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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 27, 1975)
page 4 daily nebraskan ' : y Lobby against budget cut Dear euitor: In response to the letter of Oct. 22, concerning the "no-show senator," I believe it is only fair to clear ASUN's name. The intent of senator speaking engagements, started by this year's senate, is to reach students who are being repre sented by the senate and explain what it is doing. The mistake I made as the "no-show" senator was unin tentional and a slip for which I am personally responsible; I would like to apologize for this action. However, to label all senators as "no-show" and apathetic is a grave error. Most senators have spent many hours this year reaching out to the student body. I have yet to see anyone attempt to evaluate what students think about this program. If there is apathy on the senate, I have yet to see a display of it this year. ASUN has been a very active body, engaging in much more than what has appeared in the Daily Nebraskan. Did you know, for instance, that the ASUN Senate has been striving for more student input and more responsibil ity to the student in such areas as the health center, student fees and their distribution, and the book store? , Did you realize the senate has worked on the inter campus bus fee, and is trying to strive for policies to insure academic excellence at UNL? The average person could probably not even name one, much less all, of the senators from their college, and where does that fault lie? I apologize for my mistake, but in turn believe due credit should be given for what ASUN has undertaken this year. Further, I would like to see more involvement by the rest of the student body. If the tables may be turned, I would like to suggest that any apathy in individual senators might arise from the lack of interest shown in ASUN elections. If anyone wants to become involved, there are many committee openings. The ASUN office, on the third floor of the Nebraska Union, is open to everyone and will gladly accept committee applications. ' . Senate meetings are open to all and are held at 6:30 pjn., Wednesday evenings, in the Union. We would be glad to see anyone on matters of interest to the student body, and we urge your participation. Scott Cook ASUN Senator Gay and glad Dear editor, To the Honkie Taxpayer: Character? Morals? Brains? Stability? Guts? It seemed in your letter in Thursday's Daily Nebraskan that you were professing to possess these traits in comparison to the perversity, sick-mindedness, lack of character and immorality that you apparently believe are traits inherent to all homosexuals. Well, I am a "homo," as you call it, as are many of my , friends. To my friends, myself and anyone else possessing character, morals, brains, stability and guts, it's evident that you and those who think like you have none of these virtues. Your lack of such virtues is evidenced in your attitude towards homosexuals. Without a doubt, hate (lack of love), ignorance (lack of brains), lack of character and fear make you feel this way. These are the basis for prejudice, something I think is immoral. (And what could be more perverse than hatred?) Even instability is a cause of prejudice, The most vocal opponent of homosexuality usually fee! threatened (afraid) andor are unsure of their own masculinity or femininity. I'm gay and I'm glad, as I probably would not havo the awareness, sensitivity and sense of fairness that I have today had I grown up under different circumstances. You see, we gays have had to associate with people like you all of our lives, so we've experienced hate, prejudice and unfairness from the inside. Any intelligent person can tell you that what someone does in bed is not nearly as important in life as that person's attitude toward, and how he treats his fellow man. I don't need any help. Thank you. A fellow taxpayer Confidential note to Wes, Tom, Lores, John and Ed, re: tables. It is our policy not to print nonsense letters, especially when they are addressed: "Dear Sir." More letters, p. 5 The Daily Nebraskan welcomes letters to the j editor and guest ooinions. Choice f mtrii 1 . i l .. ... . . -"w " B Euoiisnea wiu m eased nUmeltoess ad originality, etters must be accorhnsmied hv the but may be published under a pen name if requested. Guest opiiitloM should be typd, 'triple-spaced, on nonerasabla paper. They should be accompanied by the author name, class standing and'; major, or occupation. All material submitted to these pages is subject to editing and condensation, and cannot be Perhaps we are belaboring the subject, but we would like to stress again the need for members of the university community to lobby this wee against legislative action that might cut $2.3 million out of the University of Nebraska's budget. The ASUN Government Liaison Committee tonight is sponsoring a meeting to organize such lobbying efforts. That meeting should have bumper attendance. Several days ago ASUN sponsored an informa tion session about the Sherdell Lewis shooting that was attended by more than 500 persons. Twice that number, at least, should be at tonight's meet ing. The Lewis case touches students only marginally, through principle and precedent. Cutting the NU budget would affect students directly, perhaps dramatically, in all parts of their lives-in the classroom, in residence halls, at recreation, at studying. Concern about the situation is not enough. Student concern about the university budget will not change a senator's mind when a vote is called for on cutting the budget. Students who are concerned about the university must act on their concern. Attend that meeting tonight in the Nebraska Union. A decision is expected this week on the life of Karen Anne Quinlan, the 21 -year-old Roxbury, N.J., woman whose parents have petitioned in court for the right to disconnect the respirator that has kept her alive-with only remnants of a human brain -for six months. If Superior Court Judge Robert Muir decides to deny the parents' petition, he closes the door on "judicious neglect," the already existing practice of removing life"support from hopeless patients, with their relatives' consent. He also mandates the state of New Jersey, through Medicaid funds, to continue paying the expensive maintenance of a body that can no longer be said to contain the essence of a