Page 2
THE NEBRASKAN
Tuesday, March 16, 1954
EDITORIAL PAGE
The Opening Wedge
A member of the University faculty has
recently been commended by the Student
Council for "the action of . . extending, to
his students an opportunity to participate in
the nomination of outstanding instructors."
The man, W. V. Lambert, Dean of the
Paradise Almost
Do you ever feel you want to get away
from it all? Do you gaze with envy at pic
tures of sun-tanned men and women loung
. lng on tropical beaches?
Have you been looking for the perfect
"con" that would get you away from the
.. day-to-day vexations of a struggling college
student?
Well, here Is the answer to all your
prayers. Why not rent an island?
The Government of the Seychelles, a Brit
ish colonial outpost consisting of something
like 82 islands in the Indian Ocean, an
nounces some of its islands are "to let."
Tenders have been invited for 30-year
leases on Aldabra, Assumption and Cosmo
pledo. Anyone can apply. Offers already
have been received from many countries,
Including places as far a part as Egypt and
Eire. As yet, however, the Government re
ports no requests from Lincoln, Nebraska,
USA
Attractions include one of the finest cli
mates in the world. Bathed in almost con
tinual sunshine, the islands' temperature sel
dom rises above 84 degrees or drops below
72 degree's. This in itself, especially at this
time of the year, seems to make the offer
rather attractive to even the most loyal Corn
husker. There is aboundant fish and fruit. There
are no taxes and the cost of living is prac
tically non-existent. There is even a rare
and special species of turtles living on the
islands which will appeal to the many peo
ple who are attached to the tender little
creatures.
About one hundred people live on each
of the islands and whoever purchases a lease
would become a virtual sovereign.
All this sounds too good. It almost seems
that the age old dream of wine, women and
song all alone on an island in the middle
of the Indian Ocean could be found in this
offer.
There is just one catch.
The tenant would not be able to loll be
neath his palm trees all day. Before the
Seychelles authorities consent to rent you
one of their islands you must convince them
you are prepared to make a commercial suc
cess of whatever local industry your partic
ular island supports.
This could be fruit or vegetable grow
ing, the export of copra or even something
much more alluring. (The latter had better
remain nameless.)
In any case, amid down slips, exams, no
money and what have you, there is a place
where we could , all be happy. It sure is a
pity we, have to be practical. D. F.
Coed Election
Thursday's all-women elections were a
huge success except that one election had
to be re-scheduled, many ballots were partly
Invalidated and coeds claimed they did not
know for whom they were voting.
The election was a success quantitatively
t any rate since the vote was the biggest
recorded.
On the other hand, officials found great
difficulty in counting. Entire ballots are
theoretically invalidated if any part is marked
Incorrectly. But when those persons in
charge discovered more than 60 ballots wrong
out of the first 400, they began invalidating
sections of ballots only.
The difficulty was that coeds marked two
and three names in sections in which the
instructions read, "Vote for three." This
stemmed from, "I didn't know who they
were" complaints. Of course not every coed
new personally all the persons whose names
were on the ballots. However, The Nebras
kan devoted enough space to factual election
data tha; interested persons easily could have
found the candidates' qualifications.
The most pertinent objection coeds voiced
was this: Some Boards require representa
tives of groups within the large coed group
Independent, Lincoln, sorority, etc. This was
not indicated on the ballots. For example,
a board, requiring election of one sophomore
independent coed, one sophomore Lincoln
and one sophomore Greek would simply have
the ballot printed, "Vote for three." Thus,
voters would expect the three girls with the
most votes to be on the board.
This, obviously, would not necessarily
happen.
The Nebraskan feels that elections can
not be conducted with competence unless an
Indication is given the voter that certain
categories are set up within which a candi
date most fall to be elected. It would be a
imp! matter to make the ballots read, "Vote
for three on Independent . . , etc." Then
each candidate's name could be followed by
KB Identifying word.. g. h.
