Friday, December 9, 1 955
Page 2
THE NEBRASKAN
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Nebraskan Editorials:
Our Atomic Future
Last week the University played host to what
probably went unnoticed to far too many stu
dents. Yet the meeting was undoubtably one of
the most important the campus has ever wit
nessed. The meeting was the Nuclear Energy Insti
tute. It was well attended. It was fruitful. It was
instructive. And most of all, it was a forecast of
things to come, an atomic future for Nebraska.
The Institute attracted leading scientists in
the field of atomic energy as well as business, in
dustrial and scientific leaders from all over this
area. The Institute received large scale national
publicity, through the Wall Street Journal and
others. Clearly, Nebraska was dealing with big
things; and it was one of first of such confer
ences in the mid-west.
. What the Institute showed to the men attend
ing it was that with the construction of the
atomic power plan in southeast Nebraska will
com a whole new area of industry, the industry
centered around the by-products of the power
plant. Use of these atomic by-products will
open new vistas to all industry, especially food
processing industries, natural in an agricultural
area such as Nebraska.
'
The specifics of all this are fascinating, even
to the most scientifically ignorant. Food pastur-
ization and food sterilization, just to mention a
few, are among the potential uses of atomic
by-products.
The importance to be stressed, however, is
not that of any one industry. Jt is the grander
picture, the picture of what this state might
well be and develop into as it begins to assume
the role of leader in the peacetime use of atomic
energy.
To students and faculty this might seem far
away; but this is far from true. Aside from the
immediate power benefits, the new experiments
which the University will add to its present pro
gram or even the proposed industrial uses now
being discussed will be the future, now unknown,
where Nebraska will be able to expand as it has
never done.
The Wall Street Journal spoke of the import
ance of the placing of this new industry in
what it called an industrially "have not" state.
The Chicago newspaper then discussed the "yen
for industrialization" in Nebraska and the yeoman-like
work of Lincoln business leaders in at
tracting the plant to Nebraska.
This sounds good. The prospects of the future
sound good. It is especially good and this must
be emphasized to see that Nebraska, too often
a state typified by inaction, is jumping into the
most promising area of the future. D. F.
Nominations In Order
Nominations art in order for the Outstanding The staff realizes that nominations themselves
Nebraskans! honor those nominated, so The Nebraskan hopes
At tha end of each semester. The Nebraskan nominations wju be made seriously, with
takes it upon itself to honor two people-one the intent of giving recognition to those students
faculty member and one student-whom the staff and aculty wno are worthy o it
feels worthy. ,
This Is the only honor of any sort that The
Nebraskan makes. It is a tradition that has built The only problem in picking Outstanding
up over the last several years that receives Nebraskans is in picking one person out of the
recognition throughout the state. manv- tt ' not a Problem of finding an out
Other newspapers pick it up and recognize standing person, as each year the staff is be
the honor as such. The Nebraskan thinks it eged with honest nominations of worthy candi
important, as it is one way students and faculty dates.
at the University" can be recognized for out- Nominations are open. This is the one chance
standing contributions to the school and its in- the student and faculty to recognize their
stitutions and outstanding pedagogical efforts, contemporaries, instructors, students and friends
for any outstanding contributions to the Uni-
Two winners one faculty and one student versity.
art picked, because The Nebraskan recognizes Make good use of it. The Nebraskan firmly
that outstanding Nebraskans are found in both believes in giving credit where credit is due.
the faculty and the student body. Take not this honor lightly, and bestow it in
Nominations are desired by The Nebraskan. good faith. F. T. D.
Toward A Better U 'niversity
Following is the fourth of a series of seven editorials dealing with problems common to all
parts of the University community.
The series follows the plans, first voiced in a Nebraskan editorial of Nov. 16, which hope to
help students and faculty alike realise their common interest in bettering the University.
Today's editorial discusses the problems of bousing the need for expansion, the problems
of expansion and some of the results for the University of the present building program.
