Thursday, October 10, 1985
Page 4
Daily Nebraskan
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Computers in union
a deal not to pass up
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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.
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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
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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
