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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 22, 1990)
I » I r\ * | ES&S9HHHMHBBB9Hin Sh' _ _ 9 M ■ I m. / _ |Cow3lon?lnasto^about^m!^skerq!3rterbackRobert{Mlck®y)Jo8eph(DN,Jan. rtsgSsI 18), an attorney was misidentified. Norman Langemach with the city attorney’s office V ^B ■ -SL JL. W ^^B presented evidence to the court. The Daily Nebraskan regrets this error. rv i m******* i ~~ ******** wea™er: ^E%.2 jf gm U WMF BB mgr"* W B JB 1 B| mm B Monday, mostly sunny, high 35-40, west wind 5- Editors1 4 BSk H MxmmJmm H gK |Sf Mfe&a-- —Jill mi EH 10 miles per hour becoming southwest at 5 15 ~ r,_ HR 9p jar IK jjpy |8§ dtr Hi §9 tt miles per hour Monday night, low 20 25 Tues 'p " q I JL_ b w Ks JL CluIVCll L h-*-*"*™ I J January 22, 1990 University of Nebraska-Lincoln Vol. 89 No. QfcX'S I Coordinating duties not enough Blank: New regents should have budget power By Victoria Ayotte Senior Reporter NU Board of Regents Chairman Don Blank of McCook said “a lot of red flags are going up,” over the proposed restructuring of Nebraska higher education. Although the intent of the bill is good, it misses its aim because of a lack of authority empowered to the proposed Board of Regents for Ne braska Higher Education, Blank said. The constitutional amendment proposed by state legislators would eliminate the present higher educa tion governing system. A board of trustees would be cre ated for each of the three universities and four stale colleges. A Board of Regents for Nebraska Higher Educa tion would coordinate higher educa tion statewide. The regents would have the au thority to coordinate the campus budgets and submit them to the Leg islature, but the Legislature would allocate state funds directly to each campus. The main strength of the bill, Blank said, is its “attempt to put coordina tion into all segments of higher edu cation. The general direction it’s aiming is good.’’ But its main weakness, Blank said, is the proposed board of regents would be an advisory board with “no real control.” “It’s not going to be an effective means of coordination,” Blank said. Another problem, he said, is that many of the positions on the new boards would be appointed. Nebras kans want more electoral positions, Blank said. “There’s just somewhat of a lack of accountability,’’ Blank said about the appointed positions. A big problem, he said, is that the Legislature is trying to restructure without deciding the role and mis sions of each campus. This is a “cart before the horse’’ situation, he said. The Legislature has not yet de cided if the University of Ncbraska Lincoln still would be the flagship campus or if Kearney Stale College would have a statewide mission, he said. “You really don’t know whether the governance system set up would be the right thing to do.” Blank said he is concerned about the number of proposed boards. Each board would be “fighting for their own turf.” And the budget provisions of the bill would complicate this factor, he said. The proposed board of regents 4 ‘aren ’t going to be able to coordinate very well” if they do not have power over the budget. Blank said the Legislature should allocate a lump sum to the proposed board of regents which would divide the money among the campuses. However, Sen. Jerome Warner of Waverly said proposals would not change the budget system. The Leg islature allocates funds directly to each campus now, he said. Blank said that although the sys tem would be the same, he wants the budget process changed during the restructuring The Legislature appropriating di rectly to each campus “is one of the frustrations right now” for the re gents, he said. Blank said he also is concerned that campuses such as UNL and Peru State would be on the same level under the proposal. The result of this could be a loss of funds by the university in favor of smaller colleges, Blank said. Blank said another problem is that much of the change not specified in the constitutional amendment, such as roles and missions, would be de cided legislatively and could be changed at any time by the Legisla ture. I Court to rule if senator can teach at Wayne By Jennifer Johnson Statt Reporter The Nebraska Supreme Court will decide whether state Sen. Jerry Conway of Wayne violates the constitutional sepa ration of powers by teaching at Wayne State College while serving as senator. A lawsuit filed by Nebraska Attorney Gen eral Robert Spire states that Conway violates the Nebraska Constitution because he func tions under both the legislative