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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (March 27, 1947)
Page 2 THE DAILY NEBRASKAN Thursday, March 27, 1942 EDITORIAL. COMMENT - Dear Madam Editor: Mr. Hill's editorial, "Democracy on Campus," is quite commend able in that it reveals you do have receptive individuals on your staff who can rise above the general intellectual level of the paper. If the precedent established by Hill could be maintained, I feel certain that Ihe student body would more readily support the overburdened staff. In regard to that editorial, I must say that we assuredly do not want the administration nor pressure groups to prescribe limits to what we can lelieve. But the question remains, is the college student sufficiently matured from the mental and emotional standpoint to protect himself from evil influences? You and I know that the fresh man and some upper-classmen (this does not, of course, include the more mature veterans) are in an extremely docile state. While this elastic frame of mind persists, it is alarmingly possible that they will be caught in the wiley snare of seditous organizations. The purpose of a college education is to equip students for the essential role of beint useful citizens. Therefore, it is conceivable that they should be allowed to grow accustomed to the freedom which will be their responsibility and it is just that when they assume their respective positions in communities. To prohibit the expression of dissenting opinions is, indeed, contrary to our democratic principles, but the doctrines preached by the Reds negate entirely the basis of our representative government Are we who love our freedom to sit back and watch it being destroyed under our very eyes by the infiltra tion of insidious groups hiding radical elements under the front of "democracy" where they are likely to do the most harm? Not this kid! I am as much opposed to the suppression of muprities by the majority as you are, but I don't intend to see the minority suppress the majority, either, as has happened in the case of Russia and all the other totalitarian static. Your attitude revealed in the statement that "In the long run of student affairs, Communist control of A YD is not important" is particularly obnoxious to me. Would you suggest that we continue to allow such groups to sow seeds of dissension among our schools, the bulwark of our future security? God only knows, wejiave enough of these hotbeds of subversion without per mitting more to develop for future agitation. Furthermore, you state the following: "When college students are given full credit for the intelli gence and reasoning power that they have, there will be no need for fear of Red infiltration. Only when this is done can the self righteous and sanctimonious witch-hunters rest back and be sure that America's college students are not Communists." When you say this, you assume that college students have the intelli gence and reasoning power to withstand the most disintegrating blasts of clever propaganda machines. You may be right, but, for my own part, I consider myself fortunate to have escaped their trap for realize that when I entered college I was defenseless and could have gone the way of the "left" as easily as the "right". I hope that your assumption is correct; but, you know, a restless and progressive group, no matter how insignificant originally, can cover ground by huge strides when working among an indifferent and comparatively latent populace which seems to characterize the present state in this country. We need only witness the growth of the Hitlerites in Ger many to confirm this. And if our present population is growing stagnant, think what the future situation will be. I have in mind the increasing number of children going without the benefit of a high school education; and, also, those whose chances of obtaining a proper knowledge of things is slight due to the lack of qualified teachers, which is a situation that must be improved by ourselves if necessary. It is not only the plight of the high school children which puts doubt in my mind, I sometimes wonder if our colleges are turning out potentially capable and upright citizens. The apparent ignorance of a number of our Congressmen (some of whom displayed their colors during the David Lilienthal controversy which almost opened the way for disaster) would be strong evidence to the support of such a speculation I presuppose that most of them are college graduates. The fault lies as much with the students as with the institutions themselves. The oppressive demands of the professions made upon their prospective members are forcing the liberal arts courses to the side lines. In the last analysis, these courses are the ones necessary to construct an adequate foundation which will hold the individual securely against the most vicious flood of luring ideologies and save him from being engulfed in the mire. The courses of history, philos ophy, English and rhetoric are more essential for the preservation of the freedom of the people