THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 1931,
TWO
THE DAILY NEBRASKAN
The Daily Nebraskan '
Station A. Lincoln, Nebraska
OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA
Assort ntrct (Kfttttnintr 'IJrfss
'K""i " -'
I9JJ (J,H0.MLCrKTJi!,"By Je
Cntsrad as second-cisst matter at th poatoffica In
Lincoln, Nebraska, under act of congress. March 3, 1870,
and at special rata of postaage provided for In section
1103, act el October 8, 1917, authorized January 20, 19SS.
THINTV.THIRD VtAR
Published Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and
Sunday mornings during tha academle year.
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Laurence Hall Edltor-ln-chlef
Managing Editors
I) rues Nlcoll Violet Cross
News Editors
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Assistant Buslnsss Managers
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Wilbur Erlckson
Without
A Quorum.
pO more striking example of student lethargy
could be found than the lack of interest that
found the Student council without a quorum present
at the time of Its Wednesday evening meeting.
The men and women elected by the student
body last spring were chosen for the purpose of di
recting the affairs of campus activities. But was
the council representing the student body Wednes
day night? It was not; there were not enough mem
bers present for the council to represent anything.
There would be some excuse for lack of inter
est in the council, perhaps, if it were a body with
out power or without work to do. Members might
very well be excused for not taking proper interest
in -the council if it was aimless or without value.
But the council is not aimless. It has power, if the
members will but stir themselves from their intel
lectual coma, and there is work for the council to do.
Broad purposes are set forth In its constitution.
For the enlightenment of the deadhead members we
quote: "The purposes of this organization shall be
to act M the supreme) student governing body in
the regulation and co-ordination of all phases of
student self-government and extra-curricular activi
ties and to serve as an agency through which fac
ulty relationships with student activities may be
maintained." Ths council's constitution is set forth
in detail in the university catalog, and if the mem
bers of the body will read it they will discover
that under its provisions the powers they may exer
cise are of a broad and general nature.
But the council can do nothing if its individual
members do not take sufficient Interest In their
duties to attend meetings and take an active part
in the body's work.
Already this year there have been enough pos
sible projects to make council membership a posi
tion of responsibility. The questions that have been
raised, however, will remain in the realm of mere
possibilities as long as the legislators continue to
manifest their disinterest in everything but their
own comfort
A short time ago, for example, a proposal to
establish a permanent university booking agency
was broached. Nothing has been accomplished.
At the beginning; of the year the institution of
what was to have been i "clean-up" policy called for
a comprehensive examination of the constitutions of
campus organizations. The survey got as far as
the Corn Cobs, who were reorganized, but no fur
ther. Attempts to institute a series of "varsity part
ies" were made. No definite council action has ever
been taken.
So it goes. There is work for the student leg
islature to do, but as long as the present situation
persists, everything falls on the heads of perhaps
half a dozen representatives. Other council mem
bers, when they come to meetings, do nothing more
vital than sit in passive stupidity.
Only one conclusion can be drawn from the
facts as they have revealed themselves throughout
the semester; council members, chosen in the pres
ent way do not fulfill their obligations to the student
body in any satisfactory manner. Absence from
meetings that fall at 5 o'clock indicates that the
alleged legislators represent only their own animal
desires for food. The situation is disgraceful.
To Clarify
Any Doubts.
REVELLING a barrage of statements against the
activity tax plan, "Timothy," whose letter ap
peared in yesterday's Nebraskan, labels the project
a "farce." Criticizing ths 'student council for not
"leaving well enough alone" he continues his objec
tion to the plan by assuring us that he, for one, is
against the plan which he characterizes as "a
scheme to force student support of publications and
athletic tickets."
We admit that "Timothy's" criticisms of the tax
plan are timely. We assume, also, that the attack
ho makes upon the project is typical of a small per
centage of the student body. We believe, neverthe
less, that the present council has acted wisely in
furthering its efforts to revive interest In the pro
ject. Outlining its procedure in a more comprehen
sive manner than the method used last year, the
student council has set about to insure a represent
ative and accurate picture of student opinion on the
question. Setting up a special committee composed
of student organization heads, the council has col
laborated with this group since the middle of the
semester. As a result of their efforts, the tentative
tax plan, which in itself required an infinite amount
of work to complete, has been drafted.
