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Tuesday, April 24, 1 956
Paoe 2
THE NEBRASKAN
Nebraskan Editorials:
Ettu man on Campus
by Dick Bibler
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Number 9
lk j . Nine University students have lost their lives
y f In tragic accidents this year. It is indeed serious
when persons lives lose their individuality and
become a part of a statistical list. It indeed
. ; out of proportion for a community the size of
v t the University to suffer such a staggering loss
i I of life in so short a period,
j I The reality of death is realized when a class-
. 1 mate fails to pick up his last exam paper or
i when you clean out your roommate's desk. The
; i proximity of such tragedy is not found in some
I 1 ridiculous addition of one life plus two lives plus
' 1 one, plus one, plus two more, plus two more
lives. The death of nine students is most real
to those students who sit next to a chair in a
clossroom that is premanently vacant.
Two questions present thenlselves "Why?"
and "How?"
The second question is more easily answered.
In at least four cases carelessness and speed
ing were responsible. In none of the cases were
there reasonable excuses only reasons.
In answering the question "Why?", we must
realize that there can be no logical explanation
for any kind of unnatural death. Perhaps it is
better to ask "Why not?" If driving is based
upon thoughtlessness and carelessness, then why
not more statistics in the University's, Death
Roll?
We can hope that this is the end. We can only
ask that there be no No. 10. We can only appeal
that the example of nine wasted lives be real
enough to eliminate further empty seats in the
classroom. S. J.
There Is No Alternative
A student petition, to be submitted to the
Board of Regents meeting Saturday, asks that
either a "full and honest" explanation be given
for Dr. Mitchell's demotion as chairman of the
agricultural economics department or that his
demotion be officially disapproved.
This petition is sound and perfectly in accord
with the factors, both publicized and obscured,
which have arisen since the announcement in
The Nebraskan several weeks ago that a "meet
ing had been held to discuss the chairmanship of
the agricultural economics department."
The reason given for Mitchell's eventual de
motion, in Dean Lambert's statement, was the
need . . to stimulate beyond present levels
the research and extension programs in agri
cultural economics." which constitutes clearly
a reflection upon Mitchell's professional compet
ence as a professor and as a department chair
man. Here are some additional facts:
1. Mitchell is a nationally recognized authority
on farm policy and related subjects, having writ
ten numerous articles in nationally advertised
magazines.
2. Mitchell has testified before several Con
gressional committees on farm policies and re
lated subjects, notably the Flanders Committee
in 1955.
3. He received a Doctor's Degree in agricul
tural economics from Harvard University and is
a member of the National Planning Association.
4. Mitchell, according to many of his associ
ates in the department, is a professor and ad
ministrator whose abilities "are beyond ques
tion." His department, they have told The Ne
braskan in private interviews, has been built
into one of the outstanding departments in the
Midwest.
5. According to statistics compiled from gradu
ate records, the agricultural economics depart
ment has attracted the second largest number of
graduate students among the various depart
ments on the ag campus. It is second only to
the department of agronomy, which Is divided
into three subdivisions.
In the last semester the ag ec department has
13 graduate students as compared with one in
Animal Husbandry; eight in Agricultural En
gineering; zero in Animal Pathology; one in
Dairy Husbandry; one in Entomology, and six
in Poultry Science.
Mitchell, at present, is a Fulbright lecturer
in Rome, Italy, and director of the graduate
agricultural economics program of the United
Nations Food And Agricultural Organization. He
is lecturing to agricultural 'experts from various
countries in the UN program.
7. An example of Mitchell's esteem with nil
fellow colleagues is exhibited in today's letterip
columns in a letter to the editor by an associate
of Mitchell. The letter says, in part, that Mitchell
Is ". . . one of the finest chairmen" . . . and
that his "professional reputation among fellow
economists Is firjst rate."
The department has worked "together as a
team," the letter continues, and has been the
result not only of a fine staff but of "the ex
cellent leadership provided by Dr. Mitchell."