of the United States than all the engineering, business administration, and agricultural courses thrown together. The sooner we wake up to this fact the better. Oh, yes! I'll admit that we need our professions and skilled craftsmen, but what about our statesmen and public officials? Are we going to continue to commit our country to the hands of Incom petents like those who led us into the last two wars and who are as likely as not to lead us into another which, I hate to think it, will probably be the end of our beloved country. We will have but one opportunity to save ourselves and the world. This is it! There is no time for delay! I may sound like an alarmist; but, nevertheless, it is true. I am sure you would not suffer your children to go thru the tortures that you went thru in World War II if it were in your power to prevent it. Well, I'm telling you that it is within our power to prevent such a holocaust; and if we neglect our opportunity, we will be subjecting our own children to horrors which will far outdo anything seen in the not so long past war. It all adds up to the conclusion that nothing will save our country and our world from utter ruin unless the United States, while still in its position of power, leads the way to a united world, devoted to peace and security for alL How are we going to do this when we indifferently elect such incapable politicians to the most crucial posts? Not only this, but we tend to say, "Okay, buddy! You've got your coveted office, now let's see you do something about it": and, as if bis subseqeunt actions were of no concern to us, we proceed to drop the matter. How in heaven's name can a democracy which is depend ent upon the astuteness of its citizens survive in a situation like this? If we want competent leaders, we must first of all produce them in our colleges. This is why I sincerely hope that there will be a decline in the great numbers training for the professions with the exception of law and teaching because they are being deprived of the essential preparation required of statesmen and leaders in society. I, personally, cannot understand the attraction which the engineering and business administration colleges have for the modern student unless it could be the money angle or the puerile fear that liberal arts courses are not considered masculine and might be a source of em barrassment. What rot! As for going to college to prepare for the higher income brackets, what will be the advantage in this if, in the meantime, we allow subversive parties to get control of our govern ment and deprive us of our earnings for the good of the "state"? Seems rather ridiculous, doesn't it? But it is worth considering, believe me. I would like to make one last comment on the editorial which you can blame for the spawning of all this profusion; that is, the author argues from a point which he takes for a fact, but which represents nothing to me but a haphazard assumption. This assumption that the people need have no fear of Red infiltration into our colleges because of the ability of the students to ward it off is obviously deceiving for the simple reason that if communism can gain such widespread acceptance among the adult world as France or even this country to a lesser degree, then, surely, it would find an easy target in the gullible college student. After all, historical facts wil illustrate this point. Colleges have always been noted for their wilingness to take the radical viewpoint, have they not? I don't care if you want to call me a witch-hunter, a do-gooder, or any other stigma you can conjure, but I am not in favor of false analyses or their em ployment in the discussion of serious matters whether by intent or pure accident. So let it rest. No, don't let it rest. Do something about it! It's your country, it's your future; and, if George won't save them, then its up to you to think they are worth saving. Emphatically yours, Robert D. Evans March 26, 1947 TO THE STUDENT BODY: In the editorial of the Wednesday, March 26 issue of the DAILY NEBRASKAN, mention was made of the proposed revision of Article IV of the Student Council Constitution, the article dealing with elec tion publicity rules. In the editorial, the statement was made that, "However, no provision is made in the revised article for any other kind of publicity,, such as through the Letterip column of the DAILY NEBRASKAN." In the light of the above statement, we feel that an explanation of the constitutional revision regarding election publicity is in order. The Constitution Revisions Committee of the Student Council, in their attempt to revise Article IV in the most practical way, con sidered all possible forms of publicity, and finally arrived at the revision which has been published. During the revision process, the Letterip column was discussed and it was decided that there was no need to mention its use in the revision. Siice DAILY NEBRASKAN policies are subject each year to the Publications Board and the NEBRASKAN staff, it was felt that any rules in the Constitution governing the