Opinion ZM/vNebraskan Since 1901 Editor Sarah Baker Opinion Page Editor Jake Giazeski Managing Editor Bradtey Davis Filling in Fuerst should follow path of previous president It’s not very often that the little man wins big. But Joel Schafer lias proven himself to be die exception during his stint as president in the ASUN office. No one expected Schafer’s party, the A-Team, to go anywhere in the2000election. Then, some how, it made itinto die runoff election. And then, somehow, it won. We remember his party’s now infamous and funny Daily Nebraskan advertisements, its sometimes unorganized campaign efforts and its platform, one that Schafer said would repre sent “normal students” on campus. We remember the drama surrounding the runoff ana his comment the night he finally won the election: “This is the greatest thing that’s ever happened to me.” Wete glad he’s taken advantage of the oppor tunity Even though not all of the A-Team’s campaign promises came true, it’s undeniable that Schafer’s tenure has deviated from the norm, and to us, that’s the most important improve ment It was hard to catch Schafer sitting in his office on any given day. He was simply never there. If he was by some off chance there, he was busy talking to senators, students, professors, even people just wandering through die union. His presidency marked the first time any ASUN President walked into the Daily Nebraskan offices unsolicited on a regular basis. Schafer may have been there to talk of busi ness, or about an upcoming event Sometimes he was there for an interview, but often, it was just for achat or one ofhis popular smoke breaks. We suspect the Daily Nebraskan wasn’t the only place Schafer made regular appearances. He’s probably been the most successful liaison between ASUN and student groups in a long time-at least in the five years some members of this board have been UNL students. His personality and openness created a trust between ASUN and student groups on campus. And even though from the very start some doubted his abilities, he's been successful at rep resenting “normal students” in the eyes of most “normal students,” an admirable feat So, as the final 24 hours of Schafer’s reign come to an end, we look toward die new admin istration, and we offer some advice: don’t wait Our newly elected president, Nathan Fuerst, should not stall until the fall to begin working hard. He should start immediately. Fuerst shouldn’t waste time reapproving all the bills that end with Schafer’s departure. Instead, ASUN should consider allowing all those bills it still approves of to roll over into the new administration rather than to start all over again. Fuerst and company can veto the ones they don’t like. There are bigger fish for ASUN to fry, and it makes no sense for all that time to be wasted in repetition. The new administration should also work hard to maintain the connections that Schafer worked diligently to build with the aforemen tioned “normal student” Schafer has established camaraderie with stu dents all over campus, and if those connections . come to a screeching halt it’s going to be mighty difficult to gain them back. For the first time in many years, this board actually feels represented by its leaders in the ASUN office. The former “little man,” Joel Schafer, certainly has left some big shoes to fill. Ecfitoriai Board Sarah Baker, Jeff Bloom, Bradley Davis, Jake Giazeski, Matthew Hansen, Samuel McKewon, Kimberly Sweet Letter* FoScy The Daly Ntoaraelian—comae brief laltsra to—sdMoi and gueirt columns, but does not guaran tee—ir pub—The Daly Ntosatoan seta—dittoed! or reject any material aubm—d. Subm—d malarial beoomae property of—Daly Nabraakan and cent be retimed. Anonymous subn—a aril not bapubB—d. Those who aubmtMIsre must Identify—meshes by name, year to school major andfar group to—bon, V any SubmK metarito to: Daly Nebraskan. 20 Nebraska Union, 1400 R St Ltoooln,NE 68688-0448 ■__ UnaignededMorialeam—options of—Spring 2001 Daly Nabraakan. They do not neceaearty reflect—tosws of—Unkreraity of Nebraska Lincoln. its empioysee, to student body or the Unkamfty of Nrtsaaka Board of Regents. A oohmt is aaWy—optoion of its author a cartoon is aufsty -opinion of Ms artist The Boanl of Regents acts as publaher of—Daly Nebraskan; pol cyiaeetby-Daly Nebraskan EdMorlal Board. The UNLPtftocabons Board, established by the nganlea^ianrieaa-producflon of—papecAcoordtog to polcy eat by—regents, reaponai btoytor—adinrito mntsnt of—nets—r—solely to—hands of Is ampkiyaee | Severn- UNl tout offices fi&asrct \mev fir -m mriN&r $ourkrrcH£h/... \ r js i y 1LI_3e_LI NeaiObenrayerAN If v '. ;.t':‘" "r'/:V . "■■. .•’ ■" ■' "••’ fpfc