During the payment of rees for the second se
mester, students will be given an opportunity to
vote upon the tentative plan. Using the results of
this poll as an indication of student sentiment, the
remainder of the semester will be spent by council
members drafting a blanket tax to be presented to
the board of regents. That group will decide the
fate of the project. This, in brief, is the proposed
line of action which the council has outlined for its
major project of the year.
gOME justification, perhaps, may be found to up
hold Timothy's objection to the compulsory
feature of the tax plan. He indicates that compul
sion attached to the plan may work hardship upon
no small percentage of the student population.
It must be admitted, pereforce, that Timothy's
point is well taken. But exemptions to students
whose budgets could not stand the additional strain
created by such a tax, have been considered at
length by council members. Realizing, at the out
set, that the activity tax would be little more than
useless if put upon a voluntary basis, the council
has spent much time in perfecting a workable
scheme, thru which students actually in dire straits
would be granted exemption from paying the tax.
Items included in the present plan, Timothy
charges, have not enough value to justify the claim
that they are of all student interest. It must be
realized, however, that a necessary discrimination
between activities must be made If the plan was to
be at all feasible. Confronted with a maze of stu
dent activities and enterprises, sponsors, of neces
sity, have made an arbitrary discrimination, based
primarily upon two arguments: First, that those
activities which were most representative of the stu
dent body be included In the plan; and second, those
activities which have the greatest possibility ot
campus-wide participation. It must be admitted,
however, that whatever standard is used will be
open to criticism. The ballot to be used in voting,
however, has space for students to write in what
ever activities they feel should deserve campus wide
SUDDOrt
Timothy very bluntly albeit foolishly, admits
that he doesn't care, regardless of the outcome. Un
fortunately the utter complacency which finds its
voice in Timothy's letter, only too truly character
izes the attitude of many Nebraska students. Such
a complacent run of mind is, in a measure, the cause
that lies behind the exceeding dullness of the
campus extra-curricular life. ,
While it must be admitted that the tax plan will
guarantee publications financial support, it cannot
bo said that such a design was prompted by selfish
motives. It has as its purpose, on the other hand,
a financial guarantee upon which ubllcatlons and
othere student enterprises may lay definite plans,
thus insuring a consistent and better quality of
service to the students.
The tax plan goes further than that, however,
by making far more probable a unified spirit on the
camnus. since all instead of Just part of the students
will be taking part in various student enterprises.
DRIEFLY, arguments in favor of the proposed ac
tivity tax plan, may be summed up as follows:
Under the nlan. every student pays the tax,
thus making the cost of the various enterprises to
each individual greatly reduced.
All enterprises and publications which are a
part of the activity tax plan, are guaranteed a cer
tain financial support and enn lay their plans de
finitely to insure a uniform quality of their services
to the students.
The tax plan provides a means for financing
such contemplated campus improvements as a stu
dent union building, which is, it appears, clearly the
best way of financing the projects.
The tax plan eliminates the necessity for so
many subscription sales and campaigns. The tax
takes care of these items in semcsterly payments.
For those who are unable to pay, exemption
will be made.
Contemporary Comment
The Liberal
Youths.
For sheer poverty of thought
and complete lack of intellectual
courage no recent occurrence on
an American campus is more
strikingly representative than the
refusal of the American Student
Federation to approve a resolution
condemning censorship of the col
lege press.
To the resolution offered by a
delegate from Columbia university
the reactionary representatives of
175 colleges and universities
turned a cold shoulder and indif
ferently voted to table it. The
shoddy thinking of the convention
was accurately expressed in one
delegate's dismissal of the resolu
tion with the assertion that he for
one "did not want his college's
dirty linen hanging on the line for
public gaze."
In coldly turning their smug
backs on the proposal for a free
and uncensored college press the
National Student Federation Is
definitely committed to the con
tinuance of worthless campus
house organs which persistently
close their eyes to the real issues
of the present day American uni
versity, and, Instead, confine their
Pollvanna efforts to continuous
glorification of the picayune af
fairs of the campus. That such a
condition of journalistic poverty
exists among American universi
ties and colleges is amply demon
strated by careful reading of the
scores of dailies and weeklies
which clutter up our desk every
day.