College of Agriculture, has made the first
move to allow students to express their opin
ions as to who should receive the newly
established University Foundation award as
a "Distinguished member of the University
faculty."
In addition to the commendation, the
Student Council further stated, "We (the
Council) feel and urge that this same oppor
tunity should be extended to the entire stu
dent body through the dean of the various
colleges within the University."
The Student Council's action in request'
ing that deans of all colleges allow stu
dents within their particular part of the
University a voice in making the nom
inations to a selection committee to be set
up by the Chancellor is, itself, command
' able. The Council has re-stated The Ne
braskan view on the matter. On Feb. 9,
The Nebraska editorial page carried an ap
peal that students be allowed some voice in
the selection.
In giving students an opportunity to make
nominations, Dean Lambert also suggested
criteria by which students might judge fac
ulty members they would like to suggest.
Dean Lambert's criteria as a basis for selec
tion were: 1. the instructor's experience and
positions held; 2. community activities; 3.
ability to inspire students, ability to present
his subject in an interesting and effective
"manner; 4. interest in students as expressed
by his teaching, advising ad sponsoring of
student activities; 5. demonstrated profi
ciency in his own field of learning; 6. his
fairness in testing and grading; 9. the use
of examinations as a teaching tool.
Dean Lambert's suggestions to the stu
dents should assist rather than dictate stu
dent nominations. His action shows a faith
in the University student body that some
deans apparently do not feel.
If this move remains isolated to one col
lege, students from other colleges will be
cheated of an opportunity to do a service for
their University.
Student opinion is necessary and impor
tant in the selection of a distinguished in
structor. They have the right to and do ex
press their opinions about insructors to
their friends, and in some cases to the In
structor himself.
But if other deans take the same action
as has Dean Lambert, student opinion will
be good for more than conversation over
coffee. This opinion could be channelled into
productive lines if the deans will allow it
by opening the nominations to active student
participation. T. W.
Margin Notes
Not Necessarily
When a circus gorilla reached through
the bars of her cage and wiggled her fingers
last week a noted human brain surgeon
sighed with relief.
"This is a very good sign she is recover
ing from her paralysis," the famous doctor
said. Toto II, the ailing gorilla, had been
paralyzed for almost nine months due to a
growth on her brain.
One could almost wonder what the doc
tor would say, noting the lack of growth in
some college brains and the rather extensive
movement some students exhibit.
Kommie Klassification
The Great Soviet Encyclopedia of 1954
has just rolled off the presses. y
The facts or is it fiction included about
America as new to Americans, as well as
the Russian populace. For instance, Colo
rado and California can't be found under the
letter C, but classified under K. And Holly
wood, "a hotbed of reactionary cinema prop
aganda," is renamed Gollyvud.
The volume claims that Russian settlers
played a great part in the exploration and
settlement of Kalifornia and also in the de
velopment of its economy. Which, inciden
tally, has gone definitely to pot since the
United Stales stole the territory from the
Indians.
Kolorado beetle rates a paragraph of its
own, and is classified as one of the most
dangerous pests. "But there are none in the
USSR, thanks to a strict quarantine."
Which all goes to prove that the Russians
could use a little more factual information
to clear up their konfusion oops, confusion.
On Bottles
Some weeks ago, The Ncbraskan printed
an editorial warning all enterprising Uni
versity businessmen to shy away from the
bottle business.
"Don't go into the bottle business," The
Ncbraskan admonished. "The days of bottle
makers are numbered."
Now the facts are available, the truth
must be heard.
The New York Times reported last week
that sales of bottles set a new all-time record.
The president of the Glass Container Manu
facturer Institute reported that 1953 ship
ments were 7 per cent above 1952 and 5 per
cent above the all-time peak of 1946.
The Nebraskan offer its deepest apolo
gies for such misleading advice.
FIFTT-TEIRD TEAS 1
Mmben Associated Collegiate Press
Advertising representative) National Advertising Service, Ine.
