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Daily Nebraskan
Tuesday, November 23, 1982
Professor honored for service
By Rebecca Stingley
As a UNL professor of educational administration,
director of the Barkley Memorial Center, 42nd and
Holdrege streets, and director of a federally funded
research project, Robert Stepp Jr. wears many hats.
Stepp recently was awarded the Walter K. Beggs
Award for outstanding service to education. The Ne
braska State School Board Association and the Ne
braska Association of School Administrators presented
the award.
During his 38 years at UNL, Stepp has published 54
papers and has given 91 presentations on the subjects
of educational media and technology, special education
and. instructional materials for the hearing impaired.
Since 1964, he has received more than $7 million
in federally funded grants and contracts.
"We are in our 19th conseuctive year of funding.
This money has been put to use (for his current project)
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designing learning materials for the deaf and hearing
impaired," he said.
Cataloged 15,000 items
Stepp and his staff have searched for and cataloged
all existing instructional materials for the hearing im
paired - some 15,000 items.
In recent years, he and his staff have been responsible
for the development of a new approach to instructional
reading. They are now involved in preparing
microcomputers for use by the hearing impaired.
"When using computers, deaf people are no longer
handicapped by the lack of sounds," he said.
Stepp began his professional career as a music in
structor with the UNL School of Music. In his early
years as an instructor, he taught both Dennis Schneider
and Jack Snider, both of whom are now professors
with the music school.
When called to the Navy in 1953, Stepp worked for
the Navy's Bureau of Audiovisual Instruction. He was
a member of the Admiral's Staff and designed instruct
ional materials for the Navy's Amphibious Training
Section.
Joins UNL staff
After returning to UNL at the end of the Korean
War, he became an instructor in UNL's department
of educational administration.
Currently, Stepp is responsible for a graduate-level
educational media course as well as the programs at the
Barkley Center. The center consists of the department
of special education, the department of speech pathology
& audiology and the educational media production pro
ject for the hearing impaired.
Stepp said he is concerned about UNL's funding
reduction, and he fears the worst for the programs he
is involved with.
"The instructional staff will be severely hurt by the
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Staff Photo by Jane Knapp
Robert Stepp Jr.
cuts in state funding," he said. "At present, our clinic
income is not sufficient to operate without reduction,
unless additional funds are received. For us, a cut in
state funds means a cut in the program."
In his years in education, Stepp has seen many changes.
He advises students currently in school to stay in school
until the economy improves.
"Right now, students should get their degrees and
maybe even a second degree. Then they can enter the
job market when the economy 'has returned to a more
stable state," he said.
"Students also need to be aware of opportunities
that might change the direction of their career."
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Student veteran spokesmen:
Education benefits lacking
By Eric Peterson
The 1981 and 1982 presidents of the
UNL Student Veterans agree that the
lack of a GI Education Bill for post
Vietnam veterans has made things more
difficult for people coming to the uni
versity from the armed forces.
Although Student Veterans President
John Koopman and former president
Dave Bauer both are receiving GI bene
fits because they entered service before
1976, they have noticed that things are
different for some of the newer veterans.
"The GI entitlement "each month
basically gives me enough to live off of,"
Koopman said. "Many of the veterans
we're starting to see now don't have
that, and they're hurting."
For Koopman, nhe bill was a great
help.
"I was out of the Marines and work
ing a nine-to-five job," Koopman said,
"and 1 had ihe GI Bill waiting there for
my use."
But the GI Bill, which provided for
free education through a monthly entitle
ment to Vietnam veterans, has been
superseded by an arrangement in which
an individual in the services can set aside
money for education that the armed
forces will match with an equal amount.
Koopman said this isn't enough money
for many people.
"A guy spends four years in the armed
forces and gets out," he said. "How do you
decide what this person is worth?" Koop
man said he believes the armed forces
owe more than just some kind of tempor
ary employment to its veterans.
Koopman said the UNL veterans organi
zation is hoping to relieve the financial
situation of some veterans by establish
ing its own scholarship fund. At present,
the group has a temporary loan fund that
can provide any student veteran up to
$150 within a 'couple of days. Koopman
said the UNL organization of about 50
veterans hopes to have some kind of fund
raiser, such as a film program, to get
money for scholarships.
The organization also helps with needs
of veterans other than financial ones,
Koopman said.
"We're 90 percent a social organiz
ation," he said. "A lot of people get out
of the service and just don't fit into the
standard college life of dormitories and
fraternities. The main difference you
encounter with going to college after
the military is that you're older than
other students."
Koopman said the group publishes
a newsletter called The Plagiarist and meets
twice a month in their office in Nebraska
Union 236.
For Bauer, the key factor in what the
Student Veterans provides for people
is a chance to be with people who have
had some of the same experiences.
Bauer said many veterans returning
to school have problems adjusting to
civilian life.
"Many don't have friends, but the
veterans' organization provides a group
with some people who have a common
backgiound. It's kind of a support,
really."
Bauer said the group directs people
who need help to the right sources.
"We have people who are knowled
geable and have been through all this
before . . . We're a liaison between the
military and the university," he said.
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