frlday, march 2, 1979
daily nebraskan
Test indicates UNL seniors
rank smarter than average
pcg3 8
Graduates of the UNL College of Arts
and Sciences apparently are better pre
pared to handle jobs than graduates of
other liber' arts institutions, according to
results of vesting done last year by the
American College Testing Service.
The testing by ACT is part of research
aimed at developing tests that assess stu
dents' strengths in skills and knowledge
needed for various careers.
Dr. Aubrey Forest, director of ACT's
College 'Outcome Measures Project, exp
plained Monday night the purpose of the
testing and the results of the research so
far.
Forest said UNL seniors had a higher
average than any of the other 50 colleges
and universities tested last year, despite
other data which showed the students
about equal as freshmen .
UNL is one of a dozen institutions
which have participated in the research
since it began three years ago. Forest said
the testing will include 100 institutions.
The tests assess skills in six areas: func
tioning within social institutions; using
science and technology; using the arts;
communicating; solving problems and clari
fying values.
UNL seniors did well in all areas except
the science and writing, he said, but UNL
seniors did better tin those areas than
seniors from other schools.
Forest said a group of 105 UNL alumni
recognized as leaders in their community
also were tested, in order to set upper
standards for the test scores. UNL alumni
were tested because of the high scores UNL
Seniors had received when they were
tested, he said.
In 85 percent of the cases, the alumni
scored highest in sections of the test re
lated to their fields, indicating that the
tests are valid indicators of the skills
needed for certain fields, Forest said.
Once they are developed, Forest said,
COMP tests should tell which skills and
knowledge are relevant to a student's suc
cess after graduation, as well as helping
determine how much knowledge arid skill
should be required to earn a diploma.
Committee sends
speed bill to floor
The Legislature's Public Works Com
mittee last week advanced to the floor a
bill proposing to raise the state's interstate
speed limit from 55 mph to 65 mph.
LB330 was introduced by Sen. Ernie
Chambers, and was opposed by the Depart
ment of Roads during the committee hear
ing. Chambers said he wanted the bill on the
floor so he could find out if federal high
way authorities are bluffing in their threat
to withhold highway funds from states
with speed limits above 55 mph.
The roads department warned that the
state could lose $105 million in federal
funds if the bill is passed and if the govern
ment makes good its threat.
Chambers said the federal government
could not afford to let the interstate
system fall into a state of disrepair, and
that he did not think the funds would be
held back.
The committee attached an amendment
to the bill to repeal a statute put through
by Chambers that provides a maximum
$10 fine and no reduction of points from
the driver's license of one who is caught
speeding up to 65 mph on the interstate
system.
1 v
r f V
Photo by Mary Ann Qolon
March came in like a lion Thursday, and this little girl shielded her face from
winter's last icy blast.
Two A- Whole party memberstriumpkin
hxw elections
By Mike Sweeney
A few politicians may be inept, but
until this year, not one even has admitted
to being an A-Whole.
Two weeks ago, five UNL law students
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APPLY . . .
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Pay: $450 plus month
Benefits: on-the-job experience in advertising,
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Application Deadline: Thurs. March 15,4:00 p.m.
Applcants should be femlar wth the Guidetnes far the Student Press
adapted by the NU Board of Regents (copies available upon request)
Resumes should be submitted to and appfcattons completed at the Daly Nebraskan.
For further information
Cal 472-2588
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911 North 27th
4744921
- - yy 11 a.m. -11 p.m.
c Th?3 Sunday; 5-9 only
formed the A-Whole Party and began
campaigning for the Student Ear Associat
ion on the strength of slogans like "It's
American to vote for an A-Whole."
SBA is the student government of the
law college.
The A-Whole campaign consists of two
Sosters and a "Campaign Comix" coloring
ook which includes a campaign crossword
puzzle and tells exactly what the A-Whole
party fs all about.
According to the coloring book, the A
Whole Party stands for:
-the National Athem
-a judge when he or she walks into the
courtroom
-any old geezer in need of a seat on the
bus, and
-a tack on a chair.
Limited success
When SBA election results were
announced Tuesday, the A-Whole Party
had limited success.
In the SBA presidential race, A-Whole
candidate Roxanne Raymond lost to Tom
Maul, 12444. In the race for SBA treasur
er, Jeffrey Hrouda defeated A-Whole candi
date Deb Brownyard, 78-61; and in the
race for law student division representative
of the American Bar Association, incum
bent Dave Pedersen received 103 votes to
26 for Randy Phipps and 25 for A-Whole
candidate Marjean Bush.
However, A-Whole candidates did win
two offices. Tom Sullivan was elected vice
president and Randy Brown was elected
secretary. But then, both were running un
opposed. When law college dean John Strong was
informed that two A-Whole candidates
were elected, he laid, "My only reaction is
I hope they don't live up to their plat
form." A-Whole candidates said they hope to
make SBA a more meaningful Organization.
"Theoretically, SBA serves as a liaison
between the faculty and the students,"
Bush said. 4The problem is they serve as a
rubber stamp for the faculty and the
administration and do not voice student
concerns." , :
Brown, who recruited the A-Whole
candidates from his friends, said the party
. fan to give SBA a purpose.
"We wanted to elevate 'ourselves above
doormats Brown said.
Brown was the only party candidate
with election experience. Several years ago
he narrowly missed election to ASUN
while running on the "ANUS" party.
However, election inexperience didn't
hurt the other candidates, according to
Brown.
"The advantage of running for SBA isyou
don't have to do anything," he said.
Brown said he did not put much
thought into the party's campaign. He said
he spent most of his time working on the
campaign masterpiece-the comic book's
crossword puzzle. The puzzle has clues like
"an attorney's favorite word" (sue) and
"Law students study and cookie monster is
full" (never).
Comic book
Brown said he worked on the comic
book during a law lecture class instead of
taking notes.
The party adopted its unusual name and
campaign tactics to grab attention and to
overcome voter apathy, Brown said.
Presidential candidate Raymond said
several law students told her they thought
the party was trying to make a sham of the
elections.
But she said the A-Whole Party believes
student government already is a sham.
Maul disagreed, saying SBA has a strong
voice in the law school.
He said the law school faculty takes
SBA seriously when it represents legitimate
student concerns. For example, he said,
SBA was allowed to oversee class schedul
ing after undergraduates complained they
were at a scheduling disadvantage and did
not get all the classes they wanted.
. Maul said the SBA elections did face
some important issues.
Both Maul and the A-Whole candidates
favored installing new photo copying
machines, and favored setting up a jazz
concert series at the law college over the
Monday lunch hour.
Maul said A-Whole's unusual campaign
literature was "just i way to sell the
party." :
After losing three of the five SBA
elections, the A-Whole Party has an un
certain future, Brown said. He said some A
Whole candidates may run in the law
college class elections in, two weeks.
Both he and new SBA vice president
Sullivan said they were certain the A-Whole '
party is not deaa.
That's the wonderful thing about life,"
Sullivan said. A whole new crop of A
Wholes is always coming along?" 4 r