Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 4, 1981)
n friday, december4, 1981 lincoln, nebraskavol. 107 no 68 Copyright Daily Nebraskan 1981 University of Nebraska-Lincoln O Administration denies threatening UNL band By Melinda Norris and Patty Pryor The administration's supposed threat to the UNL marching band that the band budget would be jeopardized if "bad press" continues over their trip to the Orange Bowl, has brought conflicting reports from the admini stration and band officials. Band members Bob Krueger, Bryon Braasch and Bill Kellett said the School of Music was told by the admini stration that, "If you are concerned with the future of the band, you'd better cut out the bad press." 'There has been no threat issued to anybody," said Larry Andrews, assistant to the chancellor. "People don't threaten anybody on this campus to my knowledge." Jack Snider, director of bands, said that his job was to "relay the message my department chairman (Raymond llaggh) was told. by Larry Andrews." When asked if the threat came from Larry Andrews, llaggh refused to comment, but said, "there has been enough talk about it (the band issue)." When contacted later, Andrews said, "I have made no threats." Band discontented Among the topics of discontent expressed by the marching band arc the administration's purpose in attend ing the Orange Bowl, the absence of a band official when mmmtWm siiJi mn ni ? , ' CAM pkL J r ' :i;ssssm Photo by Kent Morgan Olsen Hut wiat about my bicycle? Some may wonder if this really is an institution of higher learning when they see this sign at the southeast corner of Nebraska Hall, in which the word "bicycles" is mispelled. Stressful season can cause suicide Stories by Laura Garrison The holiday season is not always the most cheerful time of year for many, said Jose J. Soto, mental health educator at the Lancaster Community Mental Health Center, 2200 St. Marys Ave. The pressure of shopping, decision-making, money problems and family reunions makes this season the most stressful time of year, Soto said. Because of this stress the holiday period is when many people contem plate, attempt or succeed in committing suicide. Along with the added stress, many people who have suffered the loss of a spouse or child get depressed and feel lonely during the holidays, Soto said. Holiday depression can affect anyone of any age, he said. College students can feel the added pressure of semester tests and final exams. Going home for the holidass can biing about family tension and short tempers. Potential suicide victims get a sense of hope lessness and helplessness and a feeling of having no one to tuin to. Sui'.ide is a permanent solution to their pioblems, he said. "Hie person who contemplates suicide has the gen eral attitude of "what the hell is the use of living,' " Soto said. 'Usually an insignificant occurrence will be the straw that broke the camel's back, and lead them to suicide." The only common thread among suicide victims is a general feeling of loss, he said. Many victims have low self-esteem and a series of bad events happen to them. There are signs to watch for in someone who might be contemplating suicide, Soto said. A change in be havior, such as a usually outgoing person becoming withdrawn or a basically reserved person becoming out going. Sleep disturbances, such as excessive sleep or in somnia, are another sign, along with a general pessimistic outlook on life and himself. Soto advised approaching someone who might be contemplating suicide and asking them directly if they are thinking about suicide. Listen to what the person has to say and create a climate of open communicat ion. Most importantly, don't be afraid to be concerned, he said. Health center provides counseling for students The mental health care unit at the University Health Center has been busier than usual this year helping people who are thinking about committing suicide, said Robert Heins, director of the unit. The pressure of grades and finances are two ofnhe stresses that students speak of most, Heins said. The mental health unit helps suicidal students on a one-to-one basis, he said. Troubled students can reach the center on a 24-hours a day, and may call doctors at home, he said. "We think life is a precious gift," Heins said. "We're willing to work with the student through roommates, friends and family until we can help solve the problem." Discussion group assists survivors People who knew a suicide victim are often left with guilt and anger directed toward the victim and them selves because they feel they could have done some thing to prevent the suicide. Jose J. Soto, mental health educator at the Lancast er Community Health Center, 2200 St. Marys Ave., is organizing a group of these victims called Survivors of Suicide (S.O.S.). Soto said the group will focus on support for the survivors and getting the guilt that a suicide victim leaves family and friends with out in the open. "Many times a suicide victim will leave a note that nlaces blame on a certain person," Soto said. "The auilt often leaves the survivor stunned by the experi- ence "The grieving a survivor feels is different than that caused by natural death " Soto said. "The stigma attached to suicide makes friends and family not want to talk about it," Soto said. "People who have not had the experience of having someone close to them commit suicide can't understand the guilt and anger that is felt." The support group will try to get these feelings out in the open, by having the common experience the sur vivors share worked out by members of the group, he said. "It won't be a large group," he said. "But if we can help one person that has this deep hurt, the group will be a success." the $600,000 given to UNL by the Orange Bowl commis sion was allotted by the Business and Finance Office and the failure of that office to accept the band's suggestion of sharing a plane with the administrators or selling the additional seats. Andrews said thai besides the game, those attending the game as the administrative party will be meeting with Big Eight officials. Although Andrews did not have the chancellor's itinerary, he believes he will meet with chief executives from other Big Light schools to make arrange ments with the Big Eight Conference and Orange Bowl. The chancellor will meet with the Big Eight commis sioner to discuss "in detail" the contract they have with the Orange Bowl, Andrews said. There has been no threat issued to anybody. People don't threaten anybody on this campus to my knowledge. Larry Andrews, assistant to the chancellor. The tentative cost allocations, presented by the Business and Finance Office and approved by the chancellor, calls for about 74 percent of the Orange Bowl funds to be allotted to the Athletic Department, 15.3 per cent to the band and 9 percent for administration, with a 1 .7 percent contingency fund. Told what to do "We were told what we were going to do," Snider said. He said he was told a trip via plane costs $98,000 and that was too much. Snider then submitted a tentative budget for the band to travel by bus to the Business and Finance Office. He was told his estimation was to be cut further, making it a non-stop trip to Miami with $4 allowed per person per meal. Snider said he was able to haggle with administration to include an overnight stop on the way to Miami, and a $5 meal allowance on the route buy only $4 while in Miami. "I've never seen a dollar budget," Snider said. "I'd like to be invited over (to the Business and Finance Office) to come up with a better solution." Snider said a better solution would be sharing a plane with the administrators or selling the remaining seats. However, Andrews said such a plane would not be feasible. The Business and Finance Office looked at the plane, Andrews said, but the administrative delegation has differ ent schedules that would not allow them to leave and come home with the band. "Even if we sell those seats," he said, "it would be short budgetariiy." $2,235 difference In a breakdown of the bus trip costs published in the Daily Nebraskan Thursday, band members said that the difference between costs of a bus trip and a plane trip is $2,235. Administration officials had earlier put the differ ence at between $50,000 and $60,000. Robert L. Lovitt, assistant vice chancellor for business and finance, said this figure was based on the difference between the cost of chartering a bus, about $38,000 and the cost of chartering a plane, about $98,000. The band members breakdown included the cost of meals and lodging on the trip down and back and the added revenue from selling the 100 extra seats on a chartered plane. Lovitt said the band members' breakdown contained "many erroneous assumptions." He said the 100 empty seats on a plane chartered by the band could not be sold to people outside the univer sity because of "insurance complications." These seats could not be filled by members of the ad ministrative party making the trip, Lovitt said, because that number will "not be anywhere near 100." The exact number of people in the administrative party will not be known until the trip budget is confirmed by Chancellor Martin Massengale next week, he said. friday Stutter No More: Barkley Center stuttering program helps persons overcome speech problem Page 3 Miami Melodrama: A Daily Nebraskan editorial addresses the plans to bus the UNL band to the Orange Bowl Page 4 Defensive Battle: Nebraska basketball Coach Moe Iba says the Huskers will have to improve their defense in order to beat Creighton Saturday night Page 8