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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 3, 1986)
Weather: Partly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. High near 80. Southwest winds 5 to 15 mph. A 20 percent chance of evening th un dershowers tonight, then clearing. Low around (). 3" Wednesday, September 3, 1986 Sjpiire to By Mike Reilley Staff Reporter Nebraska Attorney General Robert Spire has begun an investigation into possible illegalities when two UNL women gymnasts lost their scholar ships because they were injured. In a letter to NU President Ronald Roskens, Omaha Sen. Ernest Chambers demanded that gymnasts Janet Holling and Renee Gould have their scholar ships restored. He charged that the university violated state law. Spire said Tuesday that restoring the scholarships "was a possibility," but that further investigation was nec essary. He said he has contacted Chambers and Richard Wood, NU gen eral counsel, about the matter. "My interest is to be sure that the law is followed," Spire said. Chambers said the law wasn't. He said the university violated a state law Relations VP named By the Associated Press NU President Ronald Roskens said he will recommend that Wil liam R. "Rudy" Lewis fill the newly created job of vice president for university relations. Lewis is vice chancellor for stu dent affairs at UNL. Lewis would be responsible for communications between the uni versity and its constituences, Ros kens said, including government relations and liaison with the Legislature. "Rudy Lewis is a highly compe tent administrator with a distin guished track record and he is very familiar with the operation of the Nebraska Unicameral," Roskens said. "We anticipate that he'll be able to hit the ground running." UNL club busy at fair Members have food stand, music group By Jen Deselms Staff Reporter A cardboard sign hangs on the front wall of the concession stand in the State Fair's Youth Complex. "Forgive us if the service seems a bit slow, but we are students first and food stand workers secondly. We are sorry that academic commitments have left us short-handed but please bear with us. Thank you and have a wonderful day at the Nebraska State Fair." The sign was made by University 4-H Club members. The state fair is a busy time for the University 4-H Club members. Their sign shows some of the difficulties the 50 members have in fitting UNL classes, 4-H activities and jobs into their schedules during the fair. The University 4-H Club differs from high school 4-H clubs because its members no longer exhibit projects at Nebraska fairs. The UNL club is mainly a service organization, said Loren Swanson, member and co-chairman of the 4-H concession stand. Art show on rails chugs through Lincoln Arts & Entertainment, Page 14 Mves'tigate gymnasts9 complaint that he supported in the 1984 legisla tive session. The law states: "No public post-secondary educa tional institution in the State of Neb raska shall, prior to graduation, reduce, cancel or refuse to renew an athletic grant-in-aid to a student during his or her period of eligibility to compete in intercollegiate athletics solely because of an injury which prevents the student from participating in athletics." Chambers referred to a story in last Wednesday's Daily Nebraskan, in which Walton said he revoked the gymnasts' scholarships because they were injured. "In both cases it was cut and dry," Walton said. "They couldn't compete with the injury problems they had. We had to open up the scholarships and bring in new people. "As far as we're concerned, the whole situation was handled exactly as it should be." The new position will replace the post of vice president for govern mental relations, formerly held by Bill Swanson. Swanson will con tinue as corporation secretary for the NU Board of Regents. Creation of the new position was recommended by Peat, Marwick and Mitchell and Co. after it conducted a four-month study of administra tive functions at the university ear lier this year. Lewis has been vice chancellor for student affairs at UNL since Aug. 1985. Before then, he directed uni versity relations and was an assist ant to the UNL chancellor for three years. The Board of Regents is expected to act on Lewis' appointment when it meets Saturday. Club members help out by working at the concession stand, which funds the club's activities and projects for the whole year. The state fair demands much dedi cation from club members, especially over Labor Day weekend, Swanson said. With the long weekend, club members can go home, he said, but many stay to work at the concession stand. "We rely 100 percent on volunteer help," Swanson said. "Everyone works around their class schedule." Some University 4-H Club members help other 4-H projects at the fair, Pam Ruwe, chairman of leadership work shops said. Some were escorts for a 4-H fashion show and others helped move animals for 4-H judging team contests. The University 4-H club's singing group, the Outreachers, performed at ' the fair. Many members of the Outreachers were unable to either practice or per form because of conflicts with other activities, said Cindy Wortmann, chair man of the group. O. f University of Nebraska-Lincoln When the scholarships were revoked last April, Holling said, she questioned Walton and Assistant Women's Athletic Director Barbara Hibner about the law. "They acted like they weren't aware of it," Holling said. "If it's a law, then we shouldn't have to appeal anything. That's stupid." Hibner said Holling never asked about the law. She said the injury wasn't the only reason for not renewing the scholarship, but refused to disclose what they were. Wood, NU general counsel, said the university knew about the law. "I have no further comment until they've completed the investigation and have responded to Senator Cham bers," Wood said. Chambers said the university should have told Holling about the law. Because of that, Chambers will seek additional legislation in January that would assure that the athletes are told of their rights and benefits. Video classes in accounting By Lisa Rood Staff Reporter Because of a faculty shortage, some 500 accounting students will be taught completely by video this semester. Students in two out of the six Accounting 201 classes offered this fall will be taught with tapes made last year by George Holdren, a UNL ac From left, David McPhiHips, his Force 10 ride at the State Fair, "J?. " ' "' ' ' l' ' f 4 : , . , - . s t K .'v A r I 1 f 7 7 I i -w 7, - i y ' ,i ; s. -;7 ; 7 -X!,1- 1-.-, " ; . j No 4-ranked spikers upset by Lady Mavs Sports, Page 9 "I made the mistake of trusting the university to deal ethically with its students," he said. Chambers also wants documenta tion from the university about other situations where athletes have lost their scholarships. A recurring back injury ended Hoi ling's gymnastics career. She said the pain grew worse last season, but con tinued to compete because the team was short on personnel. "I've injured my back a lot worse," she said. "I was pushed harder than I should have." Holling said Walton considered of fering her a disability scholarship, but funds from the program's budget wouldn't allow it. "I thought if I got my scholarship back, I was going to have to go back in the gym," Holling said. "I didn't want to do that. "The way I understood it, there was nothing that could be done." counting professor who is in charge of the program. Thomas Hubbard, director of the School of Accountancy, said the change to video lessons came from necessity. "If we had not done it this way, approximately 250 to 300 students would not be able to take the class," Hubbard said. "I would much rather have live sections with 30 students. sister Sarah and friend Kelsy Valasek hang on for dear life on the Monday. Vol. 86 No. 7 3 Even if the budget couldn't cover the cost, Chambers said, Holling still should have retained her schoalrship. "The point is that the money she (Holling) was entitled to rely on wasn't there," Chambers said. "That's why I have to come down on them (athletic department officials) the way I do." Gould, the team's captain last year, missed most of the last two seasons because of wrist injuries. She said Monday that she doesn't want her scholarship back. "It was sort of a mutual agreement," Gould said. "I just want this whole thing dropped." Gould said that personal problems between her and Walton were the main factor in losing her scholarship. "Maybe my injury had something to do with it," she said, "but it was mainly personal." Gould said she didn't understand why Walton said that the injuries were cause for losing the scholarships. c2 That is the ideal situation, but we can't do that." Hubbard said he wants students in the video classes to know, however, that they won't be shortchanged. "The professor teaching in the tapes is our best lecturer. ... He is fully qualified," Hubbard said. See VIDEOS on 3 Richard WrightDaily Nebraskan