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Wednesday, march 14, 1070
llncpln, ncbraska vol. 102 no. 04
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Httto by Miry Afm Golon
Universities interested in
Chmese-UNL exchange
By Karen Wittwer
The possibility of a UNL exchange pro
gram with the People's Republic of China
is good, NU President Ronald Roskens said
Tuesday during a news conference describ
ing his recent trip to China.
Roskens and his wife led an educational
special interest group of 25 Nebraskans on
a three week tour sponsored by the Center
for Study of Comparative Education at
Kent-State University. Roskens returned to
work March 3.
Roskens said he visited four of the six
major universities and all expressed interest
in exploring exchange programs of stu
dents, faculty and publications with UNL
The group visited Peking University,
Nanking University, Futon University in
Shanghai and Sun Yat Sen University in
Canton. A delegation from Canton is
scheduled to visit UCLA and Washington
D.C. in April and Roskens said he invited
them to stop in Nebraska.
Low enrollment
Enrollment in China universities cur
rently is well below capacity because the
universities were virtually closed during
1966-71, Roskens said.
The Gang of Four had labeled universit
ies as worms destroying socialism and
Insisted that university faculty go out to
the fields and learn to work with their
hands, he explained.
In addition to the universities, the tour
visited primary and middle schools in Nan
king, Wushi and Shanghai.
Roskens said the Chinese educational
system is a. national system as opposed to
individual school systems in the United
States. Children enter school at age six and
attend classes six days a week, five hours a
day.
Lack of funds threatens Temple proposal
By Randy Essex
Because of a lack of money , renovation
of UNLa Temple Theatre building might
be tabled, members of the Legislature Ap
propriations Committee said Tuesday.
Urban senators on the committee were
more supportive of the plan than outstate
lawmakers, but even the two Omaha sena
tors on the committee said funds may not
be available for the project., ;
LB385, Introduced by Lincoln Sen.
Dave tandis and Bellevue Sen Frank
Lewis, Would allocate $6.6 million dollars
are four years for addition to and renova
tion of the building.
However, thHNU Board of Regents
capital construction request asked for
$50,000 during the next two years for
planning the project. The project was listed
21st en the regents truest. ,
Committee Chairman Jerome Warner of
WaverlyMdhe will be surprised if more
than one or two of the projects actually
receiving financing
Warner laid he doesn't think there will
be enough revenue available for the Temple
project, lie said he supports keeping the
budget under a 1 percent increase, which
leaves only slightly more than $20 million
for new projects.
Fowler to support Temple '
Lincoln Sen. Steve Fowler said he will
support the Temple project tn fcommittee,
and that he thinks the funds necessary ire
' available; v. "
4 "But It shouldn't be assumed that the ,
project would be adopted at the expense
of another university project, Fowler said.
He explained that the plan is competing
for money with request for new state pa
- trol ears, HM-y&ivsrsity X tosstructiofi
projects tniJditfcnai staff for state agen
. ties.-: '." " - - - r
Fowler fc! J the Temple renovation :
should ta cne of the highest uriverclty tap
ital construction priorities, despite the re
gents request,
He said he does not think passage of
L&385 goes against a 1977 Nebraska Su
preme Court ruling, that the regents have
ultimate control of the university, and not
the Legislature.
"We can appropriate funds on each
capital construction project as we see fit,'
Fowler said
The allocation process did not change
after the court ruling, he added.
Senators power questioned
But Don Dworak of Columbus, Myron
Rumery of North Platte and Ron Cope of
Kearney questioned the appropriateness
and ability of the Legislature to go against
the regents judgment
Dworak said his first reaction is to
follow the regents priorities. Cope said he
doesnt like the idea of telling anyone how
to run their business.
Dworak explained that NU employs
people to determine the priorities, and said
it would be irresponsible for the Legisla
ture, not to look at the management de
tisioa seriously
wt just don't think we can go against
what these people are paid to do," he said
Dworak added that the committee only
heard seven; people with, an interest in
v theater say .the building should be a hiier
priority. He said he also hears from agricul
ture and electrical engineering students,
asking for Imprdvemenu in their buildings
No final dec&o&v " v.
