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February 8, 1S33
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Vol. 82. No. 99
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Staff photo by John Zoz
Charles Mignon edits the Taylor manuscript
colonial manuscript
by Puritan wefter
By Deb Kolc
Handed down through the generations, a 276-year-old
manuscript written by poet Edward Taylor finally
has reached the grasp of a UNL professor who is quali
fied to evaluate its true worth.
"Edward Taylor's poetry is so unusual for his time,"
Charles Mignon, UNL professor of English, said. "He is
known as the, most prominent colonial poet. It is a very
valuable manuscript."
When Mignon first saw the manuscript, he said he
recognized the handwriting immediately - while at the
University of Connecticut in the early '60s, Mignon
wrote his doctoral thesis on Taylor's poetry.
Taylor's writings did not become known until 1937,
more than 200 years after his death, Mignon said.
Taylor, although an American Puritan, follows in the
English metaphysical tradition of writers like John Donne
and George Herbert , Mignon said.
"He uses an unusual combination' of images. He has a
way of combining Puritan ideas with the earlier' style of
English writers," he said.
Taylor worked as a minister and a doctor in VVestfield,
Mass., from 1671 until his death in 1729. Taylor was
born near Leicestershire, England, around 1642. He came
to America in 1668 and studied at Harvard.
For" five years Mignon has been editing Taylor's
1846-page manuscript that includes 36 sermons.
In these sermons based on Old Testament themes,
Taylor discussed parallels to Christ. At the end of each
sermon delivered between 1693 and 1706, Taylor gave
advice to listeners, Mignon said.
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By Mona Koppelman
Flexibility seemed to be the watchword 3t the st3te
university budget hearing Monday before the Legislature's
appropriations committee.
The university has requested SI 70.5 million in state
general funds. Gov. Bob Kerrey has recommended about
$150 million, while the appropriations committee
increased the governor's figure to more than SI 54.5
million in general funds. The university currently operates
on a general fund budget of about $143.5 million.
Regent Ed Schwartzkopf of Lincoln discussed the flex
ibility of attitudes of Nebraskans on the issue of the
state's "ability to pay" for university budget increases.
As an illustration of statewide public opinion,
Schwartzkopf cited the following statistics.
"Last year our (UNL) budget was right at $147
million.
"In 1981, the expenditures for cigarettes in Nebraska
.reached $146.9 million. . .just $100,000 less than the
entire state approporation for the university budget.
"Beer, liquor and wine sales totaled $248 million in
1981.
"Now, for racing. Racing fans wagered $182.7 million
on horses," Schwartzkopf said.
According to Schwartzkopf, a 1980 UNL sociology
department survey indicated that more than half of
Nebraska citizens think "the university should be
supported as much as it had been or more."
"Those (citizens) that smoke, drink and bet on
horses. . .still feel the university of Nebraska ought to
get greater support by tax dollars in this state," Schwartz
kopf said.
"The people of the state are as proud of the university
as we are," he said. "Jt's necessary tor us to point out
to them the areas we need to have support in."
Increased funds for university library acquisitions,
equipment replacement, faculty salary increases, enhance
ment of academic computer systems are just a few of the
"top priorities'" of those testifying at the appropriation
hearing.
UNL President Ronald Roskens said the "stringent
economic conditions of the past few years have hampered
our desire, indeed, our thrust, to be a better university
than it is now.
"Our ability to maintain our position even currently
is, I would have to say, in jeopardy," Roskens said.
Speaking to committee members, Roskens said, "You
know of the inflationary pressures that once wrought
havoc upon us, and those have abated; but their legacy
lingers on.
Roskens said that although university operating costs
have increased 57 percent in the past five years, state
general funds have increased only 42 percent.
"Now if you view those trends in isolation, I think
you'd have to sense that there are signs of a kind of per
vasive erosion of university purchasing power," he said.
Roskins stressed the importance of the university to
the state.
"We talk about 'the good life,' he said. "The
components of the good life. . .are in a very large part
fashioned by university graduates.
"We who are the stewards of the University of Nebras
ka consider our request a modest one."
