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Vol. 80, No. 132 The Daily Nebraskan Friday, May 21, 1965
11
Past Innocents' President
Likes To 'Do Things Well'
By Priscilla Mullins
Senior Staff Writer
"People who like people
are the luckiest people in
the world," according to
Barbra Streisand.
If this is true, then John
Lonnquist, Outstanding Ne
braskan is definitely one
of the luckiest people in the
world.
"People are great!"
Lonnquist said in an inter
view yesterday. "I just en
joy making other people feel
good somehow it makes
me feel good too."
Lonnquist added that he
likes the feeling of "doing
something as Veil as I can."
During his career at t h e
University, he has made a
pretty good stab at this,
participating in countless
activities, all the while
striving to do his best.
Lonnquist said that though
he started with a broad
base of many activities, be
dropped those activities that
be felt be couldn't add any
thing to and changed to ac
tivities where be could be
more beneficial.
Having a list of some 51
activities and scholarships
behind his name, Lonnquist
quipped, "Jack of all trades
and master of none that's
me.
His activities have ranged
from President of Innocents
Society this year to Presi
dent of Beta Theta Pi fra
ternity to senior advisor to
Phi Eta Sigma, freshman
men's honorary to member
of Newman Club to intra
mural track to staff writer
for the Daily Nebraskan to
Kosmet Klub fall revue par
ticipant to People to People
to ... .
Lonnquist was recently
made a member of Psi Chi,
psychology honorary, Gam
ma Gamma, Greek honor
ary, and was given the John
Abrahamzon Memorial
Award, in memory of a for
mer student at the Univer
sity. While at the University
Lonnquist has received at
least nine scholarships, in
cluding a second place
Elk's Youth Leadership
scholarship, the Innocent's
Memorial scholarship, an
upperclass Regent's school
arship and a Delta Tau Del
ta scholarship and achieve
ment award.
Reminiscing on his college
career, Lonnquist said that
if he could do things over,
he would spend more time
studying.
"Everybody wastes time,"
he said. "You can be the
busiest person in the world
and accomplish many
things, but you still waste
time." Lonnquist recalled
that he had wasted "mil
lions and millions of min
utes." He said that if he had it
all to do over again be
would choose to write for
the Daily Nebraskan again.
"If you wanted to pick one
thing to do for a long time,
that would be the thing to
do," be said. "You get to
meet a lot of people in that
job."
Lonnquist said that b i s
philosophy for activities is
to try something new all the
time. "If I become interest
ed in something new, I try
it."
"For instance." Lonnquist
said, "I recently became
interested in witchcraft
not actually practicing it
myself, because I don't be
lieve in it but interested in
reading about people who
did believe in it."
Lonnquist said he recent
ly bought a set of 54 great
books. "If you have read all
these books and understand
what's in them, you are sup
posed to be a well-rounded
individual intellectually," he
said.
And well-rounded is anoth
er term to describe Lonn
qulst's approach to college
and life.
He Is an English major
with minors in psychology
and history. The reasoning
behind tbis course of study,
y
.r?
LET ME TELL YOU
WHAT I WOULD DO . . .
said Outstanding Nebras
kan John Lonnquist yes
terday when be was inter
viewed by the Daily Ne
braskan. be said, is to belp him get
a broad background.
"Companies today want
people with such a back
ground. They want you to
be intelligent, but they also
want to be able to teach
you about their business,
and not have to 'unlearn'
you."
In typical Nebraska
language, Lonnquist said,
"You need to have a plowed
up a fertile mind that
wants to learn."
Commenting on people
from the .Midwest, Lonn
q u i st said, "They are
friendly, easy-going people.
They don't have the rush
rush rush attitude. They
can put you at ease in a
business situation. They are
not proud, but have a genu
ine feeling for other peo
ple." "This," Lonnquist added,
"is the kind of person, busi
nesses are looking for." He
said that last summer while
he was working in New
York, he noticed that the
really successful business
men were "just like people
from the Midwest."
"You have to have a gen
uine interest in people," he
said. "You never get any
where by being a mean
guy and a conniver, and if
you do, you won't last."
Speaking of the Univer
sity anU its impression on
him, Lonnquist 6aid be feels
the University and the peo
ple concerned with hV-both
students and teachers
are "really good."
"It's a fun place to be,"
he said. "The typical Mid
west friendliness is evident
here. The Midwest is an
awfully good atmosphere to
be brought up in," be said.
"Everyone who lives here
is fortunate."
"The only thing the Uni
versity needs," Lonnquist
said, "is money." The Uni
versity has many plans for
the future, be said, and "if
they can just get the funds,
there's do end to where
tbey can go."
"It will be more of a
University in the future,
and not just some buildings
with streets going through
the campus," he said.
His major accomplish
ment while at the Univer
sity, according to Lonn
quist, has been gaining in
maturity, Intelligence, and
forming attitudes needed to
"bring honor to the state,
my family, and the Univer
sity." Speaking of the purpose
of the University, he s a i d
that he didn't believe in the
"book-learning cliche."
"This is a great part of
the University," he said,
"but not the whole thing.
