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OPINION
Jo Stohlman, editor
5. Mi&e Kirkman, business manager
Page 2
Monday, March 14, 1966
An Open Letter to the Regents
ASUN, In a special meeting Sunday,
passed a resolution "respectfully request
ing and strongly urging" that you, the
Board of Regents, ask Gov. Morrison to
call a special session of the Legislature
"for the purpose of solving the current
instructional-financial problem."
We heartily endorse the student
senators' action in passing the reso
lution, and we ask that you will, with
all due consideration, follow their re
quest. The proposed "emergency fee," de
signed to meet the funds which are neces
sitated by errors in projected student en
rollments, has been presented to students
as a one-year charge only.
But Chancellor Hardin has admitted
that the fe "could very well" become a
permanent addition to tuition costs.
The Daily Nebraskan feels that
any addition to the tuition at this time
would pose an unfair burden on stu
dents at the University. We especially
. think that students should not be re
quired to make up the deficit in funds
needed for next year, in that students
were in no way responsible for the
misjudgments made regarding pro
jected student enrollments.
The Daily Nebraskan also feels, with
the student senators, that some measure
must be taken to provide more money
for the University. The possibility of a de
cline of the quality of instruction at the
University is a very real one, and some
thing must be done to prevent such a de
terioration. Thus, we all realize that the Univer
sity needs more money. The Daily Ne
braskan feels that it should come from the
Nebraska Legislature, and not from t h e
students.
We ask, with the senators, that
you seek to aid the University's and
the students' dilemma by asking Gov.
Morrison to call a special session of
the Legislature to appropriate the
needed monies.
Jo Stohlman
Faculty-Student Relations
"That a breech between students and
faculty on this campus is presently occur
ing is a fact generally admitted and ac
knowledged by both students and faculty
administrators alike."
Thus begins the problem which a re
port by an ASUN committee seeks to
solve or to at least offer constructive
suggestions for the lessening of the prob
lem. The Committee, headed by Sen.
JKathy Weber Frank, is the "Student
Faculty Relations Committee." In the
ten-page initial report of the group,
" the problem of lack of communication
. at the University between students
and instructors is outlined in great de
tail. Some of the committee's general
conclusions, while they may be "com
'. mon knowledge," are indeed interest
ing: 1. "Students find their relations with
professors perdominately only 'satisfac
tor'y' and express some disappointment
with 'aloof or 'pre-occupied' attitudes.
2. "While professors admittedly provide-
adequate opportunities for out-of-class
discussion, which students often fail
to take advantage of, there are serious
inhibiting factors which prevent students
from being as open as possible in their
relations with instructors.
3. "There exists a vital need for ac
curate, easily accessible information re
garding qualifications, educational back
grounds and distinctions of instructors,
regardless of rank.
The report goes on and on itemizing it."
and explaining student complaints which
are never unusual to hear. (It makes one
want to revise the cliche to "Everybody
talks about student-faculty relations, but
no one ever does anything about it.")
We feel this report could have a pro
found influence on the betterment of student-faculty
relations at the University.
But to mean something more than ten
sheets of paper, much more work on the
part of the committee must be done.
First, the report should be printed
in great numbers so that it may be
read by anyone interested and we
would hope not just a handful of ad
ministrators and student senators.
The information and analysis of the
problem is well done in the report, but it
must be brought to the attention of many,
rather than few, if it is to have any ef
fect. After the committee's initial evalua
tion of the student-faculty relations prob
lem, the committee plans to do further re
searchto offer some constructive sug
gestions. The suggestions of the commit
tee will have no value unless the initial re
port is publicized and assimilated by the
University populace.
We would suggest to the commit
tee that before doing further research,
they take steps to make their work
widely known. We would like to see
the cliche revised again to "Everyone
talks about student-faculty relations,
and people are doing something about
Lost Cool
By LIZ AITKEN
Well, there it is. The
motion has been passed
and now it is up to the
Regents to ask the Gover
nor to call a special session
of the Legislature. The
question still stands though.
Will they follow the stu
dents' motion or not?
At Thursday's meeting
Chancellor Hardin was pes
simistic in his prediction of
the chance of a special ses
sion being called because
of 1966 being an election
year. Well, it is my ques
tion, is it the primary pur
pose of the Board of Re
gents to play politics or is
it to consider the best in
terest of the University?
If I may point out the
obvious, students constitute
the major part of this Uni
versity, by sheer numbers
if nothing else. How then
can the Regents ignore a
motion passed by the repre
sentatives of over 15,000
people?
