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OQIIU
friday, january 24, 1975 J
lincoln, nebraska vol. 98 no. 70
Calculators figuring
in UNL ciasswork
The search for an easier way to compute mathematical problems
has spanned centuries. A generation ago college students mastered
the slide rule; today fingers master the electronic calculator.
In former years calculators were banned from the classroom.
Today many departments not only allow them, but encourage
them. Robin J. Hood, professor of chemistry, urges his students to
use calculators, he said.
Hood said his examinations are designed so the student without
a calculator would not be at a disadvantage.
The cost of calculators may decrease as prices continue to drop.
One bookstore official said calculators decrease in price as the
demand for them goes up. He said calculator sales have been up in
the past semester.
Although some departments are allowing students to use
calculators, others would still like students to rely on their brains
rather than. on electronic ones, according to George Holdren,
professor of accounting.
Holdren said accounting requires little mathematical calculating
other than adding or subtracting and does not require an electronic
brain.
Applicants sought for Mil
The UNL Department of Veterinary Science is seeking qualified
applicants wanting to attend the University of Minnesota (MU)
College of Veterinary Science for their doctorate degrees,
according to Ernest Lee Stair, UNL associate professor of
veterinary science.
Stair said NU is negotiating with MU to allow five Nebraska
students to receive full veterinary training at the Minnesota School.
The NU Board of Regents approved the contract at its January
meeting and Stair said the MU board soon is expected to follow
suit.
Fifteen students will be chosen by a selection committee, and
their names will be forwarded to MU, who will select five. Those
five students will begin classes in the fall of 1975.
Stair said applications must be completed by 5 p.m. Feb. 5, and
must be received by the MU College of Veterinary Science by Feb.
15.
Interested students should contact Marvin Twiehaus or Stair at
the UNL Department of Veterinary Science. The phone number is
172-2951.-
Student ideas sought to prevent housing deficit
By Lisa Brown
Richaid Armstrong, director of housing, said
Thursday the UNL housing department has no
intention of downgrading services or limiting its staff
in order to ease the expected budget deficit next
year.
The deficit may occur because the Board of
Regents recommended a room and board rate
increase in the residence halls that is $45 less than
what the housing department requested. At their
meeting January 18, the Regents recommended a $95
increase for the 1975-76 academic year rather than
the proposed $140 increase.
Armstrong said, "The Regents have taken a stand
against inflation, an act which is both commendable
and courageous."
"The interest of students and parents was
paramount in their minds as they made the decision,"
he said. "Many of them may've also been considering
it to coincide with President Ford's proposed
anti-inflation efforts."
Armstrong said the Board of Regents "assume that
students will appreciate the concession on increasing
the rate and will tend to remain in the halls next
year. ,
Ken Bader, vice chancellor of student affairs, said
in a memorandum to Armstrong that they "do not
intend to curtail program or staff in order to meet the
budget deficit."
If occupancy doesn't change next year, the
housing department will have $195,030 less revenue
to work with. The projected double occupancy
equavalent (DOE) for next year was 86.3 per cent,
but to meet the budget deficit, Armstrong said,
occupancy must be increased to 91-92 per cent DOE.
The five per cent increase represents an additional
250 occupants.
Although the variable costs, such as food and linen
service, would increase with the number of students,
certain fixed costs such as the bond payment would
remain the same, allowing the housing department
enough additional revenue to meet the deficit.
Armstrong said it is the housing department's
responsibility to continue to be a prudent manager
and to make several changes in programs. He said he
plans to launch an aggressive marketing campaign to
promote- the residence halls to those students
considering moving out, and to new students and off
campus students considering moving in. Armstrong
listed three major marketing programs planned to
promote housing and increase occupancy:
-A contract handbook for all the residence halls
will be presented to students before spring break so
they can see all the options and make a decision then.
A newspaper describing new programs in the
halls for 1975-76 and supplying basic information to
the students about residence halls is scheduled for
publication this spring.
Increased cooperation with the administration in
recruiting of students, especially transfer students,
will be made.
"The housing department feels it has been given a
challenge and feels it will meet that challenge with
the assistance and support of students," Armstrong
said. "We need the advice of students and honestly
solicit it," he said.
He asks that students communicate directly to him
by calling, writing, or arranging for a personal visit. In
this way they may go directly to the head of the
department, and know their comments have been
heard, he said.
Placement
office aids
agriculture
students
Editor's note: This is the third in a series
of stories examining placement offices at
UNL, the services they provide and the
cost to the student using them.
By Jim Zalewski
The Career Planning and Placement
fCPP) Office maintains a highly effective
branch 'office on East Campus, helping
agriculture majors find work upon
graduation, according to Mary Renard,
director of the program there.
Renard said the East Campus Career
Planning and Placement (ECCPP), which
brought in representatives from 35
different major companies, last year,
operates out of the office of the dean of
the College of Agriculture.
"This branch office originated because
of the distance involved between the two
campuses," she said. "In this manner, we
are able to bring in more specialized
companies in the agriculture field to
interview our students."
475 interviews
Last year, 475 interviews between
students and company representatives
were set up by ECCI'P, Renard said.
Some duplication exists in these figures,
she said, because many students sign up
for more than one interview.
In addition to using the same forms
and system for job interviews as CPP
does, ECCPP also helps fill six summer
internships for junior agriculture majors,
she said. These internships are in such
areas as agriculture finance, sales
management and technological research
with chemical companies, Renard said.
On-campus interviews are conducted
only by the larger companies, she said,
since there is a certain amount of expense
involved in sending a representative to
Lincoln.
"Ag business majors are in the largest
demand," she said. "Companies are also
always seeking food service technicians."
Federal regulations
Federal regulations forcing companies
to comply with equal opportunity
employment laws has caused companies
to request more female and
minority-group agriculture majors, she
said.
"Companies are always asking to
interview women ag majors," Mrs.
Bernard said. "We don't have enough to
fill the demand."
Renard said ECCPP, which is funded
by student fees and the dean of
agriculture's office, will help conduct
interviews until the spring break.
"If we had the time, we would like to
expand our service," she said.
The service offered by ECCPP is more
than adequate, according to two seniors
majoring in agriculture.
Bill Niedfeldt, a senior from Falls City
majoring in agricultural economics, said
the office does a good job.
"Mrs. Renard is really helpful," he
said. "She always tells us when interviews
are coming up and what jobs are open.
Most of the agriculture department is
very helpful."
Although he has gone through a job
interview,Niedfeldt said, he would rather
contact the company himself through the
job listing service offered by ECCPP.
Rick Herink, a senior from Leigh
majoring in agricultural economics, said
he thinks a lot of the placement service.
"The ag school not only prepares you
for a career, but also offers advice and
assistance in job placement," he said.
Preparation seminars
Herink, who has been through six
interviews, said the agriculture school
offers seminars to prepare students for
the interviews, telling them what
questions to expect and how much
factual knowledge the student should
have about the company.
It is helpful to the students when
recruiters come to campus, Herink said,
because it is very convenient for the
students who wish to be interviewed.
"I think some students lack the
initiative, and would not go through the
interviews .unless they are held on
campus," he said.
