The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, November 30, 1954, Page Page 2, Image 2
Page 2 Lincoln, Nebraska Tuesday November 30, 1954 Editorial Comment CO1, SC Truce An Honorary Commandant will be presented at the Military Ball in spite of the Student Council invalidation of the COA sponsored elec tion held Nov. 17. The final word on whether or not the winner of that election would be presented at the annual Military Ball as Com mandant was handed down by the faculty sub committee on General Organizations in a meet ing held last Tuesday afternoon. In a report released by the Committee, It was pointed out that the Student Council ju diciary committee, the group makingvthe deci- biuii uu uic cmiiuii, was correct ui taxing wnat action it did. However, the faculty committee noted that since there had been no intention to defraud and that no fraudulent action had oc curred, "... we are granting permission for the results of the election to stand." The faculty committee also noted the Council had been unduly slow In Informing the COA the election" had been Invalidated. Now, after nearly a week of hurried confer ences between the Council judiciary committee and the harried Military Ball chairman exactly nothing has been accomplished except to make four young women even more nervous than they were before all the dust arose. The Student Council is to be commended on its stand In declaring the election invaUd. To have that organisation's regulations governing a function (an election in this case) openly violated without action being taken would have dropped the Council Into the ranks of the do nothing organization certainly not an attractive tatus to any organization which has openly dedicated itself to doing away with groups in that category. .. On the other hand, the Council left itself open to criticism by not taking more timely action on the problem. The committee in charge of . campus elections knew of the infractions to the rules governing campus voting had taken place in the Honorary Commandant voting long before any move to invalidate, the election was made. When the elections committee finally made its recommendation to the judiciary com mittee (the group which had power to void an election), all the COA could have done was schedule another illegal election or forego the long standing Commandant presentation. A sec ond election would have been subject to invalida tion because the elections committee could not have been notified two weeks before the ballot ing was to take place. The issue for all practical purposes has been settled. Actually, the whole business has re sulted in considerable publicity and attention by students for a University function that defi ' nitely, needs a lift. Both the Student Council and the COA have been embarrassed by what has happened, the Council because it was forced to hand down a decision for which enforcement seemed almost impossible, the COA because of a glaring error in management. The interesting thing about this mutual loss of face is that the Council now plans a full scale investigation of the COA to detemine why such an error was made. During the talks about the problem the Council apparently was surprised that only a few men were handling the entire work load of putting on one of the biggest events on this campus a fact that has been common knowledge among ROTC students for some time. A great percentage of all ROTC students realize the COA has but one purpose of being in existence, that of putting on the Military Ball. It is odd that an organization which is supposed to serve as a clearing house for student activities of all types, didn't know one of those activities, the COA, comes to life but once a year. Now the Council knows about the COA, action of some sort to remedy the situation will un doubtedly be taken. However, this has hap pened only after considerable difficulty and embarrassment for both organizations. The Council might be even more embarrassed should the COA demand another investigation, one concerning the Council in an attempt to find out why action wasn't taken earlier in the Commandant election question. T. W. linil MAN ON CAMPUS Chri$tma $ Greeting) Only 23 shopping days left until Christmas? Better Hurry or Easter' will soon be upon us, Why is it that at Thanksgiving time the Christmas spirit is almost in full swine? Whv should the public start thinking of St. Patrick's day before New Year's? Why must we start Easter shopping cn Washington's Birthday. And why are we planning Fourth of July on the first day of Spring? Why? Because the com mercialists, whose business it is to see that the public is kept aware, of these important days, does so for one reason only to pull in as many dollars as possible out of the public pocketbook. And Christmas is the