While this question may
be politically naive, I think
it is a valid one. If the Re-
gents do follow the proce
dure as outlined in ASUN
Senate's motion they will
be showing their backing of
the students at Nebraska.
What's more, they will be
in effect passing the buck
of responsibility. If the Re
gents ask Governor Morri
son to call a special ses
sion they will have fulfilled
their obligation and it will
be Morrison who will have
to answer to the students of
voting age just why t h e
Legislature wasn't called.
On the other hand, if the
Regents choose not to pe
tition Governor Morrison,
what are the students to
think?
Probably the average stu
dent would assume that the
Regents and-or the Admin
istration do not want a spec
ial session for fear of the
facts that would be turned
up.
Now of course, this as
sumption would not be val
id (as Chancellor Hardin
assured the Student Senate
that the mistake in calcu
lations was due to unfor
seen "forces working
against the administrators",
but you must admit it would
be a likely one for the stu
dents to accept.
All in all, It seems that
there is only one feasible
action for the Board of Re
gents to take Tuesday and
that is to show their back
ing of the students on this
campus by voting to re
quest a special session of
the Nebraska Legislature.
gssc
War Not Solution'
Intra-Collegiate News Service
The Vict Nam conflict
can and must be solved
without war, said Milan
Beslac, editor in - chief of
Vjesnik, a large Yugosla
vian daily newspaper.
Beslac, questioned by a
panel of student journalists
at California State Poly
technic College, said there
is no simple solution to the
war,- but peace overtures
should come from both
sides.
He rejected French Pres
ident Charles de Gaulle's
proposal to create a "third
force" of neutral nations,
among them Yugoslavia, to
help Seattle the Viet Nam
conflict.
"The late President Ken
nedy tried to conduct U.S.
foreign policy in a way
that excluded war as a
solution of differences," he
said, but "Lyndon Johnson's
polices don't excuse war . . .
they can create a world
war."
Beslac's paper, circula
tion about 100,000, is con
trolled by a 15-member edi
torial board, 10 of whom)
are Communists.
The Communist Party
only attempts to Influence
the public, it does not order.
But, fiie most progressive
elements of social initiative
take place within party
ranks, Beslac said.
Beslac has been touring
the United States a a guest
of he U.S. State Department
(Just Slightly Korrect)
After perusing the party
scene last weekend, lit still
seems nearly impossible
that the rushees of spring
and fall (the bubblegum
mers) could turn into world
wise freshmen so soon. But
consider the question that
one of these young inno
cents is likely to ask you
. . . "How can you tell a
freshman?"
Who can say what it is?
In dress they soon look like
everyone else in their
groups (i.e. Geeks, Indepen
dents, Radicals, etc.) Their
attitudes are also typical,
with the "I don't give a
damn" most popular (by
recent poll of eight stu
dents). Then again, this new
group is beginning to ap
preciate some of the cam
pus beauties, such as park
ing area C-9, more often
known as the Columnis.
Sooner than can be be
lieved, the freshmen (and
fresih-women) will fade into
the crowd and become such
normal types as Sam
Scared (of the draft) and
Willa Wishing (for her
Sorry About That!
Being a compendium of farce, absurdity
and comment, selected arbitrarily by the
editor . . .
Thought for the Day: Is Sgt. Barry
Sadler really a member of the VC?
About this time is about the time for
tests. Well, we hate to be left out, so we've
taken a small amount of our usual audaci
ty to compose our very own test. If you've
been doing your outside reading, you
should have no problems.
Part I. Multiple choice (3 points)
The Editor is a. a boy, b. a girl, c. a
fink.
The Editor is a. bright, b. intelligent,
c. apathetic.
The Editor's favorite color is a. red,
b. blue, c. candy.
Part II: True or False: (59 points)
History is bunk.
Part II: Fill in the Blanks: (70 points)
If the above is correct, is and .
Part V. Essay (21 points)
Are you now or have you ever been?
I feel this test will offer a measure
ment not only of the student's knowledge,
but also upon whatever wisdon is accured.
Upon completion of the exam, take it to
the University Psychiatric Clinic and hand
it to the first person you see. Try to act
like you know what you're doing.
A passing thought on Gen. Le wl i B.
Hershey:
And be these juggling fools no more be
lieved. That palter with us in a double sense;
That keep the word of promise to our ear,
And break it to our hope.
Macbeth
Ode to the Red Hoods
Spring is sprung,
The grass is riz,
I wonder where
The Innocents is.