human being. , Rebecca Brite Guest Opinions: Money matters NU funding efforts needsupport Editor's note: Don Wesely is chairman of the UNL Fees Allocation Board and president of the Nebraska University Public Interest Research Group. By Don Wesely Problem: Money-what this university and state run on and what our stile government seems to be running out of. Result: Gov. Exon called a special session of the Legislature to deal with Nebraska's cash flow problems. Solution: Cut three per cent across the board from state tax budgets. If the Unicameral adopts that solution, the University of Nebraska must pare away a total of $2.3 million. What can students expect? No one really knows yet, but options include curtailment of summer session programs, delayed opening of newly-constructed buildings, and other service and program cutbacks. What can faculty members expect? Some could be discontinued and others have pay increases withheld. Does that bother you?. It should. We all lose when the university loses money. Among the many problems with which this university must deal is its funding. Yet as the university works through the budget process requesting state support, it does so without benefit of good public relations. The university attempts to defend its budget request before cost-conscious legislators, but does not take time to justify its fiscal need3 to Nebrsakans. University administrators stand before guardians of the public purse without encouraging students and faculty members to stand alongside, demanding the funding needed to provide quality education at NU. Always a concern of mine is our quest for mediocrity. The university's goal is to remain "competitive" in the Big Eight. What that means is unclear, but I am certain it is not a commitment to excellence. Some of our public officials are quite satisfied with this position. We have our champions of mediocrity. But as we lose our School of Social Work and people start to wonder about the university's accreditation, I want you to know that it doesn't have to be this way. Oddly enough, it all starts with money, which brings us to you. Students should support university efforts to keep and acquire funding, for an admittedly selfish reason: we would have the opportunity to receive better quality education. Faculty members would be better paid and the need to mass produce educated individuals would be diminished. University administrators need to assist and encourage student and faculty support for the university. The univer sity community's 24000 members need to be better informed so that we can effcctivly demand adequate appropriation. I think it is clearly the duty of ASUN and the. Daily Nebraskan to keep us informed and to organize support for the university. ASUN should have students lobbying all over the Capitol to keep university funding. When the regular Legislative session begins, students should oe in full force supporting increased appropriation to the university. What can you do? If you care about this university and see there is room for improvement, a letter, phone call or visit to your state senator could make a difference. We must begin to take our university's funding seriously. Although we should be concerned about what NU stands to lose during this special session, I think even more importantly we can agree that there is too much to gain for us to remain complacent. FAB contradicts American way , 1 ... ... m.p VVUSEG VI Business Administration, is an ASUN senator. ByJimWefso We are fast approaching our nation's 200th birthday. We should examine the beliefs of our founding fathers and the principles that lie at the base of our system of government. One of these principles is taxation. Americans elect executives and representatives to run their government. Americans pay taxes, which then are (or are supposed to be) spent as our representatives decide It is a simple democratic principle used by all levels of American government. More than 200 years ago, Boston citizens demonstrated over the issue of taxation without representation. One wonders if Tom Paine would be pleased by the way UNL allocates its taxes-student fees. He might see our Fees Allocation Board as disregarding American principles What would Paine see if he attended an FAB meeting' First, representatives of the university administration whom he would find out were elected by the vice chancellor for student affairs. Second, Paine would see some faculty members, and after quesuong their qualifications, he would discover they were recommended by the Faculty Senate. To whom were they recommended? The vice chancellor for student affairs Finally, Paine would see some students on the board who also were appoin ted-by five major fee users or by the' Council on Student Life. They were not elected by the students. Old Tom still might not be too concerned about the FAB, because he would assume that the board's decisions are Subject to final annmval hv eWterl hp n of the student senate. Not so. Paine would be very disappointed. The FAB contradicts the American way. Therefore it should be abolished. But what sfrHd take its place? Not the abolition of student fees themselves. It is also the American way for citizens to pay taxes for services that way inn uirecuy oe.nent them. But student fees allocation should be under an elected bod r' 'f n0t SUh'ieCt t0 finrf &FFroval fcy an e,ected i the allocation of student fees were controlled by the elected student senate, two things could be accomplished. First, students would have more say on how their fees are spent, because they could (in the American way) elect students who best represent their views. Second, valid concerns about the senate's power, useful ness and credibility could be alleviated by giving the senate an important responsibility. Can it be done? Can the same group who can't decide now to pay for newsletters or choose the Yell Squad allocate student fees? The University of Colorado student senate has allocated meir student fees for some time now, and the Rocky Moun hnl , ,1 1 c.mn?bled- Details need to be considered, but tne basic idea is clear. Students should be able to elect the persons who spend their money. Anyone concerned about this matter should make his or her opin,ons known to Ken Bader, vice chancellor for student affairs, or to the ASUN executives or senators, or to the American Bicentennial Commission.