University of Nebraska Kearney - Blue and Gold Yearbook (Kearney, NE)

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 Students with morning classes at Bruner Hall of Science streamed through the doors like spilled sugar into a Dustbuster vacuum while commuters circled the parking lots like hunters in search of rare prey. Students endured the pains of inconvenience as they crowded into classrooms, detoured around the Cushing construction site, and fought bumper tcr bumper for parking. “It's more like a hunting license than a parking permit said Witia Aguilar, Lexington senior. Jerry Payne, Overton junior, said, “I had this mistaken idea that if I bought a parking permit, I would have a space.” But parking has always been a campus problem, according to Bill Davis, director of Campus Security, in policy, renovation “In 1915, they probably looked for a place to hitch the horse and still couldn’t find space,” he said. However, Mike White, Lexington senior, doesn’t have a problem with parking on West Campus. His problem is finding a seat in two of his business classes. I usually get there early enough,” he said. “But four or five people are standing in class until another room is found.” Space became a rare commodity on campus last year with an increased student population of 9, 275 from 9, 381 in 1987, an increase of 4. 1 percent. To make room for everyone, construction on the Cushing addition began and plans for further building expansions were made. Administrators had many explanations for the ever-increasing student population. “The best salespersons for Kearney State are the current students and alumni who are telling friends that it is a positive educational environment ’ said President William Nester. Proposed Main Street” connecting Cushing Health and Physical Education Fa- cility and West Campus WW 8 Growth pains ( It’s more like a hunting li- cense than a parking per- mit. Aguilar “And the faculty is willing to be risk-takers for developing programs that respond to student and so- cietal needs,” he said. He cited the new tourism and telemarketing programs as examples. Wayne Samuelson, director of admissions, cre- dits the central location along the interstate which acts I i s c s c c t s I I I s I c s c c t c a F b b K a tl s. ii g si 1 0 g si b

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(j Crowds of students lis- tened to enthusiastic speeches and entertain- ing music at the 49er's rally for university status last Spring. Photos by Ken Kruse Growth pains T T ebraska t jState U niversity by any name? study by the Nebraska Commission for Post-Second- ary Education. Students in the 49er’s wanted the name change, but lobbied more for increased funding. “KSC needs funding urgently for a lot of programs which are in the stalemate right now,” Dillman, co-chairman of the 49er’s, said. “The university status and more funding issues are separate,” Earl Rademacher, vice president for f We have all the necessary qualifications to be a univer- sity. $ Dillman Administration and Finance, said. “It makes no differ- ence if we are a university or not, we need more state funds.” The Board of Trustees asked the State Appro- priations Committee for a 49.2 percent budget in- crease, or over $20 million for the next two years. This amount would be used to increase faculty salary, financial aid, replacement of equipment, addi- tional classroom instructional aids, and to reduce the student-teacher ratio, according to Rademacher. The board’s approved request did not recom- mend an increase in tuition, he said. However, Gov. Orr’s budget proposals for this session recommended a five percent tuition increase per year for the next two years and only a 23.9 percent total budget increase for all four state colleges. “Hopefully, there will be some increases made by the legislature,” Rademacher said. By Pam Wood

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enrollment, and developments J as a connecting link with the rest of the state. He said recruiting from the more populous areas in the state has been successful. About 16 percent, 635 students, came from Omaha in Douglas county. Stu- dents from Buffalo County numbered 1,587. Enrollment increased despite the new admis- sions policy approved by the Board of Trustees for in- coming freshmen in 1988. The first-time freshmen class of 1,581 had to meet the same requirements as the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the Univer- sity of Nebraska-Omaha. f The best salespersons are current students and alumni J Nester The new policy outlines the required courses needed in high school to prepare for college. Previous- ly, KSC had an open admissions policy. If the high school determined that diploma requirements had been met, KSC accepted them. Now, if high school graduates can not meet the class requirements, they may be admitted by ranking in the upper half of their graduating class or by pre- senting an ACT score of 18 or a SAT score of 850. Con- ditional and special admission procedures are also outlined. “This policy gives the students an opportunity to recognize that they are able to perform at an ac- ceptable level in college,” said Lon Weber, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs. “They will progress to a bachelors degree with minimal stress.” However, the policy was not designed as a “road block,” according to Samuelson. “We are attracting better students.” More nontraditional students are enrolling at KSC, according to Kathy Livingston, management and information systems assistant. “There’s more of the female-housewife coming back to school,” she said. The actual numbers of nontraditional students in 1988 decreased from last year because of fewer graduate students. However, students from out of state or foreign countries increased 21 percent from 1987. To ease some of the space problems, construction on the Cushing Coliseum addition began in June. The gaping hole south of the old Coliseum, which many students went around as they walked to classes, will be a finished building by November 1989. Jumping the fence became a popular shortcut after the construction crew blocked off the street west of Cushing Coliseum. Gerry Peirce, Red Cloud senior, followed suit. Photo by Michelle Thompson The active construction created some noise and dirt pollution, according to Don Lackey, chairman of the physical education department. “But, next year will be the biggest drawback,” he said. Then, renovation of the old building will begin and class schedules will be altered and offices will be moved. No indoor track meets will be held during that time because of the remodeling, Lackey said. € They will progress to a ba- chelors degree with minimal stress, f Weber The total project will house seating for 6,000; a recreation area the size of nine basketball-volleyball courts; a competition track; four racquetball courts; new classrooms, offices, weightrooms, and storage ar- eas; and, areas for the Human Performance Laborato- ry. Other future construction plans include adding a third floor to Founders Hall; renovating Copeland Hall, the northeast wing of West Center and Otto Ol- sen; and, adding classrooms for the English, journal- ism, and speech departments. By Pam Wood IW