to expand, President Jim Robinson said. Hermes said he was approached by the TKE's early , this summer through their Board of Trustees, and asked if they had any available housing. At that time, he said, he had planned to move them into Raymond Hall, but when it became apparent that it would be filled, he offered them Selleck quadrangle or the basement of Heppner. . See TKE, p. 6 ntsb ndian stude Sparked by the resignation of Indian couselor Karen Builer In late May, UN L Indfan students have begun a boycott o? iho Minority Affairs Office and have given thj UNL administration a list of demands. If those demands are not met satisfactorily, Indian students said at a news conference) last week, they will ask the Department of Health, Education and Welfare to Investigate discriminatory practices here. A court Injunction also may bo sought to stop all federal funds coming to UNL, they said. , It was undetermined just how extensive th boycott of Minority Affairs is, but it has ffi&lilf ftrf In InHian turf r&6atl t-- part In selecting a rtplaeamant for Duller Minority Affairs Director Jimmi Smith said til services provided by Minority Affairs are available to all minority students. Rick Wiiiiams, spokesman for the UNL Council of American Indian Students, said these demands are: A more extensive recruiting program for Indian students. Wiiiiams said only four trips were made last year by a Minority Affairs counselor and from four to six Indian students recruited this year. Establishment of an Indian cultural center housing library, art exhibits and artifacts. It also would have space for Indian students to meet socially and listen to native music. More progress on an Indian Studies Program which would ailow students to receive a major in that area. Removal of the Indian Counselor from Minority Affairs to a yet-to-bo-created Indian Affairs Office directly under Vice Chancellor Ken Buder. Removal of the probation period given to oyco tt M inoriiy Affairs Office Builer from her record. Butler's resignation followed an evaluation of her by Joe Renteria, coordinator of Special Services for Minority Affairs. The evaluation resulted in Builer being placed on professional probation for six months. She was given the probation period, Renteria said, to improve some professional aspects of her work. He said it was not a disciplinary probation. Mrs. Bulier said she could not do her job as an Indian Counselor if she worked under the conditions recommended by Renteria. She offered, her resignation in late May to be effective Sept. i. Williams caMcd the resignation "tho straw that broke the camel's bock." He said it was one more instance of discrimination aaainst Indians and that Buffer lost her Job because "she wasn't conforming to white standards." He said the demands were part of an effort to attract Indian students to UNL. He said Indian students now are being alienated and Minority affairs has become "a dying program to Indian students." Minority Affairs "offers counseling, tutoring and cultural programming for minority students. baaer responded to the demands in a letter dated July 15. Wiiiiams said the only thing substantial in the letter was that Bader agreed there was a lack of communication between the administration and Indian students. Ely Meycrson, dean of student development, said of the letter; "The more specific the request, the more specific the reply was." Bader was on vacatlcn jhu crj.d not be reached. Ona of the problems Smith h facing, ho said, Is that he is not sure of exactly what tha complaints ara. Meetings of Indian students, Minoriiy Af fairs and UNL administrators and a consultant-mcdlatcr from, tha community relation service of the Justice Department have been held to clarify positions. The last meeting held Wednesday resulted in UNL officials refusing to use a federal mediator in negotiations between Indian students and the administration. Smith called the step "premature" and said all avenues of communication between the two had not been used. Indian students responded by saying that unless requests are answered satisfactorily thpv will sai-iH a Ipittpr in HEW Sent. 1 askina for an investigation into discriminatory practices af UNL. 'X- V Rick Wiiiiams, Council of American Indian Students spokesman.
