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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 6, 1954)
si I ,4 y; j it - 1 ''C A, Page 2 THE NEBRASKAN Wednesday, January 6, 1954 f) EDITORIAL PAGE 'Prayer1 For Pragmatism A perversion of a well-known prayer by Reinhold Nelbuhr recently came to the at tention of The Nebraskan. Keibuhr, one of the foremost Christian theologians of the present day, In his prayer, asked: "Give ns strength to' endure those things we cannot change, courage to change those we can and wisdom to distinguish one from the other." The perverted form came out this way: "Dear God: Help us to do the things we can do and to leave alone the things we can't do and help us to know the difference." If results cannot be obtained from a par ticular action, the revised prayer said, don't let 'us have anything to do with it. The prayer set the stage for pragmatic action. The Student Council and a large number' Questionnaire ifte Student Council questionnaire to be found elsewhere on this page is the result (according to the Council) of a desire to find out if students feel the Council is ade quately serving them. While this is not quite the same thing as asking for a vote of confidence, it borders on it, regardless of the Council's Intentions. Thus, the student body is presented with an opportunity (outside of elections, which are not always determined on Issues or platforms alone, but frequently on personalities and popularity) to express approval, criticism or suggestions to the Council.. The Council, however, baa cleverly stacked the odds In its favor. A glance at the ques tions reveals that the Council is selecting the Issues upon which it wishes to be rated. A representative body should serve Its electorate and not exist to insure the per petuity and good reputation of its members. Instead of asking students whether they ap prove of previously acknowledged problems which have been acted upon, the Council would prove its worth by acting upon issues facing the student body both new and in the future. Therefore, the most Important section of the "questionnaire" is the request appended al most, as it were, as an afterthought: "Please " attach any Ideas that you feel . . ." But, the Council has been given suggestions of problems by The Nebraskan during the current semester. Yet, those do not appear among the "areas" students are asked to eon sider. No mention is made of the problem to come up In a few months concerning allocation of rooms in the new dormitory between Incom ing freshmen and returning upperclassmen. Chancellor Selleck himself implied that the .final decision has not been made and he would like to know what students think about it. This was mentioned as a possible subject for Investigation by the Council in a Nebraskan editorial. No move from the Council "Inequities in filing and voting," a hold over problem from last year was the subject of another Nebraskan editorial offering a sug gestion (or rather, a reminder) to the Coun cil. No move from the Council. Last year's Council acknowledged that this was a prob lem to be dealt with. Still, this year's Coun cil looks for suggestions. If students are sufficiently interested in what the Council Is (and isn't) doing, this questionnaire is the ideal opportunity to offer some "suggestions." EJ. 'Inferior' Chancellor Selleck stated during Christmas vacation that the department of athletics is weaker than the academic departments of the University. While he did not present any evidence which proved his statement (if, indeed, the relative strength of the departments can be tabulated), undoubtedly he knew what he was saying. Certainly the Chancellor knows much more about the affairs of University departments than any student, and probably more than any other individual Two exceptions in the matter of "inferi ority," however, are worth noting. First: Athletes are allowed to register first In order to avoid conflicts. Other students must register in. their turn even though earlier registration might have eliminated a number of conflicts. Second: The percentage of scholarships awarded to athletes far out-ranks the per centage awarded to history majors or en gineers or any other group of undergradu ates. Patsy Clark pointed out that any athlete who doesn't have a scholarship isn't consid ered too seriously by the coaching staff. Ia any other department the student who possesses a scholarship is the exception. In both of these instances the athletic de partment appears to rank well above its aca demic counterparts. Perhaps the Chancellor meant that the athletic department does not enjoy similar advantages in all phases of comparison. X.R, of other organizations might well have begun its year with such a prayer, for, as was pointed out in an editorial yesterday, the Council seems interested only in projects which will produce noticeable results. In the case of the Council's motion to bar discriminatory clauses from the constitutions of honorary and professional fraternities, The Nebraskan editorial called attention to the in consistency of the proposed action. The Coun cil was opposing racial clauses but only in the cases in which its members thought they could produce results. The injustice of the motion is readily evi dent The Inconsistencies of pragmatism (in which the