420 Madison Ave., New York 17, New York
J'jhiy'l'"l. '" f "w itnaanta Bf flha EDtTOKIAL STAFF
ma imi uvtoinn anly, Aexwrilnf to artlala II of tha B0,wf SU
Fr-tAw Ktnmmin tiiKmtt ciuhliration an simlnitn4 Editorial Put Kflltoc. ...... ., ,.Ta Woodward
tha oar of f-uhlirtH, "! to In dmlnrad !' Managing Editor Jaa Harrtem
fa turn Srem a4ltoai nmnhi an aa aar af tjaa 7 V i.V. I .. "
m an U part of any mntr w ha faculty af o,to' ' trman, Dlok Frilman,
t'-m lirMfty, but Um mmmhm of I ha ( at Taa Hanann Banian, Gram Haror
,ii?mmm ara tOTuHtally rxopaoalbla far raa tba aa a. Kdltnr Man fVtanim
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;!. rubUahad aa TtwAay, Wannawla? and Frfcla ftrvrrly Dmp, Harriot Kwii, Lorlrraaa ftwltaar, Jaak
iS)!f til aitnai raar, axren Taxation and axamtnatloa Fraiidam, Wllllanxitta limn-h, barbara Blrba. Mania
gwruMia, Ca laua puMlshad duilm tha atnoib of Am- Mlchelnrti. Sam Jonnxn, Barbara Clark, Cranny Warren.
i awl r M liajwrattjr of Nulimalia under Uia ,
atrilaa Caramlttaa at Stiidwit Fahllnatlana. USIWi;iHI STAr
) nurM aa ala otattar at the Feat 0ke la ftaelnera Manager Staa fll atria
i i-..K.i, ftViKTCMika under Art at Vmumna, Man S. Aa'l BMlnee Manajrura. .. ..Chat Slniw, Dnraa Jamba,
j, , ;a. (and mi eiMx-lai rata ft pnatnre amvioed la Mrntt hllne
m. As Conines el Oct. S. 1911, aataafteed nrriilatlna Maneaar Ron Iniwe
as, Ml. ewi .aiw JeMr Carman
LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS
by Dick Bibior The Student Forum
"Run downtown and get 100 pounds of hamburger, some buns,
an' make 50 gallons of coffee . . . and hurry . . . they're having
an all school assembly next hour."
Aggie News, Views
Grade Policy Explained;
Inconsistencies' Rapped
By DWIGHT JUNDT
' Guest Columnist
An article appearing in last
Friday's issue of The Nebraskan
called for the clarification on the
policy of grading used at the
College of Agriculture. The ar
ticle, appearing in a column
edited by Bill Devries was la
beled the "A College Farce."
After reading the article, this
writer definitely agrees that
clarification of the subject is
needed.
The second sentence in De
vries' column reads: Under the
Ag College policy, instructors
are permitted to record failures
(flunks) as incomplete.
This is correct. The Ag College
faculty voted to try this system .
for one year merely as a test.
Many of the instructors feel that
the present set-up is unfair. If
a flunk is recorded a student is
given a one out of the course. If
he takes the course over, and
receives a seven on his second
try, this gives him an average
grade of four for the course.
This grade of four does not re
flect what the student knows
about the course, which a grad
ing system is supposed to re
flect. The proposed system of the
Ag College faculty would be to
wipe the record clean there
then being no record that the
student took the course and he
wouhl be permitted to retake the
course if he desired. However,
the grading system is left en
tirely up to the Instructor,
vh other he gives a nine, a flunk,
incomplete or wipet the record
clean. This is true of all instruc
tors in the University (except
English).
Every failure in a course on
Ag campus has not been wiped
off the record. No instructor has
been told to do anything specific
in regard to this system there
has been no dictum to anyone.
