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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 2, 1984)
Pago 4 - Daily Nebraskar. Monday, April 2, 1934 TT1 71 TTnTV The Nebraska Supreme Court has given the Legis lature a blank check, but the state's lawmakers would be wise to use it cautiously. First, a little bit of history is in order. In 1931, the Legislature passed a bill over then-Gov. Charles Thone's veto that authorized repayment of work related expenses accumulated during the regular session. Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers then filed claims totalling $7,800 for session in 1931 and 1932. The attorney general's offices sued, saying that payment of such claims was not provided for in the state constitution. Lancaster County District Judge Dale Fahrn bruch agreed with the attorney general and declar ed the 1981 law unconstitutional. But Friday, the state's high court justices unanimously overturned Fahrnbruch's ruling. It seems only reasonable that senators receive a fair, reimbursement for expenses incurred in the line of duty, but they must remember that any fund ing for those expenses must come from the already-over-burdened Nebraska taxpayers. Unfortunately, the ruling handed down by the justices did not contain specifics. It says that sena tors are entitled to expenses that are "incurred by an employee in connection with the performance of his duties, and typically include transportation, meals and lodging while traveling." It is up to the Legislature to fill the void left by the court ruling. If senators want to avoid the wrath of the state's voters, they should establisn legitimate definitions and limitations on allowable expenses before any payments are made. It is encouraging to hear that Omaha Sen. Vard Johnson already is making plans for guidelines to be established. Johnson is chairman of the Legisla ture's Executive Board. He told the Omaha World Herald that the board will develop a policy recom mendation and implement it, possibly by mid-year, or bring it before the full Legislature next January. Considering the low salaries of Nebraska sena tors, it would be tempting foe the Executive Board to set some rather liberal expense guidelines. That's a temptation that should be avoided. The fact that proposed constitutional amend ments to raise senatorial salaries have repeatedly been voted down should offer plenty of evidence that Nebraskans don't want to spend much money on their Legislature. The senators should abide by that wish and keep their expenses to a minimum. Registration nightmare will haunt April fools According to the Schedule of Classes booklet distributed by the university, the absolute deadline for early regis tration is July 10. However, to have any chance at all of getting the classes you want, it is sug gested you register as soon as possible. Of course, if you don't early register, there is only one avenue open to you p , ) C Bill Allen the dreaded general registration. 2 General registration should be avoid ed utall costs. -z ; - : : It's complicated, hectic and chances are you won't be able to get all the classes you want or need. Chances are even greater that you won't get these classes at the times you want or need. Now, if you've never gone through general registration, you have no way of knowing how bad it really is and you probably think all the horror stories you hear are exaggerated. Let me give you a true life example: (Everything is getting fuzzy like it does on television when they go into a flashback.) "Hi! Can I take your order, please?" "Yes, thank you, I'd like to go through general registration." "I'm sorry, sir, this is the Wendy's drive-through window. Youll have to go to the university to register." Next scene: - "Hey, where's the beef?" "Sorry, Jack, this is the general regis tration line. Youll have to go to the Wendy's drive-through window for the beef." EOITOR GENERAL MANAGER PRODUCT'ON MANAGER ADVERTISING MANAGER ASSISTANT ADVERTISING MANAGER CIRCULATION MANAGER NEWS EDITOR ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITORS Larry Spark. 472-17H Danltl ShaMH Kitty Poitcay Tracy L. Beaver Kaly Groaaoahma Steve Meyer Ward W. Trtptatt " Laurt Hoppie Jan Myrleief Vlckl Auriga Jaft Browne Mtka Froet Pat Clark Patty Pryor Htt Goodwin Chit Waiech Lord Jortjar Craig Amtraaan Dawa Trou&a Carta Johnson, 477-S78J Don Watton. 473-7391 S'C-stTS EDITOR ARTS 4 EN'!.17AiNMENT EDITOR COPY DESK SUPERVISOR NIGHT NEWS EDITOR ASSISTANT NIGHT NEWS EDITOR WIRE EDITOR ART DIRECTOR PHOTO CHIEF ASSISTANT PHOTO CHIEF PUBLICATIONS BOARD CHAIRPERSON PROFESSIONAL ADVISER The Daily Nebraskan (USPS 144-080) is published by the UNL Publication Board Monday through Friday in the tall and pnng semester and Tuesday and Fridays n the summer session, except during vacation. Reader are encouraged to submit story idea and com ments to the Daily Nebraskan by phoning 472-2S63 between 9 a m. and 5 p nv Monday through Friday. The public also ha access to the Publication Board For information, call Carla Johnson. 477-5703 Postmaster Send address change to the Daily Neora skan. 34 Nebraska Union. 