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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 10, 1990)
Tjj^^ TT ^ ^ WEATHER INDEX . 1% I gT% #*% £"1 I/■ **% ■#•*% £?”“•'•••'•••'• ■* PX/Cl jXVCXXl |«Sag--SrrEi: September 10,1990 University of Nebraska-Lincoln Vol. 90 No. 10 Massengale: Lid would ravage NU services, programs By Ryan Steeves Staff Reporter A proposed 2 percent lid on in creases in government spend ing would ravage the Univer sity of Nebraska, sharply curtailing services and programs, the top NU administrator said. Martin Massengale, NU interim president and UNL chancellor, told the NU Board of Regents Friday that the effects of the lid would be “immediately and cumulatively se vere.” The regents reacted quickly to Massengale’s comments, resolving to oppose the lid as “a misguided take over of the role of a constitutional body.” The lid places an “arbitrary and inflexible limitation on university operations” and was “poorly con ceived and severely damaging,’ ’ said the resolution, proposed by Regent Kermit Hansen of Elkhom. The lid, contained in a constitu tional initiative Nebraskans will vote on Nov. 6, appears to be retroactive, meaning NL,fs current working budget would be affected, Massengaie said. The retroactive aspects of the pro posal “could lead to dissolution of academic, research and service pro grams and personnel at a disastrous level,” the regents’ resolution stated. Massengale, who repeatedly has attacked the proposed constitutional amendment, said the plan could force NU to make a $24 million mid-year cut in state aid, about 9 percent of this fiscal year’s allocation to NU. Because NU’s fiscal year begins in July, half of its budget would be spent by the time the initiative would be implemented in January. As a result, NU would have to cut about 18 percent from its remaining budget, Massengale said. With inflation at 5 percent, a 2 percent limit on spending increases would make yearly cuts in excess of 3 percent “quite possible,” he said. Massengale admitted he could not predict exactcosts to the university or where cuts could be made. The initia tive is too vague, leaving university officials unsure about what revenue sources would be restrained by the initiative’s limits. Despite the uncertainty, Massen gale said the plan could have the following effects on the university: • If all revenue sources fall under the constitutional amendment, budget cuts on the four campuses could reach $65 million the first year. • UNL could not maintain build ings or equipment adequately. • The University of Nebraska at Omaha probably would cut its tuition assistance program. Massengale said this would hurt minority students most. • The University of Nebraska Medical Center might have to reduce its patient care services by 20 per cent, meaning physicians would have to see fewer patients. In an interview, NU administrator Lee Rupp said the lid would scare away faculty. Rupp, vice president for univer sity relations, also said the lid would undermine the university’s recent efforts to raise faculty salaries. “How are you going to compete in a national marketplace (for faculty) when you have this kind of proposal hunkering down on you?” Rupp asked. Maalox moment... sh*un s*rt,n,°*1"' N*br"k‘" Clark Ebke (left) tied for first place by eating 14 jalepeno peppers in three minutes Saturday night at the Chilifest ’90 Jalapeno Pepper Eating Contest. Cheering Ebke and other contestants on is Bobbi Polk (back right), also of Lincoln, and Susan McIntosh Kriz (back left). Gosch: Regents need stand on divestment By Victoria Ayotte Senior Editor The NU Board of Regents ‘ ‘needs to take a stand” to urge the NU Foundation to divest of its investments in South Africa, UNL’s student regent said. **... And I think they know that.” Phil Gosch said. But Gosch said he didn’t mind that the regents Friday tabled his resolution that they urge the NU Foundation to divest of its South Africa investments. Gosch said he had indications the resolution would be passed at the board’s October meeting, but he did not say what they were. The delayed consideration of the resolution just gives the regents the time they need to formulate their position on the is sue, he said. “I didn’t feel that putting the board on the spot today would have gotten the result we wanted,” Gosch said. “I think this is a situation that can be resolved - with the resolution being divestment.” The board had Gosch, who also is president of the Association of Stu dents of the University of Nebraska, read the resolution before tabling it. The resolution stales that the re gents, in light of the public policy which sets standards for state agen cies to invest in South Africa, request that the NU Foundation ‘‘strengthen See DIVEST on 3 ---. Addition to UNL Bookstore planned By Rom Riccotti Staff Raportar If you’re feeling a bit crammed in Utc University Bookstore, you’re not alone. Space is in scarce supply. Tnat’s why an addition is pro posed for the west side of the Nebraska Union to increase book store, recreation and meeting room space. Daryl Swanson, director of the Nebraska unions, said the expan sion was planned