result of an action determines , the worth of the action) are usually not exposed so readily. Nothing succeeds like success, the old saw goes. And pragmatism is based upon success. From a practical point of view pragmatism turns out more units of production, earns more money and attains more success for its user than any other philosophy. The employ ment of pragmatism in the school system is now producing a generation of woodworkers, bookkeepers, engineers and super-market managers. The coupling of pragmatic thought with a prayer Is ironical, since Christianity (and nearly all great religions) places greater em phasis upon the motivation for an act than upon the results of the act or the act itself. The prayer was well-intended. The or ganization which used it was simply asking that it not go off on tangents which could lead only to wasted time and effort. But the students who prayed for fore sighted pragmatism forgot that the men who accomplish the greatest good begin work with the odds so heavily against them that no pragmatist could take the chance of wasting his time. They forgot that men have died on the battlefield and as Christian martyrs for re fusing to modify their actions and change their beliefs to conform with what was the obviously practical solution. , They forgot that one of the greatest virtues is the unrelenting stand of a man who knows he is right and refuses to bow before the power of practical men. They forgot that the greatest test of a man is his ability to follow his conscience his belief in what is right even though the rest of the world were against him. No one can prove that such a man is right. History, the recording of results, may even call him a fool if it recognises him at all. Re may be laughed at, scoffed at or perse cuted. But he is answerable only to himself and to his God. No proof of results can change his course. - ' He 'cannot pray that he might turn his at tention only to things he can do. He prays that he might work toward things only God can do. K.R. Merry-Go-Round The peace merry-go-round in Korea has started to spin again. At least the initial push has been given by unidentified intermediaries from the United Nations and the Communist stronghold. They are "informally discussing" the possibility of resuming Korean peace talks. Although the United States is understand ably eager to resume talks in the hopes of stabilizing the tottering world situation, the US appears to be conveniently forgetting the heated .events which terminated the peace talks so abruptly a month ago. At that time, Ambassador Arthur Dean dropped negotiations with a protest against the Red accusation of perfidy on the part of the US. He demanded that the Communists retract an accusation that American authori ties had plotted with President Syngman Rhee of South Korea to release anti-communist prisoners. Yet no retraction has been made. Appar ently the US is willing to sit calmly by as Communists make wild accusations, prefer ring to "forget" the Incident rather than force a showdown. The best policy would be to face the isues squarely now and stick by our first, and well grounded, demand that the Reds retract their accusation. Avoiding the whole issue may resume peace negotiations for awhile, but the Communists win have learned a dangerous and obvious lesson: That the United States does not have the courage to speak with con viction and "stick to its gnus." Two mighty world powers cannot indefi nitely play coy with each other. Demands, accusations, name-calling; the incidents will grow until it is impossible to ignore the in sults and resulting bitter feelings. Then, when action is taken, it will be drastic. And the merry-go-round might blow up end stop forever M.H. JJul TMuaAhu v FIFTV-TBXRD YEAS Member: Associated Collegiate Press Advertistaf representative: National Advertising Service, Inc. 429 Madison Ave., New York 17, New York rwSi it Ssbrak mm mm mmrawtlM ml mtmimmW VZZi 'rVrt Mttar ".V.V.V.V.VV.V.V.v!l IfelMar www mmS mpmam mntf, Arlt to 4Utta U mi M Mmsc-lnf MIM. ..... '.'.'.'"..mat ttuati mt-4.m tanrotf m4m mmS iMManl V" wTLT'EfZ ? fWtVww. "ft m peTf t,Mr tSwkTJ hJS5 t-t V W pnMtetttaat ndar tt Junsi-tn ttmk r , inmm, PanJ i ritrtl toil, m pmn f tlM TliZS iJXfci 122 V;tZ"mZ; trm",!3U? to JEt I!? "r . m. rr ty, B L. r i?tt2i II tl!LST,,b !, tvminnwwr DM rtllnxw, Jk rrandMR. or uih Mmrltrn Oorn. mm OortMw, Vmtly Hemphill. Hm ' i rhtfrm r. 13 9mmUt, ft-M mmUet, or tmw, Ftmmtr Vm, Cr KAItk fun! Klla ' - $ BmUfA. mturf WW t tin rnrkcM. Man rrtrnea, fcotixr Shaftar, Mmn SheHMJr, f , ry.-s-t.wi "futiay, WiHr frtflfcr tnm lpww, Vmttw AwltM-r. iwr Trfweb, UnrHI il-.e (W. WMtam w4 VmmO. fclr WiwwNrsrH, ftartt S, M!HMm, , , - fa.:' -4 twin ttm mxmtk of - nrui fcwtqn't. Hum Ann Vsm, Kklrfav Bmmbtrf, , , . n.r is? 1.4 ( -plnr at thrit ka itM lie, itmrf i'mrrnm. - if tbm t'tammittm f rBhIwrtt, BUS1 lMt CTaJT m rM mitr m h Pm txrmm tm Umlntm Mnfr , , ,, .Pwm Wi ur Ar at imrrrm. Msn-H 8. mm't till BtMi. ..Owit'T WffW, Pm tmh ,:4 ttprvM of KtM prtrrljr far tm ilm Dlfk WM .- j, i. At W Lttm f Ot. S, mUmtImS rtr ! Wwmm. .....,.,........ JLm WUi'i imin , hk Ken UAUm .v.ure Mutter Limi Man on ca.v.pus by a true rhe Student Speaking "I always write my term paper criticisms Illegibly so the student wont be able to take issue with what I say." The Challenge Deferred Rushing Plan Is No Solution For NU By HELEN A. SYNDER Assistant Dean of Women (This is the fifteenth in a series of articles treating the problems, issues and challenges of the day as viewed by repre sentatives of various fields of endeavor.) Some time ago during the an nual Panhellenic Workshop The Nebraskan featured an editorial on our University's sorority rushing system. Certain critic isms were leveled at that sys tem and in good constructive fashion a possible solution was offered, namely deferred rush ing. As one working closely with our Panhellenic in the ca pacity of University advisor, I should like to comment on the situation as I see it. We start by saying we know our system is not perfect. The workshop which gave rise to this discussion is one of Panhellenic's own attempts to turn a critical, eye on procedures in order that improvements may be made. At the same time it is interesting to note that at the conclusion of that week announcement was made of a national award cit ing our University Panhellenic as the outstanding Panhellenic in the country. Receiving the Lei and award was a vote of confidence of na tional staff members that our local organization was doing an excellent job in administering its program. This still does not mean per fection and, to show we deserve such distinction, we mnst con- By CHICK TAYLOR We heard that: Errol Flynn and Charlie Chaplin have collaborated on a new novel which will be out just any old time. The title is "On Whom the Belles Told." Have you heard about the devil who backed into a lawn mower, then went into a liquor store because he heard they re tailed spirits? A pessimist is a man who feels that all women are bad. An optimist just hopes so. One strawberry to another: "If we hadn't been caught in the same bed, we wouldn't be in this jam." The American way: Condemn ing a naughty movie; attending it to see if it's as shocking t advertised; kicking because the naughty parts have been cut. My political science teacher says that in America every boy has a chance to be President when he grows up. Guess its just one of the risks we take! During the last World War, our Marines had a hard fight with the Japs on an island in fested with cannibals. After the battle, it was evi dent the native cannibals did not approve of the Americans. When pressed for an explanation of their attitude, their chief re plied: "You are savages. I do not want my people to be spoiled by you. I have watched you for two weeks. Each day you have killed more Japs than you could eat." Judge to prisoner: "You've been brought in here for drink ing." Prisoner: "Fine, lesh get started." a G. from I. to his Letter wife: "Please send me $5 for shaving cream and stuff." Came the reply: "Home r. here enclosed is 25c for the shaving cream. back here," "In the old days did the knights fight with their battle- axes? ' "Well, the married knights did. "Like short skirts, Nick?" "Naw, they get lipstick on me shoit front when I dance wit em." The stuff is tlnue to improve. At the same time it does mesn our csmpus should be grateful that we are doing a fine Job and we do not have the problems some cam puses have. " Panhellenic- is glad The Ne braskan, its editors and its con . tributors are interested in see ing an equitable system in effect. No one is more interested than Panhellenic itself, for this organ ization is merely an association of all sororities. Sororities want strong chapters and these are built on happy pledge classes. It is, therefore, imperative to sororities (and by the same token to Panhellenic) that a system of rushing be in operation which will protect and promote the in terests of the rushee. The match ings that go on during Rush Week begin with the girl's choice and no decisions are made that do not take this into considera tion. Let's look quickly at some of the so-called faults of the ex isting system as pointed out by the original Xehraskan editorial. One thing cited was the possibil ity of error in the workings of matching preferences. Where human action is con cerned there is always the pos sibility of error, but I say as one who came mto fhia set-up three years ago that I marvel at how that possibility has been reduced to a minimum. It is also an honest statement to say that to my knowledge there has not been an error In the operation of matching pre ferences as turned in during my years of association with it. That is why. each year at rushing we have observers from other schools here to see how it is done so they may carry the ideas back to their schools. The release system, or "rejec tion slip" as it was referred to, was critisized because it adver tises a girl's apparent difficulty. Actually, "no- one receives a "stack" of them but a girl may get a call slip to come to head quarters to discuss her situation. Her release from a particular party may be as much a source of relief for the girl as it is for the sorority. . It may be an opportunity for her to accept a party Invitation which she now wants hut ori ginally -turned down. The method of notification may not be the best, but was selected because it meet the time urrency of the situation. Efforts are being made to see if this can be handled more efficiently. What would deferred rushing do? It would not solve these problems. They would