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Wednesday, march 14, 1970
daily nebraskan
pegs 11
Lobbyist coordinates university policies, legislative data
By Kevin Field
In a behind-the-scenes position, William
Swanson bridges the gap between NU and
the Nebraska Legislature.
Swanson is vice president of govern
ment regulations and corporate secretary
to the NU Board of Regents. He also is the
university's only registered lobbyist, repre
senting UNO, UNL and the medical center.
"I've always had a deep interest in the
university which continued through the
legislature," he said, "and when this posit
ion was offered, I accepted."
Swanson was appointed to the position
in December, 1974.
Swanson graduated from NU in 1947.
He was a state senator from 1967 to 1972.
Before that he was the director of the state
real estate commission.
The duties of his present position are
varied and numerous, ranging from prepar
ing the minutes from the regent's meetings
to speaking at committee hearings in the
legislature.
Daily Involvement
Being a lobbyist for the university is
different than working for many other
groups, he said.
"We are very involved on a day to day
basis with the legislature, especially when it
is in session," he said.
However, this involvement is not always
direct, he added. Many bills that may seem
to have nothing to do with the university
are of interest, he said.
For example, any bill relating to hospit.
als or .medical, care is of concern to the NU
Medical Center, he said, and added that
this is true for many legislative bills.
The senators also use the University to
research bills and they frequently call him
for information, Swanson said.
Swanson can locate the correct people
on campus and coordinate the Information
with the university's policies as set by the
regents.
Advance discussion
Regents discuss many issues months in
advance of the legislative session. He said
he generally knows the board's position on
policy matters, and acts as a spokesman for
the board at hearings.
Current legislature issues concerning the
university include the creation of a regional
veterinary college, mandatory retirement
age for faculty members, the construction
of a theatre arts building and remodeling of
the Temple Building.
Swanson gave no opinion about the out
come of the veterinary college issue, since
legislation still was in committee and he
had not heard the results of any votes.
He said the regents believe it would be
good for the state, but federal funds must
UNL offers Chinese course
The normalization of relations between
the People's Republic of China and the
United States will open up a different
world in traveling and it might be wise to
know what you are talking about if you go
to China.
The UNL Modem Language Department
next semester will offer a special topics
course in conversational Chinese in addit
ion to the regular Japanese language
courses.
Professor Nelly Cheng said the course
will involve the basic mandarin Chinese
language. The course which,; is offered,
through the extension service is not a
group requirement, but is a quick way to
learn practical Chinese, Cheng said. The
special topic is listed in the Modem Langu
ages section of the 1979-80 course catalogue.
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be available. He added that Nebraska's is, on the whole, very good and that differ
share of contributed funds come from new ences of opinion are natural,
money and not from cuts in existing pro In addition to his lobbying efforts, he
grams. edits a weekly legislative digest containing
The Temple Building, he said; Is on the a description of all bills that may concern
board's priority list, but the university has the university. It is available to campus per
a policy of remodeling existing structures sonnel so they can know what is happening
and not building new ones. in the legislature, and help determine if a
Swanson believes the relationship bill should be followed and which view to
between the university and the legislature hold,
Cheng also instructs the four sections of
Japanese language. Next fall two courses in
beginning Japanese will be dffered with
continuing courses offered in the spring.
One of the fall courses deals with an
introduction to sounds, structures and the
writing system. The other course provides
students with the reading of moderately
difficult Japanese texts.
Cheng said 16 hours of credit can be
earned in the Japanese language to help
fullfill group requirements. She added that
the classes help students become familiar,,
with Japanese culture and students have an
opportunity to practice speaking with
native Japanese outside of class. Students
participating in the Japanese program are
also eligible to qualify for a Kawasaki
Travel Award for a year of study in Japan.
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