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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (March 11, 1988)
NetSaSskan Student lobbyist resigns before salary debate By Anne Mohri Senior Reporter Shawn Ilg, registered student lob byist for the Government Liaison Committee, resigned Thursday — one day before the University of Nebraska-Lincoln faculty salary in crease is expected to be debated at the Nebraska Legislature. Andy Pollock, president of the Association of Students of the Uni versity of Nebraska, said he was upset Ilg chose Thursday to resign when LB 1041, a bill that would increase faculty salaries, is scheduled for de bate. Ilg was appointed as registered student lobbyist last semester by Pol lock. Pollock said he appointed Ilg because he thought was qualified and dedicated. Ilg said it was not a mistake to resign now. He said the discussion on faculty salaries in the next few days will reflect the successful lobby ing made during the year on the issue. “I’ve made my contacts, I’ve done my job, and Ilg I see it (LB 1041) going through with out any great problem, Ilg said. “And to be real honest, I just can’t stand putting up with Jeff Petersen and all of the cronies going at it for the next two or three weeks.” Ilg stated in his letter of resigna tion that ASUN has been plagued with problems in the last year. Ilg listed problems with ASUN: lack of representation; an unfair ap pointments system; lack of ability by ASUN’s current administration to represent students’ views; and a bi ased and rigged election. Ilg said he thought the credibility and any effectiveness ASUN had has gone down tremendously. Ilg said ASUN lacked student representation because about 10 per cent of the 50-70 ASUN officers were non-Greek. Pollock said he agreed there were not enough non-Greek members of ASUN. He said right now the Greeks I have the advantage in ASUN and he hopes the issue will be addressed this year. Shawn Boldt, ASUN first vice president, said both Pollock and John Bergmeyer, second vice president, were free to support an ASUN party, however neither of them did. Pollock said he supported AC TION, but did not go public with his choice. Pollock said Ug’s resignation may have been caused by his involvement with the VOICE party and the fact that they lost. ‘‘I know that Shawn (Ilg) worked feverishly for the other party and I am sure that clouded his perceptions,” Pollock said. Ilg was one of the three original founders of the VOICE party, who later turned the party over to Christo pher Stream, Andrew Wupper and Steven Showaltcr. Jeff Petersen, GLC chairman and ASUN president-elect, agreed that ACTION’S victory may have led to Ilg’s resignation. He said Ilg’s letter sounded like VOICE’S campaign all over again. “I felt him to have a change in heart towards ASUN altogether when he decided not to run for president and from that moment his effort declined ...,” Petersen said. Ilg said he has been under pressure by people to resign his position and had considered resigning since No See ILG on 3 NewASUN leaders ready to take action By Lee Rood Senior Reporter The day after. Jeff Petersen and Kim Beavers ease back in chairs in the office of the Association of Students of the Uni versity of Nebraska. The new presi dent and second vice president say thcircampaign was fun—butlhcy’re glad it’s done. Beavers said she and the other ACTION executives hadn’t had any “real sleep” since last Sunday. Just the same, Petersen said, he left his campaign party early to get up at 8 a.m. Tuesday, go to the Legislature and listen to discussion on faculty salaries. Marlene Bcykc, director of devel opment for AS UN, was running around the office, checking new ASUN senators’ eligibility and an swering students’questionsaboul the election. Several students said they were surprised voter turnout was down from last year—15.2 percent in 1987 compared to 13.14 percent this year. But Beyke said she thought it was relatively high, considering that only two parties ran. Beyke said it was the first time in her almost 10 years working for ASUN that only two parties ran. She also said it was the first time since the 1984-85 school year that there wasn’t a run-off election. Members of Greek houses outvoted off-campus and residence hall students again. Since the ASUN office first started taking demo graphic statistics in 1982, residence hall students have outvoted Greeks only once — in 1985. In the election survey, student voters said they approved of Fund A student fee allocations to the Daily Nebraskan and to support campus speakers. Voters also agreed with Fund B student fee allocations to the Ne braska and East unions, the Univer sity Health Center and die residence halls. The majority of students who voted were freshmen, followed by sophomores, juniors, seniors, then