Letterip column might easily become useless or outmoded as a result of .wMo change in DAILY NEBRASKAN policy. In the junior class presi dent election last semester, the use of the Letterip column for pre election discussion was upheld by the Judiciary committee and by the Faculty Senate Committee. It is assumed that as long as the DAILY NERT?ark-aw the privilege of a column such as Letterip, the students are free to use it in tny manner up to the limits imposed by DAILY NEBRAS KAN policy, and by the discreation of the editor. THE CONSTITUTION REVISIONS COMMITTEE, Ned Raun, chairman Harold Mozer Sam Warren Lowe Urges Greek Relief Prof. C. G. Lowe of the classics department advocated relief to Greece in a talk to the Lincoln Women's Club this week, but qualified his comments with a warning that King George II of Greece may not be the man to lead the Greeks to democracy. Lowe lived in Greece for six years, and during that time trav eled extensively in the Near and Middle East. He interspersed bis comments on the current Greek crisis with personal observations on the country and its peoples. Lowe said that he favored even greater aid than that which had already been given by the UNRRA, but that such aid should be in the main in the form of food supplies. "We must consider how much support we are going to give to King George," Professor Lowe warned. His past is too closely al lied with the "fascist regime" of Premier Metaxas. former Greek dictator. Che win9 the Rag By Don and Hal. Hello! Today starts a series of, shall we say, bull sessions, in which you, kind readers, are given the opportunity to express your opinions on the various questions that we will present. The opinions can be good or bad, but we want to know what you think and why. The topics will be about everything that our fer tile brains can think of; local and national problems included. So if we trip you as you're running to your eight o'clock, H will be be cause we want your opinion for the column. If we don't get to you, and you have something to say, write in and tell us about it. W feel that the way to de scribe "Chewin' the Rag" is to say, as the fellow on "Hobby Lobby" says, "It's for you, ladies and gentlemen, it's for you." With baseball and outdoor track events in the offing, mur murs have been heard in various circles to the effect that our school spirit is not as good as it should be. Your boys. Don and Hal, have asked around, and here are some of the responses that we received. BERNIE MASTERSON said. "I think we could have more. It's not so good it couldn't be better." When asked what she thought. NANCY LOWRY replied. "I think there could be more school spirit in supporting the various school dances." (Miss Lowry sold "Prom" tickets, poor kid.) MIKE DIBIASE had this to say: "When we win, they're with us. When we lose, they aren't. The first half of the Missouri game showed that." (Words of wis dom, Mike.) During the course of our jour neys, we happened to stop in at that well known place around town, the Bon Ton parlor. They said, "The kids are always full of spirits when they leave here." (School spirit, that is. Pay at tention, son!) Group (Continued from Page 1.) moral value rather than constitu tionality. Fred Teller, senior coun cil member, voiced hearty agree ment with this statement. Run- din said that "the council started a campaign to clean up politics on campus but the faction never pulled any fishier deals than this." As a member of the faction "way back when." Rundin hu morously congratulated Zimmer man on his political astuteness. Helen Laird, cduncil president. called the meeting back to order after Rundin s remarks. Final decision of the council was interpreted as partial vindi cation of the Cornhusker party and official OK on the party's methods despite the planned let ter to The Daily Nebraskan. Sprechen Sie Deutsch? All students interested in the German language are cordially Invited to attend an informal gathering at 3 p. m. today in room 313 of the Union. Prof. J. E. A. Alexis will speak briefly, and skits and song singing will complete the program. Jul (Daily TkbhaAkatL Member Intercollegiate Press roKTt-nrra rax Subscription rata are SI -BO per Nmnttr, $2.00 per Mtntwi mansa, ec 12.00 for th college year. S1-00 malted. Slngla copy to. Published dally during tbo school year except Monday and Saturday, vacation and examination periods, by the students ef the University of Nebraska under the supervision f the Publication Board. Entered aa Second Class Matter at the Post Office an Lincoln, Nebraska, under Act ef Congress, March S, 1870, and at special rata ef postage provided for ka section U0S. set of October a, 1917. outhorteed tsptjsmber SO, 122. EDITORIAL STAFF eMnse .......... ... .. ....... sWdHey JVnWns Pais Wirilar. Jack Hat mass... .Jeanne aurrujan, Kara last. Fan aaaaaa WJ8y san Eaitae Buclety Editar As Nn mtMm atrial Fester Elite ..nana Wa amaesa ST AFT a ) M u mm a e a an an aWa at SFnTanT. YaM Ka GeaM Flan. Al Iae. Bm WUkaas M. Note. 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