It seems almost incredible that
the moss-covered minds of the
delegates who voted for a "kept"
press were not In some small
measure, at least, exhilarated by
the wholesome atmosphere of the
new. liberal spirit in the nation's
capital. That they have refused to
accent the challenge for a free
press and free exchange of con
flicting idea3 is striking evidence
that a great mass of American
students trod far behind their
elders in the march toward social
and intellectual progress. Wis
consin Cardinal.
Starting to
Work Sooner.
Willie is a sfudent In the school.
Thru a period of years he has
struggled for an education. During
his high school days he worked
after school, giving up the chance
he had for athletic prominence so
that he could help at home; where
what little help he could give was
needed. With graduation from high
school, Willie thought of college. . .
but only thought. Circumstances
did permit his starting to school,
with a Job on the side, selling eggs.
With the debacle of 1929 and the
resultant drop in egg values, Willie
found himself with all his eggs in
one basket and they a dime a
dozen.
So Willie sought other outlets for
bis energy, and bis desire for an
education. He found a job that
kept him up until 1 o'clock in the
morning and paid $30 a month, on
which he was able to continue in
college. The next year, Willie ad
vanced a bit He got $40 a month
and twenty hours more work per
week.
When Willie arrived at the es
tate of senior in college he was
worn out but game. He landed a
job working only forty-eight hours
a week, which kept him up until 2
o'clock. Then came the NRA and
Willie's wages were reduced to the
minimum as were his 'lours. But
that solved few problems.
While Willie had been drudging
away at his work, grinding out his
lessons, supposedly getting a col
lege education, his youth was fly
ing out the window. One day he
took a look at himself abstractedly.
Here is what he saw:
A man of 23, averagely dressed,
stoop-shouldered from his indoor
work, pasty-white complexioned,
unmannered socially because of
lack of opportunity; without
friends, without social contacts,
without acquaintances among the
girls at college, and with three
fourths of an education. Willie
found himself burned out, physi
cally and mentally. There was lit
tle thrill in college any more. That
had gone out the window, too.
A college education without the
fullness and wholeness of college
life is not a college education. If a
part must be sacrificed so that the
other part may be realized, it is
better to do without any.
Working one's way thru college
used to be the finest embodiment
of American youth that the educa
tors could hold up to a bedazzled
American public, intoxicated with
the idea of a college education. To
day as a result, there are too many
Willies looking abstractedly at
themselves and not finding the pic
ture pretty. THE SUNFLOWER.
The State
That Was.
The people of California do not
deserve the ill fortune that the
gods of weather and eathquake
have showered upon them. But the
ballyboo artists of those coastal re
gions had it coming, and we are
pardoned a bit of midwestern
gloating when we point to the sev
eral acts of an irate providence
that have done much to mulllfy the
more attractive features of the ho
boes' paradise.
Los Angeles has admitted that
it had a slight quake last year, and
its schoolmen have Intimated Chat
many of Its school buildings are
now unsafe. During the holidays a
slight "clearing-up" shower burst
the parched banks of the Los An
geles river and carried scores of
cottages toward the sea. While
coroners worked overtime, Gov.
James Roloh lent bis vocal aid to
the relief workers. He declined to
state that the flood was Cali
fornia's warning to kidnapers.
To cap California's tragedy, a
well-fed Stanford team was thrown
to a lean pack of Columbia lions
In a wet Pasadena pold-fish bowl.
Alonr with ColumWa ana possi
bly some few other unfeeling mis
anthropes, we contemplate with
satisfaction the complete debunk
ing of California tha state that
was! ..
Minnesota Daily.
Interviews
With Ghosts
by Maurice Johnson
This Is one ot a aeries ot imaginary
dialogues concerning the Ideal university
Ille. The dialogues will appear at regu
lar bi-weekly Intervals.
CONFUCIUS
"I was a teacher who went
among the people and talked," said
Confucius. In his exotic robes this
ghost inspired awe, and yet he was
humble as he spoke.
"Then you approve of the So
cratic, rather than the mass
method of university education?"
I asked.
He nodded sagely. "Words of
wisdom should not be flung into
the winds. I personally answered
my pupils' queries and discussed
matters of life with them."
"You found no difficulties in
your method?" I asked.
