Wednesday, October 19, I955
Page 2
THE NEBRASKAN
Nobraskan Editorials:
LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS
by Dick BIbler,
.HIIILIUMM WKW"'ll"''l'1
TO j
Just The facts
Finally, some facts.
Certainly, not all the facts . . . Obviously,
not many of the facts . . . But, finally, some of
the facts the first facts that have yet been pre
sented by either side concerning the advisability
of the one week exam proposal.
As yet, no justification for or explanation of
the final exam resolution has been officially,
formally or in any other conceivable way pre
sented to the student body.
However, Informally, offhand and in scat
tered quotes recorded by The Nebraskan last
semester, weVe heard a lot of reasons for the
one week, exam.
Students leave town during finals.
Other neighboring schools use the one week
period.
' 'Students waste time during the two week
period.
Too much emphasis is placed on final exams.
BUT WE HAVE YET TO SEE ANY FACTS.
All of these statements, as sensible as they
might seem, are merely blanket statements
backed up with no proof, tangible evidence or
facts of any kind.
These reasons have been only what they
could possibly be: personal observations and
opinions lacking the decisive support of factual
evidence.
Perhaps these observations and opinions are
right. Perhaps they are not. It's hard to say.
But, especially, it's hard to say when there are
so available facts.
This sort of evidence is hard to get. But it
can be done. And it has been done.
The photostated table on the front page, com
piled by a special Faculty Senate committee in
1950, is a good example.
Granted, this survey was taken five years
ago. Students change. Professors change. Times
change. But yet, the facts gathered by this
faculty group nevertheless give an indication,
and a good one, of two things:
1. THE MAJORITY OF PROFESSORS AND
STUDENTS QUESTIONED IN 1950 FAVORED
EXAMINATIONS EXTENDED OVER A LONG
PERIOD OF TIME.
In 1950, a nine day period of examinations
was employed. A majority of faculty members
and students voted for this 1950 system; the
next largest grouping of faculty and students
was for a ten day period, only one day shy of
the present system.
2. STUDENTS IN 1950 USED THE TWO DAY
READING PERIOD.
2479 students said they used the reading pe
riod. 101 claimed they didnt.
The statistics also gave some evidence,
though not conclusive evidence, that a good ma
jority of the students do not leave town during
examinations (2073473). It also shows that
faculty and students alike favored a maximum
of two exams per day.
These figures are in no way conclusive. They
can be no more than an indication. But they
are facts and, even though they are five years
old, they are the first scraps of evidence yet
brought forth on the exam question.
As the first real tangible evidence, they de
mand close inspection. B. B.
Last Advice
The test of any system can be determined
only after it has been in operation. Just as this
maxim is true in every phase of government
and industry, as well as human entanglements,
so is it true in the Council's chambers.
For the first time, the selection of the Pub
. Board has been given careful thought before the
actual meeting of the Council for choosing Pub
Board members.
At Wednesday's meeting which will be de
voted largely, if not entirely, to interviewing can
didates for Pub Board, the Council will be test
fag its own plan for rectifying the inadequacy
of past years. For the first time, the Council
will have interviewed each candidate prior to
the main meeting and nominated, in a sense,
the individuals considered especially qualified
for the responsible posts.
At the meeting there will be no need A or use
less comments. There will be no need for sflly
questions, requesting promises that win never
be fulfilled. There is not even any need or rea
son for every member of the Council to feel he
imust" stand up and be beard i.e., unless he
does have something worth saying and contrib
uting to the other members of the Council.
Yet, the Council will be considering a matter
far more serious than it appears to be. They
will, in the long run, be selecting the student
members of a group that will, in turn, select
the staff for the only all-University publications
on the campus.
To be downright factual, this very group will
be selecting the individuals who next semester
and the next year will be commenting on Coun
cil activities, be they good, bad or indifferent.
It is plain to see the importance of this
choice, for the entire University and for the
Council itself.
Therefore, let the Council grapple with the
real worth of these applicants. The new mem
bers should possess all the qualities necessary
for a high judicial post, for this is the function
they mill perform.
The Council can be given some advice;
1. Keep your mits about you.
2. Don't over emphasize the importance of
experience, journalism knowledge, business
training, grades, activities or anything else. But
do consider each one of these points individually.
