Page -2
THE NEBRASKAN
Friday, December 18, 1953
EDITORIAL PAGE
Hail, The Returning Hero!
Seven thousand publicity agents tomorrow
begin a two-week campaign of publicizing
the University.
Actually, the 7000 are University students
who will be trying to make the most of a
little vacation. But, nevertheless, they act as
advertisers of their college.
If the 7000 were grade-school students,
this would be the time to advise them to act
nice, stay out of trouble and give glowing re
ports about the University.
Grade schoolers might even be asked to tell
their friends about school and to Interest
them in enrolling In the University.
But these 7000 publicity agents supposedly
sire not of this caliber (even if they come to
the University unprepared for college work).
Their reports to the home-town then must
be of a different nature. Actually, their
function might best be defined as that of
epokesman. They will be asked concerning
tvery conceivable facet of the University
and will be expected tp answer with a state
ment of official policy. j
First, undoubtedly, the home folks will
want to know what ailed the football team.
The surprising aspect of their question will
probably be that .they, have acquired more
"inside dope" from barber shop debates than
the stammering student, who by this time
has forgotten how many games the Huskers
lost.
The out-staters will want to know about
the Clyde Mitchell-Farm Bureau controversy.
Half of them perhaps will not have heard of
the Regents' statement which endorsed
Mitchell but they'll remember what the
Farm Bureau and the Omaha regent said.
Some, hcme-towners may have visions of a
Commie-packed Ag College. ,
The 7000 spokesmen had better stick a few
extra copies of the Regents' statement In their
pockets if they hope to prove that classroom
freedom has been formally Insured.
Probably the most difficult part of answer
ing questions about the Mitchell affair will
revolve around explaining what academic
freedom is and why it is necessary. .
Some Nebraskans may have got wind of
Good Intentions
The theory that "It's not the gift that
counts, but the thought behind it" is part of
the generous spirit of Christmas. Pop says it
as he opens his third package containing an
vaqua tie. Even Sis says it, a bit resignedly,
when she only received a card from the latest
flame instead of a hoped-for bracelet.
The spirit spreads outside the home as well,
to Include others in its warmth. Organisa
tions, as well as individuals, help needy fam
ilies. Students Invite foreign students to
share their Christmas dinner. Carolers
warble to friendly audiences and cards ex
tend greetings to acquaintances and relatives
across the miles.
Mobs of shoppers testify that Christmas is
indeed a time of giving. What is given is
not just a material gift, however, but a part
of the individual himself. Through a small
remembrance marked "from Santa," love and
affection is given material expression, leaving
the recipient with a warm feeling of being
wanted and appreciated.
Too often, however, it Is only at Christmas
that thoughtfulness and affection take con
crete demonstration.
Of course if wishes were horses even beg-
crars would ride. Sn rMlner In etvl -
- - " o H.j.ta .ui A
moment, one can't help but reflect that the
Christmas season should be extended 365
days a year. ' Through a little year-around
consideration of others, national problems like
discrimination, juvenile delinquency and the
growing divorce would be greatly reduced
in fact, probably cease to be problems at all.
Unfortunately the theory Is not very easily
adaptable on a world scope matters would
be much simpler If it weren't the mistakes
that counted, but the good intentions behind
them. M.H.
Christmas Message
"Where did I fail, oh where did I fail?"
The mother who sobbed these words had
flown to Japan in what now appears to have
been a futile attempt to bring reason to herk
son, an unrepatriated communist prisoner
Shackled to the shallow red dogma.
Mother love, so like the Christ-love, could
take upon itself the burden of responsi
bility so unlike what the so-called rational,
objective commentator would assume.
But, it is not without precedent.
Christ, in his last moment, said, "Forgive
them, Father. They know not. ..."
This, the season of Christmas, could be
made no more poignant, tender or meaningful
than this statement has made it.
The feeling which wells up in the heart
ever this incident is infinitely more valuable
to the free world than months of negotiation
and bickering.' This touching belief of a
mother praying for hsr son is a proud' re
minder that America is the home of the brave
and the free ... and the, humble. E.D.
the latest question being batted around:
"What's the Trouble wtih Our Freshmen?"
And they may want to know. Or argue.
They may regard statements which criti
cized the frosh as directed against their pub
lic schools. They may even be like Dr.
Burke, Omafta superintendent, who tossed
the bouquet of thorns back into the hands of
the University.
The spokesmen who believe that something
is wrong with freshmen had better re-read
what Col. Frankforter and Dr. Reinhardt
said. If they disagree with this stand they
might glance over what Dr. Hitchcock or Dr.
Holmes said.
Of course, the folks back home will want
to know about the appointment of a new
Chancellor. They've undoubtedly read with
interest the weekly reports which say noth
ing, and they'll expect their University rep
resentative to fill in the blanks.