There are many students
who waste $2,000 a year be
cause they do not take ad
vantage of the many facets
of the University."
He said that social de
velopment and intellectual
development, are a great
part of the liberal educa
tion too. "You gain tools to
use after college," he said.
"College helps to build your
interest in things," he said.
"For instance, many of
the things I have become
interested in while at col
lege I will continue to read
about in the future."
"Every cotton p i c k i n'
thing you do here at the
University will benefit
you," he said. "Even if it's
bad, you will learn not to
do it again."
"There are 13.000 teach
ers for every student at the
University," Lonnquist said.
"There is something differ
ent about every student, and
something which you can
learn from each of them. "
"Nothing can beat just
sitting down and talking to
people and learning from
them. It's like an amoeba
you just assimilate things
from afl over in your en
vironment. The more yon
move around, the more you
assimilate. Sometimes you
don't realize yon are learn
ing, but yen do learn from
people if nothing else, just
bow to act with them or j
what tbeir interests are." '
i
Turning to his future,
Lonnquist said that he has
a job in a New York City
bank in management train
ing, "barring interference
from Uncle Sam."
And Uncle Sam might
step in. Lonnquist plans to
take a physical examination
next Thursday, and if he
passes it. he will be put
right up there at the top of
the list. If that should hap
pen, he said, he will prob
ably go into Naval officer
cadidate school.
Lonnquist decided to de
monstrate one of his bob
bies while being inter
viewed, and proceeded to
quietly take a small silver
object out of a leather case
on his belt. He silently
pushed a etople buttons,
and then click! He took bis
interviewer's picture.
His other hobbies have in
cluded weight-lifting and
chess.
Each night, to keep fit,
he runs around the block
and lifts weights.
"I try to get to bed ear
ly, but it seems like I al
ways get a phone call or
someone popping Into my
room. Once I wake up, f
enjoy talking to them and
helping tbem If tbey have
a problem," be said.
"I just wish everything
could be done in the day
time and everyone could
sleep at night."
Returning to his philoso
phy, Lonnquist told of a few
lines which he uses as a
guide in his life.
"I snail pass V -ough this
world but once. If, there
fore, there be any kindness
I can show, or any good
thing I can do, let me do
it now; let me not defer it
or neglect It, for I shall not
past this way again."
Hoping to help in s o m e
way, other students going
through college, Lonnquist
suggested three steps f o
them to take on entering col
lege. "First, sit down and
make a list of tilings you
want to accomplish. Re
member, you can't go all
ways.
"Second, aim high. Make
sure you have good goals.
"Third, decide you want
to attain your goals, and
you'll get them. You'll get
them because you want
them.
"People without goals are
like an egg dropped on the
floor," he said, "they are
scattered in all directions."
tit ' r
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JIM mM
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HARRIED HELLO ... The schedule is tight but the work
is satisfying for Outstanding Nebraskan Neale Copple.
ASUN Interviews
Interviews will be held Sat
urday for the positions of
Director of Records and
Treasurer of the ASUN.
Any regularly enrolled stu
dent at the University is eli
gible to interview.
Interested students sho"H
sign up in the Association of
fice by 5 p.m. Friday. Inter
views will begin at 9 a.m. in
the Assocation office.
Appointments shall be made
by the president, vice - presi
dent and the Executive Com
mittee of the Senate.
The director of records
shall be responsible to t h
president for the maintenance
f. , - " .'
if
r i V K .
1,
'k-"--Trw-ii.-(ii,i,l,iiiii -
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- . ,
OUTSTANDING PAIR . . . Professor R. Neale Copple and John Lonnquist were se
lected by the Daily Nebraskan staff to receive tbe Outstanding Nebraskan award.
Registration Fee Due
Before Cards Pulled
No class cards will be pulled
for students pre-registering
for the fall until the $25 class
reservation fee has been
paid to the Bursar's office,
Registrar Floyd Hoover has
announced.
The Registrar's office is
holding some 4,000 work
sheets, many for seniors, be
cause students have not yet
paid this fee.
Each day's delay in paying
this fee decreases a student's
chance to get the classes he
wants.
Last Daily Nebraskan
With this issue, the Daily
Nebraskan ends its activities
for the year.
Publication was stopped a
week early in observation of
Dead Week. A new staff will
be chosen late next week,
with applicants being notified
about interview times. Appli
cations will be accepted until
Wednesday at the School of
Journalism.
A I x
f I V
i i i
1 " J
Seek Treasurer
of clear and orderly records
of the Association, including
all minutes, legislation, de
crees and correspondence.
The treasurer, recording sec
retary, and corresponding sec
retary are all subordinate to
the director of records.
The treasurer shall be re
quired to aid the president in
preparation of the annual
banquet and aid him in its
presentation. He shall also
keep all financial records of
the Association and submit fi
nancial reports upon request
and correlate these activities
with the office of the director
of student activities.
-
7f:r
Three Receive
Poetry Awards
Two University undergrad
uates and an instructor were
awarded prizes for poetry in
special ceremonies at the
Faculty Club.
The $100 Academy of Ameri
can Poets Award was made
to David Cummings, instruc
tor of English and a gradu
ate student at the University.