In the light of these additional facts, it be
comes embarrassingly evident that the need
". . . to strengthen the research and extension
programs in agricultural economics" was not
the sole nor the complete reason for relieving
Mitchell of his chairmanship duties.
It is imperative that the public be given the
remainder of the facts concerning the case of
Clyde Mitchell.
And if this is not the case, and the students,
faculty and people of the state are not given
"a full and honest explanation of all the factors
prompting the demotion of Dr. Mitchell," there
Is no alternative but for the Board of Regents
in the interests of academic freedom, in the
Interest of fair play and common decency, in
the ineerests of the future and integrity of the
University of Nebraska to ". . . disapprove the
demotion of Mitchell and cast out all doubts on
the matter of academic freedom by retaining
him as chairman of the Department of Agricul
tural Economics." B. B.
Tribunal Organization
The student body of the University will vote
May 8 on the subject of a student tribunal. In
order that these students better understand the
functions and makeup of such a body, The Ne
braskan presents the third in series of editorials
explaining the student tribunal.
Today's editorial concerns the physical make
up of student tribunals, using as examples the
groups at the University of Virginia, the Uni
versity of Colorado, Kansas State College, Mon
tana State, Stanford, the University of Michigan
and the University of Utah.
In general, student tribunals are chosen by
one of two ways by the students themselves in
school-wide elections, or by colleges, or by
student councils or student council committees.
At schools where tribunal members, or judges
as they are sometimes called, are chosen by
student vote, they ure usually selected by the
members of each large college or school within
the university.
Of the schools used as reference, only Stan
ord picked tribunal members by an all-school
election. At Stanford, women elect five repre
sentatives and men elect five. Two are elected
In the spring and three in the fall by' each
group, so the terms are staggered.
Schools where the student council picks the
tribunals require prospective members to sub
mit petitions or applications. Applicants art then
interviewed " either by the entire council, by
special committee of the council or by a separ
ate all-student committee picked from outside
the council.
A few schools have inserted a measure of
faculty control into the selection of their tri
bunals. At Colorado all nominees must be ap
proved by a special faculty committee.
Of all the schools polled by the University
Student Council on student tribunals, only Kansas
State College has faculty members on their
tribunal. At Kansas State three faculty justices
are appointed by the President.
Almost all the tribunals are authorized to hand
down punishments on infractions of school reg
ulations. These punishments are, of course, sub
ject to appeal to school presidents.
A tribunal at the University could be organized
in one of many ways. The general theme in
other schools indicates that tribunal members
are chosen by the students, either directly or
through their student governing body.
The tribunal is thus incorporated as an ex
tension of student responsibility in governing
themselves. Faculty control would be virtually
absent, other than appeal on decisions already
rendered by the student group.
The student tribunal might or might not be
the thing for the students at this University. At
any rate, it would be a truly representative stu
dent group, serving those who picked it. F. T. D.
Perhaps An Answer
It is about that time of the year again.
The time of the year, that is, that the Univer
sity throws off its academic robes and partakes
in a few fine old unscholarly traditions the
tapping and masking, of Innocents and Mortar
Boards, crWning of the May Queen, presentation
of her court, awarding scholarship and activities
and the annual singing competition.
All this has been going on for years. .
This year, however, something new has been
added.
The "something new" is Spring Day, a day
full of fun and games, a carnival, dance, talent
show and barbecue which will precede Ivy Day
and give the University what appears to be a
"all-University" weekend.
Instead of Ivy Day being confined to a rela
tively non-representative group of the activity
minded, and the usual all-Greek representation.
In the singing competition, the weekend of May
4 and 5 will include everyone in the University
community.
This is precisely what Ivy Day needs.
Although no actual criticism has been levied
at Ivy Day lately because of its rather limited
scope, recent moves to include more students
in the festivities and "broaden" it indicates that
something should be done.
Spring Day is the first tangible step toward
doing something.
If Student Council plans to include more or
ganized houses in the singing formulate next
year, a second step will have been achieved.