I really wasn't going to say anything
about it, and I really tried to constrain
myself, but there comes a time when
convertible tops just must come down.
For all the delightful weather, we're not
Sorry About That!
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Another Viewpoint
Never Pass 'Go'
(Editor's Note: The fol
lowing editorial is re
printed from the Daily Io
wan. The problem which it
discusses education and
cheating poses a univer
sal student dilemma.)
The name of the game is
education, and it's probab
ly the greatest thing since
the Parker Brothers hit up
on Monopoly. Education is
a game for the whole fam
ily. As with all games, the
idea is to win. Winning oc
curs when one or more
players is able to move his
pawn into the circle marked
"Success."
There is something
strange about the game,
however. Somehow, in the
heat of moving ahead, the
players forget the rules or
confuse the rules of educa
tion with the rules of some
other games.
For instance, if a play
er's pawn lands on a square
marked "Exam," he Is giv
en a chance to throw the
dice. If the dice turn to
double sixes, he is allowed
to move his pawn to the
square marked "A." If the
dice turn up snake eyes, he
must move three spaces
backward.
Those rules sound simple
enough, but what often hap
pens is that the players for
get that two pawns may
rest on a single "A" square,
and one pla ar will p u a a
another pawn off the square
to make room for his own.
This soon develops into a
game of eagle-eyed obser
vation. Each player must
protect his pawn from the
others.
The originators of the
game were careful to in
clude provisions that would
allow several people to
reach "Success," in the
same playing period. In the
evolution of the game, how
ever, this concept has been
lost, and most players now
seem to think only one can
win there can be no suc
cess left over for another.
The whole situation of the
game of education Is un
fortunate in that, while It
used to be a game played
because they wanted to, it
is now a game played out
of compulsion.
The test is the measure
of the man. He either makes
it or he doesn't, all on the
basis of a test or two or
three. His is never to rea
son why. And how can he
help feeling that he's one
of the big losers in the
game of education?
Learning isn't the goal of
the game; success is. It
matters terribly wheth
er you win or lose; how you
play the game is a second
ary consideration. Cheating
is but one indication that
s t u d e n t 8 are revolting
against the System.
As George Leonard writes
in the current issue of Look
magazine: "Students may
be morally wrong, in cheat
ing. Educationally they are
right."
If there were no tests,
there would be no cheating,
but how would our m a s s
production universities ever
evaluate their product? How
would those universities wee
out applicants for admis
sion? How would the in
structor ever instruct with
out his exams?
The rut is deep, but we
are not resigned.
Daily Nebraskan
Mwnffer Associated Collegiate
Press, National Advertising
Service, Incorporated. Published
at Room 51, Nebraska Union,
Lincoln, Nebraska.
Entered wnl cltu matter at
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EDITORIAL STAFF
Editor, JO STOHLMANi maaaalna
editor, STEVE HUNOEKFOHDi a'wi
editor, WAYNE KREUSCHKBi aporls
edllar, JIM PEABNti alaht news
dltor, JON Kl IillNOIF i senior stall
irltars, JAN ITK1N, BRUCE OII.KH.
I LIE MORRIS l junior staff writers,
AND IRfit, TONI VICTOB, NAN.
CV MFMlKH KKON, photoKranhcri,
TOM Kl BIN, RICH EISI.KRi copy edl
an, POLLY BHVNOLDS, LOIS ttlllN-fiETT.
AI Capp's Funnies
Dear Editor,
I've always considered myself something of an amateur
philosopher. And one of the things I've learned is that it
isn't the name that counts in a man, but rather, the im
portarot thing is what's inside.
I've got what they call a photogenic mind, and when
troubles arise, or temptations tempt me I just close my
eyes, lean back in my chair, and think of Al Capp s fun
nies Sure, I know "Albert Capp" is a stupid name, but
just remember - it's not the name that counts . . . etc.
Remember this too: with Capp' answers, we dont need
any questions.
GERTRUDE ILLL
Editor Easy To Figure Out?
Dear Editor, ' . t
I think I've finally figured out your attitude toward stu
dent apathy.
You figure that if you make references to student apa
thy, then all the students who know deep down inside that
they don't give a darn can get really mad at your calling
them apathetic.
And then these students who don t care can yell and
scream and call you names because they don't like being
called apathetic.
And then what is the result? Well, in the action they
took calling you names, criticizing your criticism, etc.
then they are taking a stand and whoosh, apathy is gone.
