February 8

Page 1

dn 5 10 the

Second glimpse

Bouncing back

Night 2 of Lincoln Exposed kicks off at Zoo Bar, Duffy’s

After loss, NU hopes to score more against Wildcats

dailynebraskan.com

friday, february 7, 2014 volume 114, issue 091

Administrator lays out 4 sources of 2014 budget deficit Kelli Rollin DN University of Nebraska–Lincoln administrators haven’t decided exactly how to eliminate the $4.65 million deficit for the 2014 fiscal year, but they’re certain what caused the shortfall to grow so large. The current shortfall is well above last year’s shortfall of $2 million but still less than the 2011 and 2012 fiscal year shortfalls, which were $5.1 million and $4.9 million respectively. UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman said he hopes to have the shortfall dealt with by April through budget cuts. In his message to the university community last week, he said the institution is well-positioned for the future and the deficit shouldn’t be viewed as an anchor to the progress that’s been made at UNL. “We hope to get it cleaned up and move forward from there,” Perlman wrote. Christine Jackson, vice chancellor for business and finance, ex-

plained on Thursday that the deficit comes from four sources. First, the University of Nebraska system distributes its $1.8 million budget deficit among its four campuses. As the largest school in the system, UNL got the lion’s share of $800,000. Second is the $570,000 cost to operate new buildings in the 2014 fiscal year, which primarily includes the Morrison Center. The Morrison Center on East Campus is the Nebraska Center for Virology where research is conducted on diseases and viruses. The third part of the shortfall comes from UNL’s $2 million shortfall that was carried over from past years as a result of decreased tuition revenue. It’s only the last $1 million of the shortfall that has anything to do with this year’s enrollment. Although enrollment increased slightly in the fall with a larger freshman class, Perlman said spring enrollment was relatively

THE BUDGET DEFICIT: A CLOSER LOOK FISCAL YEAR

2010

2011

2012

2013

1

$2

million

2 3 4

2014

$3.7 million

5 BUDGET SHORTFALL (IN MILLIONS)

$4.9 $5.1

$4.7

million

million

million

sean flattery | dn

deficit: see page 2

lincoln exposed: Round

Two

Lincoln Exposed kept the party going Thursday night, drawing large crowds at Duffy’s and the Zoo Bar, with acts like Powers, Pat Bradley and Josh Hoyer and the Shadowboxers, getting concert-goers on their feet.

photos by Amber Baesler

ABOVE: Members of The Wondermonds perform at Duffy’s on Thursday night as part of day two of Lincoln Exposed. The Wondermonds cover popular funk music. RIGHT: Ted Alesio performs with Weldon Keys at Duffy’s Thursday night. Lincoln Exposed will run through Saturday night at various locations in downtown Lincoln.

for more lincoln exposed coverage, see page 5

NU president bill sparks heated debate For more than 2 hours, Nebraskans testify on legislation to conceal applicant identities Colleen Fell DN Debate ran for two and a half hours at a legislative hearing Thursday for a bill that would shield from the public the identities of all University of Nebraska presidential applicants, save for the lone finalist. About 10 people testified at the Committee for Government, Military and Veteran Affairs hearing for LB1018, introduced by Kearney Sen. Galen Hadley in late January. The committee heard from several proponents for the bill, including members of the NU Board of Regents and University

search because of the risk of losof Nebraska administration. They ing their current jobs. argued that by making the proHadley testified for the bill cess confidential, the university and said that while the current would be able to attract a larger pool of more qualified applicants. process of searching for the university president has Opponents of the worked in the past, it’s bill included mostly no longer appropriate people working in for current times. An journalism and media. agreement reached by They made the arguthe Nebraska Legislament that the secretive ture in 2007 stated that process contradicts the university would Nebraska’s tradition have to release the of transparent goveridentities of the top nance. Current pracfour candidates. tice calls for disclosure “The job of the of the four finalists. presidents is changLincoln Regent clare ing,” Hadley said. Tim Clare spoke on “Now we expect them behalf of the NU Board to interact with adof Regents, saying the board unanimously supports the ministrators, governors, other members of government, big dobill. nors to the university.” “We owe this to all NebrasThe senator said that if a kans,” he said. choice for the university presiClare said the board is interdent doesn’t have the necessary ested in attracting applicants who qualifications, it “could put a chill are currently sitting presidents or on donations.” chancellors from other universiSen. Bill Avery, chairman of ties. He said sitting presidents won’t apply to a non-confidential the committee, said he wanted

to know how past searches have been flawed as they have resulted in outstanding leadership. “J.B. Milliken has been one of the best presidents,” Avery said. Hadley said he thinks Milliken would have been chosen as the current NU president in a closed search as well. One factor that was discussed, currently not mentioned in the bill, is the possibility of having a period of time set – senators mentioned a week to 10 days – where the finalist would visit University of Nebraska campuses and the public would be able to voice their opinions about the candidate. “I think there’s nothing wrong with having the finalist … meet the people of the campus,” Hadley said. Opponents of the bill said this measure isn’t enough to justify keeping the public in the dark for the rest of the process. “That horse left the barn when the regents … picked a person,”

hearing: see page 3

@dailyneb | facebook.com/dailynebraskan

Democratic governor hopeful reflects on UNL connections Lane Chasek DN

Though campaigning has cut into the time Hassebrook spends with his family, he said his decision to run for governor was a decision University of Nebraska regent. Exmade by his entire family: his wife ecutive director of the Center for RuKate and sons Anton and ral Affairs. Now Chuck Peter. Both sons attend Hassebrook wants to UNL – Anton is a senior add another title to his mechanical engineerlist: governor of Neing major and Peter is a braska. junior civil engineering Hassebrook, a Unimajor. Hassebrook said versity of Nebraska–Linhis sons’ ages makes the coln alumnus, is the sole campaigning experience Democratic candidate in more comfortable for his the gubernatorial elecfamily. tion, which will be held Though Hassebrook Nov. 4. He filed the neclives in Lyons, Neb., essary paperwork on hassebrook with his wife, he grew Jan. 28 but has been camup in a rural area near paigning since June 2013. Platte Center, Neb. Campaigning can be In 1976, while an undergraduate exhausting but is still an energizing at UNL, Hassebrook became a vista experience, Hassebrook said. At the end of the day, he enjoys it.

hassebrook: see page 2


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