Another entry about MAVgate- Who is Chuck Hassebrook?
Hello students of UNO! You might not recognize this man to the left, but he knows you (how well is yet to be established). His name is Chuck Hassebrook and he is the elected Nebraska Regent serving in the 3rd District. A little background on the guy:* Served on the U.S. Department of Agriculture Commission of Small Farms, 1997-1999
* Served on the External Advisory Committee on Bioethics at Iowa State University, 1987-1990
* Served on the board of directors for "Bread for the World", 1998-1994
We could go on and on with the agricultural groups that this man served on. We could play a game using any combination of the following words: "Nebraska", "Agricultural", "Group", "Center for", "Corn" and pick a commission he has participated in. I have always questioned these types of groups after all, as it is usually a bunch of people, looking to fill out a resume later on in life. Personal bias aside, you might be asking, "Why are we talking about extremely interesting (sarcasm implied) individual"? Ta-da: He is another person on the UNO hating bandwagon! He is old-school hating UNO though, he has been at it for the past decade.
First of all, Regent "Go Big Red" Hassebrook has called for UNO to end it's football program. No "Big Deal", he and Supreme Chancellor Belck are on the same line of thought. One of the features the most readily identifiable about any university is A.) academics and then B.) sports program, and it is much easier to kill a two-headed college monster by chopping off one of the heads, isn't it???? What a great semi-personification...
But at least he hasn't done this before, like in the past calling for a then-blossoming UNO to end the football program. Oh no Chuckie, say it ain't so! "Chuck Hassebrook of Lyons made the same suggestion 10 years ago, before the regents approved upgrades in athletic facilities and programs at the Omaha campus" (Sportingnews.com). So, if you are looking for a guy who wants to stunt the growth of our metropolitan campus, here is exhibit A. He has actually been trying to put the kibbosh on this debate even before many reading this were in high school!You might also be saying, "Well he is only talking about the football program, not the entire campus". True, but look at the positives that could come from upgrading this sports program. Hypothetically, moving the football program to D-IAA could land the Mavericks as an opening day season opponent for Hassebrook's boys, his alma mater Huskers. That would generally land UNO a travelling fee of about $500,000+. This money could be used at the University's discretion, benefitting academic programs and the like. Why in the world do you think a booming school like McNeese State comes to play the Huskers in Lincoln? Because they actually have a shot at winning? No, as they place the exact same hypothetical I just posed into practice.
This is definitely an uphill battle we find ourselves in. The very same regents that look at UNO as the "whipping boy" university are those that will have to approve our growth in the future. This is why it should be necessary to vote in those who understand Nebraska issues statewide, not necessarily someone guy who would get my vote as "Mr. Rural Nebraska 2006" living in Lyons, only coming to Omaha to take his kid to Oakview and Henry Doorly. At least Hassebrook has the respect of other regents as they debate this issue. When in discussion of UNO losing money, as Hassebrook's numbers were positively described by NU regent Howard Hawks as, "I don't know where (those came) from ... that's out of left field". You're a good man with fertilizer and corn, Chuckie Hassebrook!
Sources:
Sporting News
OWH- "out of left field"
Hassebrook Bio
