r
MUM
monday, September 17, 1979
lincoln, nebraska vol. 103 no. 15
O
ASH N keeps fighting tuition increase
By Cindy Coglianese
UNL student government has not given up its fight
against this year's tuition increase, despite Friday approval
of the 10 percent hike by the NU Board of Regents.
Committee considers
.
stricter drug laws
By Michelle Can
Hashish and hashish, oil possession should carry a
heavier penalty than marijuana possession, according to
testimony heard Friday at a legislative study hearing.
The Judiciary Committee heard testimony concerning
possible revisions in the state drug schedule. The commit
tee also heard testimony on insanity used as a defense in
trials and plea bargaining.
Steve Shaw, chief legislative counsel for the Nebraska
State Patrol, told the committee that the drug schedule is
inadequate because hashish and hashish oil possessors re
ceive the same penalities as marijuana offenders. Shaw
said hashish and hashish oil usually are 20 to 30 times
stronger than most marijuana.
Shaw said a distinction should be made in the drug
laws between marijuana and the stronger synthesized
foms of marijuana, like hashish.
"Hashish is a very strong drug when you consider that
it is now charged as marijuana," he said. He said that a
person found guilty of possessing less than an ounce of
marijuana can receive an infraction and a $100 fine. This
penalty is inequitable when applied to hashish and hashish
oil, he said.
Robert Gibson, Lancaster deptuty district attorney,
said hashish and hashish oil are 30 to 60 times more
potent than marijuana.
Gibson also told the committee that the Legislature
could create greater penalties for certain controlled sub
stances that are more dangerous. He cited the drug PCP,
or "angel dust," as a "volatile hallucinogenic," which
could draw a heavier penalty than other substances. He
also noted barbituates and LSD as possible exceptions to
current law.
"It is not difficult to find others (exceptions)," he said.
Distribution of certain controlled substances could also
carry a heavier fine, he said.
However, Gibson recommended that the Legislature
keep the same drug schedule because changes might cause
conflicts with the federal drug schedule, which is the same
as the state's.
"If we retain the schedule as it is now, we are in line
with the federal schedule," he said.
Gibson noted that an enhanced penalty for delivery or
distribution of certain substances could be created with
out interfering with the present schedule.
The committee also, heard testimony concerning insan-.
ity as a defense In trials. Amiran Elwork, a psychologist,
who was representing the Nebraska Psychologists Asso
ciation, said the association thinks insanity defense
"makes a lot of sense."
Continued on Page 11
Mark Hirschfeld, a member of ASUN's Government
Liaison Committee, said Sunday ASUN is studying alter
natives to try to prevent the 10 percent hike. One of the
alternatives, Hirschfeld said, is the possibility of circulat
ing a referendum petition to put the increase to a vote of
the state electorate. He said it Js not known if the regents
are subject to referendum.
Hirschfeld also said he met with ASUN President Bud
Cuca and two ASUN senators Sunday to discuss the alter
natives. The group decided to suggest a series of public
hearings about the .tuition hike as well as budget waste
and inefficiency at the university.
The regents, Hirschfeld explained, do not have public
hearings on tuition increases, so student government will
take that initiative.
At the Friday meeting, Cuca pointed to the large
audience and told the Board of Regents that the reason
for few more faces in the gallery" was student concern
over the 10 percent tuition increase.
Cuca moved for a zero percent increase and handed the
board student petitions with 5328 signatures opposing
the increase. He then criticized the board for the lack of
public hearings on the increase.
Cuca also questioned the reason for discrepancy be
tween the high tuition rates and low faculty salaries. He
said that Nebraska students pay the highest tuition of the
Big Eight schools while NU faculty members receive the
seventh lowest salaries in Big Eight.
ASUN senators Brad Belt also spoke about the tuition
increase. He said that the university's purpose is to pro
vide educational opportunities and to assure students ade
quate return on their educational investment.