The national prize is given
for excellence in the writing
of poetry. A similar award is
presented at each of 30 uni
versities in the United States
by the national Academy.
First place in the lone Gard
ner Noyes Poetry Awards
went to Patrick Drake. Pat
rick, who received $50 in prize
money, is a senior majoring
in English.
The $25, second place Noy
award went to Roy Scheele.
Shirley Schoonover of Lin
coln, a former University stu
dent and author of the recent
novel, "Mountain of Winter,"
addressed the award-winners
at the presentation ceremonies.
Copple As 'Inspiration'
Guides Future Reporters
By Wayne Kreuscher
junior Staff Writer
R. Neale Copple an out
standing journalist, an out
standing teacher, an out
standing person and now an
Outstanding Nebraskan.
The Daily Nebraskan staff
has chosen journalism pro
fessor R. Neale Copple as
the second semester 1965
faculty Outstanding Nebras
kan. As the letter nominating
Copple said, he is "an in
telligent man and a m a n
who has helped the Univer
sity's school of journalism
become one of the better
schools in the country to
day." Copple 's excellence stems
from his own journalistic
ability, his accomplishments
in teaching, his never end
ing demand for perfection
from himself and his stu
dents and his deep interest
in the University, his stu
dents and journalism as a
whole.
Copple. who graduated
from Nebraska in 1947 with
his Bachelor's Degree and
received his Master's De
gree from Northwestern in
1949, worked for the Lincoln
Journal and the Milwaukee
Journal before coming to the
University's school of
journalism in 1959.
He worked as city editor
of the Lincoln Journal and
as assistant Sunday editor.
Copple explained that he
has always loved working in
the newspaper business, but
he said that no experience
in his whole life has been
any more rewarding than
teaching the business he
loved-'
"When 1 worked on t h e
city desk of a newspaper,"
he said, "I was unable to
train reporters as I'd like to,
there was not time to train
them, but here I can push
them hard and make them
far better reporters than
what they otherwise would
be."
He emphasized the fact
that Dr. William Hall has
made the journalism school
one of the best in the coun
try and an excellent place
to work.
Copple pointed out that he
believes in making the stu
dents work hard. The only
way to make journalists, he
said, "is to have students
write bard and severely cri
ticize them afterwards."
One of the many things he
is responsible for at t h e
school of journalism is the
depth reporting class which
has brought the school and
its students some 40 awards
and national recognition.
Today his idea for depth
reporting which he first
started five years ago is
being utilized in other
schools throughout the coun
try. "Successful newspapers
are moving more and more
into this area of depth re
porting and research," he
said.
He pointed out that with
out the help of his secretary
Mrs. Emily Trickey the
depth reporting class could
never have accomplished as
much as it has.
Besides the three or four
stories that students write
and do research on in the
depth reporting class, they
all contribute at least one
story to a comprehensive
depth report which the
school of journalism pub
lishes. The school's depth report
on the Unicameral has
been called by at least one
University political science
professor the best compre
hensive report on the Uni
cameral in existence. Other
reports have been on pub
lic power in Nebraska. Ne
braska's culture and beau
ty, and Nebraska politics.
Besides being a journa
list, Copple is also an au
thor. He wrote the special Lin
coln Centennial report that
the Lincoln Journal and Star
Sunday paper had in 1959
on Lincoln's history. Later
his report was published
into what is considered one
of the best and most inter
esting histories of Lincoln
called Tower on the Plains.
Copple is now working on
a book about news reporting
w hich he expects to be pub
lished in the near future.
He explained that the new
book he is writing will car
ry students from beginning
reporting to government re
porting and word usage.
Both before and since he
has become part of the Uni
versity's school of journa
lism, Copple has received
many national rewards.
In 1958 he waas awarded
the American Political Sci
ence Association Award for
Local Government Report
ing. He also received the
American Association for
State and Local History
Award of his book Tower
on the Plains.
Other journalistic awards
he has received include the
Associated Press Managing
Editors Association award
for the Journal's coverage
of the Starkweather case
while he was city editor and
the State Kappa Tau Alpha
Award for service to journa
lism. Copple has also devoted a
large amount of time to
University journalism acti
vities outside of the school
itself. He is resigning this
year after three years as ad
visor for the Daily Nebras
kan and he is a ex-official
member of Pub Board.
He explained that as the
Daily Nebraskan's adviser
he believed in giving the
paper a free hand. "I nev
er interferred with the pa
per, but when I was asked
for advice or when some
thing very seriously went
wrong I was more than
willing to help," he said.
The letter recommending
Copple for this award clear
ly expressed the philosophy
he has followed as an ad
visor when it said he "has
enough respect for the abili
ty of the staff to allow them
to make the major decisions
for the paper. He realizes
that only through taking
responsibility will students
learn to stand on their own
feet."
He is also a member of
the Associated Press Man
aging Editors Writing Com
mittee which reviews Asso
ciated Press stories every
year and makes suggestions
to the organization.
In the future he plans to
write more books and con
tinue teaching at the Uni
versity. "The way Bill Hall
has built this school," he
said, "you have to be part
of progress in the future if
you are part of this chooL"
