Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 10, 1985)
Thursday, October 10, 1985 Page 4 Daily Nebraskan 1 n o Computers in union a deal not to pass up SffilHEttoENflf eocpopiiSAf Wf-.urriw: mhhmwWi " M- " 1 1 "" "' " ' , M win T " '" ' r' ' ' M ost students can't afford their own computers, so the Nebraska Union's new computer room is the next best thing. Fifteen terminals and a printer have been avail able for student and faculty use free of charge since the room opened last Thursday. The union computer center is open from 7 a.m. to 1 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. A consultant is there from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. all week to answer questions and give assistance. No student fees were increased to pay for the $23,000 renovation, said Frank Kuhn, assistant union director. A budget appropriation for the computer hardware also kept student fees from being raised, said Virgil Ward, computer user coordinator for the Computing Resource Center. The computer room was the result of more than a year of planning between the union and resource center, said Daryl Swanson, union director. Donna Liss, computer specialist for the resource center, said the computer terminals are just like typewriters and are easy to learn how to use. But for those students who are not yet computer-friendly, Liss said, an instructional guide is availa ble at Kinkos. Seminars on how to use the computers could be scheduled if there is enough demand, she said. Free use of computer terminals, a printer and paper is a deal students should not pass up. With tuition and housing fees continually rising, students should take advantage of anything the university offers that doesn't have a price tag on it. Through the numerous computer centers on campus, the university has shown it is concerned about education by giving students the most advanced means with which to pursue academic excellence. Team's early practice is news NL Athletic Director Bob Devaney's statement that he should have been allowed to correct the basket ball practice problem internally defeats the purpose U I of the free press. The Daily Nebraskan's role is to provide balanced coverage of university news good and bad. The reporters who worked on the early practice story had nothing against basketball coach Moe Iba or the team. They were simply following a news tip as any reporter should do. If the Omaha World-Herald or Lincoln Journal or Star got a tip that Gov. Bob Kerrey was involved in an illegal act, would they ignore it? It might have been more convenient for Devaney and the university if the newspaper had ignored or covered up the practice by letting Devaney handle the problem internally. But the Daily Nebraskan would have been an accessory to the alleged violation. It's unfortunate that Iba and the team held the early practice, but students and faculty members have the right to know about it. The Daily Nebraskan is not a public relations tool for the athletic department or the university. A newspaper reports news. The Nebraska team's early prac tice was news. C 4 i V. v'ft J J. The Daily Nebraskan 34 Nebraska Union 1400 R St.. Lincoln, Neb. 68588-0448 EDITOR NEWS EDITOR CAMPUS EDITOR ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR WIRE EDITOR COPY DESK CHIEFS CIRCULATION MANAGER PUBLICATIONS BOARD CHAIRPERSON PROFESSIONAL ADVISER Vickl Ruhga, 472-1766 Ad Hudler Suzanne Teten Kathleen Green Jonathan Taylor Mlchlela Thuman Lauri Hopple Chris Welsch Brian Hoglund Joe Thomsen Don Walton, 473-7301 The Daily Nebraskan (USPS 144-080) is published by the UNL Publica tions Board Monday through Friday in the fall and spring semesters and Tuesdays and Fridays in the summer sessions, except during vacations. Readers are encouraged to submit story ideas and comments to the Daily Nebraskan by phoning 472-1763 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The public also has access to the Publications Board. For information, contact Joe Thomsen. Subscription price is $35 for one year. Postmaster: Send address changes to the Daily Nebraskan, Nebraska Union 34, 1 400 R St., Lincoln, Neb. 68588-0448. Second-class postage paid at Lincoln, NE 68510. ALL MATERIAL COPYRIGHT 1S85 DAILY NESRASXAN ' " Lvf'5 :"JWm t i. r I i Its hl.lL Too much politicizing Ipecial session not inece Most Nebraskans, regardless of their opinion of Gov. Bob Ker rey, probably would agree that the governor's vacation over the last two weeks was rather untimely. Although criticism of his leaving the :te at such a crucial time would not be unwarranted, few would want to be in his shoes as he returns to face the bleak state financial situation. The state's panel of economic fore casts projects a revenue shortfall of up to $31 million, and Kerrey's request for voluntary cuts in state spending by city and local governments appears to be falling short even of its fairly unambi tious goal of $12 million. Omaha Public Schools, though still in debate, apparently will not be help ing in the spending-cut cause. This will make the goal even more difficult to attain. OPS is not to be singled out as a villian in this situation, for they are no less willing (or able) to trim their own state funding than most other local bodies. But theirs is a budget large enough to have made a genuine impact, and their projected lack of participa tion makes the governor's return an even less pleasant experience. The voluntary