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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 6, 1988)
T -a Daily t Nebraskan December 6, 1988 University of Nebraska-Lincoln WEATHER: Tuesday, partly cloudy and cooler, high 50-55 with NW winds at 10-20 mph. Tuesday night, partly cloudy and cold, low in the mid 20s. Wednesday, mostly sunny and colder, high in the mid 30s. ..&v INDEX News Digest.2 Editorial.4 Arts & Entertainment 5 Sports.6 Classifieds.6 Vol. 88 No 69 Yost hopes to raise number of minority graduate students By Eve Nations Staff Reporter Speaking to the Chancellor’s Commission on the Status of Minorities, John Yost, vice chancellor for research and dean of graduate studies, said he was committed to minority recruitment and to the retention of graduate stu dents. Yost said he hopes to increase the number of minority graduate students by 50 percent during a three-year period, given available resources. Presently, 72 minority graduate students attend the University of Ncbraska-Lincoln, he said. “There arc possibilities of more fellowship money than at any other time,” Yost said. “We need to use the resources as much as possible to attract the graduate students.” Yost said the graduate studies program has an excess of $ 100,000 to use for the recruitment of minority graduates. ‘‘Our highest priority is to use the funds for the recruitment and reten tion of minority students,” he said. Yost also said he was optimistic about other money available. Yost cited a possible increase of the Patri cia Robert Harris Fund as an ex ample. The fund, which gives money to specific departments for graduate fellowships, totalled $200,000 this year. Yost said he hopes to double that for next year. See MINORITIES on 3 Interns with state senators learn how government works By Shawn Schuidies Staff Reporter An internship with a slate senator is a good way for students to learn what goes on behind the scenes in slate govern ment, said a University of Nebraska Lincoln official. Internship coordinator Mildred Katz said that most students think internships with state senators arc only for political science majors, but the internships arc open to all stu dents. Bui ihc internship was more lime consuming than she expected. Na bower said. Instead of working 12-15 hours per week, Nabower said, she worked almost 25 hours a week. Moore said he prefers to hire stu dents from his district and who have had some previous political experi ence. A student can benefit the most from an internship by simply observ ing and learning how government works, he said. Although interns mostly do rou tine work, Moore said, he allows in terns to research bills covering issues that interest them. for example, Katz said, a scnalor from a rural area may want to hire a student who is studying agriculture. The interns may not gel to do “glamourous work or have much influence,” Katz said. Studcnis do, however, get to see how important issues affect the stale, how bills are passed and learn how to communi cate with voters when they attend constituent meetings, she said. State senators look for studcnis who arc juniors or seniors and have had some previous political experi ence, Katz said. State Sen. Scott Moore said it helps if a student has been a legisla tive page or worked on a campaign before they apply to be an intern, she said. Chris Nabower, a community and regional planning graduate student, said her internship with Moore in the spring semester of 1988 helped to improve her writing and communica tion skills. Nabower said she did re search for voters, answered phones, filed information and monitored committees for the scnalor. Kal/ said student interns also can benefit the university. The internship lets state senators sec that UNL stu dents are interested in political issues and arc seriously interested in learn ing, she said. When state senators do hear about students, Katz said, it’s usually in a bad light. Students usually make the news in negative ways, she said. In terns help senators understand stu dents better and sec them in a more positive way. Katz said the internships generally run from Jan. 1 to the end of the legislative session. Usually 18 intern ships arc available each year, she said. Interns also can getcrcdil for three hours through the political science or speech communications depart ments, she said. But interns arc not paid, she said. Students should apply before Dec. 14 in order to interview with a state senator before Christmas vacation, Katz said. Keep on dig gin t . Wayne Heidtbrlnk digs for a high-voltage power line in the practicefield north of Ed Weir Track Monday afternoon. A new lino is being laid to power overhead lights that will permit night baseball games at Buck Betteer Field. _. _. NU regents resist student regent vote idea By Jana Pedersen Staff Reporter Apian proposed by student regents to allow them a non-official vote on the NU Board of Regents is finding some opposition from other board members. The main purpose of the proposal is to give student regents an opportunity to have a record of their opinions, according to University of ' Nebraska at Omaha Student Regent Joe Kerri gan. Kerrigan said it is important to have a record of student regents’ positionson issues to on sure that they arc representing the views of their constituents. UNL Student Regent Jeff Petersen agreed. “Presently there’s no means for holding the student regents accountable or for making sure I they arc doing their jobs,” he said. “(Having a non-official vote) would make them have to lake stands.” Several other regents, however, questioned the constitutionality of such a vote. Regent Donald Blank of McCook agreed that student regents should have a means to show their responsibility to their constituents, jj But Blank said the proposal’s constitutionality must be answered first, he said. “As long as the votes are non-official,” he ■ said, “1 don’t see any problems with it.” m Regent Nancy Hoch of Nebraska City said jj she was in favor of more involvement by the ® student regents. But Hoch said she was not willing to take a stand on the non-olficial vote ** issue until she had more information about its constitutionality. Regent Donald Frickc of Lincoln said the I Nebraska stale constitution docs not allow for yj voting by student regents. Constitutional requirements for regents, B such as mandatory Nebraska residency and B United Stales citizenship, may not apply to T student regents, Frickc said. L The student regents also don’t represent a specific district like other board members, he '% said. If regents allowed students to vote, cer tain districts could become over-represented, Rj depending on where student regents arc from, Frickc said. See VOTE on 3 J_J- , ***,m*iM 1 Butch Ireland/Daily Nabraakan Jeff Petersen in his office.