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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 11, 1993)
*4. Snow, budget cuts leaving some sidewalks treacherous By Michelle Leary Senior Reporter Cniversity of Ncbraska-Lincoln students may find themselves trudging through almost a foot of snow to attend classes because of recent storms and budget cuts. The winter weather, which includes a chance of more snow today, has packed the campus sidewalks with cold, white powder. However, the recent budget cuts have elimi nated sidewalk snow removal in certain areas, said Wilbur Dasenbrock, director of the UNL’s Landscape Services. Dasenbrock identified the uncleared side walks as “ones people could most easily do without. “People can still get everywhere,” he said, “but it may not be as convenient.” Although there is no specific snow removal budget, Dasenbrock said, the department usu ally spends between $50,000 to $150,(XX) a year. But because of recent budget cuts, land scaping services has had to cut back on snow removal spending this year by $11,500. However, Dasenbrock said, if more money is needed for snow removal, reductions in other landscaping activities will be made. Already, the service has decreased the number of flower beds and trees on campus. “Many people expect us to be a 24-hour service, but there’s no way we could handle that. “Although we try to remove snow during the off hours,” Dasenbrock said, “our primary goal is to get both campuses cleared so that classes can open.” Some areas where snow remains include the east and west sidewalks of the north addition of Love Library, the ^Memorial Mall angle path, minor entrances to buildings and the brick and gravel paths on East Campus. Many of these areas have been earmarked with yellow signs that read “WARNING! No snow or ice maintenance of this sidewalk.” The landscape services deparunent has been working since Saturday morning to clear side walks and parking lots. “We usually have 60 to 80 people scooping snow from both campuses depending on how many students are in town to help out,” Dasenbrock said. The department has about 40 permanent employees and hires about 35 to 40 students as temporary workers for the year. ‘‘We’ll be back early Monday morning to clear away the four inches that fell after we started on Saturday . . . and to get ready for Monday’s snow,” Dasenbrock said. Today’s forecast shows considerable cloudi ness, brisk winds and a chance of snow possibly mixing with freezing rain. The temperature will not be as cold with highs in the mid-20’s. Search to begin for new NU president Massengale announces he doesn’t want contract extension in 1994 By Jeff Zeleny Senior Reporter After 17 years at the University of Nebraska, Marlin , Masscngalc announced Friday that this year will be his last. The NU president’s contract ex pires Jan. 1, 1994, and he said he would not seek an extension. “Every institution needs to take a fresh look at itself periodically,” he said during a Friday press conference. “The decision I am announcing now will assist in that effort.” Masscngalc, 59, refused to elabo rate on his decision, saying that it was based on personal and professional reasons. “With regard to the future, 1 am fortunate to be in good health,” he said. “I plan to continue to make contributions in areas where my ex perience can be of greatest benefit.” The announcement came after a week of speculation about Masscngalc’s contract. He was evalu ated last April, but regents declined to release the results. His next evalua tion was expected to take place this spring, but now it’s a moot point. Regent Nancy O’Brien of Waterloo said. “I have declined to comment on whether I would have supported a contract decision,” she said. “He is entitled to a private evaluation.” The search for a new president will begin soon, according to regents, and will focus on national candidates. “It’s very unusual to find someone from your own staff,” O’Brien said. “The president of the University of Nebraska is a prestigious job; (it’s) better to promote someone from out side under the circumstances.” Regent Robert Allen of Hastings agreed. “Without an internal candidate it will help attract a top candidate,” he said. “TTic inside candidate hurt.” Massengalc was appointed to the presidency Jan. 1, 1991, by a 5-3 regent vote after all four search com mittee-appointed finalists withdrew from the race upon learning Massengalc, who was acting as in terim president, was interviewed for the job. Some regents said Massengalc didn’t have full board support, which made his term as president difficult. “If you don’t have total support, you are at a disadvantage,” Allen said. “He’s done the best he could, he’s worked hard.” Allen voted against Masscngale’s initial appointment and was a critic of Massengalc’s work the past 4 1/2 years. __ See MASSENGALE on 7 . Kiley Timperley/DN NU President Martin Massenaale announces at a press conference on Friday that he will not seek to renew his contract. Massengale’s term ends Jan. 1,1994. Bill would require state approval over university land acquisitions Plans for park sparked LB27, lawmaker says By Jeff Zeleny Senior Reporter A bill introduced in the Ne braska Legislature was de: signed to give lawmakers more control over the university, said Andrew Sigerson, president of the Association of Students of the University of Nebraska. LB27 would require legisla tive consent for the acquisition of property by the university. The bill, spon sored by Sen. Ron Withem of Papillion and Omaha Sens. Dan Lynch and John Lindsay, was introduced after the ' senators learned about the construe - lion of a park near the Lied Center for Performing Arts. “I don’t care about (the park),” Withem said. ‘‘If taxpayer money is being used, it just needs to be done up-front.” Lynch, a member of the appro priations committee, learned about the park ground purchase through his work on the building mainte nance program. “If the university is going to have a multi-million dollar capital construction, we ought to know See LEGISLATURE on 7 McElroys trial postponed; evaluation planned f From Staff Reports The preliminary trial date for a University of Nebraska-Lincoln stu dent has been postponed pending an evaluation at the Lincoln Regional Center. Court-appointed attorney Scott Helvie said Arthur McElroy, 43, was ordered by the court to receive the evaluation. McElroy was expected to be tried today for attempted second-degree murder, making terroristic threats and two counts of use of a weapon to commit a felony. The charges stem from an Oct. 12 incident that look place in Ferguson Hall, when Mcbiroy allegedly tried to fire a loaded, semi-automatic rifle at students in his actuarial science class. No one was injured in the incident. McElroy’s .30-calibcr, M-l carbine gun jammed. Hel vie said he did notcxpcct to see the case tried until late spring or early summer. University officials say prayer debate not over By Chuck Green Senior Reporter_ □ decision by University of Ne braska at Kearney administra tors to reinstate prayer at their school’s graduation ceremonies has some UNL officials hoping for a simi lar change closer to home. William Nester, chancellor at UNK, said the traditional invocation and benediction had been eliminated at his school’s summer graduation ceremonies, but were relumed to the winter commencement. He said the removal of the prayers created a stir at UNK only after the issue became controversial at UNL last December. The UNL Commencement Com mittee voted on Dec. 3 to eliminate theprayers from UNL’s winter gradu ation ceremony. A week later, NU regents voted unanimously to ask UNL and UNK officials to return prayer to the commencement program. Nester said the UNK Administra tiveCouncil had voted against includ ing prayer in its winter graduation ceremony, but reconsidered after the appeal by the NU Board of Regents. The decision was made, Ncster said, based on the recommendation from the NU Board of Regents. He said further discussion would have to take place before a decision is made - 44 If there are people who have a problem with prayers at graduation, we surely will hear from them. _ A/pctar UNK Chancellor - ft " on whether the prayers will be a pan of UNK’s spring graduation. Nester said he received a few let ters of praise after the prayer was reinstiluted, and no complaints. The appeal to the UNL Commence ment Committee was sponsored by Andrew Sigerson, UNL student re gent and ASUN president, along with •» See PRAYER on 6
