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Nebraskan Editorials:
THE NEBRASKAN
Tuesday, September 20, 1955
v
ItniE MAN ON CAMPUS
by Dick Bibler
1
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This is The Nebraskan. criticism and debate. Its columns are open to
To many readers some old and some new all honest letters. Its offices are open to all
nothing can be said in an opening editorial that who wish to enter.
could possibly stir the soul, challenge the mind, The goal of The Nebraskan is to help the Uni-
warm the heart or even disturb the temper. But versity realize the stature that it now rightfully,
there are others among us. though at times unknowingly, possesses. D J .
In a sense, this is a one-newspaper commu
nity. On the campus there are today more - , f ff IV 1 1 I
people than the ever-increasing enrollment figure mO I iCfCO LfiC fVU
indicates. There are faculty members, admin- TRESBmx OF 9
istrators, staff members and employees, and in architects nor the most deter
addition there are many families, organizations . , . ., . ... , . u,,
nv I j v mined builders in the world could never build
and friends, all of whom are interested in the lt ...
,T . .. . . . another university like ours.
University, who are in reality part of this cam- ., -u.. .v -r
J' . e To the person casually passing by in the R
pus community. Street bus or a ctr, it looks much like any other
Now The Nebraskan, functioning as it does . . . , , , . , . , ,
, . '. . , . big school and, unless you went to school here,
in a position tantamount to a monopoly has a vould,never now the difference.
great deal of responsibUity During toe last a rf . ered ah.
half-century. The Nebraskan has succeeded and ,. , , . ,, . . , .
. , . . . . he debts, endless corridors and impersonal
failed in varying degrees in carrying the bur- cjassrooms
dens of this responsibility. The editor's office, , ' . ., . ,, . ., . . ,.
... ,, , , , J , . , It s held together by the fine thread of old
vi th its files of old papers and battle scars . .... . , , ... ,.
, . , ... traditions, crusty professors, coeds with cute
of many student editors, serves as a somewhat . , ., ,, , ... , . .
, J . , . ' . , . , ,, sweaters, football players with red jerseys, ac-
tacit reminder of the "what has been. .. ., , ,. . , , ,
- i. , ... . bvity workers with clip boards, Nebraskan re
It is with this remembrance of things past cou- , , ., , ,
, . ... .... . ... , . ... porters with pad and pencil, underclassmen
pled with aspirations toward the future, this . . , . . . ,
with their air of strained unconcern, upperclass-
this is written. ... , . ,
,.. .. . . men with casual insolence.
It is not important nor even desirable that ... ...... n . 4V
. ., f . ... . ,. , . Our university is aired m the fall by the
everything that is written in The Nebraskan . , , J. . . . . .
, i ,. . influx of new frosh blood, warmed in the winter
be agreed upon by any certain proportion of our , , . , , , . ,
.. . . . . , ., . by thousands of bubbling cups of coffee and
community. The opinion of The Nebraskan that J , , . 6 . ., .
11 t , , . . n cooled m the spring by the ice in the beer
will be held by the community it serves will , " J
cooler's
grow within the next few weeks in paths directly Ti, ,-.
j , . . , .... It s the feeling of commumon in the library
determined by the paper itself. , , , 6 ,. . . . ,
, f , . ,, before final exams, the glints of mutual un-
The avowed goal of this paper, as of all . . w j j
.. ... easiness as the boys wait for their bund dates
papers, is to present the news accurately, fairly . A. . , , . , .
amfinteffigenfly. Every attempt is going to be th dm' contagious excitement
made to accomplish this. The power of the of a Tni? mht lly dance.
press, it has been said, in the hands of intelli- , -, , .
gent men, in independent position and of honest . e lor f ay afternoon football
purpose may be all that at times it is vainly m October- sPlashff s formals' the
vaunted to be. If the "given" quantities of this "ticipatoem of Ivy Day.
formula exist in fact, and it is hoped by all Nebraska and university life is a strange
parties that they do, there will be opportunity mutture of Penalities, a curious blend of
for the conscientious comment, criticism and motions, a lot of things, people and circum-
leadership that this newspaper desires to exert. stences shnd, toether ta an "naeinative asso-
Although it would be nice to explicitly define ciatlon Vlth Ufe"
the policies of this semester's staff, it is more Xt 15 Mnk betweeD knowledge and the
than difficult. It is beyond the power of one zest for We unitinS young and old "in the
person to clearly spell out the details of future aginative consideration of learning
decisions if these decisions are to be given But' ?ou many other school? have
proper consideration. It is, however, possible to tte same attributes f hich you are speaking?
set the standards by which all decisions pertain- Perhaps. The important distinction, how
ing to editorial policy and Nebraskan operations ever' is &at University of Nebraska will
1will be made some day be but a group of jumbled memories,
The University is a tax-supported institution a PUeuP oa footbaU field- vhich
of higher learning for all the citizens of Ne- P each memory, one by one, like
braska. Its one important goal is the intellectual old friends-
and practical advancement of its students and For you see' once yurve to scho01 here
teachers and its residents and neighbors. There there can no other Place Uke Nebraska."
is nothing else that can be allowed to supresede become what 7" wiU someday call an
alma mater. B. B.
