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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 22, 1976)
rr;i1l n The fear 'lisle words Vhst did you say?" cr the cndnirg phrase 'I hear you" msy become the niggle lar::r;:5 '-of marital harmony if divorces are tD, prevented in fee future. . The number of divorces in Nebraska increased by 27 per cent between 1972 and 1975, and lack of ccanrnimka- tion is the prcblera rscLt lhted by filing couples. .. ""Divorces seem to be becoming easier in every part of the world, especially in the Scandinavian countries," said Nicholas Babchuk, UNL sociology professor, who teaches a course .about marriage and the family. The UJS. divorce rate increase was prefaced by increases in many other European and Scandinavian countries, according . to Babchuk. , .. "We're pretty much near the peak in the dirovce rate,"" Babchuk said. He said lie thinks the divorce rate will stop rising as soon as Americans ""get used to values and different modes of living" which have changed faster than the roles and living patterns of husbands and wives. Women's roles change Although Babchuk attributed the increasing number of divorces to sexual freedom, Americans' ""special kind of mobility and freedom" and relaxed divorce laws, lie cited the changing role of women as the main cause of the increase. . . The changing role of women in our society means that an ever-increasing number of them can fend for them selves and don't have to take the abuses that can often accompany marriage," said Babcb.uk. lf s much easier to live now without being married than it used to be."" Another result of changing sex roles as that more people who are marrying aren't laving children, or are only having one child," Babchuk said. Divorce is much easier for those couples than it is for large families, he said. He said many problems can reflect a communication problem- between husband and wife, but he thinks that communication lias become too much of a catch-all term" that is blamed for an infinity of other problems. .v. Happy? ; . ""It's hard to know if people are happy or less happy than they used to be" with men: marriages, lie said. Because Nebraskans ""tend to be rural and the state is populated with older people," Babchuk said, he thinks the state's divorce rate probably was lower than the national average. He mentioned California as an example of a state that ha a disproportionate number of young people in its pop ulation, and one that would tend to have a higher divorce rate than Nebraska. Babchuk said he doubted students were more likely to be divorced man oilier persons, but he said divorce is often a result of marr'ing at an early age, lack of education or knowing protective spouses far a short " time, lie also said people who get married at an early age are more likely than elder couples to have ja&v problems. ... " .' - . Cobles wait f er diverse : . Young couples sometimes discover their marlkges are ' a mistake during their first year together, but often fa! . to file cor complete the divorce process until the third year of marriage, according to Babchuk. Marriage contracts are being considered by some states as a solution which might help ease divorce rates, Babchuk said. In those contracts couples stipulate before the wedding wLat they . expect from msrrkge. Iisg ira tions, hottsshcld obligations and property christian can be included ia the contracts. Bibdiuk said msrrir.e contracts could result in' fewer pxecipitioas marrkges." While' Bsbehuk was guarded in Ms estimate cf the effects his course ! inirs i::l the YzsrZy Las cn stunts , who later marry, he did say he hopes Ms students we more realistic about marriEse after taking Hie course. He said seme of his students who marry have told him his course was helpful, and he even has received invita tions to weddings from some cf his students. miiiee works for changes Dy Bsrbsra Ltriz The Government Liaison Committee (GLC) is the ""most active and most successful" of ASUN's more than 15 committees and subcommittees, Scott Cook, GLC vice chairman for national affairs, said. Cook said he bases his opinion on his experience as an ASUN and member cf several cornrnitees. Three areas cf concentration for GLC are national issues, headed hy Cook, state issues, headed by John Welch and Greg Johnson, and city and local issues headed by Kent Thompson. Thompson said a city-related issue affecting students is a high downpayment required by Cengas before installa tion of gas service. GLC is negotiating with Cengas, Thompson said, to reduce the size of this deposit Students living off-campus are faced wiih gas bills and Tent as well as tuition, he said, often at the same time. Renting changes wanted GLC also is lobbying for changes in the landlord tenant law, Thompson said. A proposal calls for a monetary fine against landlords if they don't return the initial deposit within a specified amount of time, he said. A bus route circling East Campus and parts cf north cast Lincoln also is a GLC brainchild, Thompson said. A survey will he taken of East Campus students to judge the feasibility of a route from 56th to 27th streets and Vine to Madison streets. A big problem with many proposals is financing, Thompson said. The Lincoln Transportation System estimated the proposed route would cost $36 for a minimum of two hours, he added. Thompson ud it would be xecessary to charge 360 students 10 cents a piece, but each bus holds only 50 persons. y National issues became an active issue of GLC for the first time this year, Cock said. ASUN paid 55C0 to become a member of the National Student Lobby. Issues to he decided . . . Tilth the arrival of more information about the lobby, Cook said, national issue for GLC w21 be formulated. Cook said GLC has been sending letters of congratula tions to winning candidates, such as Hep. Charles Thone, Rep. John Cavanaugh and Sen. Edward Zorinsky. The work of GLC is either ASUNbrecled, or self initiated, T7elch said, but the "overriding factor is student interest." Thompson said the ASUN "senate body doesn't say much" and Tm pretty much on my own what I do ". don't get as much feedback as Fd like,"" said, "i could be reassured of what Tm doing." However, Cook said there has been ""a lot of ASUN feedback, the most we've ever had on GLC" He also said, ""ASUN hasn't been active in directing us this ytsC Thompson members cf GLC don't have a dose rapport with city and state officials. ""We only talk to them (to ask for) advice,"" he said. City officials are "really open, hut they won't stick their foot forward" Thompson said. ""They don't want to change any programs " An example, - he said, is the "very unreceplive attitude" of City Traffic Engineer Bob Holsmger. Thompson said GLC has tried to get alight on 9th St, and to slow traffic en I7th St, hut the city is not willing to -doit " . ; V n. LJ IS n 1 1 ik-l i ! i Ii r-1 X( U .if V7 " ( S. rT LJU u vyj 7 li icyoeQ j"" 1 pf- cf J 1 .... . : mm m m n . ,., FV 2C0 cr FV C0 tmJ I iJ VI a a uyL (2! 4 Cfaias41' jf. tiF1 " Ttfm 2 J2f ' I jfS-. e- Bf