as Phase II of union renovation when the book store was designed five years ago. Phase II of the plan has been **on the back burner for a white,” he said. Phase II was postponed because of a budget crunch several years ago, Swanson said, when the NU Board of Regents put a morato rium on new construction for the university. This was lifted a couple of years ago, he said. Phase I of the plan involved taking the bowling alley, pool table, game room and lounge area out of the basement and replacing them with rhe bookstore. ”We gave up a significant amount of space tn order to build the bookstore,” Swanson said “But we intended to add more space with Phase II of the plan.” The size of die expansion is unknown, Swanson said. He said he envisions an extension of about 40 feet from the west wall which would shorten the walkway be tween the union and the Admini stration Building. The extension would be three stories, giving additional space to three floors in the union. The addi tion to the basement would be used to expand the bookstore. The first floor would be used to create a better lounge that could include a pool table said game room. The second floor would be used for more meeting rooms. In addition to adding space, the expansion of the union could cre ate a new entry at the northwest corner. The new entry would make the union and the bookstore more accessible to pedestrians coming from the walkway near Love Li brary. The entry also would be used by the handicapped because the present ramp entrance is awk ward, Swanson said. Ray Coffey, UNL business manager, said he would like to see the entrance to the bookstore im proved -with this expansion. The bookstore does not need an increase in space as much as it needs a more! effective and less restricted entrance, he said. Rickard Lewis, operations manager for the University Book - store, said he would like to see a new west entrance in the form of a glassed-in atrium. Coffey said the bookstore could use additional space, especially during rush periods such as the beginning of the semester The bookstore recently rented a tent for checking bookbags because it larked space. Coffey said any space added to the bookstore could be used for storage and additional office space. Swanson said he did not know when Phase II would begin, but it was included on the Nebraska Unions' Strategic Plan, so it should be completed within the decade. It is too early to determine what the cost of implementing Phase II would be, Swanson said. And making the addition both functional and aesthetically pleasing is still a problem, he said. The bookstore will pay the uni versity for its portion of the expan sion and the university will pay the rest of the cost with reserve funds, Swanson said. James Griesen, vice chancellor for student affairs. University Bookstore officials and the Union Board will discuss Phase II plans, Swanson said. The plans then will go to the Central Planning Com mission and before the Board of Regents for approval. Regents approve request for budget to increase NU spending, salaries By Pat Dinslage Staff Reporter The NU Board of Regents ap proved an operating budget request Friday which would increase expenditures 8.6 percent in 1991-92 and 8.7 percent in 1992-93. The budget of $893.1 million for 1991-92 and $971 million for 1992 93 for the four-campus NU system must be submitted to Gov. Kay Orrby Saturday and will be examined by the Nebraska Legislature in making stale aid decisions. In recommending the budget to the board, Lee Jones, NU executive vice president and provost, said a 5 percent tuition increase was antici pated each year in figuring the budget. The budget requires a 12.3 percent increase in state funds allocated to the university, Jones said. Funds from federal agencies given to the univer sity are anticipated to increase each year by about 6.5 percent, from the current $78.1 million to $88.6 mil lion by 1992-93. Under the budget, faculty salaries would increase 10 percent and staff salaries 11 percent, he said. The larg est portion of the payroll and benefits increase would be in health insur ance, which is budgeted to increase by 18 percent in each of the two years. The salary increase request con tinues the policy begun three years ago to bring NU salaries in line with similar institutions. Regent John Payne of Kearney said the university was "still trying to catch up to what happened to us be tween 1981 and 1985,” when faculty salaries fell behind during Nebraska's agricultural decline of the 1980s. Jones said utilities purchased by the university were anticipated to cost 11.3 percent more next year and 15 percent more in 19*12-93. The board is requesting financing for continuing budget items only. Budget requests for program improve ments are deferred fui three months, Jones said, "in light of Kearney State College coming into the NU system. ’ * Capital construction priorities to taling $86.2 million for 13 priority projects also were approved by the board. The priorities list recently had been nairowed from 20 to 14 projects. Robert Pazderka, NU assistant vice presi dent for administration and facilities See BOARD on 3