"The university is not some remote entity," Roskins
said. "It's not a luxury to be supported only when pros
perity is at hand. It's an integral part of our lives."
Continued from Page 8
Vefiema&y cdBege dedsSoini soiogCn
3
By Terry Hyland
The issue of building a regional college of veterninary
medicine on UNL's East Campus has resurfaced on Ne
braska's political and educational scene, and opponents
and supporters are lining up for what could be a final
solution to the three-decade-long controversy.
The current proposal calls for a $28.5 million construc
tion project that would include a main college in Lincoln
and livestock health stations in North Platte, Clay Center
and Mead.
Nebraska's share of the construction costs would be
about $6.6 million. The money would come from the
state's capital construction fund.
The federal government would appropriate $13 million
for construction and $7 million would come from partner
states that contract to participate in the program. Another
$2 million would be supplied by private donations.
The federal government already has appropriated
$827,000 for architectural and engineering planning.
But this money might be withdrawn because the federal
Office of Management and Budget said the veterinary
school is not needed.
Sen. J. James Exon and Rep. Virginia Smith have
vowed to fight to keep the planning money and future
funding commitments for the college. Both Exon and
Smith have been instrumental in pushing for federal sup
port of the college.
Opponents of the proposal have said that until the
federal funding actually is given to Nebraska, planning and
construction cannot proceed.
Provisions of a state law support this argument. The.
law requires the federal government to supply 50 percent
of construction costs. The money must be in Nebraska's
, hands by Dec. 31 of this year or the proposal cannot
proceed.
But members of the Agriculture and Environment
Committee have introduced a bill in the Nebraska
Legislature that would allow the state to accept the
federal planning money and accept federal assurances as
a commitment for the project's future funding. The bill,
LB533, is now before the Education Committee.
Dr. R. Gene White, program coordinator for the
Regional College of Veterninary Medicine Program, said
he is confident that the federal government will come
through with the needed money.
"We feel we've got a commitment form the federal
- government tor continued funding," he said.
White said having a regional college in Nebraska would
benefit the state, the city of Lincoln, the state's livestock
industry and the university.
Jobs for construction companies would be provided,
he said, and 40 new staff members would be hired for the
college. Thirty-two new faculty members and a projected
enrollment of 256 new students would bring more money
into the city, he said.
"The college would be a tremendous economic boost
for Lincoln," he said.
White said the state would be able to keep $1.9 million
- the annual amount paid in contracts and tuition to send
Nebraska students to veterinary schools in other states.
The money would pay for Nebraska's share of the
college's annual operating expenses. This way, White said,
money that already is being spent will be used to support
the college and no money will have to be taken from
other sources.
Total annual operating costs of the college would be
about $5.2 million. Nebraska's share would be about
$1.9 million. Tuition, application fees, patient revenue
and education fees from partner states would cover the
remaining costs.
Because of increases in research funding and improved
methods of livestock care, locating the school in Nebras
ka would be beneficial, he said.
White said having the college in Nebraska would attract
more research money. Nebraska received $110,000 in
research funding in 1979, he said.
Experts predict that Nebraska's $3-billion-a-year
livestock industry could grow 20 percent to 25 percent
during the next 20 years, White said. He said Nebraska has
a commitment to ensure the future of the industry
through research and by training veterinarians prepared
to handle livestock health problems that could arise.
White also emphasized the regional concept of the
proposed college. He said states that contract with
Nebraska to send students to the college will participate
in the decision-making process of the school. Those states
will have input in student selection, curriculum and college
government. Nebraska has none of these privileges in the
schools they currently contract with, he said.
"We can offer other states an opportunity to partici
pate with us, rather than pay us to educate their
students," he said. ,
White said every farm organization in Nebraska has
passed a resolution supporting a veterinarian college in
the state. A task force representing the farm organizations
has raised $1.7 million of the required $2 million in
private funds and that the goal easily should be reached,
he said.
White said he is confident that the proposal to build
the college is making progress. Under ideal conditions,
construction could start as early as spring of 1984, he
said.
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