Spring Day as yet is an unknown quantity,
whose success lies in the willingness of students
to participate. The committee, with the Student
Council, which is in charge of Spring Day has
tried to organize a program which will appeal
in some part to every student.
They can't insure that Spring Day will be
successful. They can't insure anyone will be
interested at all. They have just offered the
students a chance to bring a fine, all-University
weekend to the campus.
Maybe that weekend is the answer to the
doldrums and the apathy of which this campus
' is often accused. F. T. D.
The Nebraskan
FIFTY-FIVE YEARS OLD Enter m moot ciu ntu m too poet office m
. , . .. . . Lincoln, Wriifli. anJer the e of Aurort 4, IMS.
Member: Associated Collegiate Press miTnsiAt stato
Intercollegiate Press EDITORIAL STAFF
Eepresentative: National Advertising Service, f" Z.?T
Incorporated Managing Editor
Published at: Room 20, Student Unloa
Newt IMltnr in Bon
ith Jb R. Hfwirt Pflltor Ma KrHtfnM
1"" " !.py Edltr Hob Cook, Arlene Brink, ,Bar Sharp,
University of Nebraska luciktmw swir.
Lincoln, Nebraska At Kdttor wum artmta
The It an la HihMn)w Tneotn, Wednoeilnf a Mht KfWl Editor Koa Cook
Ft it ' anl rr. e-pt nri"t vacatlima jfehrankan tff Writer Cln Zaehao, Walt Blora,
m-4 tmn and one leene I pulltn4 doting 4,mni valt gwltxer, Boh Mattel.
Aows h ritMia of tlx l:mrlt of Nlr.k ondw Repnrternt Nunc Oelxinr. Marianne Thvreunn, Oeorr
is aiJiMf"il '" Committee ort fid ",'!! hloyer. Bob Wire, Die Falconer Julio DowoU.
an '.rfoilM of etiMent opinion. PoblSi.Mn under
tits tnnnlftinn o the MibonmrnUt.ee oa Student PubU- RTACTP
i!l l fre. from oltrtal .norhlp on tho BV MIS fcSS
Prt of tho KulM-ommltteo, or on tho part of an owmher .! Maaatar Oaorto Mar
, , f.-.m. of. J. V"M;- or. m ho r of on, Ba,n(H Manater. MI.K tieff, niMwrS,
r!-M,n ..iti! tho 'r.lver ty. The ' f , (Joniila Huret, Da ftmk
khmrt ' r oerof.llv m.fwn!W for what tn "'
m It da or oua to too printed, tobriurx . IMS Clrealattoa Manarat BtoharS Bea4rra
WC 0UNP Vm LITTLE 180 TAIL THOUGH."
I- House Not Site
For Faculty Club
An issue that disappeared from
the pages of the Rag with
amazing rapidity if, indeed, it
ever really had a chance to be
pnm nn issue is that of the pro
posed Faculty Club's requisition of
International House.
This is an organization-h a p p y
campus anyway, and I suppose
that if the faculty wants a club,
they should have one.
(Why the faculty should choose
to maintain its club on campus,
Given' em
Ell
where it cannot enjoy the ad
vantages generally contingent to
adult organizations, is a quesion
one hesitates to ask.)
1 question, however, the wis
dom and justice of the faculty's
choice of International House as
its headquarters.
I-House is at present fulfilling
a major and admirable duty to-
C
LA X lJ
IUjl
Columnist
Snips
I see that the alert, perspicacious
Lincoln newspapers left the Ne
braskan alone on the Mitchell af
fair. The editor of the Journal,
known for, among other things,
his saccharine eulogies of the Ei
senhower administration, and for
his good work in the watershed,
his own to countermand the rather
took the University press release
at face value and said he didn't
know what all the fuss was about.
One born every minute.
I'm probably annoying a lot of
people by sniping at the Big Boys
this way, but it seems to me that
they deserve all that the Nebraskan
has given them.
