n
Wednesday, january 14, 1981
lincoln, nebraska vol. 106, no. 3
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ASUN committee wants general run-off elections
By Chris Day and Mary Louise Knapp
The ASUN Special Topics Committss, acting on advice
from the ASUN Electoral Commission, lias recommended
a new general run-off voting procedure for future student
government elections.
Previously, ASUN officers were elected by the Hare
balloting system. Controversy as to whether the system
achieved a majority vote led to the switch. The NU Board
of Regents requires that candidates be elected by a
majority, but ASUN President Renee VVessels said she
thought "the Hare system can derive a majority, yet there
was some confusion as to whether the majority was
mathematical."
"The Hare system is confusing to those not familiar
with it." VVessels said.
The Hare system was introduced three years ago after
the regents ruled that ASUN executives must be elected
by a majority vote of the students. Plurality votes, in
which candidates had to receive a majority plus one vote
to win. previously had determined the election results.
Under the Hare system, voters listed their preference
for candidates in order. For example, if four candidates
were listed on the ballot, voters would list which candi
date they prefer read first, second, third and fourth.
If no candidate received a majority after the first ballot
count, the votes cast for the least-favored candidate would
be redistributed among the other candidates.
Various suggestions
ASUN senators had various ideas as to what election
system should be used. Aits and Sciences Sen. Rick
Mockler suggested an integrated general run-off procedure
that incorporated both the hare and the general run-off
systems.
His procedure was approved by ASUN. but was reject
ed by Wessels. She said she wanted a simple system that
the students could respect and understand. She said she
felt that the preference part of the Hare, which distributes
the losers' votes among the winners, made students
uneasy.
The IGR system also would employ preference ballots.
if no majority was determined, ballots would not be re
distributed. The ballots of the top two candidates would
be analyzed in a computerized simulated run-off election.
Ballots would be analyzed to establish each voter's prefer
ence, and the voter would be credited with one vote.
Mockler said that this system would prevent the need
for two elections and prevent third-place candidates from
winning.
Under the Hare system, there is a possibility that less
favored candidates would win, and students would think
the system was undemocratic, he said.
Mockler said that because of the regents' ruling, all
three ASUN executives must be elected by majority vote.
Wessels then introduced a government bill suggesting
the general run-off procedure. She said the national chair
peraon of the United States Student Association, Doug
Tut hill . put to rest her worries that the GR system would
cause a low student turnout if there was a run-off
election. With the GR system, no run-off will be used if a
majority is determined in the general election. Wessels
said.
A search is now undeiwa for a new elect m al com
missioner, since Jeff Terp's term expired at the end of last
semester.
Wessels said she is optimistic about the election
because she feels that ASUN's credibility will rise, and the
simpler new election system will be better understood by
UNI. students.
Flections are slated for March 4, and if necessary a run
off will be March ll.
Mockler said there may be a deadline for filing lawsuits
in student court if election results are disputed as they
were in l c80.
Wessels said, though, that the rules for the election
have yet to be approved. She expects a uniform set of
rules to be established, and said she thinks the election
will help rebuild ASUN.
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Photo by Jon Natvig
Workmen remove the large gold letters of the downtown Ardan store. Ardan is the second downtown
business to leave for greener pastures in the last three months following Brandeis.
Union food manager pushes for efficient operation
By Ward Wright Triplett III
Ron Pushcar is a man. who by admis
sion, thrives on a challenge. The 37-year-old
Louisville, Ky.. native who became the
food service manager for the university
unions last August, has made a career of
pulling faltering food services from the
brink of disaster.
Having put UNO back on its feet in the
past year, UNL is next in line.
"The 1979-80 financial reports here did
not show a profit," he said. "When 1 heard
the job was open, I applied for it, and
(- -ri ' I A' (
i
Photo by Mitch Hnllicka
Ron Pushcar
hopefully, I will be successful," he said.
A graduate of the Chicago Conservatory
of Music, he originally set off on a career as
a professional guitarist. He became part of
the Ice Capades touring show and ended up
in Las Vegas accompanying Johnny Mathis
and Vicki Carr in the mid-60s.
But Pushcar eventually tired of the
routine.
Since the Vietnam issue was at its height
at the time, Pushcar joined the National
Guard.
While there, he took up cooking, which
brought him to Nebraska as executive chef
at Crcighton University.
"Since then. I've been moved around to
different places wherever they were having
trouble." Pushcar said.
Pushcar's changes at UNL's union in
clude new menu items such as tacos at the
Crib.
"Our operation needs to offer more
food items that are the least costly to us.
but still acceptable to the student," Push
car said. "Right now. Mexican food is very
popular, so that's what we want to start
providing here."
Pushcar is still evaluating the current
situation.
"You have to look at every aspect, from
pricing to food cost and make an attempt
to figure out an effective combination," he
said. "We have to keep a watch on service
also, to avoid things like overtime and over
production." Pushcar added ice cream to the deli
menu and increased deli efficiency. He also
wants to change the Crib's service style to a
fast food operation that would reduce the
number of stops a person has to make to
get food there three to one.
"That takes a great deal of time and
manpower, and we want the person to be
able to walk up to a window, order some
thing and have it there for them right
away," he said.
The Harvest Room also may undergo
some structural renovation.
"It's like a zig zag in there, everything
is arranged so squiggly," he said. "I'd like
to see it set up like a Bishop's. I go in there
now, and ! still get confused from time to
time."
Pushcar has plans to open a pizza opera
tion in the union, with both sit-down and
carry-out services. But that is far into the
future, and Pushcar said that when things
get settled on a financial upswing, he won't
stay much longer.
"There are two types of managers," he
said, "the caretaker, who is satisfied with
the way things are, and those who go out
for a challenge. I think 1 would always
need to go out after something. It's excit
ing that way."
n
; l! !'
Wednesday
Five is Not Enough: Although there is an
ail-time high number of five women in the
1981 Nebraska Legislature, all five say
more women are needed Page 6
Classic Entertainment: Kimball Theater
will provide a wide variety of performing
arts for the spring semester Page 8
Big Brawl: The NCAA Convention in
Miami Beach. Fla. has resulted in more
than one heated argument among member
schools Page 10