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daily nebraskan
monday, february 27, 1978
Fees issue needs thorough exam to ensure health
For the past several weeks, the
Daily Nebraskan rarely has missed
a day without discussing the every
present issue of student fees. Today
is no exception.
Discussion mainly has centered on
the NU Board of Regents' recent
decision to eliminate a speaker
program from mandatory student
fee support.
However, this is just one thorn in
the side of students. The whole
prickly bush of student fees needs to
be re-examined. A possible $5.52
per semester fee increase (to main
tain the present service level offered
by the Nebraska Unions, the Univer
sity Health Center and the recrea
tion department) is glaring evidence
of this.
In case you forgot, last July, while
reviewing fees recommendations for
1977-78, Regent James Moylan of
Omaha complained that student fees
($66.60 per semester) were too
high. Moylan's protests initiated a
task force to study student fees,
with the charge of eliminating all
student fees except those supporting
the university's bond repayment.
They also were to examine which
university organizations should be
funded through mandatory and vol
untary fees.
It's sad to but after seven
months' work, we've come full
circle. We are back where we started,
or more likely, several steps behind
the starting point.
The task force spent an entire
semester studying just 5 percent
(Fund A) of student fees. As a result,
we are faced with a possible $5.52
fee increase, about a $47,000 reduc
tion in Fund A allocations and elimi
nation of a speaker program from
mandatory fees-one area where a
majority of students want to ssnd
their mandatory fees.
It seems absurd that an effort
started with the noble intention of
reducing student fees should end
with a more-than-likely fee increase
plus a reduction in services. Who's
losing here?
The issue has been avoided long
enough -a complete re-examination
of fees is long overdue and must be
made before another penny is added
(or subtracted) from student fees.
1978-79 Fund A allocations may
be reduced by $47,000 over last
year, according to Richard Arm
strong, vice chancellor for student
affairs, but at the same time each
student is expected to plug a possible
extra $5.52 in Fund B services.
Perhaps the administration should
reconsider the recommendation
offered by the task force. Besides
their Fund A recommendations, the
task force suggested that Fund B be
audited and critically examined, in
order to pare the student fee dollar
down to the bare minimum.
It must be done after all, Fund B
is 95 percent of student fees.
More importantly, it can be done.
At least one regent, Robert I'ro
kop of Wilber, offers us a glimmer of
hope. At the last regents' meeting,
Prokop presented a fees recommen
dation that would have reduced fees
to $18 plus whatever activities fees
the chancellor may feel merit stu
dent fee support.
Although we do not support
Propkop's proposal (it was turned
down by the board), it raises some
interesting questions.
If Prokop's recommendation is
any indication of regent attitude
toward student fees, then why are
we still paying $66.50?
If one regent can devise a bare
bones fees policy, is it assuming
too much to expect someone else
within this big, wide university to
come up with an economical, prac
tical fees alternative?
Lack of sports areas, hours plague non-varsity athletes
The availability of sports centers to non
varsity students has posed a frustrating and
irritating problem. Administrators and di
rectors of UNL Sports Centers would be
amazed and embarrased if they had any
idea of the comments and abuse sent their
way.
I will limit my comments to the sport I
am most involved in and which is becoming
one of the most popular in America: rac-quetball.
michael
niKune
Second, the men's and women's athletic
departments have the courts reserved from
1 to 6 pjn. during the weekdays. (Isn't it
odd that they get it five hours a day, five
days a week, and the non-varsity student
gets three hours a day, five days a week?)
Third, the intramural program periodic
ally has tournaments a few weeks a month.
So you see, the odds of getting a court
are very slim indeed. It is fortunate that
the courts are open weekends, (Sat. 10-6
and Sun. 1-6) because otherwise the situa
tion would be absurd.
I inquired to see if there would be any
possibility of extending operation hours,
but of course the age old problem, lack of
funds came up. There just isn't enough to
pay people for the extra hours or to keep
the place running. Also, most of the sports
centers are not student funded, so there is
no recourse there.
