doi
friday, february 14, 1975
lincoln, nebraska vol. 98 no. 82
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Lloydene and Duane, owners of Daily Nebraskan photography chief, Ted Kirk, share a
milkshake fur Valentine's Day.
Valentine
roses
in short
supply
If you haven't ordered your Valentine's Day roses, you are
probably too late.
A survey of Lincoln florists revealed an expected rush on roses
this year. Some florists stopped taking orders as early as
Wednesday morning. Danielson's, 127 S. 35th St., stopped taking
orders before noon Wednesday.
Azalealand, 37th and Prescott Streets, will not sell as many
roses this year as last. Azalealand's manager has cut the number of
roses on hand to about 2,000 from 4,000 last year. He did not
order as many this year because of "the economic situation."
Burton's, 1235 S. Cotner, said they had sold at least 600 roses
and were expecting 200 more on a special shipment from Denver.
Clock Tower Community Floral, 70th and A Streets, reported
that they had sold at least 50 dozen. Kramer's, 10th and Van Dorn,
had "quite a few left," but still reported a run.
House of Flowers, 135 So. I2th St., would make no estimate on
roses sold until Thursday. Dittmer's Flower Shop, I4th and High
Streets, told the Daily Nebraskan its total roses sale "was none of
your business."
This year, the prices ranged from $10 for a dozen roses to
$22.50 for long-stemmed, arranged and delivered roses.
The manager of Azalealand recommended that roses be cut
about an inch above the stem's bottom. The roses should then be
placed in a tall vase in warm water, he said.
February salaries jeopardized
Regents: religion
may go to board
Three members of the NU Board of Regents said Thursday that
if UNL students or administrators think the regent's policy on
religion is unclear, they should "bring it before the board."
But Regent Robert Koefoot from Grand Island said he knows of
no reason for changing the policy.
Omaha regents Robert Prokop and Kermit Hansen agreed the
policy could be clarified at the next regent's meeting Feb. 21, if it
is necessary.
The policy was adopted by the board on July 14, 1973, and
includes five major points.
It allows "course related study involving religions in a secular,
philosophical, historical and cultural context"; brief and wholly
nonsectarian invocations or moments of silence at university
functions; and personal religious activities within private quarters
at the University.
The policy does not allow the "use of University facilities for
any organized event or activity if one its essential features is
religious worship or testimony."
It also emphasizes that the "University can in no way
discriminate on the basis of religion in its personnel policies."
"This policy was designed to be helpful to each of the campuses
and each campus should make its own decision on interpretation,"
Hansen said.
"Our intent was to try and be as specific as possible in the broad
field of religion, a field in which interpretation is inevitable," he
added.
Lincoln Regent Ed Schwartzkopf said he thinks the policy
needs some clarification because if a person wants to give personal
testimony, its no different than a speaker getting up and talking.
The key to the policy, Schwartzkopf said, is that the audience
should not be led in prayer or join in testimony.
Valentine's deaih day
now lovers' heyday
Valentine's Day remembrance of a martyr?
Valentine's Day originally was a festival commemorating the
martyrdom of St. Valentine, a Roman priest, on Feb. 1 4, 270.
It was celebrated as early as the 7th century. By the 14th
century, the holiday had lost its religious connections and had
become Valentine's Day as it is now.
St. Valentine only accidentally became the patron saint of love.
It was the belief in medieval Europe that birds started mating on
Feb. 14. Young men and women exchanged gifts on that day. The
word "valentine" then referred both to people and presents.
With the invention of the postal service, it became customary to
send homemade messages. Most of these were loving, but some
were funny or even crude.
Since World War I, more than a million valentines have been
printed yearly in the United States.
By Jim Zalewski
There is a possibility that UNL faculty and staff
members will not be paid for February work, even
though some departments have surplus budgets,
according to Robert Lovitt, UNL comptroller.
Because of revenues beyond what was predicted a
year ago, when this year's budget was made, some
departments have more money than they were
allotted, he said. The Department of Administrative
Services (DAS) has said only allotted money can be
spent, even if surplus money is available.
In the past, if a department had excess funds at
the end of the year, the excess would be given to the
department in their appropriated funds for the next
year, Lovitt said.
No one gets paid
If one grant account doesn't have enough money,
even though other departments have a surplus, no one
gets paid, he szud.
"It is hard for us to explain why no one gets paid,
because the money is there," he said.
Limiting spending to allotted funds is contrary to
past actions of the DAS, Lovitt said. Previously,
surplus funds were spent.
Lovitt said UNL should be entitled to spend the
money under provisions set forth in LB 1054, the
budget bill from the last legislative session.
In the bill, specific figures for each university
program area are set. But the bill also contains an
open-ended clause:
"Cash fund expenditures shall not be limited to
the amounts shown."
Halftime change
"Before, we were allowed to use this excess
money, but now we can't," Lovitt said. "It's like
changing the rules of the game at halftime."
An excess amount of money can result because of
the difficulty of predicting revenue a year in advance,
he said.
In December of 1973, Lovitt said the College of
Agriculture submitted an estimate for 1974 expenses.
Because the cattle and grain prices were so unstable,
an accurate prediction was difficult.
The College of Agriculture has $755,615 in excess
funds that can't be spend because of the DAS ruling,
Lovitt said.
"The college needs to spend this money for new
cattle, equipment, grain and other expenses in order
to continue their programs," he said. "But right now
they can't.spend it."
Lovitt said he has talked to DAS several times to
solve the problem, but still has received no word on
the approach the DAS will take.
The decision not to spend nonallotted funds may
be an attempt by Gov. J. James Exon to limit
government spending, he said. However, none of the
funds in. question lapse into the state treasury, Lovitt
said.
Douglas opinion asked
John Oberg, principal adviser in the DAS budget
division, said Attorney General Paul Douglas has been
asked for an opinion on the matter. Oberg said
Douglas is being consulted to determine the
constitutionality of LB 1054.
There are no precedents for the disposal of
nonappropriated funds because this is the first year
LB 1054 has been in operation, Oberg said.
Federal, cash and revolving funds are important in
determining the amount of support which comes
from the general fund, he said. If one of the funds
should receive a cash windfall from excess revenue,
support from the state general fund would be lowered
the next year, he said.
The DAS is also checking to determine if Article
III, Section 25 of the state constitution affects the
nonappropriated funds. Language in that section
prohibits spending except by specific appropriation
by the Legislature.
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Robert L. Lovitt, UNL business and finance
comptroller