Students enrolled at the University are here
to learn from teachers in the classroom, from
books in the library and from test tubes in the A f f rfnftl Irt HfC
laboratory. Students are also here to learn from tk I I wl II lUU U I IIO
the "school of hard knocks" and from the guid-
ance of elders. TOO HOMGSt
As students, and as such, members of a unique Everyone knows it takes a new student a
group which should proudly possess more duties little bit of time to "get the hang" of life on
than it has privileges, there is room for lively the Nebraska campus. There seem to be,
and spirited discussion of the many issues re- though, some individuals that have difficulty
moved from the campus only in terms of time catching on to some of the basic do's and don'ts.
or space. Towards these issues, The Nebraskan Hence, the following story.
feels it has a duty. This duty is honest comment. Last Saturday evening women checked out
The Nebraskan is now publishing. It invites 0f the dorm for their normal round of dates.
Girls listed such destinations as "the movies,"
. I X "a dance," "the Frosh Hop," or even a "party."
aAi LO7Q LOST But one young lady, evidently one of those
.i, , . , ... , , , , , who are slow to become aware of campus
At long last and with a great deal of pleasure . , . . . ,
T , , ., x .... mores, simply signed her name and wrote.
The Nebraskan is able to announce in this open- Deer t,ust
ing issue the change in the hours of Love Li- n, , .
. , . . .. iiL well, shell learn, soon enough,
brary, for after a steady campaign to get the
Library opened for at least a few hours each
Sunday, success is with us. fy $mOriGm
This year, and it is unanimously hoped for South of fcord u
many more years, Love Library will be open a chicken raiser to local Uce
each Sunday between 2 and 9:30 p.m This is Bomeone had broken chickeQ
hi addiUon to regular library hours hich are and 6tolen rf hen
frJ!!0B;m-UntllT8:2OPTmv: c considerate thief, however, was kind
Efforts to open Love Library on Sundays e fa to roo w
hegan a few years ago. Last year genuine in- . Wack mo arQund Us neck
terest m longer hours was expressed by many
students. The Nebraskan supported this with a
steady stream of editorials and news stories, PoOf fQfl
reporting opinions and facts concerning the - , . , ...
, r , , , , & Campus motorists are again complaining
longer hour, from both he Nebraska campus about the whicfa gnd cam.
and abo from many colleges and universities Uce m ked cars
throughout the nation. n , .
...... . . m , , . One English motorist has reason for grief,
As might be obvious, The Nebraskan is though, He fcft oyer on &
pleased with the results as everyone-students ked without hig u ht contr to bcal
and faculty alike-hould be. and was fined 10 6chilling5. He had parked
xne attempts by this paper and interested out6ide
police station.
students fell on receptive ears when the recently
approved budget -was being considered by Uni
versity administrators. SOITIS ftUSIC
The Chancellor and his staff fully supported An Army music adviser told , luncheon
the issue. Frank Lundy, director of University Washinglon the other day that singing makes
Libranes, agreed 100 per cent and gave his , rookie fed at home
complete endorsement to the scheme. With this It relaxes attention and a that he asserted
as the beginnmg, the cost of the added library He wag aiso sure that the irst army that ever
hours was deternuned and included in the pro- marched had kind of chant adding that
posed University budget. he wa6 certain that it march iu 1.
After approval by the Legislature, which youre B0 right countered a Dixie editor,
came a few months ago, nothing remained but -Armies always have marched to music-the
the opening of the doors on Sunday and some music of creaking joints, aching muscles, squish-
adjustments on the part of the Library staff. blisters cussing sergeants, groaning enlistee"
Now that the Library will be open, a logical mea and occasionally the melodious braying of
question arises. Will it be used? Will the addi- an army mule that had more 8ense than hi6 hu.
" tional expense and work on the part of the Li- man cohorts and refused to take another step."
brary staff be justified? This remains to be
Library staff members should know the an- Where There's Smoke
ewers to these questions within a few weeks. A poll, taken recently by police chiefs, report
If students do come in and spend the hours they that they have never known a pipe-smoking
normally waste on Sunday afternoons, the extra criminal.
effort and money will be more than justified. This means that either pipe-smokers aren't
If students fail to take advantage of the new criminals or that pipe-smoking criminals are
opportunity, the longer hours will still be justi- too smart to get caught,
fied, but the apathy of students can again, as it Either way the pipe-smoking college student
always has been, be chastised.. F. can't lose.
