Friday, November 4, 1955
Peg 2
THE NEBRASKAN
-
Nebraskan Editorials:
tee Makes Chaste
In one fell iwoop the Committee of Fifteen,
with a few members absent, pulled an ace from
the bottom of their deck and not-so-quietly
banned the Kosraet Klub from presenting
another Fall Show.
What this means is simple. The Kosmet Klub
ft out of business unless they can do one of
two things. Either they must find a way to
make enough money to offset the annual loss
of the Spring Show, or they must use their
right of appeal appeal to the "very same com
mittee that sentenced and punished them.
What actually happened was this.
A mistake was made during the Fall Show,
a big mistake. Kosmet Klub made this mistake,
via the master of ceremonies. Someone must
be held responsible for this mistake, and Kosmet
Klub is the natural group to carry the brunt of
the burden. But there is a difference between
being responsible and being at fault.
This difference has not been recognized by
the Faculty Committee of Fifteen.
Even though the Klub had been warned many
times in the past, punishment was given which
was far beyond anything that had been either
intimated or stated. Rather than correcting the
Klub's sickness, the Committee voted to per
manently bury the Klub.
For Kosmet Klub cannot possibly exist, doing
things as they now do, without the Fall Show.
And no matter what individuals think of what
might be the overall view of Kosmet Klub they
do perform a good and a necessary function.
There can be no honest criticism of the fact
recognized by the Committee that something
went asunder.
There can be no honest criticism of the fact
that someone must be held responsible.
And there can not even be honest criticism
of the fact that Kosmet Klub, by definition, is
this group.
Yet, why was action so hasty? Why was one
irate letter, valid though it was,, enough to light
the spark which in turn ignited the whole flame?
And how is it going to be fair to the Kosmet
Klub itself to say to it that it can appeal when
the appeal must be directed to the very group
that gave them a more than gentle slap on
the wrist?
There are many alternative solutions that
might have been reached. Probation could have
been used. The master of ceremonies could have
been eliminated from further shows. A script
could have been required from future an
nouncers of the show. Many other methods of
correction might have been instituted. But none
of them were.
Again, there can be no qualm with the legiti
macy of the complaint. But, like many other
recent events on our campus and in our own
community, there is a complaint with method.
And this is important to everybody not just
the member of the Klub, or the faculty, or the
administration, or the local intellgentsia or any
other group or faction.
And there are also bigger issues than the
future of the Fall Show or the future of the
Kosmet Klub.
The issue is old. Students have always been
sensitive to it. The issue is: What's this place
turning into? And the issue is really old, as we
all admit; but the issue is just as keen as ever
right now. What's happening here? D.F.
The Breech Widens
The Kosmet Klub action of Wednesday after
noon pointed out sharply and clearly the ever
widening breech between the University admin
istration and the students here at Nebraska.
A handful of students are merely aggravated
. , . some are quite irritated . . . many are in
flamed . . . and a lot more are just mad.
It wouldn't be so bad if these students were
just plain mad. But they're mad at the ad
ministration, and particularly, at the Com
mittee on Student Affairs who placed the ban
on The KK Fall Show.
They're mad because some more of NU's
dwindling traditions have been tossed by the
wayside Prince Kosmet, Nebraska Sweetheart
and the annual Fall Revue.
They're mad because a stacked faculty group
in a two hour meeting decided the fate of a
cherished campus event.
They're mad because one of their own stu
dent organizations, composed of members from
their own student body, supported and patron
ized by themselves, the student body, should be
arbitrarily emasculated by a faculty group.
Undoubtedly, the faculty sub committee had
good reason for this move. But no reasons, no
Afterthoughts
Real Challenges . .'.
Raymond A. McConnell, Jr., editor of the
Lincoln Journal, mentioned the "Challenge"
series in his Thursday evening "More Or Less
Personal" column. Quoting several of the short
pieces reprinted in Wednesday's Nebraskan, he
said the first attempt "gleaned some big names,
but little light."
He was quite right. However, The Nebraskan
has several (eight to be exact) articles written
specially for the series.
There will be, soon, some real "challenges."
Liberal Education
, A political science instructor interrupted his
lecture in municipal government to tell about
the Tennessee lad who was taking the Army
Alpha test when drafted. After he had been
working on it a short while, the sergeant proc
toring the tests noticed the boy had the question
sheet upside down.
"You must be illiterate," the sergeant said.
Five minutes later, the sergeant picked him
self off the floor. "That'll teach you to watch
your language," the draftee said. "My maw and
paw was too married."