I would venture to say that the
percentage of grades that have
been wiped off the record on Ag
would differ little if compared
to the percentage on city cam
pus. Also, this is not nearly as sig
nificant as Devries (among oth
ers) seems to think. An A stu
dent is not affected in the least
by this policy. An A student's
weighted average is not damaged
by failures, not because of this
policy, but because an "A" stu
dent does not flunk courses.
This whole discussion seems to
bring up one point. An inconsist
ency in the grading system of
the University as a whole does
exist. However, this inconsist
ency is not between the city
campus and the Ag campus.
Rather, it is between the indi
vidual instructors. Some favor
the issuing of flunks with no
exceptions, some favor the issu
ing of flunks with exceptions
when the record would be wiped
clean, while still others think
that no flunks should be given.
Personally, I favor the system
where no flunks would be given.
This method is being used in
other colleges and there is no
reason why it wouldn't work
here except for the refusal of
administrative heads to recog
nize tha value of such a proposal.
Copped Copy
Eastern Coeds Decide
Against 'Cool' Engineers
By BRUCE BRUGMANN
"Verily I say "unto you," ad
vise the Bucknell Engineers in
the Syracuse Daily Orange,"
marry not an engineer for he
picketh his seat in the car by the
springs therein and not by the
damsel beside him.
"Always he carrieth his slide
rule with him and he entertaineth
his maiden with steam tables.
"Verily, though, his damsel ex
pecteth chocolates, when he
calleth he brings samples of
iron.
"Yea, he holdeth his damsel's
hand, not only to measure to the
heat content thereof, and kisses
but to test the viscosity.
"Even as a youth he pulleth
a girl's hair to test its elasticity
but as a man he discovereth dif
ferent devices.
"For he would count the vibra
tions of her heartstrings and reck
ons her strength of materials.
"For he seeketh ever to pursue
scientific investigations, and his
marriage is an equation involving
two unknowns and yielding di
verse answers."
e a a
"Men of distinction" were sport
ing blue fingers at the University
of Oklahoma. Diligent students
did their cramming for finals in
the city dump where, rumor had
it, exams stencils bad been dis
carded. a a
At Iowa State a male student
discovered woman is not neces
sarily the weaker sex. Attending
an early morning class, he found
a large hole in one of his woolen
gloves. Using the point of a pencil
and a thread from her coat, the
girl sitting next to him rewove
the wool and patched up the
hole.
a . a
Donald Chinshky, senior at the
University of Missouri, recently
received a letter from his girl
friend 12 feet long. The massive
missive cane in an ordinary let
ter envelope with 18 cents worth
of stamps and contained 1,600
words typewritten and penned in
green, blue, purple, and gold ink.
Fastened to the letter at various
points, "just to break up the
monotony," were, cartoons, a
cross-word puzzle, a cigarette, a
napkin, an aspirin, return postage
(air mail) and a penny "for your
thoughts."
a a a
Mascots in the form of three
animated little goldfish have be
come mascots of . th Oklahoma
University Daily, student news
paper, and have proven excellent
source material for those with a
bent for practical jokes. Ono day
they were found swimming con
tentedly in the water cooler and
staring at unwary watersippers.
Kappas at the University of
Wyoming have really come up
with something. At least the male
segment of the campus seems to
be pretty excited and have
conscientiously been brushing up
on their deficiencies. It's a
smooch-rating chart no less.
Here's the breakdown:
1. Gooey.
2. Gooey but nice.
3. Gooey la teeth.
4. Pantinr and passionate.
5. Dashboard variety.
6. Naughty but nice. (This, they
explain, is the best rating pos
sible.") 7. Good way to pass the time.
8. Can't tell ear from mouth.
9. Vacuum cleaner type.
10. Quick peck.
11. Don't!
12. Tight lip.
a a a
A coed at Minnesota University
entered an American Tobacco
contest and reclved S25 for this
jingle she wrote:
"Though winters may be long
and cold
We're happy as can be:
The students here like Lucky
' Strike,
On this they all agree."
a a
Humor has replaced traditions
in valentines at the University of
Minnesota. Instead of the tradi
tional mush ("Roses are red, vio
let are blue . . .") they are saying
in verse "My heart beats fast,
my legs grow weak, each single
time I hear you sneeze."
