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thursday, november 14, 1974
lincoln, nebraska vol. 98 no. 46
Religion in residents' rooms being investigated
ByRexSeline.
Riddle: When is a room not a
room?
Answer: Apparently, when it
is defined by the NU Board of
Regents' visitation policy as
opposed to the definition in the
regents' religion policy.
The question of the definition
of a room and also what
constitutes a religious service
has spurred an investigation by
a combined Council on Student
Life (CSL) and ASUN committee
on religion, according to ASUN
Representative Art Alexander.
The committee was formed
last spring because of the "furor
in CSL over violations of the
regents' policy on religion,"
Alexander said.
Abel conflict
The conflict involved two Abel
Hall incidents, in one of which
had a group gave a small concert
and presentation which "for all
intents and purposes wound, up
as a prayer meeting," according
to Alexander.
The other incident involved
the showing of a film with
alleged religious overtones
which was sponsored with funds
from the residence hall.
Both incidents stirred com
plaints because it "infringed on
some people's rights," Alexan
der said.
According to the regents'
visitation policy, a room includes
residence hail lounges and hall
ways. The religion policy, which
restricts religious services to
rooms, defines rooms to be only
what the resident has a key to,
said Alexander.
"What we're trying to estab
lish is where someone can
conduct a religious meeting as
opposed to a discussion group
that happens to concern re
ligion," Alexander said.
New information
Lincoln Regent Ed Schwartz
Kopf, when informed Wednes
day of the committee and
possible conflicts in the regents'
policies, declined comment,
saying, "To be candidly honest,
this comes as completely new
information to me."
Schwartzkopf added that he
was "reluctant to indicate the
intent" of the regents'
decisions.
"I don't remember clearly the
facts that went into the decision
but our basic intent was to
protect the rights of every
individual."
Alexander reported that the
University lawyer gave an opin
ion that th" room definition
dilemma did not present legal
difficulties a ,d was not a basis
for conflict.
He added that the question
involves "where does a speaking
engagement and a religious
service pick up?"
Establishing jurisdiction !
The committee, led by Sue
Rehm of CSL, is trying tc
"establish who has jurisdiction
to allow a group to speak anc
what sanctions exist for people!
that do breaK the rules,
Alexander said.
Meeting last Friday, the com-i
mittee established tentative pro-J
posals which will be "more)
concrete within two weeks, "J
according to Rehm. Proposals
will be first approved by the
committee and then taken to
Ken Bader, vice chancellor fon
student affairs, after which theyj
will be presented to CSL, Rehmj
said. !
i
From there, Rehm was "not
sure" where the proposals
would be presented but she said
that they would probably go tof
Chancellor James Zumberge. !
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Inside the home of William Jennings Bryan in Lincoln during the filming of a
part of the "American Life Style Series", nam-ted by actor E. G. Marshall
center.
Lincoln gets 'cut' of the 'action'
By John Kalkowski.
A quick cue, and a guided tour begins
of Fairview, the Lincoln home of famous
Nebraska statesman William Jennings
Bryan.
Narrated by movie star E.G. Mar-
t)Ullf i' iW i tllltMl Wt i Mil VIWI IWM W4I 4 Vl
the "American Life Style Series"
sponsored by United States Fidelity and
Guaranty (USFG), an insurance com
pany, according to Henry Otto, execu
tive producer of the series.
"The series is made up of half-hour
episodes dealing with past famous
Americans," said Otto. Past episodes
include home tours of Thomas Jeffer
son, William Randolph Hearst, Mark
Twain, Robert E. Lee and many other
famous Americans, he added. Accord
ing to Otto, "the intimate tours of these
homes provide a locale to reflect on the
famous person's career and
accomplishments."
On location
Film production is being done by
Conco Productions of New York City.
According to Ann Shanks, director and
producer, the filming crew is on location
at Fairview, 49th and Sumner streets,
for five days. Filming began Tuesday.
The script of each film is written by
Bob Shanks. The filming crew is
composed of free-lance production
personnel and technicians from both the
east and west coasts, Otto said.
USFG, Cor ;o Productions and Van
San Dugdak, USFG's advertising
agency, jointl decide which famous
homes will be luaturec on the programs,
Otto said.
Research on the person and the home
is done in advance by Conco Produc
tions. According to Otto, permission to'
do the filming is then obtained from ho
appropriate orga nization. He said many
of the homes are owned by foundations,
by the U.S. Department of the Interior
or by state agencies.
150 markets
Upon completion of filming, Otto
said, the editing of each film is
completed in New York City and a print
of the movie is delivered to USFG. Then
prints of the movie are produced in
quantity and dispersed throughout the
top 150 television markets in the United
States, he said.
"USFG negotiates for the best time
period possible for the airing of the
movie," said Otto. According to Otto,
the 150 markets through which the
programs are aired, represent 96 per
cent of the television "households" in
the United States.
The programs run twice a year, he
said; beginning in mid-January and
running through mid-April. They are
then rerun in the fall.
Continued on pg. 16
SA's get to drink
By Greg Wees.
At certain times, studeni assistants (SA's) and
alcohol do mix, according to a clarification by the
UNL Housing Office.
Though residence hall SA's still must enforce
"no alcohol on campus" provisions, they, .may
attend such floor functions as keggers or residertt
sponsored parties where liquor is-served, as ong
as the function is not in the name of the
University, according to Ken Swerdlow, assistant
director of Housing.
Swerdlow also said that SA's may drink liquor
with floor residents if the meeting is "spontaneous
and if the event is not really a University
function."
Regulations in the UNL student handbook state:
"Possession or consumption of alcoholic bever
ages.. .at University social functions is a violation
of University rules. Functions that include
alcoholic beverages will not be registered.
University funds cannot be used for the purchase
of alcoholic beverages."
Cash bar operation
The only function involving alcohol that can be
registered with the Student Affairs Office is one
that takes place in a "licensed liquor establish
ment operating from a cash bar," Swerdlow states
in the paper.
This spring, during orientation, housing offi
cials ruled that SA's should not attend functions
that could not be registered with the Student
Affairs Office because alcohol was served. After
this ruling, Swerdlow sair SA's and the Housing
Office requested a legai interpretation of the
status of SA's.
A resulting position paper written by Swerdlow
states, "An SA may consume alcohol with the
residents in any licensed establishment as long as
the event is registered, eic, or if, by any stretch of
the imagination, it cannot be construed as a
University function.
"There must be no advertising, University
funds, collection of money for alcohol, implied
sponsorship, food, location, equipment, etc.-, that
is provided by the University.
Registered functions
"An event in the name of the floor that involves
alcohol is an impossibility," ho added. "Student
Activities will not register activities where alcohol
is being used unless it is at a licensed
establishment."
Residence hall floor functions which take place
on University property or use University money
must be registered with Student Activities,
according to regulations.
NU also has changed a provision in staff
insurance policies, Swerdlow said.
Before the change, insurance did not cover SA's
attending functions where liquor was served, he
said. Thus an SA, and not the University, could be
held responsible for accidents and damages
occurring at Honor parties.
After the change, "As long as a student
function is properly registered with Student
Activities, the event will fall within the
University's insurance coverage," Swerdlow
states.