still have to be handled at any time the rushing program was conducted. No "system" can be an answer to problems. The argument for deferred rushing is usually that it gives more time to the rushee to make up her mind. Actually it introduces so many new prob lems and tends to confuse the sit uation so that those who have observed it do not believe it is an answer. I shall Just have space to list some of the new difficulties that would be introduced by holding rushing later in the year. It would be a scholastic hindrance. It would open up the avenue for long term rushing throughout the period when a girl is supposed to be free to make up her mind. It means other agencies of the University are solicited to help rush and dates are used in a way that Is not good for a whole some social program. It postpones a girl's association with her chap ter so long that the period of her active status is too short to build good strong chapters and train officer material. Furthermore, experience has shown it does not solve the prob lem of error in judgment. Girls still depledre or leave school if they are unhappy with the choice they have made. Students will atwaya cbanre fraternities, change curricula, change schools. That is human nature. . Undoubtedly there Is room for improvement. A wholesome viewpoint in working these out is needed on the campus in gen eral and specifically in Pan hellenic. The determination to do the best job possible is impera tive, as well as awareness that it is through knowledge of our errors that we improve. The grass on the other side of the fence is not necessarily greener. Another system is not necessarily a panacea. Hey, A Tha Black By JERRY SHARPNACK The embalming-room humor at the Beckerman Mortuary was certainly unique, as embalming humor goes. Nowhere else was to be found such wholehearted mistreatment of the human body. Maybe it was the fates who, in a playfully destructive mood,, tossed that assortment of frus trated comedians under one roof. At any rate, thus it was and it seemed no more than nat ural that these Jesters (who con stantly regarded that tragedy of tragedies, death, so flippantly) should be the recipients of such a sobering experience. It Was Clancy who answered the phone: "Beckerman's Mor tuary." He had almost said "body shop." A somber monotone in formed him that George R. Stlb jni had expired at such and such a place and the body was to be removed immediately. Clancy in advertently said "check" at the end of the conversation. Quickly, he ran back to the preparation room where the other three embalmers were convened, as usual. "Come on, Mack, we got one." Mack reluctantly left the con versation and followed Clancy to what was commonly called "The Black Dahlia." It was a recon verted ambulance; and the siren and one red light still remained a sort of reflection of the em balmers who, though being in a way reapers of death, were still basically lively and eager young men. The house of the deceased was a three-story nineteenth-century structure resembling something you might see in a Charles Ad dams cartoon. The man who an swered the embalmer's knock was evidently a butler. Clancy noted his resemblance to Drac ula. He invited them into the old mansion and they were led into a large, high-ceilinged living room occupied, for the most part, iTGCidy Dahlia by three Great Danes. The but. ler had little information for the death certificate except for the fact that under "deceased oc cupation" he had written "super naturalist." "Maybe he didst have no par enta, at all," quipped Mack as they were on their way back to the mortuary. They unloaded the body as soon as they were at Beckerman's, Fletcher and the embalmer ev- ' ervone called "Horrible" for no subtle reason) were playing, cards on the preparation slab,' so Clancy received a good deal of criticism when he announced "Embalming will commence iml mediately, if not sooner. Grab your cards if you don't want 'em buried." It was Mack's turn to do thega honors and he deftly went about I " preparing the hapless Mr. Sab. ini for his ultimate resting place. And, as was the tradition, the other men gathered at various points of vantage to voice opin ions and general comments about the proceedings. "I don't like this man's looks,' said Horrible. "I don't think we should embalm him." "Who are you to talk about looks?" asked Mack. "Seriously, though, Just take a look at that little mustache, the pointed ears. He looks like some sort of ghoul." "So do you," said Clancy. Horrible became peeved at this last remark and shuffled sulk ily to the instrument cabinet. Ha began to play mumbley-peg with a scalpel. A gurgling sound was soon heard and draining Sabini color, ed the sink. "Oh my! Oh, my!" said Flet. cher, "now you've gone and cut him. Someone fetch a Band-Aid. Horrible looked surprised. "I didn't know ghouls had blood," he said. (To be continued) Slide Rule Terrace At Capitol r. Rebuilt Three Times 0 The repair on the terrace or walk-way which surrounds the Nebraska capitol building is es sentially completed. Many peo ple have been curious as to why the terrace had to be re paired and why it wasn't capable of lasting as long as the rest of the building. This is the third time that the terrace has been re paired or rebuilt, and I suspect that within another 25 to 40 years