All you frustrated runners, swimmers,
racquetball, tennis, basketball, handball
players etc., take heed - the situation is
pretty much hopeless. Unless you are a
varsity athlete, unless your last name is
Devaney, you pretty much have to play
the slim odds. And they are stacked against
you.
It's frustrating; I cannot remember the
number of times I've seen people stomp
out of these recreation areas due to this
problem of availability.
There are a few things you can do.
Though I know it's foolish to ask you to
do this, because no one ever does, write a
few nasty letters to the directors and
administrators.
Ask them why there is a problem why
the students are not being allowed fair
time. Ask why so many other schools,
some in the Big Eight, can afford to run
adequate programs and facilities for all
students, and why we can't at least try to
model our programs after some of theirs.
There are a huge number of students
who utilize the recreation areas; if they
would voice their many grievances, just
maybe something will happen. It just de
pends on how bad you want it.
All you recreational athletes, grab your
pens and pencils and unite!
Currently there are nine racquetball
courts on campus; all in the fieldhouse 3'
the north end of the stadium. The courts
were renovated over the summer and con
sequently are in extremely good condition.
It is possible to reserve a court by cal
ling the Recreation Dept. at 8 a.m. the day
you want to play. Reservations for Satu
day and Sunday are taken Friday morn
ings. My main complaint is why is it nearly
impossible to get a court? This is a rhetori
cal question because I know the answer.
The first reason is because there are
22.271 students on this campus, some of
whom also like the sport.
letters
to the editor
On Friday night Jan. 20. four girlfriends
and I were held up by a man in his early
twenties at the south end of the parking lot
directly behind Uncle Sam's (discotheque).
Fortunately, no one was hurt (even
though he was wielding an 8-inch night
stick at us) and he made off with only one
purse.
The purpose of this letter is to warn all
future patrons of the potential dangers that
exist in this inadequately lit parking lot.
We would appreciate any and all help in
pressuring the management of Sam's to in
stall proper lighting in their lot. Call or
write them and express your concern about
the lack of action they have shown.
For the record, an employee openly ad
mitted to the lot's inadequacy and the offi
cer filing the report stated that such inci
dents occur frequently in Uncle Sam's back
lot.
C L.,C.C ,S N ,C J and S B
Another pat on the head
ft is a verv sad occasion when once
again a group of men (the NU Board of Re
gents) determiie the course of student ex
penditures wit! out giving much thought to
student needs.
It is wrong to presume that we, the stu
dents, should have very little to say about
where our money goes?
Do they really listen to our needs? Did
5,000 signature mean very much to
them? I have worked summers in order to
afford college. I pay for it myself and I do
not appreciate the fact that these men de
termine how I will spend my money.
I feel as though I am not adult enough
to make my own decisions and I am just
biding my time here at this huge babysit
ting institution until I can get out. Which
will be as soon as I can.
Wake up! It's the real world.
Cynthia Coglianese
Sophomore Journalism major
Ears get the point
The rumours of leonard Nimoy's return
to Star Trek have wen in question for
some time. It would be a shame if Nimoy
would not revive the character which gave
him such recognition and admiration.
But as for Spock being the major reason
for the tremendous following of the series.
I do not think so.
The success of Star Trek lies with the
special effects and the creativity and ima
gination behind all of the characters.
My advice to the directors is to try
again - with or without Nimoy and bring
alive those qualities again.
We cannot let this possibility pass by
without giving it that final gamble for suc
cess. Susan Sharp
Junior medical technology major
Mad as hell
I'm mad as hell!
First. I'm mad as hell at instructors who
have you buy textbooks at SlO-plus and
when you try to sell them the next semes
ter, you find that they've dropped that
text
Second, I'm mad as hell at hearing there
are maggots and bugs in my residence hall
food, and certain "gentlemen" with very
nice quarters out at East Campus want to
charge me $70 or more if I'm to expect the
same quality next year.
Third, I'm mad as hell at a certain "gen
tleman" in charge of parking who has more
than $100,000 from the increase in student
parking and still hasn't lighted or paved
certain lots.
Jeff Barnes
Sophomore journalism major
Uncross
is CO
oil you.
PuWic Service of 1cs Newspaper
& The Advertising Council