Tha Light Of Day
The Rag office has gotten an uplift. Pre
viously the office had been termed the dungeon,
or the cave, where the light of day never shines.
This was due partly to its location in the base
ment of the Union but mostly to the fact that
it h&d ft solid gray appearance. During the last
couple of weeks things have changed. The walls
have been painted a pleasing-to-the eye green,
fluorescent lights have been installed, and sev
eral pictures have now been hung to give even
a brighter appearance. Now reporters can gaze
at a painting of "Epsom Downs" while they
wait for inspiration instead of staring at plaster
cracked gray, walls.
matter how convincing, could Justify the haste
with which the KK case was neatly hacked,
sliced and dumped into the hamper.
No reasons could justify the precedent which
has been set by the statement "of very ques
tionable taste" which, in effect, can cut out
University Theater productions (Stalag 17,
Aristophanes) and, with only slight rational
ization, many other campus activities.
The big point is, however, that the committee
has made the students mad.
But this isn't the first time. Last year when
the administration put teeth into the University
liquor policy, it made a lot of people mad. Not
because of the policy itself but because it was
never laid forth to the students (reason 1, 2,
3), it was vague and secretive, and, students
found out two months later, policemen had
been put on night duty specially to enforce
the law.
The panty raid last spring angered a number
of students, not because of the unfortunate raid
itself, but because some students were kicked
out of school; almost, it seemed to many, with
the circumstantial evidence produced in many
cases, as if to make "it look good" to people
outstate and the legislature then in session.
The exam resolution passed last spring by the
Faculty Senate irritated many students, again
not necessarily because of the resolution but
because no one ever came to the students and
said, "Here's exactly why we want the one
w"eek examination."
This is not a personal indictment of the Chan
cellor, the administration or any individual pro
fessor, instructor or faculty member. There has
been disagreement, honest disagreement, be
tween the Nebraskan and the administration
on each of these issues.
Nevertheless the fact, bold and challenging,
remains that on none of the previously men
tioned important issues has anyone, Chancellor,
dean, chairman, professor or anyone else come
before the entire student body and, either verb
ally or in writing, said, "Look, here's why, 1,
2, 3, were are using policemen to enforce the
liquor policy, we're kicking students out of
school, we want the one week exam, we want
the Kosmet Klub Fall Revue banned."
This makes students mad. Honest students
want honest answers. They should know and
they deserve to know just why the administra
tion does what it does. And the longer they
wait, the wider the gap between the students
and the administration becomes.
The administration, however good its inten
tions, is losing sight of the needs of its students;
the students, however good their intentions,
are losing sight of the interests of the Uni
versity. B.B.
Little Man on Campus
by Dick Bibler
Sound The Alarm
Once again, the night news editor was rhyth
mically tapping her head against the steel
forms ... the editorial page editor was bur
rowing into a pile of cast-off type in the far
corner ... the news editor was summoned
from his foggy room, where he had been sing
ing misfy songs with his roommate and doing
a little humming . . . even the editor, busily
dodging faculty ambuscades along 14th Street,
was called into action.
The lead story, the 7-72 headlined Kosmet
Klub story, was missing.
However, if you will look closely at the front
page again, you will see it resting peacefully
under the banner, in its comfortable position"
beneath a three column head.
It was found. B.B.
The Nebraskan
CTFTY-ITVE TEAKS OLD EDITORIAL STAFF
Itember: Associated Collegiate Press ril,tm i. ....wek Feiiman
lnnnl.t. Editorial Par Editor ............... .Bruce Brucnwnn
Intercollegiate Press MuMrh mtm Bam Jensen
Eepreaentaiive: National Advertising Service, sEEd,;;:;;;;;;::;:;:;:;;;:;:;:;:;;;?B jH
Incorporated Copy Editor "I".""!" Jnily" Boat," Babs" jelffnrhtils.
relished at: Room 20, Student Union Kllfht New. EdUor ...M. LiSE KEZ
14th & R Ag Kdltor Jim ! rather
, ., -T . , Reporter: Barbara Sharp, Arlcne Hrbek, Sara Alex.
USlifSrStSy Of Nebraska anW. Carolyn Bullrr, fieorite Mover. Wen Plttack,
lAwmtil Nar.rit.alra. "Ill OJ. ry Freniel, Bob Ireland, Bill Pitts,
ALlCOUl, meorssna Kenneth PMwson, Pick Keutllnaer. Jaek Oarlln,
T Ks?lt II Tnwrlay, Wednesday and , Julie Dowell, Mary Peterson, Janlre Parrell,
Fr' SMtirtg r.Q twStsol rem, exeept during vacation Marianne Thyrrson, Judy Hartman, Marty Keat-
aa eiwrai and n Issue I published during Int. Sylvia King, Germaine Wright, Linda Levy.
