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T Y Tl Oaily f
Wednesday, September 15, 1982
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Vol. 82 No. 17
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Kerrey attacks current farm policies
By Eric Peterson
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bob Kerrey
answered questions about agriculture, abortion and
student aid Tuesday in the Nebraska Union. Kerrey's
talk, sponsored by ASUN's Government Liaison Com
mittee, the Nebraska State Student Association and the
Nebraska Young ' Democrats, highlighted a voter regis
tration drive sponsored this week by GLC and NSSA.
Kerrey attacked the Reagan administration's
agricultural policy. He noted that Reagan's secretary of
agriculture, John Block, had said last year that the strong
should survive in the agricultural economy, and that the
government should simply stay out of the way. In fact,
Kerrey pointed out, government is deeply involved in
agriculture and has often thwarted farmers in the past.
" 'Agriculture is a spoiled, pampered child,' " Kerrey
quoted Block as saying, and then quoted Nebraska Gov.
Charles Thone's remark that Block is a bright light in
Washington.
"Every sector establishes prices for itself except
agriculture," Kerrey asserted, adding that agriculture
is not in trouble because other countries are doing a
better job, but because of government actions.
Kerrey insisted that the administration's "Food as
a Weapon" policy tying agricultural exports to
politics - is damaging to farmers.
"It makes it very difficult for us to survive when
we've got that sort of policy."
Kerrey noted that the administration called a recent
corn sale to Taiwan a "godsend." Kerrey said, "It's not
a godsend when we sell $2 corn."
Kerrey said he favors cash incentives for land set
asides. The set-asides are intended to reduce agricultural
surpluses by paying farmers to leave land fallow.
"The basis is to make certain we've got independent
producers. The tremendous inventories we have now
make it questionable when farm prices will improve."
Kerrey said it is difficult to tell if the state can afford
to make up for federal financial aid cutbacks.
"The governor's pushing everything back beyond the
next election makes it difficult." Kerrey said the people
of the state need to recommit themselves to the impor
tance of superior education.
Kerrey said his abortion position hasn't changed,
although perceptions of it have during the campaign.
He reiterated that he is personally opposed to abortion
and will attempt to constrict it at the state level, but is
opposed to a federal constitutional amendment banning
abortion.
Senate asks Regents to clarify bylaw
Staff Photo by Dave Bentz
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bob Kerrey
speaks to UNL students in the Nebraska Union
Tuesday.
The UNL Faculty Senate asked NU Attorney Richard
Wood to clarify the NU Board of Regents bylaw on
political activity by faculty members at its meeting
Tuesday afternoon.
The Senate, meeting for the first time, voted to ask
the regents' bylaw committee to either change or clarify
the bylaw.
The bylaw states that faculty members have the
right to participate in political life, however, each faculty
member must perform the duties of his or her positron
at UNL without any interference from outside activities.
In March, UNL Chancellor Martin Massengale also
asked Wood to review the bylaw about political activity.
One faculty member affectted by the bylaw is Mike
Steinman, a Lincoln city councilman and UNL political
science professor. The Senate has formed a three-man
committee to generate ideas to change the bylaws.
The Senate asked the regents' bylaws committee to
either clarify or change the bylaws. The Senate also
requested a three-man committee to come up with ideas
co change the bylaws.
Continued on Page 2
UNL student alcohol use near national average
By Vicki Ruhga
The percentage of students consuming
alcohol at UNL is similar to the percentage
at other college campuses across the coun
try, said Dave DeCoster, UNL dean of
students.
The Chronicle of Higher Education con
ducted a survey of college deans and found
that 75 percent of college students drink,
and between 10 percent and 15 percent
have alcohol-related problems.
RHA president Tom Mockler said an
alcohol survey conducted within the resi
dence halls last year showed that 75 per
cent of UNL students drink. However, the
alcohol abuse is twice the national average,
at about 20 percent, he said.
Alcohol consumption by minors was
slightly higher than the overall rate at
85 percent, and the off-campus rate was
90 percent, Mockler said.
"I think the deans surveyed were a
little conservative in their estimates,"
DeCoster said.
DeCoster said research done directly
with college students showed an alcohol
consumption rate of 85 percent for fresh
men, with an increase each year the stu
dent is in schooK Ninety percent of seniors
drank at some point in their college
careers, he said.
Alcohol use is not a new problem on
college campuses. Of the college deans
surveyed by the Chronicle, 95 percent
felt that drinking habits had not changed
significantly since the mid 1970s.
Rates constant
"For the past 30 years, alcohol corn
sumption rates have remained relatively
constant, with a few slight increases,"
DeCoster said. "However, there is no ques
tion that right now, alcohol is the most
popular drug."
Mary Kramer, coordinator of the
alcohol education program in the UNL
residence halls, said there has been less
marijuana use than there was six years ago.
However, alcohol has always been the
number one drug problem, she said.
DeCoster said the freshmen group,
which probably has the least experience
with alcohol, is usually the most affected.
"They are out of the hometown, family
environment and have more freedom in
all areas, including drink," he said. "They
tend to make more mistakes and overin
dulge." Kramer said current procedures for a
student who constantly has alcohol
problems is to refer the student to a
community organization, such as the Lin
coln General Hospital Independence
Center.
Staff trained
"The residence hall staff has gone
through the training sessions offered by the
Alcohol consumption comparison
UNL
NATIONAL
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90 percent of UNL
off-campus stu
dents drink
85 percent of UNL
minor students
drink
75 percent of all
college students
(including UNL)
drink
A
20 percent of UNL
students have al
cohol problems
15 percent of all
college students
have alcohol
problems
A
Independence Center," Kramer said. "They
watch for students who sleep through
classes or fight with students after drink
ing. Kramer said when a behavioral problem
occurs, such as drinking in the halls, the
staff tries to move away from disciplinary
action. They take the position of helping
the student by referring him or her to a
community group, she said.
DeCoster said the best solution was to
stress responsible drinking behavior on the
part of the student.
"The emphasis should be on how drink
ing behavior affects other objectives of
life, such as the student's goal to be
successful in terms of academic pursuits.
"We don't necessarily emphasize ab
stinence, but we do stress responsible
drinking and a healthy lifestyle," DeCoster
said. "I think it's the most reasonable
approach."
Control supply
Mockler said the most reasonable solu
tion would be to sell alcohol in the union,
the bartenders could more easily control
the age of drinkers and thereby control
the supply. However, he said he was not
sure if this would have a dramatic influence
on alcohol abuse in the residence halls.
There is no real way to distinguish
between responsible and irresponsible
drinking," Mockler said. "Student assis
tants cannot always help students because
if they find a student drinking, they are
required to write him up. This creates
an awkward situation."
Mockler cited several colleges which
have adopted a liberal policy completely
legalizing alcohol on campus. However,
in many cases this resulted in a rash of
abuses, he said.
Eventually the colleges adopted a more
restrictive policy. They usually limit the
places alcohol can be used after considering
the number and ages of people present,
Mockler said.
"Once alcohol is legalized, the entire
university staff has a basic alcohol
education program," Mockler said, "the
effects of alcohol are better known and
responsible drinking behavior is
promoted."
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