worst example of the lot. Christmas has become a bookkeeper's holi day, a-business man's obsession and John Q. Public's financial headache. Years ago, literally ages ago, -Christmas in all its glory was a spiritual humanistic celebra tion, appealing to man's generous nature, and not his gift-getting tendencies. Families observed -uinstmas in modesty, trying to parallel the acutal lowliness of the original Christmas. There was a certain atmosphere, within the souls and hearts of men at Christmas time that didn't come from a $10 record album, or matching gift prices with those of relatives. The desire to worship, to live in friendship, to enjoy what one had in life all these thoughts used to be incorporated in the real meaning of Christmas. Perhaps down deep in those few etolid and unswerving members of the older generation these thoughts are still present. But it would be difficult to see these undercurrents through the obstacles that commercialism has brought to Christmas. One flagrant corruption of Christmas as brought about by the commercialists is to the institution of Santa Claus. Santa Claus used to be unseen, respected, loved, adored, and the champion of all good children. Now Santa Claus is nothing but a gimmick, used by de partment stores to bring in children escorted by their parents potential buyers. Children now can see Santa every size and shape. They 1 ' can pull his whiskers off and kick him in the shins. They can pick up a newspaper and see him being tossed in jail for drunkenness or begging without a license. Now on the local scene, Christmas tree mer chants have already set up their tents, down town stores are racing to get their Christmas publicity in front of the shoppers in more vivid color and bigger display than their competitors. Loudspeakers scream Christmas carols into the streets as mobs of shoppers push and shove to get the bargains. The shopping district during the Christmas season resembles a blatant car nival midway. Fortunately there are the churches and wel fare groups who try against the commercial odds to keep the soul of Christmas intact. There are still the church caroling parties, parties for orphans, groups who solicit for the less for tunate, families who ignore the commercial chaos around them and keep Christmas with the humbleness which is inherent within it. There are still individuals who ponder the Christmas story and rejoice in the things in life that don't cost money and can't be meas ured by money. These individuals are the quiet part of Christmas the part which in this mod ern day have beerv obscured by the commercial ists and their thirst for money. J. H. Stolen Study Hours - Love Library is one of the newest and best- equipped college libraries in the country. Yet it is open fewer' hours during the week than most college libraries of any comparable size. The average college library is open 85 hours, but not so Love Library. It is only open about 75 hours. The large readings rooms, the quiet study halls, the vast reference material are all avail able for student use. But the day students are most apt to want to use them, these services are unavailable. In short, the library is closed on Sunday. This is not only unwise, it is downright fool ish. Is Sunday a forgotten day when students are supposed to forget about libraries, books, andsuch pertaining to study? The University wants to encourage better study habits, but they certainly aren't doing so by closing the library on Sunday. ' v. -Sunday is the day most students really buckle down to studying. In the first place, it's crowd ing close on the heels of Monday, and work which has been put off just simply can't be postponed any longer. All the stores are closed, ao there is no attraction downtown. Saturday has always been considered play day, and who can study when no one else is? Besides, there are always football games, social functions or plans for the evening ahead to take the mind off studies. But if students want to do any research or reference work on Sunday, it's out of the ques tion. Or if they just want a quiet place to study, where they won't, be tempted by pleas of "a fourth for bridge" they can't go to the library, which should be the logical place. Students who work find Sundays their only free time. Frank Lundy, director of University libraries. has noted the increased use of the library in the evening since the new Quadrangle opened. Obviously these fellows find it a convenient place to study as would more students, if it were open when they needed it. Lundy recognizes this need for extended li-; brary hours, and has said he wants to open the library on Sunday. He doesn't want, how ever, to do it without added funds. For several years, the biennual library budget has included a request for a little over $7,000 . for extended library service plus money for other improvements. But each time the amount granted the library for improvements has not reached the amount requested. So Lundy, facul ty, Library Council, and the administration have determined what improvements should be made, on the basis of the funds they did receive. ,' Last year, the inadequate budget increase went mainly to provide more books. This ex penditure seems justified, in the light of com parisons with other schools. For instance, the. University of Kansas spent $266,000 last year' on books, while NU spent $125,000. Now again the budget in up for consida-ation by the state legislature, with the request for $7,000. It will probably not be discussed until spring. The students recognize the need for additional library hours. The University administration must recognize that need also, and take some ... definite action. This is not the first time it has been urged that the library be opened on Sunday. Each time everyone has pleasantly agreed, but noth ing has ever been done. When a library has a yearly operating budget of $395,000, a sum of $7,000 seems like so little to gain so much. The University has a responsibility to its students. Right now that responsibility includes persuading the legislature that extended library hours are not Just a desired improvement, but an absolute must. M. H. JJisl ybJbuzAJtaiv FIFTY-SECOND YEAR Member: Associated CeHeeiate Press Intercollegiate Presn Representative: National Advertising Service, Incorporated eartKr of Nebraska u nniMi af etadeata aewa mml 'in -i a m aabiiaaee) a areaeau at la Cat. MlniMM ai. AccorrHne to Article II ef tne Hr-lmm sHtriaxtt aaiMiratlee 4 admlniaierea' ay ttx r r,e-"-fVme. "It to the 4ur4 policy of the S tm iwMtcaiMHU anon Ma tartadlrrfna hall ae i at trom cduorMi ccatorahia aa tfie part af tba Hoard. ?',. "rt aa Member of tb 'aeon of tha Lal.ar.Hy. b.l the member, of Ike ffo TbT Nabratk! cTSI ,rl.T"ibl ,0r "- e "b"?"'00",. nl" " " anaeeter. SI. SO aulM at ' tol copy Sc. Pab tahed tana Mm week tfuriai iba ecaooi yaar except vacatloaa aaa anamination periods. Oaa tern patiUaped aeriai Aacact by fee Uaiwuty or Nebraeka anner lb mparrbioa af tkt Committee oo Btaderrt Publication, fcatarad a aaeoad elaaa matter at the Poet Office la Lincoln, Nehraafca. aaoer an at Caaareae, Merck , 7, and at epeclal rate af poatane provided for In Beetle 110. Act ef outran at October a, l17. aatboraed September lit, 1821. eaeanmeaaeeaaaaeaaamllll .ST. . . -mm by Phk tibler q., ,m E Columnists Have Ethics "It's only Gil's sister with the laundry." Voice Of The Turtle NU Campus Boasts No Humor Magazine By FRED DALY ' Once upon a time, when coffee was only a nickle and people whispered about girls who wore Bermuda shorts in November, this campus had a humor maga zine. It was a fairly good humor magazine for that period before Worls War II, and the Pub Board didn't mind supporting it financial luy as long as the humor stayed out of the realm of the nasty chuckle and the sly grin. The Agwan, for that was its name, skipped merrily along un til it died rather jechedly from money worries at the start of World War II. Things were kind of tough all over, and it was all the University could do to support the Daily Nebraskan and the Corn husker. ' After the shooting died down and people started laughing again, the Agwan was reincarnated brief ly and spasmodically as Corn Shucks. The humor in Corn Shucks made pink cheeks of many a coed until the magazine lost too much money to make it worthwhile for the University to sypport. Now the Nebraska campus sits with a rather foolish grin on its face, its only source of humor be ing Playboy magazine and Max Shulman's column extolling the virtues of Philip Morris cigar ettes. This is a sad state of affairs. The University of Colorado has its Flatiron, Iowa State has the Green Gander, Harvard has the Lampoon and the University of Miami at Miami, Ohio, has the Romahawk. We have nothing. r Rather than have our humor limited to what glimpses we might snatch from other magazines or what crudely lettered notes we might find lettered on board fenc es, suppose we thoughtfully tug at our ears and meditate. Suppose we meditate on the chances of a humor magazine on this campus again. Fine idea, isn't it. Run out and ask the first ten people you meet on the street and you will find at least 60 per cent are in favor of the return of the printed "belly laugh to the Univer sity. "Capital idea!" they might say, and clap you heartily on the back, causing you to bite your pipe stem in half. I'll buy your first issue," they will reassure you. "Just let me know when it comes out." After several dozen promises to 'buy your first issue," you retire to your den with a pocket full of broken pipe stems and a