Attqss. y it of tha University of Nebraska under Mary L'lrlck, Mary Anderson, Mickey Freed, Tfaney
m mn'ntm of the Oommltte on Student Affair Ielnng. Ayleo Fnltchman. Linda Beck, Pat Tatroe,
an rcmihm of Moment opinion. Publications under Tom Keene, Margot Homady, Diana Raymond,
iisiSf 'iftion of the Suboommlttmi on Student Publlea- fleorglana Stober. Ann Hale. Cynthia Zschau,
tiona I N freo from editorial censorship on the ath' V"mh- ,,"n' Vn Kteenbery, Mary Lee
. ot i 4 Subcommittee, or on the part of any member Epsen, ann ece Barnard, Nancy Cower.
t f. ,U of th. University, or on the part of any Editorial Secretary , Maurln. Newborn..
r-eon outnute tho Nnlverslty. The member of the BUSINESS STAFF
Nrtmmha start are personally responsible for what they Business Manager George Madsen
.. or 5o or ene to bo printed. February 8, im. Business Manager ...BUI Bedwell, Rarbara Klcke,
' f niercl as second class matter at tho post nfflea Is Connie Hurst, Mick Neff
Llviruin, Ketiras, under the act of August 4. 19 i. Circulation M&nsscer Don Beck
wSf if )'
'AND THE SECOND THIW6 0U SHOULD ifARN TO CD IS TO TAKf CRITICISM'
Board Of Wise Men
Can't Understand
By FRED DALY
News Editor
The banning of the Kosmet Klub
Fall Revue by the Faculty Subcom
mittee on Student Affairs is, to say
the least, a strange and wondrous
thing. This type of action is foreign
to the University campus, and
brings blood rushing to the cheeks
of students who had always thought
they were mature enough to shrug
off shady remarks by a sprightly
master of ceremonies. ,
It is, indeed, odd. It starts the
mind to whirling over possible con
sequences, and causes consterna
tion as just what the future might
bring. It causes one to sit back a
bit, and dream ....
Once upon a time, when college
students were fun-loving, there was
a beautiful little kingdom, ruled by
a noble king. The king was loved
by all, and respected. He was ad
vised by a Board of Wise Men,
who sat about in great robes, and
thought of the Where's and why
for's of the actions of the people.
There was a custom in the coun-
f m
U
For the next few Fridays this
column will explore the various in
dependent organizations on the
campus. We shall try to see how
this great Silent Majority governs
itself. Included will be such groups
as the Barb Activities Board for
Women, Towne Club, the Residence
Falls for Women and the Inter
Coop Council.
For the first sketch I have se
lected the Residence Association
for Men. Commonly called the
RAM, it is the student government
of Selleck Quadrangle. Each resi
dent of the Quadrangle becomes a
member of the RAM upon accept
ance of his contract. In addition,
he accepts membership in one of
the sixteen houses into which the
Quadrangle is divided.
At the head of the RAM is a
Selleck Quadrangle
Organization Explained
letlerip
MC Apologizes
To The Editor:
When informed of the action tak
en by the Faculty Senate Commit
tee to ban the Kosmet Klub Fall
Revue, I was deeply disappointed
and sincerely regretful. I make no
excuses or share the blame with
no one; I was the sole cause.
I, personally, do not wish to de
bate the point of whether my re
marks added color or discolor to
the Revue. I feel that there were
innuendos that were far from crud
ness yet not as subtle as they
could have been.
The fact remains that Kosmet
Klub has been unjustly penalized
for something which they had no
control over and for which they
bore no responsibility.
I was completely informed and
instructed prior to the Revue that
my master of ceremonies bit was
to be cleaned up. These were my
intentions when I stepped on the
stage, and I felt that I had achieved
this at the completion of the Revue.
Why didn't Kosmet Klub advis
ors or Klub members censor my
script? Primrily because I did not
submit a script to them, I had
none! And why? Because I under
stood what the Klub and the ad
visors expected of me and it would
have been a waste of time and
energy to write out "good evening
ladies and gentleman . . ."
Several innocent ad libs came
out wrong. Several came out right
and were mistaken as sordid by
the audience. But I'm no profes
sional entertainer; my adlibbing
was provoked by audience re
sponse and reaction. My "question
able taste" may not be question
able in the minds of some people.
I admit that I let down for a mo
ment and yielded to what I felt
the vast majority of the audience
desired. But there appeal is no
excuse and I dc not intend to pre
sent it as such.