Since the student body knows as little as
anyone, perhaps a way out of the interroga
tion would be to mention that Acting Chan
cellor Selleck is doing a fine job and that no
one seems In a hurry to appoint a new man
(this suggestion not only being a way put
but also the truth K A
There Is no telling what someone has heard
about the University. When the spokesmen
get home, they may discover that they have
been studying along side a bed of pinkos,
that the University is nothing more than
socialism or that students are only evading
the draft.
But what ever their questions about the
University, these people will undoubtedly be
more interested in you, if you are one of
these 7000 spokesmen. They'll want to
know about your grades, classes, friends, pro
fessors. They'll probably be watching you to
see if college life has changed you in any way
if you are sophisticated, intellectual, rah
rah or cynical.
They may think that you have changed.
But The Nebraskan wouldn't be a bit sur
prised if they failed to notice much differ
ence. Our bet is that once you get back
home to Mom's cooking and guest's sleeping
hours, you'll be Just as you were when you
lived there the year 'round.
And when you sit around the Christmas
tree, waiting to see what Santa brought, you'll
probably be just the kid you used to be.
That's the type of University spokesman
the home folks will be waiting to see. K.R.
Comparison
Russian theory seems to be "I can do any
thing better than you." According to them,
their scientists have developed new products
far beyond the inventions of our scientists.
Their five-year plans are more progessiva
and get better results than our government
controls.
Their youth programs are developing a
stronger generation. Their party loyalty is,
more intensive; laborers never complain (not
for long, anyway), and the evils of free en
terprise are unknown.
Their latest claim is in the fearful race for
arms. Soviet scientist S. I. Voitskovich an
nounced recently that the Soviet Union now
has "several types of atomic and hydrogen
bombs."
These "several types of atomic and hydro
gen bombs" seem to be about the only thing
that Soviet Communism really has in com
mon with the United States unfortunately.
M.H.
Margin. Notes
It's A Spirited Season
Christmas is a time of gaily-wrapped pack
ages, heavily-laden tables and a carefree 'it
only comes once a year' attitude. A business
holiday, all serious business is postponed
while parties and. traditional, celebrations
reign.
Perhaps it would be better if there was
more Christmas spirit instead of the tradi
tional spirits.
Shall We?
-The recent wave of scientific speculation
concerning whether or not cigarette smoking
increases the chances for lung cancer have
apparently induced investors to reconsider
ownership of tobacco company stock.
Tobacco stocks dropped markedly after
publication of medical reports of a possible
link between cancer and cigarettes.
But, human nature being what it is, it is
doubtful that, even if the reports are true,
people will stop smoking.
Too Apt A Description
At the annual Christmas musical show put
on by the Chicago Bar Association the most
popular act was impersonations by a well
known judge. His biggest success was an im
itation, of Mme. Pandit of India, president of
the United Nations general assembly.
He led a pledge of "allegiance to the flag
of the United Nations, and to the chaos for
which it stands, 80 nations, incompatable,
with jealousy and suspicion for all."
Just joking, we hope. Or is the joke on us?
Jhn TMLcuJiaiv
FTFTY-THI&D YEAR x ,
Member: Associated Collegiate Press 1
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(Reprinted with permission of Herblock and The Washington Post.)
Sound Off
Conformity Is Death
But Required At Times
By TOM RISCHE
Former Daily Nebraskan Editor
(This is the fourteenth in a se
ries of articles treating the prob
lems, Issues and challenges of
the day. The author is a former
Daily Nebraskan editor (1st se
mester '51-'52, now studying at
UCLA for a master's degree.
While a Nebraskan staffer, Rische
wrote a column under the head
ing of "Sound Off.") .
Horace Greeley is reported to
have said, "Go West, young man,
go West!"
As a young man who took that
advice after graduating from the
University of Nebraska, I would
modify it only to this extent: "Go
somewhere, young man, go some
where!" Travel is broadening. People
in other places, even in the United
States, think differently than do
Nebraskans. Too many people
never bother to go outside the
confines of their immediate cir
cle of friends to find out what
other people are thinking.
4
In two years in California, I
have roamed with students from
Norway, New York, Michigan,
Ohio, and California. I have met
infinitely more from places all
over the world. These people
have helped to give me new facts
and new viewpoints. They have
helped to teach me new cus
toms. The further I get from my un
dergraduate days, the more I
realize how little I actually know,
and how little time there is to
learn all that I would like to
know.
Too many people never step
beyond the safety of their own
biases to discover what some
body else might be thinking. Too
many people feel that what is
good for them must be good for
somebody else. This isn't true.
