NU Florida corn crops frozen
By Barbara Lutz
Below freezing temperatures during the last week of
January froze UNL research corn crops-in Florida.
William Compton, UNL agronomy professor in charge
of a two-acre test plot in Florida for two years, said two
generations of test corn crops were frozen in the cold
weather.
"If I had more money from the university," he said, "I
could have saved the crops."
It would cost double the land rental for additional '
frost protection, he said. Other crops near UNL's two
acres did not freeze because of a warm water sprinkler
system, Compton said.
The two-year-old winter corn nursery is the only out
state winter test crop, Compton said.
Crossing genet
He said the winter corn nursery is used to develop
breed crossing and recurrent selection 'of genes. When
crossing a gene into another line of corn, Compton said,
disease-resistant genes can be identified. These genes can
be cross-bred into another line, he said.
. However, the crossing process can only be done over a
period of three corn generations, he said. Three years of
growth in Nebraska can be completed in two years in
Florida, he said.
Therefore, if it takes six crosses to.transfer one gene, it
takes six years in Nebraska, but only three years in
Florida, he said.
The nursery in Florida "should be, but is not
supported by the university," Compton said. The research
is supported by donations from seed companies, he said.
Compton said the land in Florida is rented for $700
an acre. The farmer who owns the land sprays the crop
with insecticide every four days, prepares the land and
cultures it.
Lives in van
Compton said he bought a $300 camper for a univer
sity van, drives it to Florida in November to plant the
corn and lives in the van while he is there, saving the
university hotel costs.
Compton leaves the van in Florida and flies south at
Christmas to pollinate the corn. In March, he returns to
Florida to harvest the corn; returns to Lincoln, and plants
the corn in university Holds near 48th and Holdrege Sts.
Compton said he does not know if there will be a
winter nursery next year, because there is not yet a fund
ing source.
"Just because corn is 60 per cent of the economy ir
the state of Nebraska doesn't mean the state wants tc
support a winter nursery," he said.
monday, march 7, 1 977 vol. 1 00 no.87 lincoln, nebraska
By Theresa Forsman
NU's defense of its capital construction budget for
1977-78 submitted to the Nebraska Legislature in Sept
ember, was outlined by NU administrators and two
members of the NU Board of Regents business affairs sub
committee Friday.
NU administrators will appear at the Legislature's
Appropriations Committee's public hearing at 2 p.m.
today on LB89, which would allow construction of a
Health, Physical Education and Recreation Bldg. (HPER)
at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. .: .., - -
The university has asked for $7,389,000 for the build
ing. LB89, introduced by Omaha Sen. Glenn Goodrich
specified $6.7 million. Gov. J. James Exon has recom
mended $4 million.
Robert Pazderka, NU Capital Construction coordin
ator, told the group that interim NU President Ronald
Roskens will tell the Appropriations Committee that if
appropriated $4 muu..i, th MPER Bldg. would have to
be redesigned,
Roskens also will say that anything less than the uni
versity request would be inadequate to meet the needs of
UNO for a physical education building, Pazderka said.
Omaha Regent Kermit Hansen, subcommittee chair
man, said the university should refute the comparison be
tween Creighton University's gymnasium in Omaha and
the proposed HPER Bldg. . '
Continued on p. 2
hey could have danced all night-and they did
Editor's note: Daily Nebraskan reporter Janet Lliteras
participated in the Chi Phi fraternity-KLMS Radio dance
marathon for muscular dystrophy. After completing 30
hours of dancing, she wrote this account.
Guitars and drums set the pace and tired feet kept the
beat. The smell of warm bodies hung in the air.
It was the third annual Chi Phi fraternity-KLMS 30
hour dance marathon for muscular dystrophy in the
Nebraska Union Ballroom Friday and Saturday.
Lights were turned low at 6:05 p.m. Friday. Sixty-one
couples set out to dance for 30 hours.
As time passed, the temperature soared and clothes
were shed. Tennis shoes, sandals, socks and bare feet were
stomping the wooden floor as songs from the '50s, '60s
and 70s filled the Ballroom and echoed down the halls.
Couples were dancing the bunny hop, jitterbug, polka,
two-step and bump-during the same song. By Saturday
morning they were dojng anything to keep awake. Groups
squared off and played "Red Rover" and "Leap Frog."
" The favorite game was a modified version of follow the
leader and crack the whip to break the monotony of
dancing. Every now and then a frisbee would whiz by.
' Dancers could, according to the rules, do anything as
long as couples , were "on their feet and in constant
motion" while the music was playing. '
Fifteen-minute restbreaks were given every three hours
with four hours of sleep allowed from 2 to 6 am. Satur
day. Dancers watched cartoons during breakfast.
During the breaks, magicians Steve H- ington and Bob
Kenney baffled the audience with their illusions. Dave
Castle and his dummy partner demonstrated ventrilo
quism. Volunteers taken from the dance floor, swallowed
goldfish. Some fish required bigger chasers of orange drink
than others. At least one fish refused to remain
swallowed.
Dancers took advantage of every break. As soon as the
music stopped, they dropped to the floor or plopped into
chairs along the wall. Sore backs were massaged. Tired
feet were rested.
At 11:55 pjn. Saturday, dancers found enough energy
to grab hands and circle the room at a run, weaving in and
out among the people. At midnight, fireworks exploded,
arms waved and a loud cheer went up.
"We made it."
Bruce Harmon, board member of the state chapter for
muscular dystrophy and coordinator of the Lincoln
marathon, congratulated the dancers.
"It's been 30 hours of blood, sweat and fun," he said.
Fifty of nearly 70 couples made it to. the end.
Money raised from pledges and the $1 admission price
collected at the door totaled $16,680.85. The amount
exceeded last year's total by $5,000, Harmon said.
Stud
ents win
trip
Sandy Dauphin, a UNL junior from Lincoln, and Gary
Albee, a UNL senior from Grand Island, danced their way
to an expense-paid trip to Las Vegas to be on the Jerry
Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Labor Day telethon.
Hie dancing couple raised the most money in the Chi
Phi Fraternity-KLMS Radio dance marathon Friday and
Saturday.
Other couples raising the most money were: Karen
Trook, sophomore, Weeping Water, and Brad Cromwell,
junior, Genoa, second place; and Rosin a Spilker, sopho
more, Lincoln, and Tim Baker, Lincoln, third place.
Ornizations raising the most money were: Chi Phi
Fraternity, . first; Lincoln Junior Achievement Club,
second; and Alpha Gamma Sigma Fraternity, third.
f 0 rs fz 1
tkws: UNL students hope to profit from making fun of
President Carter p. 6
EatcrtajiuseEt: Oriental dancer will move to the strains
of the Lincoln Improvisation Ensemble p. 8
pcrts: I Iu:kcrs net two of three matches ia weekend
tennis tournament p. 10
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Lacad-3 crowds sctm to be commonplace ia Llscola tlis week. The state gHs' Vh Eioel bs:etbs3
toTTrrner.t czlzd S-? Jy t-j t!:e boys' tosmry fcr3 Thsndsy.