The Nobroskan
FIFTY-FIVE TEARS OLD EDITORIAL STAFF
Xfemben AnmclzM CoUedate Pre. f-
Intereoliegiat Press MmK,, t,mt .
SLesresentative: National Advertising Service, t:Mr 'j'f
w . . . ItifMtrts I'.rtitor . .4 ,fW .-4MK
IJtforjwratea Copj, r.aivun infl t. khiw iKhn),
The Tfhnhtm Is niMiIwtiwl lr rAnt til the I'nlw. Mary Wiettedy, iMfitnn hwltnw
Kity f !p!m?H tinrtr t-he Mtori,atttni of tfw (:imimit- Air p'tfttor irn rfhr
! Wt WtudBtt Affair m m enfinimt of tu4nt tiiim. tight IVws f.fiitur Mary hii4y
, K.ti.,rt J-BWlw. In- from editorial iJfwZt rtJJe,SS? wSel.'
e.r!,.w on the .. f t.e ""'- ' j,tlm Hum, JMoli ReuHlnier. We. attack
part of any BSfner of the f nety of tue I 'nv'rtt,v, or
n thr Jart of ey wnan oufS tle I'nlversHy. The PI"KriFS KTAFF
in.-Ti of f!ie Ni-Isnkii aiutf are twrwinaily reiHon. - ,J " "
fr vnat fhey my, or liv sr eauae t be irinte4. ftnxlneni Manarer fieor Ma!eii
thra,i"y a. J.r. Awi't Bi'xfnew Manaaera .. .filll Kejweli. Martmra I'Jleke.
r nternd u mA ela matfer at fhr fMMtt offiee to Connte Hliral, Mid fvrff
Liiieoln. KrtmutHM, nntler the vt of Aucuat , Jl!!. C'lnulatlon Mnaer ,..iou HwM.
r v. . ;
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Doubt Expressed
On Early Rushing
When the University re
sumes its social and educational
heat (reported to be an insidious
weapon of the Russian commu
nists, designed to undermine our
democratic physical and mental
well-being) and the confusion of
assimilating new students into that
semi-ordered chaos euphimistic al
ly called "university life," are ac
companied by the perennial ques
tion of the wisdom of pre -school
sorority rushing.
Any real problem has at least
two points of view which must
be cooiid-
ered, and the
rush problem
is no excep
tion. This col-
GMi'
'Era Ell
umn is not intended to be definit
ive; I merely wish to present a
few observations that have thrust
themselves quite vehemently be
fore my rather bloodshot and
myopic eyes during the past three
years.
The Nebraska Pan-Hellenic rush
ff"" 1 Q ev
IUjl
Men's Rush Pulls
Old Illegal Tricks
From The
Bullpen
Fraternity Rush "Week is Itself
two weeks buried, but some of the
ghosts will linger on the scene for
some time. And these are the
ghosts of trickery and misrepre
sentation. These spectres never quite live
up to the ghouls some independents
seem to believe. them to be, but
they are fascinating nonetheless.
Rushing is primarily an experi
ment in amateur psychology. It in
volves a smooth and subtle couch
side technique. A rusher, unknown
to most rushees, has
very cunningly pre
pared himself far in
advance for his par
ticular "victim" by
checking high-school yearbooks,
talking with friends and by making
a few exploratory sallies.
He knows exactly what to say to
each rushee. And he knows how to
accent certain features over others.
To different rushees, his house is
different things: a hoary old study
hall unlocked only by Phi Beta
Kappa keys, or a campus replica of
Stillmans gym, or a cauldron
askim with fork-tailed Innocents or
a Las Vegas hotel. And the ap
palling thing about it is that the
rushees never know whether it's
true or not.
I think that too many rushees
come down to the University ex
pecting Lincoln to be another Heid
elberg. During the summer, they
meet the cream of each fraternity.
They're wined (or, rather, beered)
and dined, and they get neither a
true picture of fraternity life nor of
school life.
They often make their decisions
in favor of the fraternity with the
nicest furniture, or with the most
misty-eyed songs or the smoothest
talkers. And none of these are
valid reasons for pledging.
They often instinctively turn to
their old friends or relatives, and
these are often the biggest liars
of all. They forget the importance
of individual action and cling to
their high-school buddies, or to the
house with the most men.
As a result of this, too many
sharp individuals are buried in the
old high school gang and identified
forever with them. And then, in
dependent movement after college
becomes ever more difficult.
Add to all of these influences one
more. Rushees are told the most
fantastic lies about other houses.
Anything possibly derogatory in a
fraternity's past is brought out and
distorted beyond any limit of
truthfulness. And most rushees will
believe all of it.
Dirty Rushing
This year, especially, there was
quite a bit of "dirty rushing." No
house can be considered complete
ly free of it in one subtle form or
another, but most congratulated
for their cleanness were the Phi
Psi's and the Beta's, and most crit
icized seemed to be the Phi Gams.