Long Range Housing
It is obvious to any thinking student, in the At present, there is a dearth of organized in-
Eght of predicted increased enrollments, that formation concerning married students here,
the housing problem is becoming more acute. No one in the Administration seems to know
The many ramifications of this problem, how- even how many married students there are in
ever, are not so obvious. the University. Without more information than
What effect will additional men's housing presently seems available, it will be difficult for
have on fraternities? What about housing for the University to judge its needs,
married students? Will there eventually be -jr
enough bousing for all students who wish to live Decentralization of housing from city to Ag
on campus? Is more housing being planned for js another trend suggested by proposed con-
Ag campus? Which way will the University ex- struction. Under the present plan, a dorm to
pand? house 236 men and other for 70 women would
These are big problems and important ones, be built on the Ag College campus. There are
The University administration is cognizant of many good and logical reasons favoring hous-
them and is making good long-range plans to jng on Ag for students who have most of their
deal with them. classes there. Objections seem to be overruled
Whether or not the University will be able by another important consideration the prob-
to carry out its plans is to a large degree de- em of acquiring sufficient suitable land near
pendent on whether or not the University can the city campus.
borrow $3,750,000 in revenue bonds at a rate The University is faced with several barriers
of interest which it can afford to pay. to expansion. On one side, it is bounded by the
railroad, and south of Q street property is too
n the money can be borrowed it will pay for valuable for business purposes. The only natural
tha construction of additional housing for both direction for the University to expand is either
men and women on Ag campus, a new wing to the east or upward. Both are apparently being
for the Residence Halls for Women and 40 units considered.
for housing for married students. Plans and The University is working on long-range
specifications for these buildings are practically plans to buy lots back and east of the Women's
finished and building will begin this. spring if Dorm clear over to Vine and back to 16th. It
the funds art obtained. is already working on arrangements to buy the
Even if these plans arc realized, it would not entire block between 16th and 17th and Vine
mean entirely adequate bousing for the Univer- and Northside. This land would be used for the
airy. No new city campus men's units are in- construction of further men's dorms. Selleck
eluded, although ft University recognizes the pointed out that if and when such a dorm is con-
ceed for them. At present, it is estimated that structed it would probably be an eight to ten
approximately 500 men students live off-campus, story structure.
It will still be some time before there will be Adequate housing is essential to the program
adequate housing for all interested students. of a growing university and The Nebraskan is
On question which received considerable at- glad to see that the administration has not only
tention at the time the present Men's Dora was recognized the problems which exist in this con-
buCt was whether this was part of a move nection but is making an honest attempt to solve
stfsinst the fraternity system. There was specu- them through both immediate and long-term
lation as to whether eventually all freshmen plans. L. S.
would b required to live in the dorm, the
system which is presently used for women. A ft - IL
In. answer to this question John Selleck, At I GU llOUQ MlS
Controller for the University, explained that
with enrollment increasing faster than building AL orrC I
possibly can, this will not be the result. VVflUUpa.
jr Christmas shopping seems to havt a way of
As far as married students art concerned, producing the milder forms of insanity. One col-
th proposed forty units of housing which would lege man knew exactly what he wanted when
be built Just north of Holdrege at 38th is the first he ventured into the lingerie department of a
major step by the University to provide for its local store. He announced boldly, "I want a
ever fascreastog married population. lip with lots of slace on it."
The Nebraskan
FIFTY-FIVE YEASS OLD Kntm4 m m matt. at ttw port afflta m
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Sfsaafcers Associated CotlerUte Press EDITORIAL STAFF
InterofHegiate press mmtm oteu rename.