spending cuts would not have been the total answer to our budget problems, but its lack of suc cess will further darken the state's prospects and force action on the part of state government. Kerrey appears to have the option of taking executive action or calling a Joe Schuele special legislative session. I hope that, if at all possible, a special session could be avoided. Besides a cost to the state in the neighborhood of $25,000, last month's special session showed that even matters of syntax could not be resolved without political grand standing on the part of our legislators. In an Omaha World-Herald editorial this week, one senator accused Kerrey, of all people, of "buying votes" with his behavior in the September session. This is ironic, since the editorial itself is a prime example of the ongoing senatorial mugging that Kerrey could never begin to match, even if he does seek re-election. . Unfortunately, Kerrey's plans for re election might in fact compel him to call a special session; not for the sake of grabbing the spotlight, but rather to share it. Budget-balancing action, whether it be in the form of spending cuts or tax increases, will not be pleasing. Political instincts would incline the governor to call the special session, if only to diffuse the responsibility for what are destined to be unpopular decisions. While Kerrey's lack of serious opposition for re-election has, to this point, been looked upon with disap pointment by many residents, it may prove to be a blessing here. Perhaps if Kerrey is able to concen trate fully on the matters at hand rather than their political ramifica tions, action can be taken without a special legislative session. If this is the case, we will all be spared a huge amount of politicizing on matters on which we can ill-afford it. Schuele Is a UNL senior advertising major. Public perception of ag crisis 'clouded 9 Fair price answer to farm crisis relentlessly dished out money to the farmer. When the government buys farm products then resells, the credit goes directly back into the general fund of the agriculture bill. There is simply a transfer of funds. A wise, old farmer once told me that bankers, legislators, lawyers and politicians aren't technically qualified to voice their views when it comes to agriculture unless they have walked in the farmer's shoes. It is evi dent that journalists are no exception tft fhic man's rnlo hv fViric Mtfalcnk'n column, "Wean farmers off support" VjUCSt Opinion (Daily Nebraskan, Sept. 23). His work is a good representation of the public's, particularly the media's, clouded perception of the agricultural crisis. People's misinformed opinions are typical of the average person who fails to search out the true facts. I think the current farm situation has been distorted in many ways and, as a student with a broad-based knowledge of agriculture, I am frus trated with the shortcomings of the media in presenting a realistic and fac tual picture of the farm crisis. I felt that Welsch didn't fully consider the issues. In regard to government price sup ports, Welsch describes them as being a "$30 billion annual drain on the economy." He goes on to say that Con gress has spent record amounts of money on recent farm programs and farmers have received more federal help than any other sector of the economy. The agriculture industry accounts for 20 percent of the "nation's GNP, 23 percent of this country's jobs, and 19 percent of its export earnings. In effect, every dollar earned by U.S. agriculture and agribusiness is regenerated seven times as it flows through the U.S. economy. However, rural America is experienc ing rapid deterioration that is begin ning to make a significant economic impact on the rest of the country. Today s distressed agriculture industry produces a snowball effect that has begun with the deterioration of the rural community, causing closings of schools, churches, banks and small businesses, leading to an increase in unemployment and a decrease in state revenues, which leads to budget cuts, tuition increases and the list goes on. The key to breaking this chain of events is tojtreat the initial cause by restoring prosperity in agriculture. However, these farm programs haven't Welsch says to run a "successful- farm it takes "Big land, big machinery and big money." This statement allows much room for criticism and questions. First, what distinguishes a "small" farm from being a "successful" farm? What does "successful" mean? It is my perception that there are different extremes of "successful" and "unsuccessful" farmers. If "success ful" is used to mean "debt-free, I know several farmers who, having lived through the Depression, have been conservatively careful not to spend a dime more than they had. And typi cally, this shows in their reluctance to invoct in mnro mnHflrn. labor Saving, efficient machines and methods. These are farmers who are not financially stressed, are nearing retirement or are retired, and whom I would be reluctant to rely on to fulfill the country's large food demand. Most fanners being forced to leave the land are typically ages 35 to w, innovative, aggressive, efficient ana "successful" in the sense that they use modern technology to reap quality pro duction. We are losing an entire gener ation of fanners and when fewer than 22 percent of agricultural graduates return to the farm, this leads to a human capital shortage. T pjease see FARM on 5