monday, march 30, 1981
lincoln, nebraska vol. 106, no. 51
Legislature debates killing public radio proposal
By Kim Hachiya
The future of public radio in Nebraska will be debated
this morning in the Nebraska Legislature as a vote on kill
ing the proposal comes before the senators.
LB 78, sponsored by Sen. Don Dworak of Columbus,
would authorize the Nebraska Public Television Commis
sion to establish a public radio system using current tele
vision broadcasting stations.
The bill came up for first round approval Thursday and
a kill motion was introduced by Sen. Rex Haberman of
Imperial. The Legislature adjourned for the day before
completing debate and held the bill over until Monday.
Haberman said he opposed the development of the
radio system, saying that costs of running public television
have risen 18,000 percent since public television was
created 20 years ago, and he feared public radio costs also
would escalate.
Dworak said, however, that Haberman 's statistics were
deceiving because Haberman used costs beginning witli the
initial study costs and compared them with current
operating costs.
Kill motion
Sen. Loran Schmit supported the kill motion, saying
public radio would create a controlled and dangerous
press.
"I'll take a free press over those paid by taxpayers any
day," he said.
Dworak said public radio would not control sources of
information but would increase their number.
He said commercial radio is "nothing but pop music
and two minute news blurbs on the hour-nothing in
depth. Public radio would allow for more in-depth cover
age." He added that existing Nebraska Educational Tele
vision towers could be used for radio transmissions.
"It would be relatively inexpensive to tack on radio
programs to fully utilize these capital structures," he
said.
Dworak also said that many programs now broadcast
on public television could be transmitted more cheaply
by radio, but still remain effective.
No costs are attached to the bill now, Dworak said.
The law would enable NETV to align itself with the
national public radio system.
Costs accrue
He said costs could accrue if Nebraska later decided
to locally produce programming.
"If we put in the Cadillac of equipment, went at it
1,000 percent, it could cost us about SI. 2 million,"
Dworak said.
"But if we crawl before we run and tap into the
national line.it will cost about $250,000.
"It's ironic that those wailing the loudest about costs
are supporting the $30 million veterinary school. They
won't look at a quarter of a million for someone's mind
though."
Dworak said the bill passed the Education Committee
with a 5-2 vote, but he added, "this is not an easy bill in
Nebraska because of the near hysteria of commercial
broadcasters."
He said broadcasters tell him public radio is not need
ed because no one listens to it and that it would compete
with commerical stations.
Dworak said these arguments seem contradictory to
him.
"If no one listens to it, then why are they worried
that it will drive them out by competition?" he said.
Dworak said the bill has been introduced before, and
that nearly 40 states already have some sort of public
radio system.
"Once again Nebraska is showing its leadership," he
said. "Right now it's easier for Nebraskans to find out
about the Iowa Legislature (over an Ames, Iowa public
station) than our own. I think that's planned."
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Photo by Mark Billingsley
An unidentified passerby watches as the porch roof crashes down during the demolition of this two-story
frame house at 10th and K streets. The demolition is one of many projects in the area.
Students stalk human prey for thrill of HUNT
By Margie Hon
"Head-hunting." the latest fad to hit college campuses,
has ciime to UNL. Although it takes many forms, here
the game is HUNT Heartless University of Nebraska
Terminators.
Three UNL students, Betty Burch, Diane Elliott and
Agris Taurins, organized HUNT after reading about other
colleges w here similar games were played.
Burch said the game involves stalking a victim with a
suction-cup dart gun. She said participants stalk their
victims while being hunted at the same time.
Burch said "it takes a little ingenuity" to be a success
ful "killer" because players are given only a photo, the
first name and first initial of the last name of their
victims.
Burch outlined several HUNT rules:
Players must pay a $4.50 entry fee. The three "head-
Photo by Mitch Hrdticka
Martin Massengale, NU Prtsident Ronald Ros
kens' selection for UNL chancellor.
Nebraska candidate
appointed chancellor
Nu President Ronald Roskens Friday named the
UNL Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources
vice-chancellor as his choice for chancellor of UNL.
Martin A. Massengale will start June 1, if the NU
Board of Regents approves the nomination as expect
ed at the April 18 meeting.
"The position needs strong leadership," Regents
Chairman Robert Prokop said at a press conference.
"We are looking for Dr. Massengale to take the flag
ship of the university to a state of academic promin
ence." The regents wanted someone who "knows the
state," Prokop said. Roskens said Massengale was the
only Nebraskan on the search-committee's list of nine
candidates.
Massengale said he wanted to "make a special
effort to communicate with the citizens the needs of
the university.
"I hope to be able to interact effectively wiiSi the
student leadership."
Interim Chancellor Robert Rutford "is assumed to
return to the position from which he came," Roskens
said. Rutford was the vice-chancellor for research
and graduate studies.
hunters" provide players with a dart gun and three rubber
suction-cup darts, with which to kill their victims.
Shots in the head or the back are prohibited.
Victims cannot be shot in class or at work.
Shots can only be evaded through body movements,
and cannot be blocked with other objects.
A killer obtains five points for each kill.
A killer must shoot his victim himself.
After killing the victim, the hunter must obtain a
signed and dated card from the victim, and return the
card to one of the three "head-hunters" within 48 hours
of the kill.
Killers may shoot only at their assigned targets, ex
cept in the case of self-defense.
A killed victim must surrender the photo and name
of his target to his killer. This becomes the killer's next
target.
A player may resign at any time.
Burch said she and her friends started organizing the
game about a month ago. At the time, she said, she didn't
know that several floors in the residence halls had been
playing similar games called "Assassin" and "Hit Man."
HUNT is limited to 50 players, Burch said. The group
ran several ads this week, and as of Wednesday. 30 people
had signed up.
Continued on Page 2
; i: ; ;VM :i O
monday
A Many-Faceted Individual: ASUN Secretary Marlene
Beyke keeps the student government office running for
yet another term Page 3
Ghost Story: Reviewer says new album by Talking Heads'
front man David Byrne provides a fascinating collection
of a few too many studio effects Page 6
Close Call: The Nebraska senior football players edged a
team of former Huskers 57-56 in a Friday night basket
ball game at Lincoln High School Page 7
