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thursday, april 6, 1978
daily nebraskan
Profitable ideas cloud University Bookstore's future
As long as the Nebraska Union is
trying to get a lot of things together,
why not include the University
Bookstore as well?
That seems to be the sentiment of
the Fees Allocation Board, and
union officials seem to accept the
idea.
Suggestions for latching onto the
bookstore in the basement to help
the union hold the line on future stu
dent fee increases have included
charging the bookstore rent of in
corporating it into union services.
As Al Bennett, union director, ex
plained, before making a move as
significant as this, it is necessary to
work through the proper administra
tive channels and to examine how
this would fit into the union's future
plans.
We agree with this cautious
approach.
If the union would charge their
normal rental fee of $4 per square
foot, the bookstore would be paying
out at least $40,000 annually.
According to University Book
store manager Larry Behrens, this ex
tra cost most likely would be ab
sorbed in higher prices. Obviously,
this would remove the 5 percent dis
count the bookstore offers to stu
dents purchasing more than $30 of
supplies and books, or at the very
least, negate the savings the discount
allows.
On the other hand, if the book
store was put under the union's
willing wing, it is hard to predict
what would happen. Knowing the
union's financially troubled past, we
doubt that Bennett and associates
would make the fatal mistake of un
dertaking an operation that would
put an albatross around their necks.
But considering that the union is
still fighting a deficit and has a host
of revenue-generating projects in
mind, we hesitate to see the union
undertake this project without a lot
of study.
Another consideration is that even
if the union would take over the
bookstore, profits would be used to
reduce the union's deficit and to
curtail possible student fee increases.
Either way, students would lose
the benefits they now enjoy at the
bookstore.
Since FAB has broached this idea,
it is unlikely that it will die a quiet
death. The chances of the bookstore
in the union basement operating the
way it always has probably are nil.
In the interest of keeping the
bookstore as serviceable as possible
to students, we suggest that the fea
sibility study to be conducted on the
bookstore's future consider several
alternatives besides charging rent and
giving the bookstore to the union.
For example, maybe the book
store could be relocated in another
rent-free space and its basement lo
cation in the union be rented out to
other businesses.
Possibly, the union could investi
gate charging a reduced rental rate
to the bookstore, since the book
store is a widely used student service.
We advise the union to keep up
their cautious attitude toward incor
porating the bookstore.
At all costs, or better, at no cost,
it should be remembered that the
bookstore is a student service and
should offer the lowest possible
prices to its clients.
Engineer fair dome-inates
this weekend at university
An object straight out of "Star
Wars" is the earthly landscape near
the Nebraska Engineering Center.
Darth Vadar, R2D2 and C3PO are
absent. Luke Sky walker is not there
either.
But, thanks to a dedicated group
of engineering students, E-Fair is
now upon us. Please don't be fright
ened, E-Fair is not an evil princess,
but instead, is the College of En
gineering and Technology's Engineer
ing Fair.
It starts today with an open house
and runs through Friday.
This has become an annual event
for the college. One that takes a
great deal of organization and effort
to plan, coordinate and pull off.
Some 50 student projects - includ
ing the interplanetary dome skele
ton - will be on display for viewing
and judging.
On display is future and current
technology by the future engineers.
This is not only an opportunity
for students to display their creativi
ty and genius, but it gives the public
a chance to see what local talent and
instruction can produce. Any univer
sity department can use a bit of
public relations to boost its credibili
ty and stature among other institu
tions and in the job market.
And, this time, it is the students
who are doing much of the planning
and the organizing of this effort.
These students are to be com
mended for their hours and thoughts
put into E-Fair.
Republicans bid for move from Legislature to Congress
Inflation and problems which result
from it are the main issues facing the na
tion according to the the two candidates
for the Republican nomination for the
First Congressional District.
State Senators Douglas Bereuter of
Utica and Loran Schmit of Bellwood said
in separate interviews that they believed
economic difficulties pose the greatest
problems for the country.
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tvolgamott
"Government spending is a major cause
of inflation," Bereuter said. "But it is dif
ficult to deal with due to high unemploy
ment." Schmit attacked government programs
which he termed "unnecessary ."
