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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 19, 1981)
thursday, february 19, 1981 lincoln, nebraska vol. 106, no. 29 Dean: NU not responsible for off -campus parties By Bob Glissmann Dean of Students Dave Decoster reaffirmed the univer sity's code of conduct and its campus alcohol policy at an Interfraternity Council meeting last night. Decoster said the university does not assume responsi bility for the off-campus accident that resulted in the deaths of three college students after a sorority-fraternity party Feb. 6. "In terms of the university, that event was not officially sponsored," Decoster said. "I don't think the governing body (NU Board of Regents) is interested in a change in the alcohol policy," Decoster said, adding a study group of past presidents of Panhcllenic, the IFC, and the current president of the Residence Hall Assocation recently reported "it was not in the best interest of the university to change the alco hol policy." Decoster said if policy changes are to be made, they must have the spport of these organizations that represent a large number of students. "The Board of Regents is not going to listen to a min ority o' students," Decoster said. After Decoster spoke, the fraternity presidents met with attorneys who discussed changes which might be made to ensure safety and identify liability at fraternity parties. Attoreny James Rembolt, chapter adviser for Beta Theta Pi, said fraternity officers bear a potential increase in liability if somebody is found legally negligent in an accident. S t 4 f ", " ,M .v- j o s , Photo by Mark Billingsley Construction crews prepare Lincoln's Pershing Auditorium for "the world's toughest rodeo" by dumping 50 truckloads of dirt on the main floor for a protective covering. The rodeo will be Friday through Sunday. "That person-chapter president, social chairman, treasurer-can be held personally responsible," he said. Rembolt said any "foreseeable risk" should be checked before having a party. He said the trend toward multiple house parties-parties sponsored by more than one frater nity or sorority for economy or convenience -increases liability and decreases control a single organization has of the conduct of partygoers. Such parties should be avoid ed, he said. Rembolt said fraternal organizations should check their insurance coverage concerning liability. He told presidents to find out about their national chapter's coverage, their own chapter's and their parents to make sure they would be covered in case they are sued. Rembolt said the safety of the participants is also the factor in determining liability. He said party sponsors could provide transportation to and from an out-of-town party. "You have a party in Utica or somewhere with 150 people who have been drinking-driving on the interstate, and there is an increased likelihood of liability if an accident occurs," Rembolt said. He added that it is worth the cost of renting a bus to ensure the party goers safety. Other recommendations given at the meeting included: -holding parties closer to campus to prevent long road trips. -assigning one or two people responsible for pre venting any person who has had too much to drink from driving home after the party. -providing non-alcoholic drinks and food at parties. -forming a task force of lawyers, chapter advisers and students to study off-campus parties and any change in on-campus alcohol policy. Senators debate SSA question By Tom Prentiss The ASUN Senate voted 16-13 Wednesday night to approve a referndum concerning the proposed State Student Assocaition on the March 4 ASUN ballot. ASUN President Renee Wessels told the senate she would veto the bill. Wessels prefers the question of the SSA be put to the students in the form of a survev and not a referendum. The referendum would make the student's decision binding to ASUN while the survey would still allow the senate to approve or disapprove of funding the SSA. Plans call for the SSA to be financed with a 50 percent student per semester charge through the Fund A alloca- Continued on Page 6 Senators give student lobbying positive appraisal By Patti Gallagher If state senators and student lobbyists agree on one point, it's that students have not taken an aggressive approach in their lobbying. At least not yet, said UNL's registered student lobbyist. The "low-key approach" will change when the uni versity budget hits the agenda, said Nette Nelson, regis tered as the UNL student lobbyist for ASUN. Nelson said the Government Liaison Committee, UNL's lobbying group, is playing "get acquainted": they have had on-campus breakfasts and in-office meetings with at least nine senators. At this point, GLC is concerned with getting the sen ators faces and viewpoints known to students and vice versa, Nelson said . "We have not yet taken a real strong, aggressive approach," she said. GLC is getting organized to lobby in March for the NU budget request of an additional 18 per cent, she added. Nelson's appraisal of senate reaction to GLC: "Posi tive, very positive." If GLC continues its contact with the senators, it appears it will continue to receive that positive response. Of the six senators interveiwed at the Legislature Tuesday, all said the student efforts thus far have been excellent. Aurora Sen. Maurice Kremer met with GLC members for the first time Monday morning. "1 think it's excellent to just sit across the table and discuss our common problems," Kremer said. Students show 'good understanding' After discussing issues from library supply shortages to faculty salaries, Kremer said the students demonstrated a eood understanding that university problems are not the only issues under consideration in the Legislature. "The students were not narrow in their perspective of our problems," he said. Sen. Myron Rumery of North Platte also cautioned that students must remember to look at the whole pic ture. State colleges, public health facilities and other agencies all have concerns, he said. "We've got to listen to the taxpayer," he added. Some groups are opposed to government spending, he said. And more government spending is the only way to solve student problems such as tuition, lack of space or low professors' salaries. Rumery said although he has "no objection to them trying their wings, it is questionable in my mind whether they can accomplish much through the Legislature. "They probably won't get much accomplished of what they want because they (GLC concerns) are matters of the Board of Regents." A GLC member in 1974-when the group had two members-said today's GLC is doing a good job. It is well-organized, as it uses constructive, positive channels in its lobbying, he said. "I think they are doing the right things," said Lincoln Sen. Don Wesely, "but you've got to back it up with people. I think they recognize that." District contact helps Having students contact senators from their districts is a good technique to 44put the heat on them," Wesely said. He said working with administrators and NU lobby ists gives the students clout. Nelson said she has been invited to attend NU lobby olanning sessions with university administrators twice a month. Lincoln Sen. Shirley Marsh advised the group to reduce the number of students who meet with senators. "I think they would do better with a smaller group," Marsh said. The large group-occupying three or four tables-that she met with recently at UNL "is not really conducive to good conversation,' she said. She also suggested students make an effort to come to senators offices, and to have specific points ready to discuss. Marsh said that appearing at legislative hearings also is a good lobbying technique. "Historically, even one student appearing before the appropriations committee with one specific item has gotten it," she said. Involvement erases bad image Auburn Sen. R. Wiley Remmers said it is very impor tant that young people are interested in government. He said their involvement gives them a concept of how and why the senators are voting the way they are. And involvement erases students' negative image of state legislators, Remmers said. "I think if they had more of an interest they would have a better image of senators," he said. Remmers has met with GLC once. And although he thinks it is "on die right track." he said students need to know of a wide scope of university problems, not just the budget. Sen. Glenn Goodrich of Omaha said he has met briefly with GLC members. "There is no more effective way to influence legislation than to get acquainted with and get the ear of each of the senators," he said. But what GLC needs is time, he added. "They have not had sufficient time, in my book at least, to really have an influence in legislation," he said. "We haven't discussed specific legislation. However, I'm sure that phase will come." In a recent press conference, GLC outlined four lobbying goals. With the main focus on support of the entire NU bud get request, the committee will concentrate on insuring increased funding for libraries, faculty salaries, affirmative action and building renovation.