friday, march 6, 1981
lincoln, nebraska vol. 106, no. 39
Faculty salary increase 'top proprity' Roskens
By Patti Gallagher
Calling an investment in the University of Nebraska
"an investment in the future of the state," NU President
Ronald Roskens made the university's bid for an 18 per
cent budget increase before the Legislature's Appropria
tions Committee Thursday.
Roskens, with the chancellors of the other three NU
campuses, faculty members and students filled the com
mittee room for the nearly six -hour hearing.
Nearly all of those testifying emphasized the need for
increased salaries, with Roskens calling the 10.5 percent
requested increase in staff and faculty salaries a "top
priority" in the budget.
Although Gov. Charles Thone has recommended a 12.8
percent increase lid on state agency budgets, the univer
sity still presented a request of 18 percent more in state
funds than fiscal year 1980-81.
The request represents $25.2 million more than was
appropriated last year, putting total legislative backing at
S 193.4 million.
The budget request, according to Roskens, would not
allow NU to gain any new programs, but only maintain or
enhance present programs and facilities.
"The request would not be the end-all and be-all as far
as the University of Nebraska goes," he said. "Were we to
achieve the 18 percent there would be less pressure to
eliminate programs in the immediate future. Eighteen
percent would assume that we stay where we are."
The increased salaries and wages portion constitutes
$12.6 million, with $1.5 million slotted for employee
benefits. General operating costs are broken down into
17.8 percent for purchased utilities; 15 percent for medi
cal supplies; 14 percent for library acquisitions; and 11
percent for all other general operating costs.
The budget also includes $1.03 million for preventive
maintenance; $800,000 for computer support; $3.5 mil
lion for program support ; and slightly more than one-half
million for special contracts and programs.
The program support allocation, $3,563,000 for the
entire NU system, covers eight specific UNL programs
for a cost of about $1.1 million. Listed in order of their
priority, the programs and their dollar amounts are:
-engineering and technology at $125,000. This request
would provide four new faculty members and "is only a
start on needed improvement," according to Roskens.
business administration at $225,000. The request
would add eight faculty positions and strengthen the pro
gram to keep the College of Business Administration
accredited.
-computer science and mathematics, at $168,000,
would allow six new faculty members.
-home economics, at $35,000. With college enroll
ment up 50 percent in recent years, a faculty member
would be added with increased funding.
-geology -ground water, at $71,700. The amount
would permit hiring a geologist and geophysicist.
-libraries, at $110,300. The funds would primarily be
used to purchase additional books and periodicals.
-undergraduate laboratory equipment, at $200,000.
-graduate program improvement, at $158,000, wluch
would allow hiring five new assistants and improve sti
pends. The remainder of the program support figure would be
distributed to UNO, the UN Medical Center, and the In
stitute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Speaking on behalf of the NU Board of Regents
was board chairman Robert Prokop of Wilber.
"The board consensus is that it (the request ) is not a
wish list," Prokop said. The regents are not asking for
total support of the university from the Legislature, he
added.
Prokop said the regents implementation of laboratory
fees and the proposed 10 percent tuition increase will
offset the need for more state aid.
But, Prokop said, continued increases in tuition and
student fees could be a detriment to enrollment.
IANR Director Martin Massengale, testifying on the pro
gram support portion for the agriculture school, voiced
his support for the proposed UNL regional College of
Veterinary Medicine.
Allocating $3 million for the college is presently under
ft
Photo by Mitch Hrdlicka
NU President Ronald Roskens testifies before the
Legislature's Appropriations Committee about NU
budget requests.
consideration under another legislative bill.
Also speaking at the hearing was ASUN president
Renee Wessels and Government Liaison Committee
chairperson Nette Nelson.
Wessels said students are concerned about the national
economy because "rising inflation translates into rising
tuition for students."
Saying that we "respectfully disagree" with the gov
ernor's 12,8 percent recommendation, Wessels reaffirmed
the student government's support for the 18 percent
increase.
V v tfZ
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Photo by John Natvig
UNL students Mark Coniglio of Omaha and Mary Conyers of Columbus put the
final touches on their snow sculpture "The Wicked Witch of the West" in the
Sheldon Art Gallery Sculpture garden.
Mockler, McMahon in run-off
Rick Mockler and Steve McMahon
will meet next Wednesday in a runoff
election for ASUN President, according
to ASUN Electoral Commissioner Kim
Weiland.
Mockler, SURE Party candidate, re
ceived 1,083 votes to 391 votes for
McMahon, VOTE Party candidate.
In the first vice presidential race,
SURE Party candidate Dan Wedekind
will meet Wendy Wiseman, of the VOTE
Party, in a runoff election. Wedekind re
ceived 1.153 votes to 636 votes for
Wiseman.
Doran Matzke, running on the SURE
Party ticket, was an outright winner in
the second vice presidential contest.
Matzke received 1,194 votes.
Other election results were unavail
able as of 10 p.m. Thursday. Weiland
said senatorial, advisory board. Commit
tee for Fees Allocation members and
the Fund A survey would not be avail
able until noon Friday.
Weiland had no estimate on when the
State Student Association, Recreation
Center and Fund B surveys would be
available.
Alcohol discussion labels
liquor 'social lubricant'
By Tricia Waters
Students need to take the alcohol em
hasis out of activities and show more con
cern for friends who drink too much, four
panel members said Thursday at a Student
Y-sponsored discussion.
The discussion entitled "Student and
Drinking" was part of the Ys Alcohol
Awareness Week.
UNL Housing Director Doug Zatechka
said alcohol is used as a "social lubricant"
to make people feel more comfortable. He
said few students can remember the last
time they had a date that didn't involve
alcohol.
Students should realize they can have
fund without alcohol, he said.
But the idea is learned from adults,
especially parents, Zatechka said. For
example, students see their parents going
to New Year's Eve parties to drink and en
joy themselves, he said.
Then, parents might tell their children
not to drink, contradicting the example
they set, Zatechka said.
Instead, parents should teach their
kids that "you can drink if you do it re
sponsibly," he said. And students should
plan parties around recreations other than
drinking.
Panhellenic President Carrie Christensen
and Interfraternity Council President Kirk
Trofholz said Greek houses have begun
stressing de-emphasis of alcohol at parties.
At a recent IFC meeting, the group de
cided fraternities should provide transpor
tation to off-campus parties, Trofholz
said. That way, the students can get home
safely, he said.
Someone in the audience asked if alco
hol would ever be allowed on campus.
Zatehka said he could see it in some
circumstances, but that students wouldn't
like them. Continued on Page 6
friday
Never Been Any Reason: YWCA class
discusses reasons for women being over
weight Page 7
Brass Bash: The Canadian Brass horn
ensemble brings its world reknown
blend of humor and music to Lincoln
tonight Page 8
Countdown in Kemper: The four Big
Eight coaches in tonight's basketball
semi-finals discuss the possibilities. Page 8