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The UNL Psychology Dept. has been
locking persons in a 20- by 30-foot room in
the basement of Burnett Ilafl with no
windows, newspapers, radios or clocks for
a month at a time.
Assistant Prof. Daniel Bernstein,
director of the project, said most
participants report, the experience is
"terribly pleasant" and that one even asked
to stay two more weeks without pay.
Another, however, said it was worse than
his experience in Marine boot camp.
The experiment, called "Analysis of
Values Through Systematic Restriction,
allows participants to bring their hobbies
to the room, which contains a kitchen area,
beds, desks, table and chairs, and a
bathroom.
Student observes participant
A student volunteer observes the
participant through a' one-way mirror.
There is limited communication through a
system of switches and lights where
instructions can be given and questions and
answers exchanged by flipping the
appropriate switch.
No observations are made in the
bathroom or when the lights are out
between midnight and 9 a jn.
The absence of clocks often causes
some confusion for the subject the. first
few days, but they soon get used to it,
according to Vickie Johnson, a student
observer. They can judge time by how
much music has played cn the tape deck or
by how hungry they are, she said.
"I remember the lights went out once
when the participant thought it was about
4 p.m., she said.
Studies show persons value some
activities when they no longer are allowed
to do them unless they do something else
first. For example, they might have to read
for 30 minutes to regain the right to play
a banjo.
More work to get favors
'The more time someone spends on an
activity, given free choice, the more they
are willing to do to get it back, Bernstein
said. The variations are the interesting
things though.
Sex and food are such variations,
according to Bernstein, but so far he has
used neither as a variable.
Te want to see what humans don't
spend much time on, but still value,
he said. '
Although he has done experiments
with two persons of the same sex, he sail
he plans no mixed couple experiments in
the immediate future.
Not everyone ssatle
Obviously, not everyone makes a suit
able subject. A variety of hobbies, good
health and the ability to get away for a
month are criteria for a good participant,
according to Johnson.
"Not having much interest in the out
side world helps too, she said.
Although no further experiments are
planned this fall, the project will be
continued, according to Bernstein.
"I don't plan to be able to apply this on
the outside tomorrow, he said. Tm just
trying to discover some general principles
of value and to find some order in a small
system.
To date,' $2,200 has been spent to pay
participants. They receive SI0 a day, and
$2,500 has been spent on equipment.
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Pluto by Ted Kirk
While the football team practiced on the grass behind Memcrid Stadium, ihs Corn
husker Marching Band worked oat on the artificial turf inside. More photos and
story on page 12.
nergy researGh s
tofineetirig
"Research is going up to the last
frontier and taking another step.
This is the goal of the UNL Energy
Research aid Development Center,
according to Donald M. Edwards, the
center's director. -
"There are some problems that haven't
come up yet, and when they occur we had
better be . prepared to handle them.
The center was formed July 6 to
coordinate energy-related research, training
and public service programs Nine UNL
faculty members, representing the Colleges
of Engineering and Technology, Home
Economics, Architecture and Agriculture,
met Friday to discuss solar energy research
and development.
Three pregsasss may begin
At least three new programs may result
from the meeting. They are:.
-Creation of a solar equipment testing
center which would act as a consumer
protective agency similar to the Nebraska
Tractor Testing Station.
An effort to establish energy conserva
tion measures at UNL by improving
present buildings and adding energy
efficiency . clauses to future construction
contracts.
A second solar home, similar to the
UNL-Lincoln Electric System home, but
adding energy efficient appliances and
architectural designs.
.: . Energy coEectiiig planned v .
John L. Ballard, assistant professor of
industrial engineering, discussed summer
work on a project to send a solar-collecting
satellite into space. Energy from the
satellite would be beamed to earth by
microwave and converted to electricity.
If the project continues according to
plans, 30 of the lOgigawatt plants would
be sent into space. A gjgawatt is a biHton
each satellite would deliver more
than three times the energy of the largest
nuclear power plants operating today.
Ballard's work in HuntsviHe, Ala. was
sponsored by NASA. The project would
send one satellite into space each year.
It is scheduled to begin in the late 1990s.
. VoUiam A. Scheller, chemical engineer
ing dept. chairman, described progress on
gasohoL and coal tar projects in Nebraska.
-Both projects use solar energy indirectly
through biological processes.
Grala alcohol pxi needed
The gasohol program is a plan to add 10
per cent grain alcohol to unleaded fueL A
grain alcohol plant is needed for the
project's success, Scheller said. Legislation
probably wil be reintroduced for the coal
processing plan. It was approved 43 to 0 by
the Legislature last year but vetoed by
Gov. J. James Exon.
Edwards, who also is associate dean of
engineering- and technology, said -Nebraska's
application for the Solar Energy
Research Institute was one of 20 received
by the United States Energy Research
and Development Adnumstration. The
contract for nearly $70 million over the
first four years of operation is expected to
be awarded to one of the applicants hi
November or December, Edwards said.
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Ely Meyerson
considers move
to Hawaii position
UNL prcbab!y wO lose its tenth administrator ia
a year as Ely Rfsyerson, dean of student development,
confers a move. .
RSeyexsaa sdi it is "reasonably certain that he will be
accented ss Czzn of students at the University of Hssraii
Rlinoa (UI2 IX 1 is to be recenmended for the post at
the sdioefs SfepL 9 Board of Regents cestcg by the
UIR.I cfessKEar. If &a board approves Mssyersoa, wO
leave UNL srosnd Nov. I.
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'l!eyex9oa treat to IIrr.'i2 for an internet slmt tbxs
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