4. Do try to get tbe higher type person, the
person who will be above the pettiness of per
sonal favors and the bigotry of personal enmi
ties. 5. And last, repeating the first admonition,
do, do keep your wits about you.
Speak up. Think. And then, choose. D. F.
More And Better Reasons
Activities' the word is somewhat of an
anomaly to the average student. The general
feeling seems to be that it is acceptable to be
"in activities" after all, it is required for bouse
points.
But those who take an activity seriously
enough to be classed sr an "activity wheel" are
regarded with a rather detached amusement,
sometimes akin to suspicion.
Yet, strange as it might seem to those stu
dents who have never known the pleasure of
licking stamps for Builders or soliciting for
AUT, there are other and better reasons for
participating in activities than the fact that
"the house requires it."
This afternoon, freshmen women will have
their first opportunity to sign up for activities
at the AWS Activities Mart. Most of the coeds
who will attend, if previous years are any indica
tion, wffl have been thoroughly exposed to ac
tivities during meetings at their sororities.
They win have been told either where they
can get the required number of points in the
easiest manner, or, if such is their inclination,
where they wiU have the best chance for mak
ing Mortar Board.
The few independents who win attend the
Mart probably win attend at the urging of some
upperclass friend or to sign up for a particular
interest.
Whatever the reason the freshman coeds wiD
have for attending, probably few realize the
phuosophy behind activities. The many organi
zations are tolerated on campus for essentially
two reasons. First, the organization fulfills some
worthwhile function; either to the .campus, such
as Builders and Tassels; to the Lincoln commu
nity and society, such as B.ed Cross and AUF,
or, to its own members, such as KUCWA or
WAA.
But, secondly, in a larger sense, an activities
liltimately serve their members. The average
coed may consider activities an opportunity for
broadening social contacts, iut beyond that she
doesn't expect much. Yet from typing letters
far Builders to planning a Ked Cross party at
the orphanage, leading a YWCA -discussion of
marriage, or participating in a KTJCWA confer
ence, an activities offer opportunities for indi
vidual development.
Working with other people, closely and often
under pressure, gives a person new insight into
inter-person relations. Helping with a service
project gives a heretofore rather self-centered
person a new consideration for others.
AWS is suggesting that no coed sign up for
more than three organizations. By selecting
those activities which best express her individual
interests, the freshman can add immeasurably
to the value of her four years in coftege and
prepare herself for a more useful and richer
life in the years ahead.
There is more to activities than activity
points, coffee in the Union and a calendar fun
of meetings; an the benefits to be gained from
activities do not have any immediate tangible
return, nor do they necessarily culminate with
Ivy Day. L. S.
The Student Union
In the last week the Union and the admin
istration have announced two moves toward
making sure that the million dollars going into
a new addition win be used wisely.
The house representatives picked by the
board of managers are to help find out just
what people who use the Union want in the new
addition. They, of course, are to act in a liaison
capacity as far as informing their houses and
dorms what the Union's projects are sort .of a
publicity staff. But, in their survey capacity,
they win be doing a service to their groups and
themselves as wen as the Union.
last week the best-known authority on stu
dent unions. Porter Butts, was engaged in a
three-day stint on the campus to help local
planning groups. Butts'" advice is expensive,
The Nebraskan heard unofficially; the admin
istration felt the money involved in hiring an
expert was a good investment.
If Butts'' view of student unions is any indi
cation, the addition win increase the Union's
usefulness as a conege-community center.
The cheering aspect of the developing Union
plans is that it shows an evident desire to con
sult expert advice and student wishes, so that
the parking lot win disappear under .more than
just another pretty building. M. &.
The Nebraskan
rEFTT-FITE TEAKS I3
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Ciftunle JbUirat, Miek feeff
Let's All Be
Indifferent!
The crusading fire is burning
hot around the University these
days. People are crusading to get
rid of Glassford, to keep Glassford,
to have a two week exam period,
to have a one week exam period,
to have the student council mem
bers speak up, to have the student
council members shut up, all sorts
of things.
It seems that nearly every arti
culate member of the University
population, and some of the inarti
culate, has some axe to grind.
Being surrounded by all these
people with causes, has led me
to discover an unpleasant fact
about myself, and today I'm going
to tell you the truth. Beneath this
thin veneer of civilization, lies an
abysmally indifferent savage. I
simply don't care.
