Students must demonstrate concern about education bill
otuaents would be well-advised to
become familiar with, and lobby
vigorously for the eventual implem
entation of, the LB247 Study Team
issues recommendations to effec
tively govern and coordinate Ne
braska’s higher education system.
Widmayer and Associates, on
behalf of the LB247 Study Commit
tee, convassed the state seeking input
from all sectors regarding the current
state of higher education. The con
sultants wisely concluded that the
primary frustration centered on the
perceived lack of coordination be
tween the education institutions, a
condition stemming from a more
general confusion concerning the
tasks of coordination and govern
ance.
Consequently, the team’s recom
mendations reflect a general goal to
structurally separate these two exclu
sive tasks, in hopes of increasing the
cfliciency and effectiveness of each.
A closer examination of these recom
mendations suggests that their grad
ual implementation would result in a
number of benefits for Nebraska’s
higher education system.
First, the establishment of lay
boards of trustees for each of the
seven senior college and university
campuses, including a student mem
ber, would effectively minimize or
eliminate many of the problems
plaguing the current Board of Re
gents structure, including conflicting
interest decision-making, duplica
tive review and approval functions,
system offices overlap and a general
lack of coordination.
Moreover, such lay boards would
return the governing power of each
unique institution to those under
whose authority instituluions of
higher learning have historically
flourished: the concerned members
of the local and regional community.
Second, a revised Board of Re
gents, comprised of both elected and
appointed members equally repre
senting the interest of all seven senior
institutions, would more effectively
accomplish the coordination of our
educational system. Equal standing
on such a board would more appro
priately address the questions raised I
during such debates as the recent |
Kearney State inclusion proposal, as '
well as facilitate the open communi- <
cation necessary if Nebraska is to <
achieve educational unity.
Moreover, budgetary streamlin
ing, avoidance of role and mission
duplication, encouragement of coop
erative academic programs and a
consistent and unified voice to the
governor and Legislature regarding
educational priorities would most
likely occur under such a board.
Finally, a single state-level body
composed of the major decision
makers in the state would aptly serve
to unify the various spheres of educa
tional governance and coordination.
\ far cry from the inherently weak
Nebraska Coordinating Commission
or Postsecondary Education, such a
xxly, by virtue of its membership of
irocess participants rather than ad
visers, would more effectively
ichieve the degree of political coop
tation necessary for meeting cduca
lion ends and means.
Although Phase II of the study,
concerning specific implementation
and devclopmcm plans, is scheduled
lor a November 1990 reporting date,
it is essential that appropriate interest
and concern be demonstrated to our
stale legislators during the upcoming
second session. Educational reform
will be a tedious and lengthy process.
However, procrastination and politi
cal recalcitrance will result only in
perpetuating a system devoid of any
collective vision or program of edu
cation aspirations for our state, to the
detriment of our social, economic,
cultural and political future.
Colin Croft
student lobbyist
Association of Studenis of the Uni
versity of Nebraska
Readers address ‘New Age’ techniques, parking, Apel
Use of New Age
practices harmful
It came as no surprise to read Chris
Carroll’s column (DN, Dec. 5). Many
people across the world are misled by
current practices in our classrooms
relating to the New Age. Not only do
concerned parents call some of these
imagery and relaxation exercises
New Age, but actually people who
are at the head of their promotion
term it as such.
Carroll says that these practices
are harmless and are only helping
kids to think out their problems or
feelings. She also says that the reason
for opposition is because it is new.
Nothing could be further from the
truth.
New Age forms of Eastern Mystic
Religions have been around for cen
turies, and if you would examine
these current practices with an open
mind, you could realize that this is
exactly what these exercises are,
mystic religious practices.
They appear to be the self-help
answer to today’s problems, but in
actuality, they only mislead and
cover up the problem, in turn giving
false images of the self, the key word
being self. This is, in fact, leading to
the demise of our counseling abilities
today.
It is interesting to note that several
Fortune 500 companies send their
executives to these very same types
of imagery and relaxation seminars.
