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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (May 2, 1979)
Wednesday, may 2, 1979 daily nebraskan p333 9 Eiiergy-minded NU teacher leads 2-wheel f iefdkxips By Diane Andersen Professor William J. Wayne, like most geologists, re cognizes that the earth has a limited- amount of energy resources. But unlike most of his colleagues, Wayne shows his concern in a very visible way-he rides his bike all year round. Wayne, a youthful 57, takes students on bicycle field trips each spring to explore the sediment formations of Salt Creek and its tributary, Haines branch, as well as the sandstone formations around the Yankee Hill Brick Company of Lincoln. The 10-mile cycle trips are part of the requirement for a course called the 'Geology of Man's Environment. " Wayne introduces the students to mineral resources, water resources, waste disposal and landscape resources and problems, such as flooding around Lincoln and the structures man uses to rectify such problems. The geology professor said the layers of sediment in Salt Creek show such things as the conversion of Nebraska land from grassland to row crops after World War II. He said altering stream channels has many secondary effects, such as the increasing and decreasing the speed of water flow and erosion. The field trips enable the students to observe these effects first -hand: Foot trips "I've argued all along that you can see more by going out on foot," Wayne said, adding that most geologists erroneously think Lincoln is not interesting because of its flatness. "When I proposed we'd go by bicycle, the students thought it was wonderful," Wayne said. He said the bike trips started around 1970 when stu dents were concerned about pollution of the environment. Wayne said he believes students now have more wasteful attitudes toward fuel, but most still like the bike ride. "Some hate it. Most like it, but some people probably think it's a total bore." He said he has had o make the bike trips a require ment to get full participation from his classes . Mud experience Wayne said the students learn more by going out and getting in the mud themselves than by sitting in the class room, as long as someone goes with them to point out what to observe. "After all, geology is a field science," he said. Riding bikes Is nothing new to Wayne, who said he has been riding a bike since 1966, except for some cold, slippery winter days when he must walk or take the bus. Wayne said he even biked year-round In Wisconsin, except when the temperature fell below minus 20. "I just like" to ride a bicycle. Also, I grew up in the 1930s," Wayne said. He admitted he does use a car for longer trips. Energy waste Wayne's son is manager of Lincoln's Freewheelin' Bike Shop, and his daughter bikes to work as often as possible, Wayne said. Riding bikes is not the only way the professor practices conservation. "I've always had the philosophy of not throwing away something if it's reparable," Wayne said. He said he built a house in the 1950s that was up to to day's insulation standards. The heating bill in his current house just this year exceeded what it was about 10 years ago with less insulation, Wayne said. "Sure, Americans use too much energy," he said. Wayne said geology students today have great job opportunities to work for the big energy companies. They need to work on alternative sources of energy, according to Wayne, such as underground gasification of coal, use of oil shale and generating biomass from organic wastes. Wayne expressed concern over the future American energy outlook. Unsolved problems "There are some environmental problems we haven't solved," he said. "Pricewise we can't recover more than a fraction of the oil that's in the ground." Wayne said half of the U.S. oil reserves are undepleted, but the costs of getting that oil out are above current import prices. Wayne said nuclear power is "just another way of heat ing water to produce electricity." He said nuclear power could produce a maximum of 25 percent of our total electricity generation. Wayne said people must cut down on energy use, so Students organize to alter policies Middlebury, VT, (Cty"StrainedM is a mild term to describe recent relationships between Middlebury College officials and students-particularly fraternity' residents. But before those relationships reached the breaking point, the students organized to present their gripes ... and the administration apparently is listening. An organization called the Middlebury Awareness Development drew a capacity crowd of 700 students to a campus chapel to vote on resolutions ranging from putting students on the board of trustees to repealing a college policy of holding fraternity presidents responsible for the actions of their organizations. All of the requests passed overwhelmingly. The board of trustees has the final say, but the college president has stated he is in favor of student trustees. Administrators also agreed that fraternity presidents should not be held accountable for actions of their organ izations. Hie problems began last January when the Middlebury board of trustees voted to end a rebate to fraternities for members who eat at the house rather than in the dining hall. The action means the end of meal service in the frat ernities and a big increase in the number of students eating in the campus dining facilities. The trustee's action prompted a number of incidents ma he vam rniinm m si'::::in Gain valuable experience in your major. Job interviews will be held Wednesday, May 2, at 12, 3, 6, and 9 pm.No need to dress up. Please be on time. Room 225, Nebraska Union. during February's winter carnival. One house erected an obscene snow sculpture that drew over 200 complaints from 'local citizens. Other houses definitely extended parties past closing hours. Now, under the new peace, the trustees are expected to give the on -campus fraternities $150,000 to renovate their facilities. But, the trustees warn, they will set up a com mittee to see that the houses are well maintained and that the renovation money doesn't go down the drain. Privacy invasion Lawrence, Kansas (CH)-University of Kansas residence halls officials didn't like what they found in the dormitory rooms, and students didn't like the way the officials found what they didn't like. During spring break residence halls personnel checked every room of one dorm, ostensibly for fire hazards, and found numerous violations of dorm rules, such as the pre sence of alcohol and marijuana. The student rights committee of the student senate called the search an invasion of student's privacy. The KU student rights and responsibilities code gives authorities the right to enter rooms without permission only in re sponse to imminent danger to life or property, or if 24 hour notice is given. LOOTED for a pfcso to ihia tlib cumsncr? FIND IT in tho D.N. classified section VW need repairing? (Motion's: We repair VW ; Viclcsancl &V ;: sc3 parts "and : : VfjS V accessor fnr 'St$S . ' fvwm&n T7Yj AjLc' . . vdilcbs. : . . : v Olston's v Independent Specialists, Inc . Bidding Plant Sola Vegotabfos, Flowers and somo Houco Plants , Thursday drtd Frjo'oivj Great Plains room East Campus Union CnordbvthULHotIcuftt;fCfub::", "V "' they eventually will, when prices go high enough. A survey Wayne took in one of his classes indicated most students would continue to use as much gasoline as they are now, as long as the price stays under $1.50 a gallon. "We've already realized there's a crunch" Wayne said. "We just have to admit it." Wayne, an expert in the field of gemophology, the study of surface processes and forms of the earth, has been a UNL professor since 1968. Before that, he did re search for the Indiana Geological Survey in Bloomington. to share X. the ride! S mmmr j I ) N films) mm (mm 0 0UJiJoift 50 o B1M , $12,000 STARTING SALARY Are you looking for a challenging, rewarding career oppor tunity? We have a wide variety of management positions available in such fields as: Administration Financial Management Data Processing Aviation Maintenance Common IcatJofts Military Police Eajineertna : IntelL'senct Pt&Uc Relation " - 1 1- Guaranteed PILOT training Is also available for those ' who qua'Jy. If you want l chance to use your education and experience m responsible, decision making capacity, con aider becoming an OFFICER In the U.S. Marine Corps. For more information contact the: .-; 1JAIUN2 CFHCEl EnXCTION CFOCE Stttta Z Unica PaciHe EeSihj -110 NorttUih Streti r Omaha. NZ 621 C2 ' ca coSact (::) j