Even the fact that the eventual
resolution of these controversies
may in some way affect my future
fails to arouse me. I can struggle
Students Have Little Voice;
Professors Do Double Takes
It's clear that there's not much
a student can do in this University
toward improving his academic or
social situation, or toward assuring
the integrity of his degree. Many
freshmen come to this school with
the delusion that the student will
have a part in the leadership of
this University, and that some of
the policy wll be dKermined by his
own student government organiza
tions.
If he hasnt been shaken cut of
this attitude by now, he soon will
be, for the student seems to have
very little influence around here.
Whether he should or not is far
from clear cnt, but it is important
that he had better not expect any.
The confusing and mistily-cov-cred-up
action on the one-week ex
am period is a good indication
of the weakness of student opin
ion here, and, it appears, of some
fast double-takes on the part of
some faculty members.
After the motion was originally
passed, cutting exam peiiod from
two to one week, there was a
disconcerting hue and cry from
faculty members about the de
cision. Several prominent Arts college
faculty members cried foul and
either openly or in private discus
sion accused the backers .of this
bill of stacking''" the faculty sen
ate, misrepresenting the intent of
the motion in previous announce
ments and of railroading the bfll
through at the end of the Senate
meeting. If I recall correctly, the
My Bootless Cries
Teachers College and several Eiz
Ad professors hastened io make it
clear that tbey weren't, as com
monly believed, behind the one
week exam.
The Student Council supposedly
the student's voice in campus af
fairs, registered an uncompromis
ingly strong objection to the re
duced exam period and also asked
for more justification for the re
duction. They vere, I am told, as
sured by University officials that
the students fefings would be pre
sented to the Seriate or at least
considered.
Last week the faculty held iheir
first Senate meeting of the new
school year, and no mention as
made .of any oposition to the bin
on the part of either previously
vehement faculty members or
.questioning students. Although a
small facet of the one-week exam
procedure was brought up, dis
cussed and pu;;sed, there were no
objections made about the one
week e: am period itself.
Where were all .of thotie who
cried so loudly last Smg? I
imagine most of them were at
that meting last week. Tl'hy .didnt
they .even debate the reduction .of
exams? 1 wonder.
The stock answer, of .course, is
that last week's meeting was not
the .occasion lor a fight. Next
month the 1956-57 calendar win
be brought '.up., and then the fight
wffl begin ... if there i to be
.one. Frankly, this doesn't seem
too logical. Each passing month
win only serve to resign many
faculty members to the exam re
duction. And why spend lime last
QUENTIN'S
clown Er Gampus
1229 E Phone t-ZUS
JLST RECU1LD
Shipment t& Xedencocts
Centred diropa Xteaiik
Fmrwtip Lenrfh.
Poplin Octw Shell
Wool Oee Lining.
Huod Tocks under the Collar.
Whlte-Blara-Red-lCavr
week approving a detail of the one
eek exam program if, next month,
you're going to scrap it altogeth
er? Apparently, if anything is to be
done, there is a clever plot hidden
and waiting for a last-ditch situ
ation. Euher that is the case, or
else many faculty members are
reluctant to buck administration
policy, or suddenly indifferent
about the importance of final
exams in maintaining the integri
ty of their courses.
And since still no notice has
been made of the Student Council
petitions (both this semester and
last), the students will be com
pletely at the mercy of the admin
istration, good or bad.
Then the sheepskins wQl get
smaller at graduations.
Nebrashan Letterip
News Coverage Criticized
E4HerH mrtr: TV Xrrav.ma Lrrt nlii I apea Irtm flrwaa
IM vera. letter rll Be raMUaxa tf It
k Mfwl: nan afl he witkivM tf reaante4.
To the Editor:
What is the function of campus newspaper? Why is it that news
items and announcements pertaining to events of interest to the
entire student body are frequently not published? Does the Xebraskaa
have any consistent policy which guides its editorial staff to determine
which activities are to receive the benefit of publicity?
One of the piimary functions of a campus newspaper is to relay
news of campus events, even if it were fc necessitate the exclusion of
articles and columns of often dubious merit and interest. Our painful
experience has been that the Xebraskaa prefers these to announce
ments that are important to many students.
The Xehraskan's recent failure to announce fee meeting of the
German Club on Oct. 6, in which some 409 students were concerned,
is an instance oi this practice.