the whole process will have to be repeated. When the capitol was first built, each of four or five con tractor was allowed to complete a separate section. Occasionally there would be a discontinuity when two sections of the build ins" met or were Joined. - When the terrace was built for the first time, the contractors were mostly concerned with the terrace as a walk-way and not a roof. Consequently, it served very well as a terrace, but poorly as a roof for the offices beneath. Just recently the terrace has been replaced officially by a roof, a 20-year bonded roof. The removal of the old terrace was undertaken by forces of men from the State Reformatory. The old yellow tile that was on the surface has been salvaged and used to rehabilitate a dormitory floor in the State Reformatory. About three or four inches of asphalt was removed and used as resurfacing for roads. No one knows what the pre vious costs have been to repair the terrace, but it is estimated that the present installation will cost from $75,000 to $80,000. The copper flashing which was sal vaged from' the tld terrace amounted to about $3,000. Present installation costs will include about $50,000 for the chipped Georria marble which covers the roof. One becomes aware of the size of the roof If one realizes that the bulldinr measures 400 feet square, which means about one-third mile of construction, as wide as a high, way. The ceilings in the offices un der the roof are mostly sus pended ceilings. They are hung from either a pan and girder or ordinary beam system that sup ports a structural concrete slab; this lab serves as a foundation for the roof. The old terrace was removed down to the surface of the structural concrete slab and then rebuilt. A hot mix asphalt was used to refill the roof area. A pitch .membran was then spread over the asphalt for water-proofing and the Georgia marble spread on top of that. The entrances to the main north door and the two side east and west doors were laid with 4 inches of reinforced concrete. The Highway Department de signed the roof and then let con tracts for ita construction. They had originally planned to lay a concrete roof all the way around, but contractors would not supply a bond on such a roof, and cost estimates varied between 100 and 180 thousand dollars. The desirn was then changed to allow for both cost and a bond. The main problem encountered was that of expansion. Henry I Schlitt, Deputy State Engineer1 who supervised the job, states that temperatures may approach 150 degrees on the roof surface during the summer although the air temperature may only be 90 degrees. Mr. Schlitt thought that the leaks in the old terrace were caused by the inability of the expansion joints to compensate for the expansion of the concrete and steel. Visitors are now restricted from walking on the roof area except where the concrete is provided at the entrances. Per haps now the offices below the' roof can be repl8stered and re painted without fear of another leak for at least 20 years. J. A. MARKS. Use Of Fifth Amendment By Faculty Condemned By Ex-President Of Yale NEW HAVEN. Onn TP Faculty members who invoke the Fifth Amendment as ground for refusal to answer questions are "unworthy to serve on a univer sity staff," according to Charles Seymour, President Emeritus of Yale University. At the same time, he empha sized that the university must "guarantee to a professor that he will not be penalized for an honest opinion that is supported by adequate evidence, even though it runs counter to that of a disapproving majority and evokes strong criticism." The university faculty "must themselves represent a variety of opinions," the former Yale president stated. "This means that the university not only tol erates but invites a diversity of view upon current problems and will protect its teachers from any compulsion of conformity." Mr. Seymour, who served as Yale's president from 1937 until his retirement in 1950, criticized professors who invoke the Fifth Amendment pointing out that "the university promises the pro fessor freedom; in return he owes tt , the university complete candor."1L When it comes to a question ' of communistic affiliation, every member of the faculty should be above suspicion, he stressed and added that if charges are brought by an authoritative agency, the teacher must be frankly co operative In clearing himself. I. 4. Student Council Questionnaire Do you feepyour Student Council Is adequately handling tha problems In the following areas? Yes No 1. All University elections such as COA, UMOC, Nebraska Sweetheart, Prince Kosmet, etc. 2. University Parking facilities and systems of fining. Promotion of unofficial migration. Campus improvements such ac th mH nt tures on love and marriage, the addition of th traffic light on 16th & R. 5. Complete representation of the . entire student body on the Council such as through organiza tions and colleges. . Do you feel your Student Council Is reflecting: student opinion. 7. Do you believe campus honorary and professional wiutsutmi inouia ne snowed to function with restrictive racial and religious clauses in their ( constitutions. Please attach any ideas that you feel the Council might take action on. Completed questionnaires should be placed la the Stu dent Council box outside the Una Crib. 4 ' ,