On Friday, April 15th, the University of Nebraska Board of Regents held a meeting in Lincoln. Some interesting things were discussed.
UNO dorm plan prompts worries - Omaha World-Herald
I encourage everyone to read the article above to see how UNO continues to get the shaft by the Board of Regents. It is obvious that most of the members of the Board of Regents are lap dogs for UNL. For many of the Regents, UNO could drop off the face of the earth and the Regents wouldn’t care. When UNL wants something, they get it. Unfortunately, that means UNO has to get by on what’s leftover.
I’ve never been to a Board of Regents meeting but here is how I picture a conversation between the Regents, UNO, and UNL.
UNL: Do you know what would be great on our campus? A quilt museum!
Regents: Sure whatever you want Lincoln!
UNO: Do you know what would be great on our campus? A few more dorms!
Regents: Shut up UNO!
After reading the news story, I was a little disappointed with the comments below.
Regent Chuck Hassebrook of Lyons said the UNO dormitories would compete with other campuses that already have an investment in on-campus housing.
I don’t see why UNO doesn’t deserve the same investment as the other universities in the state? UNO is competing and winning in many categories against UNL even though the cards are stacked against UNO. Imagine if UNO and UNL were on a level playing field. I wish the mainstream media would start asking tough questions to the Regents?
For more opinions about this topic, visit eomaha.com.
Not to step on any toes, but I disagree with the assertion that UNL gets everything it wants. The real problem is not UNL-favoring elitism and bias - the problem is the demographics of our state. We have a limited number of students with a wide variety of needs. If this state is to have a campus that can compete on the national level as an institution of higher learning, we’re only going to have one of them because that’s all our population and tax dollars will allow. UNL, home of the Huskers, has always been that campus and continues to be so. Putting UNO in competition with UNL on every level is simply a waste of resources. It is a good school with some strong programs and a great bunch of YDs, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s main purpose is to serve as a commuter campus rather than appealing to traditional, dorm-living college students.
Maybe it’s time for that to change. Maybe, as Omaha’s population continues to grow, UNO should grow alongside with it. But, as crass as it may sound, every attempt to legitimize UNO and put it on par with UNL comes at the expense of weakening “the flagship campus” and the standing of our entire University system. I don’t think that serves the long-term interests of Nebraska, and most Nebraskans would agree. Of course, if our football team continues to suck, that may change in the next few years should statewide support for and identification with UNL begin to fall.
It’s ridiculous but the future of education in Nebraska is likely tied in to the fortunes of the Cornhusker football team. You’ll get your dorms as soon as those Mavericks are ready to step up to the plate (or step on the field, as the case may be…damn mixed metaphors).
UNL continues to be the campus that receives almost all of the state’s funds for only one reason, and most of the fans say it like this: “GO BIG RED!” In my opinion, the fact that Lincoln is continuously sucking up the state’s money to feed the football team is a waste of resources. Why should you guys get to spend all of Nebraska’s money on a football team?…a football team that has not performed well in a loooong looong time does not deserve the opportunity to abuse the state’s funds!
The reason that placing residence halls at UNO is such a big deal to the Board of Regents and to the entire state is even an issue is that once they go up (and they will eventually go up), no one will go to Lincoln. Why go to Lincoln if the only reason is the football team, and they lose, when you can stay in Omaha, the bigger city with the winning hockey team?
Not that I’m a big hockey fan, but at least the Mavericks win their games! They already have stepped up to the plate, or field, or rink. They win. Maybe the Huskers should step it up and do the same.
Okay…so I was informed that the state doesn’t really fund football…whoops. haha.
BUT my argument that it is really stupid that Lincoln gets dorms because of the Huskers still stands.
pssshhhhhht! UNL DOES INDEED get everything it wants. Not to sound like another whiny liberal (which I most certainly am NOT… I’m a whiny moderate), but even the Peter Kiewit Institute is considered “The University of Nebraska at Lincoln on the Omaha campus.” It’s these types of things that aren’t realized by UNO faculty and students, and yet they are the same type of things that belittle this institution. It is absolutely ridiculous that UNO isn’t getting the funds for more dorms. We are continually growing, both as an academic resource and in the number of matriculated students, and with an investment in more dorm space… who knows what could come of it?!