"We have to stop spending money we
don't have for things people don't want to
solve problems that aren't there," Schmit
said.
The candidates split on their views on
the differences between them.
"First of all, I'm more conservative on
fiscal matters," Schmit said. But he added
he was liberal in areas where people are
concerned, and listed bills he had spon
sored for social programs.
"I oppose the extension of government
into the private sector," Schmit said. "I
understand agriculture and business better
than all the other candidates and I under
stand what happens when government in
terferes in businesses."
Schmit said Bereuter's background was
more government -oriented. He cited two
bills sponsored by Bereuter-a land use
bill and a bill which removed billboards
from roadsides, which Schmit opposes as
increased government regulation.
Bereuter said the major difference be
tween himself and Schmit is their method
of operation.
"I prefer to do and do my most effec
tive work in committee," Bereuter said.
"I have gone to substantial lengths to
keep lobbyists at arm's length and have
taken pains not to be too closely associated
with any special interest groups," he said.
Bereuter said he was the only senator in
the state legislature who always took a po
sition on bills by voting on its final passage,
even though "it may be politically exped
ient to hide in the weeds."
"My biggest single emphasis is to make
government work more efficiently and
reduce regulation to business and
consumers," Bereuter said.
Both candidates are negative in their ap
praisal of President Carter's performance.
"A principal issue is going to evolve
around the inattentiveness of the Carter
administration to the needs of the people
and its inabilty to reach a decision,"
Schmit said.
prohibit abortion.
Bereuter said he was morally opposed
to abortion and did not want to do
anything to encourage it, but "at the same
time, I have not felt it is my responsibility
to place my views on someone else."
Bereuter said he favored marijuana de
criminalization. "I do not think it is appropriate for the
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to the editor
Photos courtesy of tha candidates
Douglas Bereuter (left) and Loran Schmit (right), Republican candidates for the First
Congressional District, currently are serving terms as senators in the Nebraska
Legislature.
You entertainment section has always
been full of absurd "reviews" but the
attack on the drawings of Christopher
Hickey (3-6-78) was so unprofessional that
I felt a need to write.
Starting with the first part of the title
"Drawings display art class taboos." What
sort of art class did Mr. Williams ever take?
If he had ever been told not to erase,
smudge or leave heavy outlines it could
only have been a beginning exercise taught
to make the students respect the lines that
are drawn .
J also can tell that the author has not
realized that there are things involved in
these sensitive pieces called content and
concept.
I have come to believe that the only
thing the author was concerned about were
the prices of the pieces which by all means
were not overpriced. If he wants a student
discount he should shop elsewhere.
All said. I feel that Mr. Williams has
absolutely no credentials. He has shown us
time and time again no sensitivity or know
ledge about art. Also, has he not heard that
such slander has been taken to court?
Being glib and clever does not a good
critic make.
Ursula Werner
Nebraska alumnus
The coal strike and farm legislation are
examples of Carter's inability to reach a
decision, Schmit said.
Bereuter said he felt the Carter ad
ministration is a disappointment for most
people and has accomplished bttle.
Bereuter also criticized the White
House staff as being generaDy "short on
talent" and said Carter brought in too
many staff members with no Washington
experience.
Both agreed that increased agricultural
exports are necesrary to aid the nation's
farmers.
The candidates differ on abortion and
marijuana decriminalization.
Schmit said he opposes abortion except
to save the mother's life. He said he has
introduced legislative support measures to
occasional user to be stuck with a felony
record," he said.
Schmit said decriminalization had some
merit, but he felt " it is important we do
not take action which might encourage our
young people to say Veil I can handle this
thing.'"
Both agree that the Middle East
problem is difficult, but they disagree on
the U.S. role in the conflict
Bereuter said he believed the United
States should keep communications chan
nels open between the Middle East nations
and should provide "some kind of balance
in military power through arms sales."
Schmit said the United States has abdi
cated its leadership role in the Middle
East and Israel has become the dominant
force in that part of the world.