EegreacniiSTei National Advertising Service,
loeerporated
T&O&U : Bhi 20. Student Colon KEVSmEJ "".'.'.'J"' " Jt' 'C wriS
, i . . . K1M 7wi Editor J! Bo
University of Nebraska a uiw nm teatim
Uruvtln Kvhrasks. luwortwi: Barbara fiaarp, ArUw Hrbk, ar Ai-
Ttx ffrfcraefcaa U aaMtelhMl Twitf, W4eaaar titM !. Ha Irtana. Mill '!, i'k 4 arlla, Julie
fnmm lm( M efc '. tnrut Tacattoa IWI. Macj trtn-m, MarMaaa Thca, Mry
& xaa Mtoo, " potmM 4arti Hart man. Hylvto King, C.rmmtn Wrtht, Mar I I.
t ta t uZT. JJjVjil,? .V .Wt ilflr. Mm4 Hom4T. ..rl Htnbrr. Ana Hair, ( ynlhia
as M 9mm of oplrriooj. niMlraUnas amlrr mmti, .Sinn Comrr, Monrna L'fbrr.
JosKwiM-ito ' tha beaeiH aa Madnrt faMira- MIruM Krrrrury Maarlna Kewhotna
tMa a tra aolumal aa ItM ..... CT.
mt a af aa l-awmltir, aa aa af aar KaORMa Maaar lMne M1B
mmn !- tha lutrrnHr. TlM mkm af Itta Ami Maalaxa Maaaera ...BUI Bariwril. Rarbara t.trkr.
Htsrkm autff Bmaoailii reaieillM for what tbrf Coniila Huriu Mirk ,SVff
t. t a hm l ta prmir4. ittwt a, CUtalMUnm Maaaccf laa Back
Lime man on campus
by Pick Bibler
Come on now-whichone of you guvs have ouc'ciassc
COtCS'f m GOTTA STUDY WAUT TEST TWOROOrt-'
Barb Activities
Gov't Explained 1
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It has been four weeks now since the presentation of an important
Independent organization in this column. One of the least known and
most widely representative is an organization called BABW.
It is surprising how many students do not know what those four
letters stand for. And these students are not all freshmen or Greeks.
The Barb Activities Board for Women is the sole co-ordinating
organ for all independent women in organized houses. (By the way
"Barb" comes from "barbarian;" its use does not imply that independ
ents are uncouth, but is used in reference to an ancient situation in
which there were but two nationalities Greeks and barbarians. Thus,
"barb" means only "not Greek" and has no stigmatic meaning.)
BABW is made up of a board of four seniors, six juniors and six
sophomores who are elected by all independent women students in a
The Silent Majority
spring election. All independent women vote whether they live in a
house which is represented in BABW or not.
In addition to the 16 board members are nine representatives of
independent women's organized houses. The houses include the Resi
dence Halls for Women, Terrace Hall, Wilson Hall, Howard Hall, Inter
national House, Loomis Hall, Love Memorial Hall, Adelphi and Towne
Club.
The house representative has a two-way job. She reports the feel
ings of her house to the BABW meetings. Then she reports to her
house what is discussed and decided by BABW. It is the duty of the
house representatives to crp f interest in BABW projects in her
house as well as to find the .eds of her house and present them for
action.
Board members provide much of the drive in the organization.
They must apply for the job. Then they are interviewed and the final
ists are presented in the spring election. Such a process of elimination
insures that board members are sincerely interested and are superior
leaders.
One of the serious problems before BABW is that it has little con
tact with the independent Lincoln women who do not belong to Towne
Club or,Adelphi. Reliable lists of these women afe not readily available
and these are necessary to give representation to women who are
not members of BABW houses.
Throughout the year, BABW sponsors events to further the cause
of independent students. In the fall, the Hello Girl Dance opens the
social season and another year of beauty queen selections is begun.
A traditional Recognition Tea is held each spring to honor inde
pendent women who have been outstanding in activities during the
year. At that time, a scholarship plaque is awarded to the member
house with the highest scholastic average.
BABW is unique in that it does not know exactly when it was formed,
Existing records show it was functioning in 1947 but no one seems to
know how long before. In its nine-year recorded history, BABW has
had several constitutions and is now revising its present constitution.
The greatly increased emphasis on independent activities in the
past two years has shown that BABW should operate on a larger scale.
Therefore, the revised constitution will probably allow the organiza
tion a greater range of activity.
