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.
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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.