"No." he told me. "Only girls
and servants are hard to train."
"In what should university stu
dents be instructed?" I asked.
"The wise professor," said Con
fucius' ghost, "will keep old knowl
edge akindle in his students'
minds and add new knowledge as
well. He should subject their minds
to poetry. Poetry vould ripen
them, teach them insight, fellow
feeling, and forebearance.
"What is the purpose of learning
under a professor?" I asKed.
"Wisdom, rather than prowess,"
he told me. "Wisdom is to know
mankind, just as love Is to love
mankind."
"Would you advise meditation
Chinese-fashion?" I asked.
"Study without thought," said
Confucius, "is vain."
"But vice-versa," I began.
He nodded. "Yes, it is also true
that thought without study is a
dangerous thing.
"If you could choose an ideal
pupil," I said, "what -ort would
he be?"
"Such a scholar, to be taken into
my heart," said Confucius, "should
The manly art
of self-defense
Two Commercial Clubs
Will Hold Joint Party
a 4;nf narftf nt h men'8 and
A JW"i f J 7" ... -
women's commercial club will te
eiven Saturday. Jan. 16 at the Lin-
dell hotel. Music for the occasion
will be furnished by Julius Luaiam
and his band. The -wty is ror
members of the two cluu - 'y.
71EIV5 SUITS, TOPCOATS
AND OVERCOATS A
HEN'S FELT HATS 55C
Ladies Plain Dresses & Coats 75c
Additional Charge for Pleats, Frills and Fur Trimming
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CALL F2377 for Service
21st aV G Streets
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a - -. iB
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Western Electric, manufacturing unit of the
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cable ready to meet all comers. When laid directly
in the ground, this cable defends itself against
moisture, grit, corrosion and other enemies.
Besides the usual lead sheath, the tiny copper
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In pioneering and producing improved appa
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BELL SYSTEM
WHY NOT TAKE A TRIP HOME BY TELEPHONE?
TONIGHT AT HALF-PAST EIGHT
be In quest of truth. It would not
matter whether he had wealth or
nothing. A student who is
ashamed of poor clothes and poor
food it is idle talking to."
"That is true," I agreed.
Confucius was silent for a long
while, slowly nodding ills head.
Then he said: "True knowledge
Is this to know that you know,
when you know, and to know that
you do not know, when you do not
know!"
One of the traditions at Purdue
university in Lafayette, Indiana Is
that there is no smoking in any
building on the campus. There are
certain areas on the campus in
which students are allowed to
smoke, but there is a traditional
aversion for even that much.
Editorial Staff
to Have Photos
Taken Thursday
Workers on the editorial
side of the Dally Nebraskan
will meet at 4:30 Thursday
afternoon at tha studio to
have a group picture taken.
All reporters and staff mem
bers are urged to bo present
The Student Pulse
Brlel, ennclee contribution! perti
nent to matters of stnaent life and
Ihr university are welcomed by this
ilp-irt.iieut, under the aeuul testrlc
tloni of sound newspaper practice,
which eseludre all Undone matter
and personal attacks. Letters mint
be slsnrd, but namee will be with
i eld from publication If so desired.
Rebuke for Tax Opposition
TO THE EDITOR:
Will someone please tell me
was "Timothy" trying to be sar
castle or funny? In any case
thought was not a part of his de
cision. Neither the student control
nor anyone else is trying to force
an activity tax upon students. Ex
emptions are a part of the plan.
As to the merits of the tax, there
are many, I suspect that "Timo
thy" has a queer and peculiar
sense of valuo after reading his np-
praisal of campus publications. I
suspect, further, that ho has little
regard for any puoucations. in
truth his attitude is Comparable
with that of a man who commen
ted on my decision to enter Jour
nalism by saying, "We need black
smiths but we do not need news
papers." Of course, he vas a blacksmith.
The value of campus publica
tions exceeds by far the few dol
lars of cost. "Timothy" forgeta
that the seniors who are working
hard for a tax will never receive
Its direct benefits. "Timothy" evi
dently does nothing that is not di
rectly beneficial to himself. Obvi
ously he cannot profit from the
tax with such an uncompromising
and narrow attitude. He alone is
the loser and he should be.
J. H. B.
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