Some of these Orwellian char
acters seem to believe that ignor
ance is strength, war is peace,
and slavery is freedom. They
seem to think that through con
trol of what the public reads and
thinks the safety of the nation
will be assured. They credit Com
munism with all the charm of a
cobra seducing its victim. They
seem to feel that unless they can
prevent insidious propaganda (by
their definition) from reaching
the public scrutiny, the nation is
likely to toppel and fall. This re
flects a very low estimate of the
average American intelligence.
a
Wide experience is the best
teacher. The person who has ex
perienced life is better able to
understand life. The person who
has sheltered himself from the
outside will be more poorly
equipped to deal with life. It is
tragic when these people hold
positions of leadership.
Conformity is death, as Cyrano
de Bergerac once observed. There
is a fine line dividing non-conformity
an idiocy. Progress
throughout the ages has been
made by people who dared to be
different. Where would the mod
ern world be without Thomas
Edison 'or Christopher Columbus
or Albert Einstein? Or Hitler or
Lenin? '
There are those today who
seem to think that non-conformity
is sin, and must be stamped,
out. Conformity is their cry and
fear their password.
There is no doubt that there
are clear and present dangers to
America. Tliese must be met.
Let them, be met squarely and
honestly. Why replace Commu
nists, who would twist thought to
their own liking, with McCarthy
ites, who would extinguish all but
their own "truths?"
In a broader sense, life is in
teraction with other people. In
one sense, a person must con
form or die. In another, a certain
amount of non-conformity is es
sential to progress.
. What any person must learn
is when to conform, and when
it is best to non-conform. It is
persons of genius who have
learned this lesson. Too many
people go to extremes. It is
through knowledge and experi
ence that the lessons of life can
be learned.
In the final analysis, it is better
to have lived and lost than never
to have lived at all. '
On The I Christmas Vacation
Aisle 1 Finds 'Aisle' Empty
For the first time in the his
tory of this column, I'm not go
ing to review a movie this week.
Why? Well, it seems kind of
silly to tell you ahout a movie
that you won't haveto chance
to see, since you'll be going home
for Christmas. Not only that, but
I don't feel like seeing, a movie
this week, so I hope you -won't
mind if I tglk about something
else.
e
Now, what shall I talk about?
I suppose I could wish you a
Merry Christmas and a Happy
New Year, and I certainly do
hope you have both.
There must be something sea
sonal that you'd like to read
about In a newspaper column
something about wishing Christ-'
mas could be like it used to be,
with cranberries strung: on the
tree Instead of Christmas tree
lights that bubble like a pin
ball machine.
But that sounds old fashioned,
and I can't think of anything
more distasteful to a collegian
than old fashions. (Not to be con
fused with old fashioneds.) "
I might go reflective and sen
timental, and talk about how it
feels to realize that my last se
mester as an undergraduate in a
great university is rapily draw
ing nigh. I could speak of the
past three and one-half years
that have been some of my best
years. I could say that now I'm
beginning to understand just how
little I've learned in the big uni
versity. Sure, I've learned a lot-
but what if I would have given .
just a little more time to the
books, and a little less time to
having fun.
Somehow, though. I feel that
I have learned enough that I'll
want to keep on learning, and
perhaps that's what is really im
portant after all.
I could give a few verbal or
chids to people who have had in
testinal fortitude enough to speak
out for higher education's rights
against being dictated to by all
kinds of Joe McCarthy's. I could
give a big bundle of verbal on
ions to Senator Joe, but I won't
it's Christmas time.
I could groan and rave about
"the activity point sytsem" one
of my pet peeves. It has always
seemed to me that- perhaps the
activity minded are not inter
ested in activities half as much
as they are interested in recog
nition.'' And what's wrong with
recognition? Well, that's along
story.
'
I could say something: in de
fense "of the "freshman," who It
seems, is 'rapidly becoming an in
tellectual void. But I have always
looked upon a void as something
which has the potential of be
coming enlightened, if someone
will but take the time to light up
the darkness.
These are a few ideas that
keep buzzing around in my mind
this pre-Christmas season. These
-are things I could talk to you
about today. Instead though, I'm
going to preach for just a few
words then be still, until next
year.
As Christmas day comes closer,
and you see the . smiles on the
faces of the rich and the poor,
the old and the young, the good
and the bad; remember that
warm feeling In your heart. Re
member that feeling you occa
sional have "there is some
thing good in the world." See if
you can't keep that thought in
your mind until next year then
you can renew it again.
When you hear the church
bells herald the beginning of an
other Christmas day, think for a
minute about that never-trite ex
pression "Peace on Earth, Good
Will Toward Men." BOB
SPEARMAN.
The Student Speaking
Stern Thoughts
By ARNIE STERN
The wind is blowing, the sky is gry;
That blasted winter is here to Uy
But I'm, not weary or blue or mad
With Christmas near I'm really glad
A two week rest I'll welcome, too;
As will every one at old N. U. ,
But as the time is slowly fleeting
1 wish to you all a Season's Greeting.