4 Second Glance
By PAUL LAASE
Todays world Is one of cold,
unpleasant facts. There are many
things which are neither enjoy
able nor pleasant. We cannot,
however, remove these unpleas
antries by ignoring them.
One such unpleasant fact today
is Communist China. For some
years, our policy has been to
ignore the Chinese Reds. This
does not, by any stretch of the
imagination, remove the problem.
As much as we hate to admit
it, the Chinese Communists are a
fact a powerful fact in our
world today. Yet by refusing to
recognize their regime, either
"de facto" or "de ure," we have
been, in effect, ignoring them
since 1949.
What is the situation today?
The Chinese Communists are in
sole control of the Chinese main
land. They exercise political, so
cial, and economic control over
the 450 million people who live in
the vast area marked "China."
On the island of Formosa is the
Chinese Nationalist Government.
They have control over Formosa
and a few other near-by islands
with a population of around 20
million. Yet they claim to repre
sent the people of all of China
and are recognized by the United
States as the government exer
cising political control over the
lives of 450 million Chinese.
There is, then, no factual basis
for recognizing the Chinese Na
tionalists as the government ex
ercising political control over
China and the Chinese people.
The U. S. Government, however,
continues to do so. As long as
we refuse to recognize the Chi
nese Communists their govern
ment, officially, does not exist.
On April 26, our Secretary of
State John Foster Dulles, will
sit down at Geneva with a repre
sentative of the Chinese People's
Republic. This is indeed strange,
for how can we negotiate with
a government that does not exist,
or is not the government of
China? If the Chinese Communists
are no true government, then who
governs the millions of the Chi
nese people?
The United tSates has not reco
gnized the Chinese Communist
government because we do not
approve of the methods used by
the Communists in attaining
power. It is quite often dangerous
to pass moral judgement upon
one's neighbors, especially when
one's neighbor is quite powerful.
Further, this is very inconsistent
with past U. S. attitude.
a
In recent years we have recog
nized in Asia, .the Republic of In
donesia, which was born of rev
olution. We recognized the Chi
nese Republic in 1912, which was
a revolutionary government. In
South America, we have not re
fused recognition because a gov
ernment came into being through
revolution. Panama gained its in
dependence through revolution
(perhaps U. S. inspired) and was
immediately r e c o g nized. The
United States even recognized the
Soviet Union in 1933, as well as
the Communist satellites in Eu
rope after WW II. Why is U.S. ac
tion in this case inconsistent with
past U.S. policy?
The United States does not need
to recognize the Chinese People's
Republic as the legal, or "de
Jure," government of China. But
a continued refusal to grant "de
facto" recognition is an out right
denial of the factual situation. It
is wishful thinking; it is an at
tempt to ignore the unpleasant.
"De facto" recognition of the
Chinese Reds would not necessar
ily mean the end of the Chinese
Nationalists. The Nationalist Gov
ernment could be continued to be
recognized, as the Republic of
Formosa, a new state. In this
manner we could continue to sup
port the Nationalists, if such was
desired, while recognizing that the
Communists do exercise political
control over the Chinese mainland.
Letterip
Relgious Emphasis Week Argument
Goes On-Pepper Hits Friedman Reply
I have read Marvin Friedman's
Letterip of March 10 in which he
attacks my recent letter to The
Nebraskan. Mr. Friedman is
really writing on three different
topics, whether he realizes it or
not. They concern Religious Em
phasis Week, knowledge, and re
ligion. We seem to be in at least
partial agreement on each of the
first two, but in complete dis
agreement on the last.
a a a
Mr. Friedman was a member
of the group which decided against
holding Religious Emphasis Week
this year. He admits now, as he
did then, that this decision was
because of the great lack of in
terest in the project on the part
of the students. He attributes
this lack of interest to the stu
dents' gross""Ignorance, however,
while I believe it is more the re
sult of an intelligent choice.