Well, at least it's gone in one way they aren't apa
thetic and they do care where their self-image is involved.
You're really pretty easy to figure out. (I've had a
course in psychology) And see, I'm not apathetic either,
because I wrote this letter.
Mortimer Snerd
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j Mother Courage ...
1 'Exciting Theatre' j
By PETE CLARK
Department of Englisfh
An ambitious group of University actors and actresses
have undertaken the most demanding theatrical enter
prise in many a season. Under the skillfull direction of
Dallas Williams, they have accepted and met the challenge
of Bertolt Brecht and his "epic" theatre, and what is more
significant, they have accepted this challenge in full view
of Brechtian dramaturgy. The result if Mother Courage,
which had its initial performance at the Howell Theatre
Friday.
One must applaud the effort; it is a highly commend
able and successful attempt at struggling with a tough
assignment. Although this production is not free from
flaws, it would seem impossible to make a perfect merger
of Brecht's unorthodox theatrical beliefs with bis social
philosophy when dealing with Mother Courage. To quibble
over the "major" flaws of the University production
length and episodic structure is to quibble with Brecht
and not Williams.
Mother Courage was written prior to World War II in
1939, and hag for Its background the 17th century Thirty
Years War between Catholics and Protestants. Working
within this historical framework, Brecht reveals himself
as a militant pacifist who would teach a horrible object
lesson on war.
This unrelentling and antagonistic sweep of history is
confronted on its own base terms by Brecht's protagonist,
Mother Courage, a vulturous peddler who feeds on the car
nage of war. Being neither highborn nor high-minded, this
anti-hero has no illusions or delusions of what life is about.
Life is a never-ending, no-holds-barred struggle for
survival, recognizing no code of honor or justice. Mother
Courage's religion, though she would strongly deny the ex
istence of any such thing, consists in but one dogma: the
continued welfare of herself and her three children at any
and all costs.
With her canteen wagon of goods, Courage plays, con
nives and barters with the world for existence. No deal
is too underhanded, no price is too dear to pay, if self-advancement
can be achieved.
Brecht clearly points out that her own lust for survival
never becomes subordinate to anything, not even her ma
ternal love. And it is this very fervent and persistent af
firmation of Life in the midst of the death and desolation
that makes Mother Courage one of the few great modern
tragedies.
In a tour de force performance, Marceine Sweetser
brings to the character of Mother Courage the necessary
mixture of restraint and vitality which underlies this
powerful yet heart-breaking symbol of human indomita
bility. From the light frivolity which she shows with the Cook
and the Chaplain to the consciously repressed sorrow at
the loss of two of her children, Swiss Cheese and Kattrin,
Miss Sweetser is superbly triumphant. In fact, it is in these
latter moments of the play that Miss Sweetser achives a
rare theatrical quality of pure, unadulterated emotion,
without clouding the air with sentimental claptrap.
Her unexpected collapse stemming from stifled emo
tions is extremely effective. Dallas Williams hag been
successful In conveying Brecht'g notion of the necegsity of
toughnesg in a world which holds no worth in idle tears.
Although Mother Courage dominates the stage, Jan
Healey's portrayal of Kattrin, the mute daughter, stood out
in a generally noteworthy cast. Forced by a previous war
to live her life in muted silence, Kattrin can give no voice
to the affection and tenderness which pervades her inner
beige. Throughout most of the play she is a figure of brood
ing and whimpering Ineffectiveness, aptly underplayed by
Miss Healey.
Other actors whose performances come quickly to
mind were Dean Tschetter as the "Peter-Piper" Cook,
John Guinty as the hypocritical Protestant Chaplain, and
Susan Nohr as Yvette, the girl who "fraternized behind
the trees."
Director Williams and set designer, Charles Howard,
have done their best to execute an "alienation effect".
Many Brechtian devices are employed to detach the audi
ence from any emotional attachment to Mother Courage.
Each episode scene is preceded by a brief description of
the setting and action that will follow. These descriptions
are projected onto a stage-front screen.
In addition to these stage techniques, Williams makes
significant use of Paul Dessau's atonal and dissonant musi
cal score. The disarming music seems to be mocking the
attempts of the actors to reach the audience.
However, these valuable attempts to "alienate" the
audience were doomed to failure. No matter how much
Brecht would have hoped, we cannot detach ourselves and
view Mother Courage as a petty and despicable offspring
of a war-mongering society.
Those who are familiar with Brecht will see him here
in all his glory and all his failure. Those who ttre unfa
miliar with Brecht will see exciting theatre.
