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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 4, 1999)
EDITOR Josh Funk OPINION EDITOR Mark Baldridge EDITORIAL BOARD Lindsay Young Jessica Fargen Samuel McKewon Cliff Hicks Kimberly Sweet Our VIEW Supreme, sweeping High court justices convene today Nine of the most powerful people in this country convened this morning to adjudicate the law. In what is expected to be an influential year, the U.S. Supreme Court faces many issues, such as tobacco regulation, abortion protests and religion in schools. Many sweeping changes to our social landscape have been handed down by the Supreme Court. It is in position to do it again. Those nine justices serve for life, hand 66 Even presidents have bowed before the whims of this bunch. Now thats power. his hide. ing down their own words as the supreme law of the land. This year, the court will decide whether the Food and Drug Administration may regulate tobacco. Joe Camel could soon have a nutrition facts label tattooed on The court will also examine the separa tion of church and school with a half dozen different cases. Under Chief Justice William Rehnquist, the court will again rule on the division of power between state and feder al governments. Rehnquist has worked to give more power to the states using the principles of federalism. Little can be done once the court has ruled. Even presidents have bowed before the whims of this bunch. Now that’s power. ' The court also provides a lasting legacy for the president making appointments. Just look at Rehnquist, a Richard Nixon appointee, who was elevated to chief by Ronald Reagan. The next president is expected to appoint as many as three justices to the court, which could skew its ideological balance. Conservatives lead the current panel, but the most contentious issues slide by on only a 5-4 vote. The balance of power could shift either way in the next few years. Justice John Paul Stevens, a liberal, and Rehnquist, a conservative, have said they might not resign until a president with their beliefs takes office. A change in the court could clear the way for more sweeping rulings in issues such as abortion, the separation of church • and state and police searches and seizures. When choosing a president next year, remember the legacy that could be left behind. Editorial Policy Unsigned editorials are the opinions of the Fall 1999 Daily Nebraskan. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Nebraska-iincoln, its employees, its student body or the Un<versity of Nebraska Board of Regents. A column is solely the opinion of its author. The Board of Regents serves as publisher of the Daily Nebraskan; policy is set by the Daily Nebraskan Editorial Board,Tne UNL Publications Board, established by the regents, supervises die production of the paper. According to poGcy set by the regents, responsibly for the editorial content of the newspaper lies solely in the hands of its student employees. 1 Letter Policy The Daily Nebraskan welcomes brief letters to the editor and guest columns, but does not guarantee their publication. The Daily Nebraskan retains the right to edit or reject any material submitted. Submitted material becomes property of the Daily Nebraskan and cannot be returned. Anonymous submissions will not be published. Those who submit letters must identify themselves by name, year in school, major and/or group affiliation, if any. Submit material to: Daily Nebraskan, 20 Nebraska Union, 1400 R St. Lincoln, NE. 68588-0448. E-mail: letters@unKnfo.unl.edu. Obermeyer’s VIEW ^=r LOT WILL BE - Closed AT |o-00PM mm violators will BE "TOWEP AT OWNERS' EXPENSE ulsv TjT^Vou MoPoW, TUfft PARKIN G" P6RM1T W PA IP Too MVJCH FOR WILJ ' og WRTHL^lttlS sinuRPW Beoygf UIE’RE 601Nfr TO ccil IT OFf |U, suit wsf® WHO CAR£S T7\^ SQUAT ABOUT YOUK £pUCAT DN LETTERS Shanty Ranty Upon opening the paper on Tuesday morning, I was very pleased to see a wonderful editorial asking stu dents to give a dollar to the Shantytown and explaining the importance of a project like this. I applaud the DN for this positive reinforcement. However, I was very disappointed to see the editorial cartoon of the day depicting the Shantytown and Habitat for Humanity as unfeeling to the needs of the homeless. Yes, Shantytown is a representa tion of substandard housing, and Habitat for Humanity does work to eliminate substandard and poverty housing and not homelessness. But hey, you have to start somewhere. I understand that Mr. Obermeyer is just trying to create a little humor and that his main purpose is satire and cyn icism, but I would like to ask him: Couldn’t you find a real problem on campus to attack? By mocking the Shantytown, all that is done is possibly creating a negative light and hurting a worthwhile cause. Chris Stone senior dietetics publicity, public relations and education chairwoman UNL Habitat for Humanity Constant Denigration I take offense at the string of car toons printed in the DN depicting Jesus in a negative light. Why is it that this university does n’t approve of material that might be deemed insensitive, disrespectful or prejudicial toward the Muslim, American Indian, Jewish or Buddhist faiths, yet allows the constant degrada tion of the Christian faith? On campus, racial prejudice is not condoned. The Daily Nebraskan should adopt a standard that respects religions, as well. Robert Overkamp senior psychology “Commend” or “Condemn”? I would like to commend Neal Obermeyer on his consistently witty humor as the editorial cartoonist. I (as well as my peers) have been so entertained with his “political satire” that I flip through the pages to read it first. I admit that I used to be one of those people that “staked the entire integrity of the newspaper upon whether or not the crossword puzzle ran” (quote from a long-past article that I highlighted, cut out and stuck on my fume hood). However, I have recently (the start of this semester) turned over a new leaf based upon Neil’s work. The other person who also deserves my praise as well as credit for my “leaf turning” is Mark Baldridge. I enjoy reading his columns (now as well as last year) almost as much as I enjoy Obermeyer’s View. Keep up the good work, fellas. It is well appreciated. Paul Hrvatin graduate student chemistry Drunken Stupor It’s unfortunate that Obermeyer’s “View” of the sorority third-vendor agreement (Friday) would be as nega tive and as mean-spirited as it appeared to be. Obermeyer assumes the worst pos sible motives for the policy and seems to have difficulty accepting that col lege students, especially greeks, might actually have responsible attitudes about alcohol or are at least trying to consider new possibilities away from dangerous, too often deadly, “social traditions.” What I am most concerned about, however, is Obermeyer’s representa tion of UNL students, who seem quite tired of being seen as irresponsible lushes who live for the next drunken stupor. It certainly would be nice to have the DN fight on the same side as the majority of UNL students. Tom Workman NU Directions Classless Society The cartoon, if you can call it such, on the opinion page Thursday was grossly offensive to a very large minor ity group. It is with great sorrow that we had to view this kind of trash in the DN. The cartoon illustrates insensitivity at its fullest extent, plus demonstrates a total lack of knowledge about the sub ject being talked about in this cartoon. A blank section of the page would have been more humorous or thought provoking and had more “class” than the “trash” that was printed. The line between trash and class is very clear to the trained mind. It is obvious that the cartoonist does not possess class, or he would never have made the drawing in the beginning. For the editor to allow such trash to appear in the paper reflects that he is lacking in class, also. Since “a sense of class” is the result of having an educated mind and an educated mind is the result of learning, it looks like some teaching is in order to create an educated mind. Tony Schkade assistant director Registration and Records Neal Obermeyer/DN