1400 R St.. Lincoln. Neb. 68538 0448 ALL MATERIAL COPYSSCHT 1854 DAILY KESRASKAM "This is the general registration line?" "What? Is there an echo here or are you a walking tape recorder?" Terrific, of all the people to be stuck in line with, I ended up with a Don Rickles think-alike. "But this can't be the general regis tration line. This is the Gateway Mall " I said, shoppingly.' "So the UneV a little long. With any luck, we should be at the administra tion building in a couple of days." "What then?" "Another line." "Oh." Next scene: (two days later, walking around looking at class listings.) "Excuse me," I said, "are you the faculty member assigned to tell me which classes still have openings?" "No, I'm rehearsing to be a depart ment store mannequin." "Are you related to the guy who stood in front of me in line the last couple of days?" "Huh?" "Nothing. Um, I just need a basic English class. Have you got any open ings?" 'Well, let's see, how about 3916?" "Oh wow," I said, "3016. Why didn't I think of that? Come on, what does that mean in English?" "Cute." "No, I didnt mean it that way. What course is it?" "English 473." "473?" "Yes, an Introduction to Compara tive Renaissance and Native American Literature." "Actually, I had something a little more basic in mind. You know, like Comp 150." Oh, you ve got to be kidding. Only the people that early register can get into those classes." "But I had the flu." "You had the flu from March 19 to July 10?" Next scene: (that night, talking on the phone to mother.) "Hello, mom?" "Of course it's your mother, who else would accept a collect call from you?" She had a point. "WelL what classes did you end up with?" she said. "Real Estate Principles 382, Horti culture Insects 203, Computer-Aided Graphics 112, and a geology lab...and, oh yeah, a beginning soccer theory class." "I thought you were an English major?" "So did I, Mom. So did I." (Everything's fuzzy again as we fade back to the present.) So, to avoid this nightmare called general registration, I urge you to fill out your class schedule today. Now, for a witty finish, um...don't be an April Fool, early register now. 5 NATIONS' AArh 1 1 . - a. . ' . . . -V V . a" m m i Rape trials show progress in our 'yes-no-maybe' culture There are a few times when, if you watch closely, you can actually see a change of public mind. This" is one of those times. For as long as I can remember, a conviction for rape depended as much on the character of the woman involv ed as on the action of the man. Most T- : , Z3 $j ' Ellen m. 1 Goodman often, the job of the defense lawyer was to prove that the woman had pro voked or consented to the act, to prove that it was sex, not assault. In the normal course of events, the smallest blemish, misjudgment, rais. step by the woman did she wear a tight sweater? Was she a "loose" wom an? Was she in the wrong part of town at the wrong hour? became proof that she had invited the man's atten tions. A woman could waive her right to say "no" in an astonishing number of ways. But in the past few weeks, in Massa chusetts, three cases of multiple rape have come into court and three sets of convictions have come out of juries. These verdicts point to a sea of change in attitudes. A simple definition seems to have seeped into the public con sciousness. If she says no, it's rape. The most famous of these cases is the New Bedford barroom rape. There, in two separate trials, juries cut through complicated testimony to decide the central issues within hours. Had the woman been drinking? Had she lied about that in testimony? Had she kiss ed one of the men? In the end, none of these points was relevant. What mat tered to the juries that found four of these six men guilty was that they had forced her. If she said no, it was rape. The second of these cases involved a young woman soldier from Ft. Devens who accepted a ride with members of a local rock band, The Grand Slamm. She was raped in the bus and left in a field hours later. Had she flirted with the band members? Had she told a friend that she intended to seduce or.! of the men? Had she gone on the bus willingly? The judge sentencing three of the men to jail said, "No longer will society accept the fact that a woman, even if she may initially act in a seduc tive or compromising manner, has waiv ed her right to say 'no' at any further time." If she said no, it was rape. The third of these cases was in some ways the most notable. An Abington, Mass., woman was driven from a bar to a parking lot where she was raped by fourmen, scratched by a knife, had her hair singed by a cigarette lighter and then left half naked in the snow. The testimony at the trial showed that the woman had previously had sex with three of the men, and with two ofthem in a group setting. Still, the jury was able to agree with the district attorney: "Sexual consent between a woman and a man on one occasion does not mean the man has access to her whe never it strikes his fancy." If she said no, it was rape. Not every community, courtroom or jury today accepts this simple stand ard of justice. But ten years ago, five years ago, even three years ago, these women might not have even dared press charges. It was the change of climate which enabled, even encouraged, the women to come forward. It was the change of attitude which framed the arguments in the courtroom. Continued en Page 5