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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 11, 1981)
'1 . Wednesday, november 1 1, 1981 daily nebraskan page 7 Senator wants review of state education system By Eric Peterson At the special session m of the Nebraska Legislature called by Gov. Charles Thbne, general financing of UNL and the students role in influencing legislation were dis cussed by Sen. Lowell Johnson of North Bend at an in formational breakfast Tuesday. The breakfast at the Nebraska Union was cosponsored by ASUN's Government Liaison Committee and the College of Business Administration's Advisory Board. Johnson said the dust has not settled yet from the special session, but some results are evident. "I think we're all aware it passed pretty much the budget cuts which Thone requested, except for mental health and cancer research," he said. Johnson said many cuts would be left to the agency department heads. The budget reductions total about $15 million, he added. "I think it's pretty clear that most of what was done was partisan and political in nature," Johnson said, "it was also kind of educational - putting administrators in government on notice that we must bite the bullet." GLC chairperson Nette Nelson said three major renovation projects under consideration at UNL, including Bcssey Hall, the Animal Science Building on East Campus, and the Former Law-Architectural Hall project would all be deferred because of the cuts. Nelson said she was con cerned about the deteriorating state of many campus buildings. Morrill Hall Nelson said Sen. Don Wesely of Lincoln introduced a bill to finance an air control system in Morrill Hall to pre serve the fossils. "We think it's a necessary project and goes beyond just university concern," Nelson said. "Morrill Hall is a museum for the whole state." Johnson said voluntary contributions would be the most probable way of funding an air control system in Morrill Hall. He said he receives lots of mail requesting campus renovations, particularly for the Animal Science Building. Johnson said graduate programs were another legis lative concern. He said the state colleges are beginning to offer credit courses for graduates. "At this point we need to make some priorities," John son said. "Should we let them expand these graduate pro grams if they cost more than $1,200 a semester hour, as they do at Kearney State? It doesn't make sense to dupli cate instruction these days." A financial squeeze is affecting the whole country, Johnson said. "For the last 10 or 15 years, there was the idea that Stereo equipment, sign stolen from campus Two campus thefts resulted in more than $1,300 in losses over the weekend, UNL police reported. Sometime between Sunday and Monday $850 worth of stereo equipment was taken from a car parked in the Area 2 lot at 18th and Vine streets. An in-dash stereo valued at $300 and four speakers with a total value of $550 were taken, police sajd. Mark Dunham, 21, of Abel Hall owns the car. During the weekend, someone took a 5 ft. by 5 ft. plastic sign from the West Stadium weight lifting area. Police said the sign was valued at $500. FIRST DOWN! LOOK FOR IT AT HOME FOOTBALL GAMES. Ml;-, r.i o, TJi- pants were there for the asking," he said. "During this time, we should have been thinking more about cooperat ive planning.' Nelson said the GLC has a basically informational focus. She asked Johnson how effectively the students were getting their messages across. John said ASUN Sen ate President Rick Mockler did an excellent job of testify ing on budget cuts before the Legislature last week, and suggested more personal informational contacts with state senators as well. Rarely hear of students "We hear a lot about Morrill Hall, Architectural Hall, but we rarely hear about the down-to-earth life problems of the student," Johnson said. He added that students should ask senators to make unannounced visits to class rooms to see the overcrowding problems for themselves. Ruth Boham,GLC legislative liaison, said overcrowding in classrooms and unavailability of courses was a problem, especially in engineering and business classes. Overcrowding shouldn't have to be a problem at UNL, Nelson said. This is a land grant institution, which is supposed to have equally accessible education in all areas," Nelson said. Johnson said the research aspect of GLC's work is especially valuable. "We don't have time to do a lot of research," he said. "It's very helpful to have some background information." Johnson said the budget pressures were causing a re evaluation of education in the state. "It would be a terrifically large job to study the whole educational system in the state of Nebraska, but we've almost come to that crossroads," Johnson said. "We may have to take a magnifying glass to the whole thing.'' Johnson said Nebraska has more rural school districts than any other state, and noted that many high schools are offering the same kind of vocational training that the technical community colleges do. "We're duplicating ourselves to death in the services that we offer," he said. HAVE YOU TRIED A iy UN TA NSC It's the drink of the month at SWEEP LEFT Try it tonight, and get a FREE 'DEW IT1 T-SHDRT (Limit one) SWEEP LEFT 815 O' St. Under the Viaduct Don't miss the barrel competition as campus organizations roll to the finish line to win $500 . . TO ENTER: You need only be a member of a campus organization. Each organization may enter two teams of two people each: a she roller and a he-roller. 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