I hope Mitchell comes back with
a few pertinent press releases of
slanderous and prestige-lowering
excuses that the Administration
gave for axing Mitchell.
The boys out on Ag campus don't
seem to agree that Mitchell was
incompetent which is, in effect,
what the press release says to
At NU 'Big Boys'
continue holding his position. This
sort of thing is damaging to Mitch
ell's academic reputation and is a
cowardly evasion of what "in
formed sources" say was the rea
son for Mitchell's dismissal.
But then, I suppose there is noth
ing wrong with letting business
men and politicians run the Univer
sity, they know so much about it.
My Bootless Cries
Unless instructors stay over here
in the ivory towers (building pro
gram, y'know and talk about noth
ing more recent than 1910, they
will run into trouble from the
burghers, as the professors involved
in the Grandsinger case may well
testify.
I can't help remembering every
once in a while what one student
told me about the Chancellor's tel
ling a prominent political figure
in the South Sioux City area, that
he, the Chancellor, was thinking
about running for the Senate some
time. I hope the First Glance isn't
campaign literature.
r To Fullest Extent
Academic Freedom
Needed By Society
(Ediiort not a: The following article on academic freedom
tea written by Frederick K. BeuUd, projettor of law at the
Univertity, in the April edition of "Right," a pamphlet pub
lished monthly by the Emergency Civil Liberties Committee.)
By FREDERICK K. BEUTEL
Professor of Law
Academic freedom to its fullest extent is essential for a number
of reasons:
First, freedom of speech, press and religion is guaranteed by
the Constitution of the United States to our most lowly citizen. It
cannot do less for faculty members and students of institutions of
learning.
Second, it is essential for progress ta all fields that there be
freedom of discussion, exchange of ideas and comparison of the
results of research.
Security programs, such as those set up in this country and in
Russia, have interfered with this exchange of ideas between scien
tists both at home and abroad, and so have done irreparable dam
age to the progress of physical sciences.
Third, in social science, where methods of proof of the truth
of a theory are less advanced than in exact sciences and where,
therefore, there is no fast proof of any teaching or theory of gov
ernment, it is fundamental that all ideas should be given the widest
circulation in order that their validity may be tested in light of
reason and experience.
Truth will prevail if given the chance. Stifling of freedom of
expression makes it possible for fallacious ideas to be propagated
and to grow.
This may in fact account for the reason that communism, with
its suppression of discussion, has spread to over one-fourth of the
world's population.
Last, the leadership of a free community must, if it is to be
intelligent, be founded Upon the ideas of educated people.
For this reason, students and faculties of all institutions of
learning should insist upon complete freedom of expression not only
for their own selfish comfort, but for the benefit of the society
in which we all live.
Nebraskan Letterip
Spirit Of Cooperation
But then, I'm saying too much,
and somebody in office might get
ahold of this and use it to my
disadvantage. Forget, I said it.
Forget, forget.
Two more things I would like to
say, though. First, it is indeed
fortunate that the brunt of any
attack on this Mitchell replace
ment can be put on Dean Lambert,
who has enough prestige and re
spect, and whose past record is so
outstanding that he can afford to
take any abuse.
Secondly, what an editorial writ
er said a few months ago about
the vanishing professors is even
more the rub today.
Mitchell will probably leave, nationally-famous
artist Rudy Pozzat-
ti is going to Indiana next year
(with a big salary raise), a prom
ising physics instructor is quitting
(due to more than meets the eye)
and rumor has it that other schools
are planning another raid on our
top professors, hoping to pirate
away some outstanding individuals
this years as they lured away E.
N. Anderson and Alden last year.
Nice new buildings, though.
To the editor:
In The Nebraskan of April 17,
an article entitled ("Dialectical
Pussyfooting" stated: "The fact
that The Nebraskan was not able
to print any names with its article
on Mitchell indicates that the
members of the faculty here may
be, in some cases, a little uneasy
about losing their own jobs, an
uneasiness which in itself points
up a lack of academic freedom
and higher-echelon impartiality.
a
I do not want to quarrel 'ith
this statement. However, it does
not do justice entirely to the situa
ion in which our Department finds
itself as a result of 'he adminis
rative decision to remove Dr. C.