Modern Maccabees
'Secular Challenge'
Confronts Religion
By RABBI HAROLD I. STERN
Counselor, B'nai B'rith
Hillel Foundation
This evening before sunset, Jews
throughout the world will gather
with their families to kindle the
urst light of Chanukah, The Feast
of Dedication. During the next
eight days, one light will be added
,for each day until on the eighth
night, the Chanukah candelabrum
will be all aglow with the splendor
symbolic of the holy light of Al
mighty God who doth miracles and
wonders in behalf of Israel, His
people.
It is true that more than two
millennia have elapsed since the
first Chanukah. For it was in the
year 165 B.C.K that a small band
of Jews led by Judah the Macca
bee, a priest of Galilee, succedeed
after three years of ceaseless
struggle and guerrilla warfare to
dr've out of Jerusalem the well
disciplined armies of the Syrian
tyrant, Antiochus Epiphanes, and
in great joy and thanksgiving re
dedicated God's temple which had
been desecrated by the alien hosts,
a a a
But however shrouded in anti
quity the events surrounding the
institution of Chanukah, and how
ever closely the festival is' bound
up with the Jewish people, its deep
er significance, its profound relig
ious meaning, is timeless and uni
versal. The Maaabean revolution was
inspired by the recognition that
the assimilation of the Biblical
ideals of faith and brotherhood to
the Greek culture of the day could
not help but result in the com
promise of the principles of action
which had been revealed on Sinai
in favor of those derived from
human sources.
There had been many Jews who
believed that it was possible to live
in two religious civilizations sim
ultaneously. But, little by little, it
became apparent that one could
not be a servant of the God of
Israel and Zeus at the same time.
The religious commitment to Ju
daism demanded a full dedication
of the individual, a total devotion
to the task of sanctifying a world
which God had created good by ful
filling the ethical and ceremonial
commandments which Ke had or
dained. a a a
Any attempt to avoid the choice
between the religion of the Bible
and the way of life advocated by
the spiritual descendants of Hom
er, Plato and Aristotle was fore
doomed to failure.
We of our generation, Jew and
Christian alike, are faced with the
same ' challenge that . faced the
Maccabees. Everywhere in our
daily lives, (perhaps even more so
Letterip
Innocents' Average
To the Editor:
The Innocents Society announces
(he minimum scholastic require
ments for eligibility for election to
next year's Society.
Again this year, the minimum
accumulative scholastic average
will be a 6.0. Furthermore, only
men of junior standing in the Uni
versity will be considered.
The Innocents Society
C yy fa-
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. V fit ,
p m 1 " 1 1 "
University Must Face
Discrimination Problem
One issue which is gaining mo
mentum on campus is the con
troversy over restrictive clauses
in the constitutions of national fra
ternities. Though this controversy has
raged on other campuses for some
time, NU has been left un
touched because of student indif
ference and the small minority
representation in the student body.
This year, however, certain in
terested parties intend to petition
the University to abolish discrimi
nation. Their proposals are:
(1) to remove the institutional
ized basis for discrimination; (2)
to set a time period in which or
ganizations must comply; (3) to
set up a committee to assist the
affected fraternities in making the
corrections and to impress the na
tional organization with the grav
ity of tne situation.
Similar plans and situations now
exist in other midwestern schools
including the Universities of Colo
rado, Minnesota, Chicago and Wis
consin. Before cries of "bigot" and
"radical" begin to fly back and
forth across the Mall, one should
examine rationally some pertinent
questions concerning this issue.
First, what is a restrictive
clause? In this controversy, it is
one that "self-segregates" an or
ganization on the basis of race,
ethnic origin or religion.
The second question. How many
fraternities and sororities have
such a clause? Of the 31 members
and one associate in the women's
National Panhellenic Conference,
only one (not at NU) has such a
clause. Among the 61 men's na
tionals in the National Interfrater
nity Conference, only ten have re
strictive clauses.
Of these ten, however, eight are
pn the NU campus.