It is not that these exercises are so
good that there is no reason to abstain
from them, but rather, uneducated
people only see the apparent suc
cesses of the programs; they don’t see
the harm.
As far as I’m concerned, teaching
kids about how to deal and succeed in
life is not for the classroom. I agree
that parents need to evaluate what
their kids are learning in school, and
if that means not agreeing with some
activities that are against their beliefs
or better judgment, then they should
have the same rights as anyone else,
and should have a say in their chil
dren’s education process.
This is one person’s concerned
view. Hopefully, more people will
look into the real harm that the New
Age problems present.
Keelan Kaiser
junior
architecture
Student suggests
parking solutions
“I’ve only got five minutes to get
to class. Where am I going to park! ”
This quote seems to sum up the
present parking problem at the Uni
versity of Nebraska-Lincoln. While
the administration is thinking of ways
to alleviate the problem, here are
some workable solutions: Build new
lots and improve old ones; sell only
enough permits to fill a lot; and pro
vide a twin-lot system for people
having to drive between campuses.
The problem with just saying,
“build more lots” is that the state
ment is too general. Let’s think more
specifically. Why not make use of
negative space?
For instance, in the gravel lot that
was just built over by the Cather
Pound residence halls, a large
amount of land on the east side has
been planted with grass and trees. I
will admit that the lot looks much
more attractive to the eye, but that
amount ol land could provide many
parking spaces. Another example of
negative space is the wide corridor
left around parked cars. Simply cut
ting these areas by a few feet would
add more parking stalls.
In addition, many people seem to
think that riding the shuttle buses
alleviates the need for a car. But at
certain times of the day, the shuttle
buses already are overcrowded and
people who have to go to work di
rectly after classes don’t have time to
take the shuttle to their car.
A good way to ease the difficulty
of traveling between campuses is to
have twin-lot parking available. For
instance, when students apply for
parking permits, the university
should have them specify that they
need a stall on both campuses, and
which days they will need them so
that they can assign slots to others on
alternate days.
These are steps that have to be
taken for the parking situation to
improve.
Bryan Hibbs
freshman
agri-business
Apel’s predictions
often fail miserably
Omaha World-Herald sports
writer Mike Kelly must be Jeff Apel’s
idol. Kelly often predicts NU athlet
ics to do poorly in “the big game,”
and A pel must think to be a good
writer, he must do the same. Al
though Apel does do a good job of
criticizing NU sports, he docs not do
a good job at his job ... writing.
I’m sorry Jeff, but you don’t.
Another thing you do extremely
poor is predict outcomes of games,
ratings, matches, etc. It was unbeliev
able that you didn’t think the Corn
husker football team, which has been
in the Top 10 at the end of every
season that 1 can recall, wouldn't
even be rated in the top 20!
And about your volleyball predic
tions for the NCAA tournament, I got
a good laugh. You said North Caro
lina would make it not only to Hawaii
and the Final Four, but to the champi
onship match against who? Arizona!!
Good one, Jeff! Well, N.C. got beat
by volleyball powerhouse Texas
Arlington, and Arizona will be play- i
W' ' JL
ing iheir final match this weekend.
Iowa was another of your “Funny
Final Four,” winning the Midwest
Region (Nebraska’s region). Well,
they tot) got beat in the first round by
Ohio State. Pacific was the last of the
Final Four and they will most likely
lose to No. 1 Hawaii.
I want to wish the Nebraska vol
leyball team the best of luck this
weekend, and in Hawaii in the Final
lour. Go get ‘cm, Huskers, I know
you will. Maybe you can send a post
card or something from Hawaii to
Jeff. Well, maybe not!
Steve Lemon
sophomore
mathematics
; \/
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1989
CITY UNION: CENTENNIAL ROOM
8 P.M.
2.00 STUDENTS W/UNL I.D.
3.00 GENERAL ADMISSION
FUN, PRIZES, AND MORE!!!!!!!
