editoriQ
Field h
ouse: Pandora's box
The UNL Athletic Department got what it
wanted Monday-an Appropriations Committee
recommendation that state tax money be used to
help with operating expenses for the new field
house.
But Hastings Sen. Richard Marvel, the lone
dissenter in an 8-1 vote to appropriate the
$200,000, indicated that the state money may
bring with it something not so welcome-state
scrutiny of the fiscal operations of the Athletic
Department.
After the vote, Marvel appointed Lincoln Sen.
Harold Simpson and Sidney Sen." Robert Clark to
a subcommittee to find out how the $200,000 is
going to be used and what the Athletic
Department intends to do about raising money
to lighten the load on the taxpayer.
He also said the Legislature will want to
"scrutinize in great detail all the
expenditures. . including who gets tickets and
trips to the bowl games, the whole gamut."
"The whole gamut" promises to make
interesting reading. By pressing for the money,
the Athletic Department may have unwittingly
opened its own Pandora's Box of fiscal horrors.
Explaining to a team of nosy senators why some
people get free tickets to home football games
while others don't may prove more distasteful
than footing the operating bill alone.
An investigation into Athletic Department
fiscal matters by the Legislature may reveal one
thing in time for the $200,000 appropriation to
be killed on the fioor-if it is willing to scrimp,
save, snip a program here and there, and boost
ticket prices a little, the Athletic Department can
operate the field house on its own as it was
intended to do.
There are other university programs that
$200,000 could be better spent on.
Things looked a little brighter Monday for one
of those deserving programs-the SUN program.
The Appropriations Committee approved 5-2
a recommendation that SUN get $125,000 from
the tax-supported general fund. The committee
should be congratulated for reversing its earlier
decision to deny all of the $157,000 requested
by the university.
WesAlbers
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UNL footnote: knowledge taught, wisdom not
Footnotes:
-Regardless of the conservative and unimaginative
approach to education at UNL, much teaching is high
quality and students do learn from the experience.
Sadly, few students gain' something that is even more
important: wisdom.
-No wonder basketball takes a back scat to
,11 at UNL when a!mt the last brick is laid in
the new field house before anyone thinks of
operating expenses.
-It is no wonder that university professors are
underpaid and students undereducated when the
governor, legislature and NU administrators do such
shoddy planning.
-Students should not ignore the departure of
Duane Acker and Melvin George, two
administrator-educators who have given much to the
students and the state.
Stand-offish
-On the other hand, Chancellor James Zumbergc
should not ignore the students. Realizing the
chancellor's job is difficult, it must be said that his
often stand-offish manner and low visibility
sometimes leave UNL students feeling forsaken.
-The "Areas of Excellence" program and the SUN
program are fine tributes to imaginative educational
leadership of NU administrators, but more dedicated
leadership and resolve needs to be shown with faculty
salaries. Increased faculty salaries have not been a
concerted effort by NU administrators in the
Legislature, and NU is definitely suffering for this lax
leadership.
-The NU Board of Regents for the most part
sincerely have the best interests of the university at
page 4
heart. They have, however, approached students as
being wayward and sometimes stubborn jackasses
who need a few carrots for enticement and much
prodding with a stick. There has been far too much
prodding and too few carrots to facilitate good
student-regent relationships.
, -Come to think of it though, that may be a good
image for many students, since they care about what
is happening around them about" as much as any
jackass I ever knew.
rickjohnson
rhymes ond reosi
-Although I have been a long-time user of the
Undergraduate library, the consolidation plans are a
step toward a more efficient, hassle-free library
system. It will be interesting to see if the increase in
efficiency will save enough money to purchase
enough light-bulbs to keep the Love Library stack
well lit.
-One wonders what those demanding an end to
most student fees will do when they must pay
federal, state and local taxes to finance programs they
don't approve of.
-Regardless of the present "financial difficulties"
of the Athletic Department, it is doubtful that there
will be any real problem finding money to turn out
daily nebraskan
future Sugar Bowl and NIT entries. The average
student, however, must be content with third-rate
indoor recreation facilities. Where the University of
Colorado and Creighton University have gone, NU
fears to tread.
-ASUN deserves a round or applause for a fine job
of providing student services such as Book Exchange,
adviser, etc. Bravo!
-The average student looks to ASUN to be a
pressure group and student advocate. But since there
are rarely issues that require pressure on the regents
or administration, ASUN appears inactive and
ineffectual. Regardless of how unfair this label may
be, it somehow sticks.
-The potential that the student regent has for
developing a closer understanding between students
and regents is tremendous. It should also strengthen
the student leadersliip role. Here's hope that Jim Say
is equal to the task.
-A firm pat on the back is due Dr. Richard
Armstrong and most of his staff. In the four years I
have spent in UNL residence halls, the improvements
in living comfort and facilities have been tremendous.
Whatever its drawbacks, residence hall living offers
much.
-Ron Bolin and the Cultural Affairs Committee
deserve a standing ovation for the great variety and
high quality of cultural programs they continually
give Lincoln. Cultural wasteland? Bah!
-Finally, a general thank-you to all who helped
make my UNL stay enlightening and
cnjoyablc-hopefully you know by now who you are.
And a general "NYAAAAAAAA" to those who
Wednesday, april 30, 1975