When I was in school, I worked
hard for Kosmet Klub. It was the
only activity on the campus that
I was dedicated to, and still am.
No one could feel worse about this
situation than I do.
i recall stating to the audience
when I was stuck for fill-in-time,
"if you are calm and collected
while others are losing their heads,
perhaps you don't understand the
darn situation." How true that was
and is.
So: To the members of Kosmet
Klub and its fine advisors: You
have taken the rap. My sincerest
apologies. You were unjustly cru
cified. To the Faculty Committee: Con
gratulations! Several of you ac
complished what you'vp attempted
to do for years kill the Kosmet
Klub.
To the Revue Audience: I apolo
gize if I offended you You put up
with my remarks which more close
ly approached corniness than lewd
ness.
To Myself: You're an idiot for
lighting the fuse to the dynamite
that several faculty members have
gathered ammunition up for for
years.
Apologetically and sincerely,
Marshall B. Kushner
President who is elected at large
each spring. In addition there is a
Vice-president and treasurer, a
Secretary, an Activities Director,
an Intramural Director, a Schol
astic Director and a Social Direc
tor also annually elected at large.
These officers make up the Execu
tive Board.
The 16 house presidents and the
Exec Board comprise the Main
Cabinet. It is the duty of this
group to represent the 932 members
of the RAM and to hold final leg
islative authority in the organiza
tion. Each of the directors meets with
the house chairmen in his depart-
The Silent Majority
ment and that group carries out a
part of the RAM program. For in
stance, the Social Director meets
with the 16 social chairmen to
form the Social Council. This group
is responsible to the Main Cabinet
for the carrying out of all social
events.
The Activities Director and his
chairmen are charged with the ad
ministration of the RAM activities
such as a glee club, photography
club, radio club and instrumental
music interest group. In addition,
this council informs RAM members
of the purposes of campus activi
ties and recruits workers for these
organizations.
Athletics of all kinds is the re
sponsibility of t h e Intramural
Council. The house chairmen, su
pervised by the Intramural Direc
tor, prepare team registrations and
act as team managers. They in
form their houses of forthcoming
events and encourage participa
tion. The RAM is one of the newest or
ganizations on the campus and is
still growing. Plans are constantly
being made to offer more services
to the members. New clubs are
being formed whenever there is
enough interest to justify them.
Last spring the RAM was in
instrumental in coordinating the
major independent organizations
in selecting and supporting an all
independent slate of candidates for
Student Council positions.
As in most organizations, finan
cial difficulties often slow import
ant projects. This is especially true
in the early years when equipment
must be bought in addition to op
erating an expanding program.
In spite of a few troubles, the
RAM is an optimistic group. Its
future is, unclouded by precedent
and a dominant philosophy of
service to its members seems to
insure that its purposes will con
tinue to be worthwhile.
try of holding a great pageant in
the fall, where people sang and
danced, and humorous readings
and plays were given. It was a
fine exhibition of local talent, and
if the interlockerator might have
made a few raw comments, the
people felt they were wise enough
not to be offended.
But, one year, some one person
was offended. He sent a notice to
th? king, who gave it to the Board
of Wise Men. The Wise Men, who
were so busy being Wise and All
Seeing that they hadn't got around
much, acted immediately and rig
orously on the notice.
The pageant was banned, for the
good of the people, and the lead
err, wers chopped to bits and
thrown into the river. It was in
deed a noble thing.
Then a little later, another notice
came to the king. It seemed some
one objected to another organiza
tion on the campus one adicted
to the promotion of national spirit.
They were making too much noise.
Then came another indignant
gasp and the spirit-making group
disappeared. Then came a letter
objecting to a charitable group and
all that was left was a puff of
smoke. And even the journals of
the kingdom, almost harmless
most of the time, were objected to
and The Wise Men threw a match
into a pile of newsprint. The jour
nals were gone.
They took off their black robes,
and the wreathes from around
their heads. They took the wise,
all-seeing gazes from their eyes,
and put them away, for they would
need them no more.
They congratulated each other
on the noble and sacrificing job
they had done in ridding the king
dom of the stupid and unscholarly
activities of the people.
Then, smiles of satisfaction still
on their faces, they looked out of
th3 window. The kingdom wn
clean, and neat and sterile. Noth
ing was out of place. No bad words
were heard; no nasty grins were
seen.
And all the people In the king
dom were gone.
It was indeed a strange and
wondrous thing, and nobody In the
Board of Wise Men really knew
why.
gggj&S)&tit& i0f
1 1
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nun VJijU
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