Since he thinks student ignor
ance is the culprit, he talks at
length upon the desirability of
knowledge. Here again we are in
perfect agreement. There is little
question in my mind that the
more knowledge we have, the
better we are able to examine a
problem. The question which con
cerns us is: What light does more
knowledge throw upon the prob
lem of the validity of religion?
In spite of Mr. Friedman's be
lief in religion, he makes only
one feeble argument for it. Ha
speaks of "the terror of our ex
istence." What he fails to realize
is that "the terror (if it exists) of
our existence" no more indicates
that there is a God to make it
less terrifying, than his hunger
indicates that he will be fed. In
deed, he doesn't even state
whether a God would make ex
istence more or'less terrifying.
Mr. Friedman asks whether re
ligion is able to "withstand in
tellectual examination." My an
swer is that it is not
I, too, am aware of my own ig
norance, Mr. Friedman, but I
do not pretend that my aware
ness makes me any less ignorant.
F. JAY PEPPER
From The Daily Bruin
Jitney's Demise Marks End
Of Inexpensive 'Juke' Music
if past performances runs true
to form, the dime recording will
emerge.
The old saying "what this
country needs is a good five
cent clear" is being changed to
"what this country needs Is a
good five cent nickeL" Let's
face It. The nickel is becoming
extinct.
Phone calls, coffee, most candy
bars and soft drinks have risen
out of the five-cent bracket.
Even newspapers and gum show
signg of junking the nickle. 'eo
ple don't ask anymore for change
of a dime. There's no need to.
a a a
So like the penny, the nickel
has seen better days. Aside from
being used for tipping and pay
ing amusement taxes, the iive
cent piece has served it purpose.
Jefferson will see less of the
corner cigar stand than he tver
dreamed of and the buffalo will
have to seek greener pastures.
Five will get you ten that the
dime is sweating it out.
IThl. artlcla erliinallr
editorial of Mm Dally Brula, a California
Uuoant arwiaapari
One of the last five-cent lux
uries for students went the way
of all good nickels' this week.
No longer can one hear Johnny
Ray cry or Glenn Miller string
the pearls for one-twentieth of
a dollar.
a a a
It now takes a dime to set
the juke box in the Slop Shop
jumping with music. Howcer,
you still get the same for your
money. One dime equals two
recordings. Instead of allotting
the previous single plays for a
nickel, the juke box now ac
cepts a minimum coin injection
of 10 cents,
Gone are the days of the five
cent juke box. Sooner or later,
University
Bulletin Board
TUESDAY
Art Lecture, Wilbur Gaffney,
8:30 p.m., Gallery B, Morrill Hall.
May Queen Election, 9 p.m. to
5 p.m. at Ellen Smith Hall; 10
a.m. to 2 p.m. at Ag Union.
Food Handlers Institute, 7:15
p.m. Room 108, Burnett Hall.
WEDNESDAY
City Campus Religious Council
Meeting, 6 p.m., Parlor Z, Union.
Pi Lambda Theta Meeting, 5
p.m.. Room 316, Union.
Union Seminar, 4 p.m., Faculty
Lounge, Union.
Food Handler Institute, 7:15
p.m., Room 108, Burnett Hall.
RESTRINO
WITH -1
1 jL-
APRIL FOOL
Send a friend a funny
April Fool friendship card,
GOLDEHROD STATIONERY STORE
22S North 14th Stret
STANDS OUT
in play
Herder Smashes
Setter Cut end Spin
STANDS UP
in your rmkwt
Moisture Immune
lasting Liveliness
costs ms
than gvl
wnox. sniNema costi
Pre-Pactadlrald..$.O0
Mu!H.PIy Braid $5.00
At tennii shop and
porting good itores.