bewildered look. Everyone has a keen inter est in the finished product, as long as someone else puts it out. There lies the problem. In or der to sell copies to all the nice people who will buy your first one it is necessary to find a way to get the thing published. All you need is a bit of unlimited financial support to start you off. After you have printed two or three is sues of fine workmanship and sparkled wit you can take these around to get people to advertise. It is as easy as that. Just find enough financial backing to give you a start, organize a good busi ness staff to carry the ball from there, and ell the while gather a large stock of good, sharp humor that you wouldn't hesitate too much to show your aged aunt. If everyone hustles around busi lv, there is a fair chance that a good, serviceable humor magazine might rear its puckish head above the underbrush and wiggle its ears at passersby. Then the campus wouldn't have to blush with confu sion and bite its lips when a casual visitor asks to see its humor magazine. Right now a bumor magazine here is little more than a gleam in the eyes of a few dreamers, Organization, support, backing and unlimited enthusiasm is needed to ' point the efforts of those interested in the direction of a finished pro duct. Let us dispense with flag-waving, spirited oratory and promis es u buy the first issue. Let us not waste our time taking public opin a little inspiration and a little money and a little support. Anybody got any ideas where ail this might come from? Anybody got any ideas at all? One of the most vital parts of a student newspaper is its col umns. A column is, for the most part, the individual's interpreta tion of life and its components, as he sees them. The columnist has ' a wide field of subject matter from which to choose, and seldom is he bound by the political, social, or editorial policies of the paper for which he writes. The coumnist Is not concerned with presenting the news as such. His literary efforts encompass ideas, ideals, and opinions. Writ ing columns is not a pleasant past time, nor is it a means to found ing a mutual admiration society. It is a sincere endeavor on the part of the individual to aid in the edification of his fellow students. The columnist is regulated and controlled in his expression by the same criterion that regulates all freedom: truth. He has one great f .ivantage, however, that may al m be a disadvantage: when dis cussing a subject that can be prov en neither true nor false, he is permitted to express his own opin ions. I think that we all assume that freedom of the press has. become an American tradition, standard, and ideal. Unfortunately however, it seems that this freedom is only an ideal. A student newspaper such as the Nebraskan casts money to print, and a great part of its fi nances come from advertising placed in the paper by Lincoln businessmen. This business of finance leads us to the rather surprising discov ery that the Rag is read, not only by students, but also by the Lin coln businessmen. Herein lies the disadvantage. If a businessman plaes a regular advertisement in the Raj for Mother Matilda's Anti-Mildew Material, and a col umnist states that he does not think that this product is all it is cracked up to be, then the busi nessman becomes very unhappy, He threatens to remove his valu. able ad from the paper, and iB the frantic flash of dollar bills, the, columnist is quietly removed from the scene. Ignored are the facts, that he was trying to save his fellow students money and that he was stating a legitimate opinion; impractical is the ideal of freedom of the press; the colum. nist is an idealist, and we need the ad. The Nebraskan has been carrying an excellent column which reviews the current local cinema. This col umn has been under fire from cer tain local interests, and the ?ead. ers of, the Rag were almost de prived of one of the most objective and well-written columns that the Rag has ever published regularly. The question of student freedom of the press is more serious than it may seem, and I think that we should all be thankful that the edi. tors of our newspaper are fore, sighten and idealistic enough to realize wherein lie the true valuei of journalism ... and life. MM USE NEBRASKAN WANT ADS The Religious Scenes and Greetings on these cards will convey the True Spirit of Christmas for you. Each card includes a Scriptural Quotation 14 Religious Chrhtmas Cardt 59? a Box GOLDENROD STATIONERY STORE 215 No. 14th St. LOUELV r FROM ROSEWELL FLORAL CO. A Corsage Styled by Rosewells For the Girl of the Evening "ALWAYS RIGHT ALWAYS PROPER" Order EarlyU We Deliver!! 133 So. 13th 2-7108 m JRl scrawny Ixorse, a rusty gun, H and an tryurt girf to fix: his meals. 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