- But Dworak said, he realizes the Temple
building is Li bid shape, and hisnl made a
final decision yet.- . w .
Urnnefy tsi.l ht doubts that the ttt
lature has le;d power to change t the !
regents priority list. Hs said his position .
oa the Temple project was established last
year, when he voted for plannhg funis,
but he would not disclose how he will vote
in committee.
Omaha Sen. Bemice Labedz said she re
alizes the need for improvement of the
building, but doesn't think the project can
be My financed this year. She said she
will support partial work on the building.
But Cope said he thinks partial work is a
waste of money. The Kearney senator
said patchwork spending on the building
would do no good
"It's all or nothing, Cope said.
The regents have total control of the
project, and because they have given it low
priority, hes not sure if the Legislature
should allocate the money, he said.
"I would love to see the funds allocated,
but fciven the total amount of money avail
able, it's a tough one, Cope said
Hoia&d limited
Omaha Sen. Peter Hoagiand said he will
support the Idea all he can, but limited
funds limit his support He said if the funds
can fee found anywhere, he thinks the pro
ject should be approved
v Lincoln Sen. Shirley Marsh said she sup
ports the project, but she is not sure where
money would come from;
Randy Moody, administrative assistant
for Gov. Charles Thone, said it is too early
to determine what the coventor's position"
will be, But, Moody taid, he. thinks Thone
has set the tone for spending this year In
his budget message. Thone recommended
$3,025,000 for university capital construe
tion, compared to $9,42200 in the
regents' request. Thone has also said new
construction pJans wiH have to , wait
Moody added that the regents ultimate
control of NU would be another considera
tiofi in determining1 the govemora pssi
tioa if the Temple project reaches his desk. -
Children in the cities attend school for
10 years before entering a university and
children in the country attend school for
seven years before going to college, he said.
In the schools the Chinese emphasize
examinations, discipline, continuous, quick
revision of books and the key school con
cept, Roskens said. The key school is
designed to educate talented students from
across China and through them show the
wisdom of education to the entire country,
he explained.
Emphasis on exercise
The Chinese curriculum emphasizes
physical intellectual and moral education,
Roskens said. A Chinese school day begins
with a half hour of vigorous calisthenics
and marching and there are exercise breaks
throughout the day, Roskens said. The
Chinese believe exercise will prevent the flu
and other sicknesses and enjoy the compet
ition offered by sports, Roskens said. Eye
exercises also are practiced in the class
room to help prevent poor eyesight, he
said.
Chinese moral education teaches the
five loves: love of the motherland, people,
science, public property and physical well
being, according to Roskens.
Chinese educators are concerned with
many of the same problems that U.S.
teachers are, he said. Tliey worry about the
need to Improve facilities, staff quality,
exam policies and the control outside
authorities have on their schools, he said.
Problems blamed on Gang
Politically, all of the current problems
in China are blamed on the Gang of Four
which was deposed in 1977, Roskens said.
According to current leaders, the Gang of
Four was responsible for devaluing scholar
ships, disrupting production, obstructing
foreign trade and falsifying the last testa
ment of Chairman Mao Tse Tung, Roskens
said.
The Gang of Four was a group made up
of Mao Tse Tungs wife, Chaing Ching, and
three others who pursued a radical policy
following the death of Mao. They were
subsequently purged by the Houa Kuo
Feng regime , now in power.
Today, China's objective is to modern
ize its economy through the modernization
of agriculture, industry, defense and
science and technology, Roskens said.
The Chinese are requesting U.S. help to
modernize their country and Roskens said
he believes it would be to the advantage of
the U.S. to offer help because in 10 to 15
years China will be a major modern power
with whom to contend.
Policy briefings
During a briefing at the VS. Consulate
in China early in the tour, Roskens said the
group was told that US. policy was a con
tinuation of dealing with both the Peopled
Republic and Taiwan.
The group also was briefed cn the
Continued en page 10
life at the Legislature: Profile of
wwersity lobbyist ; William
Swsnson . i Vpage 1 1
Food hi the Ba Applet; Columnist :
gives tips on how to dine in New'
. York ; . Vpj-re 12"
Bar the doors: H&h school bz
ketball weekend is , upon us
- JSain'fcJSe 14 . ,v v , - - ..,
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