C. Mitchell as chairman.
During my two-year connection
with the University, I have been
greatly impressed with the fact
that our department has worked
together as a team, exhibiting a
great deal of enthusiasm, cordiality
and open-mindedness.
As I judge it, this spirit of co
operation is not only the result o(
the attitudes of staff members, but
also a result of the excellent leader
ship provided by Dr. Mitchell,
a
Whether one approves or disap
proves of the change in chairman
ship, I feel that it is vital that
such excellent relationships within
the department continue. Other
wise, our function a teacheri and
research men would be greatly
handicapped.
In view of the article in your pa
per, however, I would like to state
that I '.onsider Dr. Mitchell as
one of the finest chairmen. His
professional reputation among fel
low economists is first-rate.
He has repeatedly been invited
by Congressional Committees to
testify on agricultural policy and
related problems, and he has now
been called to Rome to direct the
graduate agricultural economics
program of the FAO.
Ernest Feder
Associate Professor of
Agricultural Economics
ward a minority group on campus,
and I doubt that the Faculty
club's needs are as valid as the
needs of our foreign students.
International House is composed'
of both foreign and american stu
dents. The diversity of ba;h
grouno is great enough so that
the residents learn to understand
the customs and ideas of other
nations.
On the other hand, the group
is small enough so that the resi
dents live in an atmosphere of
peace, security, and unity rarely
found in an organized house.
The composition of the house is
vital to the need it fulfills. The
foreign students are able to aid.
each other in such common prob-
lems as language and social dif
ferences. The American contingent pro
vides invaluable assistance and
further precludes that the foreign
residents will isolate themselves
from their present (American) so
ciety. Furthermore, the majority of I
House residents are mature upper
classmen and graduate students
seriously concerned with their
studies, and they are thus able
to maintain an agreeable atomos
phere in which to pursue know
ledge. For these reasons, it would be
a gross injustice to dissolve the
organization. Any attempt to as
similate the group into the wom
en's dorm would be insane. The
foreign students would lose the
valuable sense of security to be
found only in a small group.
The dormitory atmosphere is
cold and chaotic at best, and
would be detrimental to the I
House residents' pursuit of study
as well as to their tolerance and
understanding of American life,
I think that we as hosts owe
something to our foreign students, .
and I think that I-House repre
sents a tremendous portion of the
fulfillment of our obligation.
We owe something to our faculty,
too, but I think that that thing
ought not to be International
House.
If the faculty must have its
club on campus, why not provide
for it in the addition to the Union?
Such a plan Is certainly more
legitimate and widely beneficial
than a chapel or than uprooting
the International House commun
ity. I am sure that the faculty has
not considered the implications of
its present plan; I only suggest
that it do so before it takes deci
sive action.
j GREEN H
In A Field Of Gray
A funeral quiet
draped o'er the clo;
the mommets traipsed no
. more,
the gossets were gone.
Why?
asked I,
as I walked alone,
and I did not answer.
I know.
I did
but I cared not to say.
You see
I was,
but I am
no more.
John Flyrn
To An lllusioned Lover
Will they say
"They seem so happy"
When we walk
In lewd rhythm
Down the street?"
' Will they say
"Such a handsome couple"
When we pose
In formal dress
At the wedding?
Will they say
"He's so unselfish"
When we wait
Ten years, four months
For a car?
Will they say, my dear,
"It was perfect love"
When we die?
Nancy Rodgers
Strength
Be Strong!
For in faith lies thy salvation,
To resist temptation,
And ave the wrong.
t
Be strong 1 ,
Let not thy tortured soal
Like the fated mold
Be satisfied with clay.
Be strong!
.Dip seep the blood of Christ,
Splash it to flaming heights
That it may each soul
And show
Who works for good and right.
J4