But it will probably never be
stopped because, say anything else
about it, "dirty rushing" very
often pays off.
All types of chicanery and pres
sure from hot-boxing to kidding
will pay off because they are the
essentials of rushing. It reflects
neither excessive immorality nor
would it reflect morality, but,
rather, expediency in the face of a
situation that cant easily be cor
rected. .
AH things considered. Freshman
Fall does stem to be the best time
to pledge, and the present arrange
ments the fairest.
The only improvements must
come in the judgment of a rushee
who wiU turn down one fraternity
because he doesnt "know enough
guys," and then turn around and
pledge a house where he only
knows half the members. And
most of them he has met only
since rushing began.
Plight Of Little
Man Explained
week system is, I understand, on
of the most efficient ana work
ahl in th rnimtrv and the argu
ment that deferred rushing would
involve a comparatively snarled
and unmanageable process seems
reasonable ana valid.
It is also true, I think, that the
acceptance and rejection of fresh
men women by the sororities is
not so haphazard and inexplicable
as it may seem; the sororities
are furnisher! with social back.
ground, high school career - and
recommendations lor each poten
tial pledge.
Frantic Rasa Week
This information is. however-
superficial to the inherent worth
of an individual, as is the per
sonal Knowledge gained during
rush week itself. No matter bow
efficient the system, it is impos
sible to develop a true knowledge
of each 'ndividual during that one
frantic, masked week of intensi.
fied and neurotic social gatherings.
Every year, disappointed rush
ees leave the universitv. some.
times before they have even regis
tered. This is an embarrassing in
dication that we are misemphasiz
ing the purpose of attending the
university. While the Greek sys
tem is fssentially undemocratic, it
nevertheless exists; but does the
university exist primarily to main
tain that system?
Students First
Of course not, and no upperclass
Greek would think so. Somehow
we must impress upon our new
students the fact that they are,
first, individuals and students; sec
ond, a part of the university in
stitution; and only then, if they
wish, members of fraternal or
ganizations. They need first to be
come acquainted with and adjust
ed to the whole: classmates, upper
classmen, teachers, sororities, and
the general procedures involved in
classes, studying, and activities.
In the light of these observations.
I feel that a semester postpone
ment of rush week, even though
it would require reorganization,
would result in wiser and happier
freshmen, better students, and,
possibly, fewer pledge problems
and better pledge classes.
The first column of the year is
the most difficult, not because of a
lack of subject matter, but because
the mind is not yet accustomed to
viewing university matters in their
proper perspective. For this rea
son, rather than dealing with any
specific problem, this column will
attempt to explain the purposes, if
any, of &e columns to follow.
I do not mean to imply that -this
column will have a fixed pur
pose. I have an idle and shiftless
mind which is incapable of staying
on a single track for any length of
time. However, there are certain
ideas which will probably occupy a
good deal of this space over the
course of the semester.
I intend to examine the plight of
the confused littlel
Jess
Jesting
man, baffled by a so-
ciety which too often!
refuses him the indi
viduality which hel
seeks, whose search for a single
enemy is forever defeated by the
retreat to plurality, the unassail
able, impersonal "we."
I shall try to be funny most of
the time because the situation
lends itself more to comedy than
to tragedy, and, If I am occasion
ally bitter it will be because the
danger has come too close for
humor.
I wish to explain that I am not
writing of this because I believe in
the superiority of my hero, a little
man who has reached the top is
often the worst of all, but because
I think he is most badly in need of
a spokesman on this campus. I wiU
probably not be a very good
spokesman, I have too little capac
ity for indignation, preferring to be
amused, but then I will not have
much competition. .
As I mentioned, I will 'not single
mindedly follow, this purpose. Any
interesting thoughts which cross
the ambling paths of my mind, any
perceptive observations which may
be made from my sheltered post,
will find their way to these pages.
Finally, I must warn you not to
let your hopes get too high. This
column is not likely to be sup
planted by a restful and far more
amusing blank space on the edi
torial page.
The Foundtion
and Scholarship
Get a
Smith-Corona
Portable
Typewriter
FCS ALL Of YCwR
SOiOCl WEEDS
We Have All Other
Type of Portable
Typewrilert
FELTON-WOL.F OFFICE SUPPLY CO.
Typewriter lien til
Service
1228 "P
Fbone 2-S577
i
Th U of N Foundation Is
writing scholarship crod fellow
ship chocks to over 300 shtdonlt
et b tJjuvorsity of Kebreska.
Thoso chocks wiU help pay or
tuition, feos. and books for
those students oi (h many
Foundation Scholarship Funds.
Tho Foundation doing en
important Job for our youth in
helping thorn obtain an educa
tion rt (ho U of 71.
U of N
Foundation
106 Love Library
Lincoln 8, Nebraska
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