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monday, january 13, 1975 lincoln, nebraska vol. 98 no. 63
Economy, budget are regents' major concerns
By Dennis Onnen
The economy appears to be the major problem
facing not only the nation, but the University of
Nebraska Board of Regents as well. All six regents
interviewed agreed the budget would be the board's
major issue this semester.
Regent Edward Schwartzkopf of Lincoln
explained the dilemma confronting the board. He said
it is faced with a plea from Gov. J. J. Exon to hold
spending, while rising costs make that increasingly
difficult.
"We need to go to the people of Nebraska and ask
them, 'What kind of institution do you really
want?'," Schwartzkopf said. "If we're not properly
funded, we can't move the institution ahead to
excellence."
"Education pays"
He said he thought most Nebraskans agreed with
him that "education does pay" and would be willing
to shoulder the financial burden. If a building is
needed, Schwartzkopf said, it should be built now
rather than later when costs have increased.
Regent Robert Raun of Minden is worried not
only about Exon, but about the Legislature as well, as
possible budget opponents.
"Our budget request is going to be very ditticult to
push through the Legislature," he said.
Regent Kermit Hansen of Omaha said he is seeking
"fair and equitable salaries for all employes" in the
new budget.
Teaching quality a concern
Schwartzkopf said he is concerned with the
quality of the teaching staff. He said college deans he
has talked to do not mind losing faculty members to
Big 10 or Ivy League schools, but are upset when
professors are lost to schools such as Tulsa and
Louisville.
Those regents interviewed said they don't expect
the alcohol on campus question to come up again this
semester, although some said it would come up
eventually.
"Once a year is enough," Raun said.
Jim Sherrets, UNO student government president,
is one of three students who were granted nonvoting
seats on the board as a result of Constitutional
Amendment One which received voter approval in
November. He said the student members will have an
impact in two ways.
Students more informed
"Students will be informed as to what's going on,
and the regents will know the students' viewpoint,"
he said. .
He cited as an example the regents' last meeting
during which larger classes were discussed. The
students were able to voice their objections from
firsthand experience, he said.
"They're going to relate the problems of the
individual campuses," Regent Kermit Wagner of
Schuyler said of the student regents. "They've had a
definite impact so far."
Regent Robert Koefoot of Grand Island said the
students have been well-received and have done a
"superb" job, but that it remains to be seen how
much impact they will have. "Their impact will be
their presence," he said.
Improved image
Hansen said the image of board members might be
improved in students minds by student
representation. "Maybe they'll find we're not a bunch
of old fogies," he said.
Schwartzkopf said he opposes the way in which
student representatives are selected. The heads of
student government at UNO, UNL and the Medical
Center sit on the board, but he said he is already
familiar with their views. He suggested elections
specifically for student regent, with the possibility of
multiple representatives from each campus.
Regents to consider
raising room rates
By John Kalkowski
In the wake of increased operating costs, UNL may be forced to
raise room and board rates in residence halls by 13 next year,
according to Richard Armstrong, director of housing.
Following a cost study in November and early December by the
Office of University Housing, a proposal to raise the rates about 64
cents per day from $4.86 this year to approximately $5.50 next
year was presented to the NU Board of Regents, Armstrong said.
The regents will consider the proposed increase at their Jan. 18
meeting.
To meet the rising costs of food, utilities, repairs and wages, he
said, residence hall rates would increase from $1095 to $1235,
based on an anticipated average occupancy rate of 86.
For example, Armstrong said, food prices rose 15 this year
and wages 10. He added that he expects similar increases next
year.
Economy measures taken
During the past two years, residence halls have implemented
economy measures which have reduced costs an average of $1 15.37
per student occupant. According to Armstrong, if these measures
had not been taken, the annual rate could have been raised an
additional $125 next year.
By having employees pay for their meals, the residence halls
saved $50,000 last year, he said. Added items in the snack bars also
have increased revenue, he said.
The cafeterias have switched from butter to margarine and from
a top-grade orange juice to a step-lower grade, he said.
Quality not sacrificed
"While we have made significant efforts to cut costs, we have
not sacrificed the overall quality of food or service to students,"
Armstrong said. "At the same time, rising costs of food, utilities,
repairs and salaries make the rate increase necessary next year to
maintain the quality of food and service.
"Initially we expect some resistance to the increase," Armsi
said. However, Arimtiuiig said there wi2 be no drop in the nu
of students living in residence halls.
"When the students compare the costs of on- and off-campus
housing, they will find no gain by moving off campus," he said.
"The students sign one-year contracts with the Office of
University Housing," he said, "and that contract protects them
from inflation they might face in off-campus living during that
year."
Unlike residence halls at some similar institutions, all operating
costs and funds used to pay original construction bonds are
financed by room and board rates paid by the students. Armstrong
said no tax funds are Involved.
Tax support debated
According to Armstrong, residence halls at many schools
technically receive no tax support, but in fact do.
Residence halls at UNL received free snow removal in the past,
but Armstrong said the Office of Housing has received notice that
it must start paying for the removal.
While many institutions buy water at reduced rates, Armstrong
said UNL must pay the normal city rates.
"The subject of tax support for residence halls, especially for
utilities, has been tossed about," he said, "but there has been no
active consideration and we feel UNL residence halls must pay
their own way,"
Armstrong
mber
Classes start despite weather
By Lynn Roberts
The sun shone on Lincoln during most of
UNL's winter break, but heavy snows arrived just
in time to greet students returning for classes.
According to Bob Van Neste, of the Office of
Public Information, classes will begin as
scheduled, but students should not take
unnecessary steps to return to campus. However,
if the students are unable to return, they should
contact their instructors when they do return, he
said.
General registration will continue on Monday,
Van Neste said.
Last Saturday's NU Board of Regents meeting
was postponed to 10 a.m. this Saturday at the
Regents Hall, because of the weather. .
Blizzards struck Lincoln and eastern Nebraska
Friday, forcing UNL to shut down almost
everything.
Nothing, of course, could stop determined
students from registering, and general registration
lines kept moving until the regular 4 p.m. Friday
deadline.
Low temperatures, winds averaging 35 miles
per hour and eight inches of snow caused most
Lincoln businesses to close early Friday. Only a
few were open Saturday morning.
Cars, mail stopped
Thousands of abandoned cars blocked major
streets in Omaha and Lincoln, forcing snowplows
to carve narrower than usual paths.
The old postman's famous motto, "Neither
rain nor snow...," seemed to be forgotten. Mail
deliveries were a rare thing in this part of the
state Saturday.
For those traveling on Interstate 80 and other
highways back to Lincoln, the trip bordered on
the impossible. Even 24 hours after the storm
hit, many highways, including 1-80, were still
blocked.
The weekend's blizzard was almost the only
blemish on Lincoln's weather picture, which
mostly was made up of clear skies and warm
temperatures.
Before Friday, two inches of snow had fallen
on Dec. 26-27. Four more inches fell Jan. 2.
Sun hot at Sugar Bowl
But for those students spending their time
following the Cornhuskers to New Orleans,
Lincoln's sun didn't compare to the sun in the
Creole land.
Sugar Bowl fans were sunning in temperatures
in the 70s while fans in Lincoln put on their
coats to meet Nebraska's "warm" 20 degrees.
The sun is expected to be heating up
Nebraskans by Wednesday when, forecasters
predict, a warming trend will begin.
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