Does the University have legal
power to outlaw such discrimina
tory clauses in the constitutions of
its social organizations? The ruling
of the United States Supreme
Court on Nov. 8, 1954, in regard
to similar action taken by the
State University of New York, as-
Tale Of Two Cynics
cures the right or public institu
tions to define the policies that
govern fraternal groups on their
campuses.
Few college fraternities still
have formal constitutional dis
criminatory clauses. However, it is
difficult for student fraternity
members to promote reform in
these remaining "holdout" frater
nities since constitutional reform
is national policy, and too often
national policy is controlled by fra
ternity bureaucrats and ultra-clannish
alumni who are wedded to the
fraternity status quo. Polls have
indicated that racial and religious
restrictions might disappear if left
to the students themselves.
Unfortunately, formal constitu
tional discriminatory clauses are
not needed in order to discrimi
nate. It depends mainly upon the
altitude of the members.
The object of a fraternity, as
expressed by L. G. Balfour, Past
Grand Consul of Sigma Chi, is "to
promote the art of effective living
with our brothers-the development
of the individual in all his
relations with society. " If fratern
ities and sororities educate their
members along such lines, dis
crimination problems would cease
to exist.
Selectivity is one of the bases
of society. Few could deny that,
in itself, association with a group
is a vital part of education. The
error of some organizations is not
in their selectivity, but in their
method of selection.
Since the university is the edu
cator of society, its inherent pol
icy cannot tolerate bigotry. The
pioblem, as far as written dis
crimination is concerned, is the
method by which the University
must rid itself of this malignant
disease, contracted externally, and
over which concerned individuals
have little control.
in the life of the university com
munity) we are confronted by the
secular challenge to the religiously-oriented
way of life which we
have been taugnt 'from the womb'.
A goodly number of us have given
into the secular, excusing our
selves on the ground that we are
conforming to the American way.
a a a
We allow social activities, per
sonal ambition to become known
on campus, desire for athletic dis
tinction and countless other partial
goals to deter us from the path
which leads to the final goal: right
relationship with God.
Even devotion to studies may be
prompted by a secular motive. A
student who excels in the class
room because he conceives his
studies as the most effective
means to obtain that nebulous
thing called 'financial security is
worshipping Zeus to the same ex
tent as if he were bowing down
before a graven image.
But fortunately, there are among
us men and women who have com
mitted themselves to God
and His way. Sometimes they are
not recognized rather they are
rarely recognized but it is they
for whom the world is kept in exist
ence. a a a
It is they who can by their ef
forts bring about a reconciliation
between God and His ' creation.
And it is for precisely this reason
that they must now become Mac
cabees; they must come forth out
of the obscurity of their Galilees;
trey must publicly make their
voices heard and call others to the
banner of God's army. .
They must no longer be con
tent to save their own souls, but
rather with courage and fortitude
accept the responsibilities of lead
ership which God has placed on
their shoulders. The word Macca
bee is derived from the initials of
the Hebrew words making up the
verse: "Who is like unto Thee, O
Lord, among the mighty?"
May it be God's will that this
proclamation will echo soon over
all the face of the earth, when
one in spirit, under God, mankind
will find harmony and peace.
SMOKER'S n
CHRISTMAS
NEEDS
CLIFF'S
SMOKE SHOP
121 N. 12th
, ve have the 1
i most HeavenW Jk
t Nonaoss I
GOLDEFiflOD
215 North 14
You Are Invited To Worship
ST. PAUL UETH0DIST OliUeCI!
12th and M Streets
Morning Worship 110 AM.
Sermon: "Starlight en a
Shadowed Way"
Radio Ministry Zrtry Sundff
KFAB 9:00-9:15 AM.
KFOR 11:30 AJL
'Ministers:
Church Study
QaiHi-9:45 A.M.
FRANK COURT, RALPH LEWIS, SAMUfcL BEECHNEB
DONALD BLISS WESLEY FOUNDATION
KEEP YOUR SUNDAYS SACRED
THROUGH THE HOLY HUSH OF WORSHIP!
A