graduates and professionals. ASUN’s Electoral Commission is expected to certify the election Monday, if no complications arc found in party spending, and new ASUN representatives will officially start their terms on March 31. Newly elected ASUN members include: President: Jeff Petersen First vice president: Nate Geisert Second vice president: Kim Bea vers Committee for Fees Allocation: Greek: Todd Kramer Residence halls: Keith Malo and Michele Bay Off-campus: Sara Ramsey, Tom Kubert and DcAnn C. Stover College of Agriculture senators: Mall Gotschall and Nancy Chapek College of Agriculture Advisory Board: Ryan Downs, Keith Oster meicr, Karl Quandt, Boyd Migncry, Kurt Kelly, Sharia Kurz, Kevin Koenig and Todd Ballcntinc College of Dentistry senator: Bob Ahem College of Nursing senator: Shani Henke College of Law senator: David Lo schcn Criminal Justice senator: Dean Stokebrand General Studies senators: Renac Kricr, Tyler Corrcll and Bret Tonni ges Graduate College senators: Chip Mahlman, Ken Remfry, Karla Car ter, Geoff McDonald, T.S. Mom See ASUN on 3 Doug Carroll/Daily Nebraskan Hopping to a win Omaha Benson seniors Michael Grantham (left) and Kevin Lang watch their team inaction Thursday night during a state tournament game at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. The Bunnies defeated Lincoln Northeast 55-54 to advance to the second round. By Mary Nell Westbrook Senior Reporter Legislators didn’t have time to discuss the University of Nebraska Lincoln’s faculty salary increase Thursday, but Andy Pollock and Jeff Petersen weren’t upset. Pollock, lame-duck president of the Association of Students of the University of Nebraska, and newly elected president Petersen, said the delay gives students and faculty members another chance to show their support to senators. Petersen encourages students and faculty to go to the Capitol today. A booth will be set up today in the Nebraska Union with a telephone for students to call their state senators in support of the faculty pay raise. Pe tersen said information will be avail able for those students who don’t know who their senators are. As chairman of the Government Liaison Committee this year, Pe tersen has made faculty salaries one of his priorities. He said he will still make it a priority while acting as AS UN president. Even if the bill is passed, Petersen said, the salary proposal can’t be a “one-year fix.” As the NU Board of Regents has outlined, the problem will need at least a three-year plan, he said. The plan calls for a 12-pcrcent increase in 1988-89, 11 percent in 1989-90 and 11 percent in 1990-91. UNL Faculty Senate President Jim Lewis said he didn’t want to be a mind-reader about the faculty salary section of LB 1041, but he hopes it will be passed. Lewis said he has seen a growing awareness and understanding in the Legislature about the need for a fac ulty salary increase. Lewis’ contact with senators has been good, he said, so he is optimistic that ‘Hhey’rc understanding us bet ter.” While the Lcgislaturcdidn’tgctto the university’s salary issue, it ad vanced a proposed constitutional amendment to increase legislative salaries. By a vole of 43-1, senators added LR7 to the May ballot. Sen. Chris Abboud of Omaha was the only dissenting vote. Chambers glad death penalty bill delayed ASUN encourages salary help By William Lauer Suff Reporter Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha said the Legislature did him a favor by postponing debate on LB675, which would repeal the death penalty in Nebraska. Chambers said he accepted the motion to postpone debate on the bill he sponsored because he lacked support to advance the bill. Sens. Elroy Hefner of Coleridge and Chris Abboud of Omaha made a motion to postpone the bill after Chambers made his opening remarks. In his opening statement, Chambers said it costs the state less to imprison a person than to enforce the death penalty. Chambers cited a 1982 study done by the New York Slate Defenders Association that compared the costs of life imprisonment and capital punishment. The study said the cost of imprisoning a person for 40 years was $602,000. The cost of capital punishment was $1.8 million. The study said the cost for capital punish ment is higher because capital cases cause, longer trials, lengthy delays and frequent rever sals. Change of pleas and continual appeals by defendants drag out the judicial process. “The trouble with these things is there is no finality,” Chambers said. Money is not the only reason to abolish the death penalty, Chambers said. But putting it in terms of money is “some thing they (the Legislature) can understand,” he said. LB675 was amended in April to allow the death penalty for a person who is convicted of first-degree murder and commits murder again in prison. _£___