The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, August 23, 1994, Page 4, Image 4
Opinion Tuesday, August 23, 1994 Page 4 Nebraskan , Editorial Board University of Nebraska-Lincoln .Editor. 472-1766 .Opinion Page Editor . .. .. „... Managing Editor .Associate News Editor .Columnist/Associate News Editor .Photography Director .Copy Desk Chief .Cartoonist EDI I'OKI \l Hostile takeover Student government should forget UPC The Association of Students of the University of Nebraska could find itself in an awkward position starting out the new academic year. At worst, it could be seated in a federal courtroom, courtesy of its student constituents. This worst-case scenario, though unlikely, should be regarded by ASUN as a serious commentary on its attempt to take over the JeffZeleny.... Kara Morrison. Angie Brunkow. Jeffrey Robb .. . Rainbow Rowell Kiley Christian. Mike Lewis.... James Mehsling university rrogram Council, a student organization. The takeover attempt came after ASUN voted during dead week last May to give itself the power to select UPC executive board members and event directors. To justify this action, they cited a NU Board of Regents’ bylaw that said ASUN may not distribute student fees to “groups or organizations that are not established by and under the direct control of student government.” The Nebraska Civil Liberties Union has agreed to back UPC members in their refusal to be taken over by the student govern ment. David Bolkovac, financial manager of the University Program Council, said the NCLU promised to file a suit in federal court if the matter was not handled internally. The battle has now been taken to the university’s student court. ASUN Speaker David Milligan has asked court members, who arc appointed by the ASUN president and approved by senators, to hear the case. Though the dispute probably will not hit the U.S. Supreme Court’s priority list, NCLU’s involvement finally should make ASUN review its action. The notion that ASUN can dictate the makeup of recognized, independent student organizations is ludicrous. That the action can be accomplished by a simple vote, even more so. Legalities aside, the Association of Students of the University of Nebraska’s biggest blunder was its outright refusal to represent student interests. ASUN has started out the year alienating a portion of its student body, a result that will be felt to the detriment of all students. The student government ought to abandon the plan and concen trate on more important goals. I M I < »l<I M IN )l K \ Staff editorials represent the official policy of the Fall 1994 Daily Nebraskan. Policy is set by the Daily Nebraskan Editorial Board. Editorials do not necessarily reflect the views of the university, its employees, the students Or the NU Board of Regents Editorial columns represent the opinion of the author. The regents publish the Daily Nebraskan. They establish the UNL Publications Board to supervise the daily production ofthe paper. According to policy set by the regents, responsibility for the editorial content ofthe newspaper lies solely in the hands of its students. I I I I I K IN)I |< \ The Daily Nebraskan welcomes brief letters to the editor from all readers and interested others. Letters will be selected for publication on the basis of clarity, originality, timeliness und space available. The Daily Nebraskan retains the right to edit or reject all material submitted. Readers also are welcome to submit material as guest opinions. The editor decides whether material should run as a guest opinion. Letters and guest opinions sent to the newspaper become the property ofthe Daily Nebraskan and cannot be returned Anonymous submissions will not he published. Letters should included the author's name, year in school, major and group affiliation, tl any. Requests to withhold names will not be granted. Submit material to the Daily Nebraskan, .14 Nebraska Union, 1400 R St., Lincoln, Neb 68588-0448 Mb ... UovlEV&R. TWS *Aosr YooR K^Z-OCKY tskN. J I * Ml Wl l l ( KI K New plot breaks parking vow Upon returning from my summer vacation to the hallways of Delta Upsilon Fraternity, I saw something unusual: a sign. Its design was not unusual — it was a typical Area 10 restricted parking sign, signifying the sacred allotment of faculty parking stalls — but its location was. The sign was not planted in the newly “greened” plot north of the Nebraska Union but in the back row of the Delta Upsilon parking lot. Unbeknownst to the DU undergrads, the administration of our lovely institution used summer vacation as an opportunity to acquire 30 new faculty spots, which comprise the back rows of the DU and Sigma Chi parking lots. Without blinking an eye, the university implemented Operation Manifest Destiny and booted 15 DUs into the chancy wilderness of remote lot parking. What’s the root of this travesty, you ask? Nothing more than our esteemed Chancellor Grammy Spammy’s pet project — green space. But before you mistake me for an Alpha Phi whining about parking garages, let me give you a brief history lesson. Years ago, the DU back row was not a back row but an alley owned by the city and a strip of land connected to a university recreational field. Through years of diligence on the part of DU alumni, the city gave up its alley to the university, and our back lot was created. Yet again, the strength of hardworking private citizens overcame the gross incom petence of bloated bureaucracy, and the university gained a paved lot. Let there be no mistake about it; the newly established Area 10 lot behind our house would still be a city-owned alley, and the faculty who now park there would be carpooling with Spammy. Year after year we have leased the land from the university, so men in the house could park close to campus. That was, of course, before Grammy Spam drove into town. Without blinking an eye, the university implemented Operation Manifest Destiny and booted 15 DUs into the chancy wilderness of remote lot parking. Now it appears the university turned its back on our gentlemen’s agreement and made new use of the land. A letter sent to our alumni from the desk of Paul Carlson, associate vice chancellor for business and finance, informed us that not only would the lot rent increase (as it has for everyone on campus) but that we would lose 15 spaces to faculty and stall whose stalls are now under a layer of sod. Well, thank you Chancellor Spam. Arc you going to get together with Ecology Now and find spots for 15 DUs to park? I doubt it. So much for the pledge that the green space would not displace student parking “whatsoever.” It seems odd that we heard no talk of land thievery during the green space debate. Evidently Operation Manifest Destiny was only discussed behind closed doors. Not that it would have mattered. Despite strong student objection to the green space, Grammy-gram Spam-a-jam continued with his estimated $300,000-plus project. Money that could have seen better use subsidizing increases in either tuition, parking, football tickets or basketball tickets was instead used to make DU asphalt a rare commodity. The decision to commandeer our lot was short-sighted. It was the sort of planning that is becoming indicative of the liberal stock the university has been hiring. What’s Gram-I-am going to say when donations to the university from fraternity alumni stop coming? If the institution can’t be trusted to spend the money wisely, donors would be prudent to put their funds directly into the fraternity, where they know it will be used to stu dents’ benefit. Even if the move doesn’t have a financial impact on the university, it raises the recurring question of the administration’s priorities on student issues. Quality education, tuition, parking and football ticketprices — these are the things that affect students on a regular basis, things that administration continues to ignore. The emotional well-being of homosexuals, more grass to look at, ugly sculptures to wretch at and recycling bins in every hallway are prime examples of the administra tion making petty “improvements” in unnecessary areas while ignoring issues like top-heavy administration, incompetent professors with tenure, parking and runaway spending in areas of students’ social welfare. It seems our stalls arc gone for good, but 1 won’t get overly con cerned. Grammy Spammy said everyone would have a place to park, and we’ll just have to hold him to his word. When one of those 15 fine fellows drives around campus looking for a spot for his car, I hope he remembers where his parking stall went. Grass or no grass, there’s a place just north of the union begging to feel the weight of his tires. Tucker U a senior biology major ud • Doily Nebraskan columnist. The Daily Nebraskan wants to hear from you. If you want to voice your opinion about an article that appears in the newspaper, let us know. Just write a brief letter to the editor and sign it (don’t forget your student ID number) and mail it to the Daily Nebras kan, 34 Nebraska Union, 1400 R Street, Lincoln, NE 68588-0448, or stop by the office in the basement of the Nebraska Union and visit with us. We’re all ears.