tuesday, december 9, 1980
lincoln, nebraska vol. 105, no. 74
oJo
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Proposed LES hike draws protest from citizens
By Laurc Perlingcr
The proposed 1981 Lincoln Electric System Budget,
which includes an 18 percent rate increase, met strong
opposition at a Monday City Council meeting.
David Sallee, president of the Lincoln Alliance, told
members of the council that he was anxious to present
his views to the council and the public.
One elderly woman had a sign attached to her wheel
chair which read: "My social security check won't in
crease by 18-percent."
Pauline Towles, a parishioner of Sacred Heart Church
presented 3,000 letters from concerned citizens asking
the council to listen to Lincoln residents and represent
them in opposing the rate increase.
Towles. who started the letter drive in Lincoln, asked
council members to do their best to cut the budget.
"Check it out. cut it where it can be cut, and help us,"
she said.
Towles said that LES advertises too much. She said she
received one letter from a woman employed in Lincoln
who received calendars and other promotional items from
LES.
"They've got a monopoly in the city. There is too
much advertising, when LES is the only one (electric
company) here," she said.
But LES Chairman of the Board Keith Newhouse
defended the rate increase, saying the budget has been
reviewed thoroughly and represents a minimum amount
necessary to continue effective service.
Walter Canney, an LES administrator, suggested that
the 17.6 percent rate increse is necessary to continue
efforts to meet customer needs.
But Ken Miller, administrative assistant of the Lincoln
Alliance, said that the council, in deciding whether or
not to approve the proposed budget, would be sensitive
to citizen needs and cut the budget.
"Economies aren't affected until they are pushed, and
I think it's time they are pushed," he said.
Councilman Joseph Hampton then questioned Miller
on his awareness of the budget's minimum-rate policy.
Hampton explained that 400 kilowatt hours of service,
the amount that can be used without being affected by
the rate increse. will support numerous household appli
ances except for air conditioners.
"One might as well live in west Texas or hell than live
in Nebraska without an air conditioner," Miller said.
It was later mentioned, however, that even those
people using as little as 400 kilowatt hours will still see
a 14 percent rate increase.
"We cannot afford it," said Ralph Johnson, 819 N.
33rd St., who spoke on behalf of his neighborhood.
Johnson proposed a cut of 5 percent across the board.
C. Edwin Murphy. 5820 Madison St., a retired United
Methodit Minister, told the council that LES is a "callous,
unfeeling business enterprise.
"Do they know what it is like to be hungary and cold,
and not be able to meet financial obligations?" he asked.
Window-breaking incident bads to hearing
ASUN senator resigns, but claims innocence
By Patti Gallagher
Because an ASUN senator was put on
university probation for what he said is
"an offense which I claim innocence of,"
lie has resigned his senate position.
Tim McAllister aid Friday that he was
put o.i university probation -which bars
him from holding an elected student gov
ernment position for an incident which
he was not guilty of.
He announced his resignation to the
ASUN Senate Wednesday night saying.
"1 fought the system because I thought it
was wrong. But the system won."
McAllister said that had he not resign
ed, he would have been removed. Although
university probation rules would have al
lowed him to finish the semester, he said
he resigned to allow the senate to begin to
look for a replacement.
Although he no longer will be a member
of the senate. McAllister said he still will
remain active in student groups.
Last May, a few days before the end of
the spring semester, McAllister was involv
ed in a window-breaking incident in the
Selleck Residence Hall cafeteria. He said
he was present when the incident occurred
but was not the person who broke the
window.
He and three other students suspected
to be involved were issued university warn
ings at that time, which McAllister said he
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Photo by Mark Billingsley
The recent ice storm was not only slippery and nice to look at, but in other
instanced such as this, the ice is an indication of insufficient roof insulation.
The Kqwte insulation allows heat lo through the roof, causing the ice
to melt -only to reform underneath drainpipes.
did not accept. A warning would not have
constituted any disciplinary action, but
because he said he did not break the win
dow, he would not accept it.
Shortly after the incident occurred, the
four students appeared in Lancaster
County Court, McAllister said. At that
time, the student who broke the window
was fined $10 and no action was taken
against the three others.
McAllister said he considered the coun
ty court decision as having cleared him of
guilt.
At the beginning of this semester, the
University Judiciary Board contacted the
remaining three students, McAllister said.
They were told they must either accept
the university warning or appear before the
judiciary board.
One student accepted the warning; Mc
Allister and one other did not. The two
appeared before the board before Thanks
giving break. The board issued university
probation to McAllister, he said, while no
action was taken against the other student.
McAllister said that the board used him
as an example because he was an ASUN
senator.
McAllister said the board would not al
low him to present a witness when he ap
peared. He said the board was aware of the
county court's decision and that another
student had been found guilty and fined,
"But they just overlooked it."
After receiving the judiciary board's
decision, McAllister appealed to the Uni
versity Appeals Board. According to Dee
SiiiTpson-Kirkland, assistant to the dean
of students, the appeals board upheld the
judiciary board's decision.
Because the appeals board is the last
university hearing body, its decision is
final, Simpson-Kirkland said.
According to Donald Kahl. chairman of
the judiciary board, the terms for univer
sity probation are not determined by the
board. Within the rules of student govern
ment, however, it is specified that "stu
dents on academic or disciplinary proba
tion arc not eliinble to hold student aov
eminent offices." Simpons-kirkland said.
Kahl declined comment on McAllister's
case and claims against the board. He said
he is "precluded from discussing Mr. Mc
Allister's case individually "because of fed
eral right to privacy laws.
Foundation provides money
for band's Sun Bowl trip
By Mary Kempkes
The UNL band will travel to the Sun
Bowl in El Paso, Texas, with money from
the NU Foundation.
In l()76, after a disastrous attempt by
the band to raise travel money for the
Astro-Bluebonnett Bowl, with a private
donor finally supplying the needed money,
the foundation agreed to supply the money
when needed. This is the first year founda
tion money will be used.
When Nebraska plays in the larger bowls
the Orange. Cotton and Sugar Bowls the
revenue from the game pays the band's
way. according to Jack Snider, director of
bands.
But when the team plays in smaller
bowls, like the Sun Bowl, money is more
difficult to get, he said.
The foundation money will pay room,
board and travel expenses for the 274
mcmber band. Students will travel to El
Paso in six buses. Snider said, leaving
Lincoln the Monday before the game.
A trip to El Paso will be cheaper than
one to Miami. Snider said, because "a lot
of people go to Miami and they raise
prices like mad."
The band has traveled to all of Nebras
ka's bowl games except the Gotham Bowl
in 1962. That game, played in New York,
was too cold to attend.
And although some people contend
there is little purpose in the band traeling
to bowl games. Snider said, their presence
contributes to game and school spirit.
"I'm sure there are fans that don't
think that the band and yell squads are
essential to that event on Saturday. . .
But if all they did was just play the foot
ball game, it would be a pretty dull Satur
day," he said.
While in El Paso, band members will
take in local concerts and go down to
Juarez, Mexico, for a night or two out on
the town.
But it won't be all fun and games.
Snider said. The students will miss Christ
mas at home, he said, and will have to
practice 2Vi days, memorizing a complete
new show.
And. band members have two 24-hour
bus rides to look forward to. Snider said.
Meow: Lincoln Cat Club sponsors a pir
bred cat show, open only to registereu
felines Page 7
The Road Goes on Forever: Concert is
evidence that the Allman Brothers' le
gend is still alive Page 8
Still Looking: The Husker basketball team
is looking for its first win tonight against
Penn State Page 10