To Hallgren, Frank and Colbert, Dean;
To Orville Wright and the Flying Machlnej
To Chancellor Selleck and any rhyme,
The College of Law and Dean Belshelm;
To Fred Beutel and Bills and Notes;
To Harry Foster and his Latin quotes;
To Elliott, Doc and an ice cold beer
I wish to extend a Christmas cheer.
To Flower Wright and Tony Sharp
And anyone who plays the harpi
To Emerson Scott and Kokjer, Ann;
And Ofe, Carl and Tolman, Dan;
To Rocky Yapp and Eldon Park
The girls' dorm with trie doorway dark
To Workman,' Colonel and Harrison; Jan;
And Lennie Singer and Slpple, Stan.
To Wachal, Joy and Perrln, Jean,
To Strictly Kush and Sheldon Green.
To Teddy James and Brownlee, Sue;
Holiday greetings I wish to you.
To Blessing, Al and Burmelster, Chuck,
To the basketball team I wish good luck;
To Lois Srb and Thomsen, Blythe,
And Hasebroock, Bob and Gracla Eyth.
To Beazie Smith and Adduccl, Nick,
To Novak, Ray and his backward kick.
To Adams, Barb, and Noble, Don;
To Connor, Ted and Bordogna, John.
To Dunning and Carney, Larry's both
To H. D. White if he took an oath
To Sidney Sweet and Sampson, Don
And Trumbull, Carr and one Dean, John.
To Sally Speicher and Gorton, Sue
A happy wish for the New Year, too.
To Bob McCun and Miller, Duck
Seger, Fred and Everett, Buck
To Janie Mapes, and Rankin, Duane,
To Jobby Johnson singing in the rain.
To Dewey Straka and Racely, Ed
To Milty Maisel and beer with a head.
To those of you who like the Grill,
And plan to study but never will,
To Marilyn Reynolda and Finke, Phyl
And Nancy Odum and Holloran, Bill
To Roger Smith and Davis, Donn,
And anyone who pulled a eon.
To Bailey, Mae and Reinhardt, Sue,
A Very Merry Xmas Too.
And Happy Yuletid to Donny Sirles,
And Robert Russell who has no curls;
To Johnson, Joyce, a New Year wish,
And to Jancey Carman, quit a dish.
To Berkshire, Bob and Hewitt, Jim,
' To Don Weber's shots that roll the rim,
To Nora Devore and Oberlin, Bob
And Doran Jacobs who is a Cob,
( To Murt Pickett and Clifford Dale,
And all the drunks who are in jail;
To Murray Backhaus and Barbara Bell,
I extend my greetings just as well.
A Christmas wish the bells will toll
To Lindquist, Jan and Eleanor Knoll,
To Marilyn Tyson and Engler, Nan;
Judy Milder and Howard Vann;
To the football team of fifty-three
To Sigma Nu and ZBT;
Yuletide greetings, many, a lot
To Charles White and Verl Scott
To Hunley, "Chas" and Colbert, Phyl
To Potsy Clark and Glassford, Bill;
To Battey, Chick and Larsen, Tom
To Lebsock, Gus and the Atom Bomb.
Merry Christmas, one and all,
And Happy New Year, have a ball
To anyone I did forget
Aksarben Track, a two dollar bet
The wind's still blowing, the sky still gray.
Winter, blast it, is here to stay,
But I'm not weary or blue or aad,
The Christmas season makes me glad; v
Two week's vacation I'll welcome, too;
As will everyone to old N. U.
But to each student I want to say
Season's Greetings; Happy Holiday.
Stolen Goods
-WMMMHraSMHI
Carillon Bells At CU Causa
'Suit' For 'Mental Damages'
Bt JANCY carman
The definition f education ac
cording to the University of Vir
ginia: "We've been sitting around
this university, man and boy, for
over five years, and we have
finally decided that an education
is a process of deadening one end
in order to liven up the other."
A Minnesota university Journal
ism instructor was the recent
winner in the campus "Absent
minded professor" contest. The -main
job for the contest winner
was to referee the student-faculty
football game in front of the Stu
dent Union.
Irked by the ringing of Carillon
bells, a University of Colorado
student sued the board of regents
for $1,000 for "mental damages."
The student said, "The bells . . .
distract me while I work, disturb
my work scheduj an have
caused me great mental and emo
tional damage." He added that
his most terrible experience was
when the bells played "Hold That
Tiger."
The student lost his cas before
the campus moot court
A year-old academic battle,
against McCarthylsm erupted on
the campus of the University of
Toronto as students of the Cana
dian school donned the white
sheets symbolic of the KXK and
burned an effigy of Sen. Joseph
McCarthy.
The interfraterillty council at
Oklahama University has adopted f)
a Korean war orphan.
D