Copy was carefully prepared and delivered to the editorial office
several days m advance, and assurance was delivered that the aauice
would appear. It did net. U this m-ere the first time such a thing had
happened, it would indeed be excuszbile, but it has occurred so fre
quently in the past that it scarcely seems worthwhile to take infor
mation or news of coming everts to the Xebraskan.
This letter is written in the hope that we may perhaps in the
future see the Xebraskan fcUoning a consistent policy of serving as
a CAMPUS newspaper. In the meantime,- we shall continue sub
mitting our news.
Da Alii
German Club Sponsor
The Crusade
Itear Editor:
Secretly, I consider myself a very stolid person. Only C grams of
morphine win get me through a chem test and I easily survive
moonlit nights by wearing iark glasses. You know the kind, cool
as a cucumber, no feelings at all. But last Friday youVe done at,
you hurt me deep down inside.
Eight on the first page you misspelled my name, in extra heavy
print to boot. As if that wasn enough, I got classified with a bunch
ci deaf, dumb and very unattractive . scarecrows, and on the second
page you said that j'ou really meant it, and it was strictly personal
and an that. I just couldn't take it, sat down and cried and cried.
Would stm be crying, but gat to look at the picture again and
saw that the talkative council members were even uglier, that helped
right away.
So, I calmed down and right a-ay realized what great and des
perately needed work j'ou're doing. Why, this is positively the peadb
iest crusade ever! A real darling, hanea to goodness expose and so
original1! Why, man, this is more exciting than the race track. To
make jt even 'better, you could print these track forms say in the
Tuesday issue and run sort of a contest. Yoa know, guessirig who
win get fee most x"s, giving a way prizes and that sort of thing. Why,
it could 'become a national pastime when applied to the congressional
level Crazj-5
1 can hardly wait to see who is going to win next time.
Tip. I wouldn't 'bet on yours truly. They'll probably even misspell
the name in front .of Uhe zero.
Karys Aliminat
through a one week period for
final exams; although, like every
reasonably intelligent and realistic
student, I would prefer two weeks.
As for the other current disputes,
I can hardly conceive any good
reason for their existing at all
Not only am i indifferent to such
local problems, but, and this I
blush to admit, I am not parti
cularly interested in pressing inter
national problems which have a
bearing on the future of the whole
world.
I suppose there is something
terribly selfish and even evil about
this attitude, but I can't help it.
Jess Jesting
Take for example the problem of
China. Now, I care not one whit
for the entire country. If the ma
jority of the Chinese prefer to be
governed by a Communist war
lord rather than a democratic war
lord, it's all right with me. I know
I shouldn't feel that way, but still
I do.
And yet, there is somftiung to
be said in defense of my position,
aside from the obvious advantage
it has of making my life a little
simpler. Indifference, after all, is
the basis of almost aU tolerance,
and tolerance is a great American
virtue. You will say that such
tolerance is not the real thing,
and this is true, but sometimes
we must be satisfied with second
best and consider ourselves lucky.
Well, it's off my chest now, and
I feel better for it .Perhaps this
column may even have a further
purpose than that of cleansing my
soul I have an idea that many
other people feel as I do in these
matters, and this public admission
may give them the strength to
carry on.
Don't relax for a moment, com
rades. Your enemies are all about
you, crying for you to take a stand
on something. Dont do it! Remem
ber, you have a right to be indifferent.
O, Pioneers
A recent issue of national wom
en's magazine contained aa article
which decried the hugeness of the
responsibility of today's woman.
The article said: "Not only must
today's wife and mother be aa
amateur g -rset, chauffeur, gard
ner, carpe: dectrician, seam
stress and p.. cbologist, she must
also be an active member of the
Parent-Teachers' Association.
I .O tii h i r ataawS
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Tke tarkM OMi
A Mja Lnr l aeea!
"Ciosaiijiar
CiTaA.SCOe
LEARN TO FLY
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Joe Steele 6-431 wr 2-2294
UaMwIa AtiatMwi Iminitnte
Cynic's Delight
A University professor is quoted
'by his students as imiquely stat
ing one .of the world's greater
truths.
.only trouble with people
gift xtf gab is that they
the hocum they
out to .other people,
"'The
with the
tend to believe
shovel
said.
he
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