“Regent Chuck Hassebrook of Lyons said the UNO dormitories would compete with other campuses that already have an investment in on-campus housing.”
Are you kidding me?! WHAT!?!?! Competition is what makes the nation’s top schools the best!! If this guy hasn’t realized that competing for students and competing for resources is easily the most effective way to better an institution, then he obviously hasn’t studied economics (or common sense). Lincoln is deteriorating because our regents have so “wisely” invested more and more dollars into programs that, when all is said and done, are worthless. For example, about two years ago Lincoln invested $300,000 into a program where students simulated being homeless for a week…. $300,000!!!!! To be HOMELESS and POOR!!!!! Now, I don’t know what these students did, but it must have been AWESOME!! I mean, those students were probably the richest “poor” people I have ever heard about!
All in all, just give Omaha a break. I think we deserve it.
Whoops… things changed as I edited. “Not to sound like another whiny liberal (which I most certainly am NOT… I’m a whiny moderate)” should read “Not to sound like another whiny liberal (which I most certainly am… actually, I’m more of a whiny moderate).” And I don’t really mean “whiny” either; “informed” is a good word.
I have a feeling that a big “Lincoln is better than Omaha” fight coming. If it does, it will be a great fight that I am looking forward to. I love the argument that putting $$$$$ into UNO dorms is wasted resources. Until the Huskers move out of Lincoln, they will always be the “flagship” campus of the state, therefore they will get preference. It is also important to keep in mind that the city of Omaha is in the top 50 biggest cities in the nation and continues to get bigger. (Even without Elkhorn, but I could be wrong) Every student that has ever been interested in campus housing at UNO knows how much of a bitch it is to actually get it. UNO also has to “compete” with Creighton where as Lincoln has Weslyan for prospective students. The argument of “wasting resources” on UNO is BS. UNO rightfully deserves the upgrade as the campus and the city Omaha continues to grow.
Wow. Putting education on hold in one city in order to preserve a flagship campus? Unfortunately, that may just be what is happening. But, is it right? Absolutely not. The argument that Nebraska can only sustain one viable institute of higher learning is downright ridiculous. Are there students at UNO? Yes. Are there students in need of affordable, on campus housing at UNO? Yes. Then, UNO is viable and has the attendence to merit funding. The fact that a student would be turned away from an education because of lack of affordable housing is utterly embarassing to the state of Nebraska. Where are our priorities? This is America. Why should there even be a debate about financing education. It´s about time Nebraska and America had some common sense governance that realized that the future of our country and world lie in our education systems. Keeping UNO down so that UNL looks like a model state university is the dumbest approach to government I have ever heard of in my life. If a citizen needs an education, it IS the state´s duty to do all possible to facilitate that, regardless of where in the state´s jurisdiction that citizen may live. Our government is failing us by steering money away from Omaha for the preservation of Lincoln and it´s time Omaha speaks out.
Then let’s do something about it.
I don’t want to bash lincoln’s funding… I like fully funding that campus.
But I also think that having multiple good schools, the way california, michigan, and some other states do it, is a good way to go.
All in all, I’d rather have more dollars going into the whole system. All three schools could use more teachers, nicer classrooms, and better/more dorms. Fighting for a democratic govorner in 06 is a big step in that fight. Fighting for more democratic state senators is another big step in that fight.
Damn straight John - way to be proactive. I’m all for a better UNO and UNL, but it’s going to take some work to convince Nebraskans to pay for them. Hopefully, the bit of Omaha-Lincoln rivalry that exists won’t keep our UNO Dems from considering coming down to Lincoln this Saturday, April 23 to help out a great pair of liberal candidates for City Council. Food and drink will be provided. Check out www.nebraskayoungdemocrats.org for details.
You know what would be real fun? If UNO went off and became “Nebraska State University” and separated itself from the NU system. Minnesota does it with its University of MN system (4 campuses with the flagship in Minneapolis) and it’s Minnesota State Colleges and University System (MNSCU) which has a couple big (12k +) schools with Minnesota State - Mankato and St. Cloud State. Nebraska is big enough for two big schools…Iowa, Kansas, and even North and South Dakota have “University of [insert state]” and “[insert state] University.”