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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 18, 1980)
n. W jC1)Ij1jSj(1Di friday,april 18, 1980 lincoln, nebraska vol. 104, no. 65 Bmrd tables bImth once more r (o(oT By Patti Gallagher . After what one observer called a series of "petty politics," the Nebraska Union Board voted 54 Wednesday night to table its five year plan for another week. Seven ASUN members, including President Renee Wessels, were present at the meeting. The ASUN Budget and Fees Committee had asked the board to postpone its vote on the plan for one week to allow the committee time to investigate it. Wednes day night, with both ASUN and Union Board meetings going on, .ASUN pre sented a signed resolution prohibiting board action on the renovation plan. According to Wessels, failure to abide by the resolution would have resulted in re calling board members. "If you take grounds opposing the senti ment of the senate," Wessels said, "it's grounds for recalling members." She added that the resolution was not a threat, but was mandated by ASUN policy that all student groups be subject to ASUN governing. Minutes earlier, the resolution had pass ed the ASUN Senate on a 13-12-3 vote. Timing questioned Both groups agreed that ASUN approval of the plan is a positive step to illustrate student backing. However, the timing of the request was questioned. The plan, which outlines major renova tions of the Nebraska Union, was com pleted by the Nebraska Union Planning Committee and presented to the board March 26. Work on the plan began last May after the recommendation of Vice Chancel lor for Student Affairs Richard Armstrong. According to Maynard Krantz, board president, because Dr. Armstrong requested the plan from the board and be cause ASUN waited until this week to ask to approve it, the. resolution to delay board action was unwarranted. Krantz said he could not predict whether the board would have approved the plan Wednesday if ASUN had not inter vened. He said that decision would have been reached after regular discussion. Ample time . Jean Gittler, Union Board vice presi dent, said that ASUN had ample time to give their input on the plan. Two ASUN re presentatives helped compile the plan, three open hearings took place last fall and the Daily Nebraskan reported on the plan and its presentation. Because of these facts, the ASUN request was ill-timed, she said. "I personally don't feel ASUN can thoroughly absorb this plan in the time of a week," Gittler said. "The time to ques tion it was in the planning process." According to Jim May, ASUN treasurer, the request to study the five year plan was delayed because of the election transition and because the plan was presented later than anticipated. ' "It's not that no one's been aware (of the plan), but it's one thing to read about it in the paper; it's another thing to see it in black and white," May said. "The timing didn't work out." ' . Informed decision May said the Budget and Fees Commit tee did not plan to pick apart specifics of the plan, but it wants a week to pass a sup portive resolution. He said the committee does not foresee any problems. "The committee would feel more com fortable making an informed decision on this rather than just rushing through it," May said. According to Union Director Daryl Swanson, the plan is far from final and will be subject to evaluation in each step of the chain of command. "As director of the unions, I don't con sider that all or any portion of the plan is complete. "It's not the end; it's the beginning. It's just seen the light of day," he said. The board heard from UNL Business Manager Ray Coffey in open forum. Coffey, a financial source for the plan's preparation, said he disputed "Daily Ne braskan coverage of the proposed bowling alley elimination and University Bookstore consolidation. He also said he was not-convinced that the income statement for book store consolidation was accurate. 'Bad guy' Coffey said that Daily Neb'raskan cover age "carries the implication that the book store is the bad guy to zap out the bowling alley." The plan proposed that the current University Bookstore be consolidated into one unit and that the union bowling alley be eliminated because the bookstore was concluded to generate more income. Coffey said that he was "not convinced that there's a quarter of a million dollars there." The plan specifies that the bookstore could produce a net income of nearly $250,000 afte consolidation. Also proposed in the plan is union own ership of the bookstore, with which Coffey said he did not agree. "Very frankly, the idea of the book store being taken over by the union is not one that I concur in," he said. In the director's report to the board, Swanson said he is preparing a nationwide search for a new executive food service manager to replace Larry Brandt, who announced his resignation last week. Swanson said he hopes to fill the posi tion by Aug. 1 with the aid of a seven member search committee. I 1 Photo by Tom Gessner At UNL Buck Beltzer field, the focus of most people's attention is on the Husker baseball team. But, for the discriminating eye, there are other interest ing sights available. x T Professors: Feasibility of blockade increasing By Suzanne Sayed Mining thejirea near the Persian Gulf, to prevent any ships to leave or enter Iran, might be the best solution to the hostage crisis, according to two UNL political science professors. Assistant Prof. Sue Hulett said a blockade of Iranian ports or mines that would prevent any passage of goods by sea is "an excellent idea, despite the fact that it is five months late." Explosive mines could be electronically activated by the United States to destroy passing ships. Hulett said although placing mines might be considered by some as an act of war, it could not be interpreted as an initiation of war because it would leave the decision to the various ships that might desire entrance to or exit from Iran. , "It is more of a legitimate reprisal a punishment and a response to an illegal act on the part of Iran-not an act of war," site said. Hulett and Assistant Prof. David Rapkin were question ed before President Jimmy Carter decided Thursday to cease all trade with Iran and closed that nation to most American visitors. Hulett said she was not sure what effect a blockade would have on release of the hostages, but said she be- lieved it could give the Iranians the incentive to negotiate. 'Politically and symbolically speaking, however, I do feel it would be an effective undertaking," she added. Hulett said she felt symbolically, it would 'show a firmness and a feeling of total dedication on the part of the American people in response to an illegal pro cedure." Hulett added, however, that she felt Iran held legiti mate complaints about the deposed shall, and possibly about the United States. She emphasized that it is the procedures and the methods used by the Iranian govern ment and the militants at the U.S. embassy that are un just. 4,It is long past time for us to take a definite initiative," Hulett said. "We need to be active rather than reactive to the situation, or we can't expect any help on the parts of our allies." Rapkin also suggested many of the same courses of action. Although he said he does not advocate these proce dures, he said he predicts Carter Iwill be increasingly pressured to take stronger actions as election time approaches. Thus he said, "The possibility of such an event (block ading or mines) will increase with time." Rapkin said Carter could place mines near the area of the Persian Gulf and give Iran 2448 hours to release the hostages before activating the mines. . However, Rapkin said Carter should have made some kind of a compromise or apology to Iran a long time ago. He said he felt Carter was hesitant to impose blockades because of a possible Soviet takeover of Iran through Afghanistan. "A blockade could throw the Iranian society into utter chaos," he .said , emphasizing that communism might then result. In regard to Japan and Western Europe, Rapkin said he feels Carter is saying to U.S. allies, "Take your medicine now and support the economic sanctions or take it later in the form of military action." However, Rapkin added, "you can bet these countries have been out securing other sources of oil supply." Like Hulett, Rapkin said Carter should have acknow ledged the situation sooner, and should have made some form of apology or compromise. Robert Miewald, also a political science professor, took a slightly more conservative stance on the situation, saying he felt the United States should hold out on ec nomic sanctions as long as possible . "A blockade is probably the least costly military step," Miewald said, "although the Iranians would not look too kindly on it." Miewald said if the Soviets. would try to break the blockade, it might provoke an even more serious situation. He added that no one could really say what im pact the blockade or any other military action might have on the Iranians. "It is an extremely volatile situation " he said .