and executive branches of the government at the same time. It also is unconstitutional to receive a salary from two branches at once. Spire said, but the main issue is not the money. “Fundamentally,” Spire said, “an individ ual cannot serve two masters at once.” Conway said he doesn’t think he is in viola tion of the doctrine because he has no decision making powers at Wayne State. “I have no control over other employees, and I don’t make any budget decisions,’ ’ Con way said. Spire’s case is based on a similar case in Utah, Conway said. But because of different language in the Utah and Nebraska constitu tions, he said, there is a flaw in Spire’s case. Convay said Utah’s constitution reads dif ferently from Nebraska’s in that it states “no person shall function on two branches of the government simultaneously,” while Nebraska’s constitution reads “no person shall exercise the powers of two branches of government simultaneously." Spire said that while Conway personally may not be setting policy at the college, the function of the college is teaching and there fore Conway is carrying out the powers of the executive branch. Another senator interested in the Supreme Court’s decision is state Sen. Dave Landis of Lincoln. Landis teaches at Doane College in Crete and College of Saint Mary in Omaha and sometimes teaches at the University of Ne braska at Omaha for no pay. * “I will be fascinated to see the passage ol See CONFLICT on 3 _1 -- ■ “ Melissa McReynolds/Oaily Nebraskan Area skiers enjoy weekend snow at Trailridge Ski Area northeast of Lincoln. Nebraska’s only downhill ski slope entertained about 600 people Saturday. Updated information services proposed By Courtney But he ms Start Reporter A growing need for more efficient student information services at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has prompted a plan for a new student information system. Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs James Griesen said, “The kinds of hassles students must go through now could change greatly with the new system.” Griesen said the prospective system would offer students touch-tone telephone registra tion and drop/add services, automated checks to identify the courses needed to complete a degree and better advising through easy access to student records. Still in its early stages of development, analysis of the new system for UNL began in December. If the project is approved by the Nebraska Legislature, Griesen estimates its introduction no sooner than fall, 1992. An appointed review board is working on a proposal to finance the new system, Griesen said. He said he hopes money for the system will be a priority in the Legislature for the 1991-93 budget. “The new program is a fundamental aspect of our whole university and needs legislative backing,” Griesen said. “Every year that we limp along, the need gets greater to make the change.” Griesen stressed that the current student information system is more than 20 years old, See INFORMATION on~5 I Committee sets new goals; lights and survey top list By Jennifer Dods Staff Report*_ The UNL Parking Advisory Committee's goals for this semester include installing lights for a commuter parking lot and conducting a student survey, a UNL parking administrator said. Lt John Burke of the campus police department said the lighting project, tne survey and other issues will be discussed at the Parking Advisory Committee meeting 2:30 p.m. today in the Nebraska Union. Burke said parking officials gave SeeSSKonl - L.‘..^rn.n..n^ UHC patients must cancel or pay fee By Matt Herek Staff Reporter A high number of missed ap pointments at the University Health Center has prompted officials this semester to charge pa tients who fail to cancel their appoint ments. Patients who do not cancel their appointments two hours in advance will be charged $5 for physician appointments and S2.50 for nurse appointments said Linda Rizijs, UHC nursing director. ‘‘I think the charges will cut down on no-shows completely,” she said. On an average day, she said, there are 12 no-shows, which equals a half day of work for one physician. Dur ing the last couple of years there have been 250 to 300 missed appointments a month. Rizijs said the missed appointments cost the health center $100 a day and about $2000 a month. “The purpose of the fees is not to charge $5 or $2.50. The purpose is to get students into health center,” she said. The new policy will allow health center officials to schedule new ap pointments during the lime slots for the canceled ones. See HEALTH^ on 3