Belt asked the board why faculty salaries are so low
when administrative salaries are above the national
median.
Cuca's motion was defeated 52. Regents Robert Sim
mons of Scottsbluff and Robert Prokop of Wilber sup
porting the amendment. Regent James Moylan of Omaha
was absent.
UNO Student Regent John Kirk then offered an
amendment for a 5 percent increase in tuition. His motion
was defeated with Simmons and Prokop again the only
supporting Regents.
Cuca then told the board that the students wanted to
get something tangible out of the tuition increase. He
moved that $70,000 be set aside for the Teachers Council
for a teacher's assistant training program to emphasize
language enchancement. Kirk, agreed that a program to
teach English to foreign teachers assistants would benefit
students.
NU President Ronald Roskens said that the lack of
English education in this area is a problem that needs
attention but he did not want the university to become
"isolationistic towards graduates of other lands who have
difficulties speaking English."
Cuca withdrew that motion until ASUN has ample
time to study such a program. He said he will introduce a
new amendment at the. next Regent's meeting.
(J
Photo by Mark Billinaslev
Even though he missed this catch, Mike Ameson, a junior Natural Resources major along with his
partner, Kelly Hornbacher were awarded third place in the freestyle competition at yesterday's Alpha
Tau Omega Little Sister Frisbee Fest.
Students voice concern with 10 percent tuition increase
By Kathy Stokebrand
- A. "x
Although the 10 percent tuition increase was passed
Friday by the NU Board of Regents, a crowd of students
gathered on the north side of the Union that morning
to protest the increase amid bagpipe strains of 'There
is No Place Like Nebraska."
ASUN,' which initiated the rally, collected students''
signatures on petitions' and distributed announcements
about the Regents meeting.
Hubert Brown, ASUN first vice president, read an open
letter addressed to the regents that protested the tuition
increase, bringing applause and shouts from the audience.
Brown said Nebraska will have the highest tuition in
the Big Eight but will rank seventh in faculty salaries if
the tuition raise goes into effect.
ASUN Sen. Brad Belt then explained where some
tuition money is going. He said that from NU budget
records it was found that administrative salaries are
$2,000-510,000 more than the national median salary of
college administrators.
Belt said more of students' tuition money should go
to teachers to increase the quality of education at UNL.
Mark Hirschfeld.' Government Liasion Committee
member, spoke about the results from the survey his com
mittee conducted. He said students believed the quality
: of education at UNL was declining and that the tuition
increase would not mean an increase in the quality of
education.
Students were then able to comment. Toni M. Turner,
a four-year Regents scholar, said she was against the
Increase, in tuition, although her tuition is paid if she
maintains a required grade average.
Another student said the only way to get any attention
was to strike and leave the classrooms empty. He said a
crowded regents meeting wouldn't bring any results.
After the rally, Hirschfeld commented that he felt
good about the response of students there. He said they
were receptive and wanted to know, where their money
wasgoing. - ,
Phyl Albrecht, a graduate ASUN senator, expressed
Nthat same view. She said, '1 just think the students are
concerned about specifics. They want to know if it's going
for improvement of instructors or what."
Tom Payne, junior, played the bagpipes before the
rally. He said he had friends in ASUN and wanted to help
attract a crowd to bring attention to the tuition rise.
: Others holding signs'and rxafleuiug' money for their
tuition were Kurt Kuhlman, freshman; Stu Smith, fresh
man; and Gary Kirkegaard, junior. The three Selleck stu
dents were helping out some friends in ASUN with the
rally, they said. Kuhlman said the entire Selleck building
seemed to be getting involved with the tuition protest.
n
Presidential playtime: Columnist offers suggestions for
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Sing a song of sexism: Female trio's unfamiliar to folk
tunes raise money for the Women's Resource Cen
ter pge8
Ases aching: Huskers first game of the season leaves
Utah State hurtin 35 to 14 ..... . . . . page 10