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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 25, 1956)
Wednesday, April 25, 1956 Paqe THE NEBRASKAN 3 t n -J i 4. - s h t : hi ,1 US: Nebraskan Editorials: That Ik Might Return An Open Letter To C. Clyde Mtichell: Two weeks ago the University administration replaced you as chairman of the department 6f agricultural economics because there was "... a need to strengthen the research and extension departments of the Agricultural Econ omics Department. The Nebraska knows as do many of your itudent and faculty friends that this was not the real reason for your demotion. The real reason known only to you and those responsible for your demotion lies somewhere In the areas of special interests, outside pres sures and administrative weakness. However, for this very reason, for the very reason that you have been a victim and certain ly not the only victim of these deadly circum stances, it is imperative that you do not become discouraged to return here to the University. The University is running short of men with the courage and resourcefulness to express their convictions in the face of administrative partial ity and coercion. Men who are not afraid to oppose the economic interests whose efforts to mold conformity and stifle dissent are all too prevalent in tht mid west. Educators who refuse to be intimidated by the pressures of conservative political elements in the state. Instructors who dare to fight the national, in stitutional and personal conformity which threat ens our constitutional liberties. In short, professors who have the guts to fight for what they think is right in a college com munity which is moving closer to collectivism in expression and farther from individual respon sibility to its students, its faculty and its profes sion. For these reasons, The Nebraskan urges you to return to the University of Nebraska as a professor in agricultural economics. B. B. A Stronger Bond Student representation on two faculty commit tees will be discussed today in the meeting of the faculty Committee on Student Affairs. Acting on an endorsement by the Student Council, the committee will consider adding student members to its own group, and to the library committee. The endorsement was strongly approved in Council meeting two weeks go Students are already sitting on faculty sub committees on student affairs, convocations, calendar and final exams. They fulfill a valuable function in givuig the committees a student opinion on matters which are more important to students than any other part of the University community. The logical conclusion to student representa tion on faculty committees, therefore, is to in clude students on one of the more powerful faculty committees the Committee on Student Affairs. It is on a committee of the scope and influ ence of this one that student opinion and repre sentation is the most important. For example, when the Committee ruled on suspending the Kosmet Klub Fall Review, no student vote of official opinion was heard on the matter, yet it was an entirely student show, involving student competition. The library committee, too. is needful of student representation. The head of the com mittee has strongly advised that students be in cluded, to acquire their opinions on proposed library changes and expansion. The Nebraskan has continually supported more student participation in the governing and plan ning of student affairs. Including them on these committees is an excellent way to further this participation, and an excellent way to build a stronger bond in student-faculty relations. The maintenance of this bond is in the hands of the Committee. The Nebraskan is certain they will act wisely. F.T.D. Once And For All The Student Council Judiciary Committee ruling several weeks ago, placing IFC, Pan hellenic and the Student Union Board under the Council scholarship standard, will be brought before the Faculty Committee on Student Affairs for a decision Wednesday. Two issues will be inherent in the discussion: (1) Specifically, is the Council average minimum applicable to the IFC, Panhellenic and Student Union? (2) Generally, what control does the Council have over these organizations? Each group, because of its unique qualities, las been specially provided for by the Board of Regents by-laws. The Union ". . . shall be responsible to the Chancellor and the Board of Regents." The IFC is responsible to the Interfraternity Board of Control, actions of which are ". . . sub ject to review and control by the Chancellor and the Board of Regents." The Student Panhellenic Association ". . . shall be under the supervision of the Associate Dean for Women," answerable ultimately to the Chan cellor and the Regents." Interpretation here would seem to indicate that these three organizations do not fall under Council jurisdiction but are answerable only to the parent agencies established specifically by the Regents. But just as the lines of authority of these three groups are not given to the Council, neither are they placed exclusively beneath the parent bodies nor are they expressly denied to the Council. And the Council constitution states that it has the power to (1) "regulate and coordinate . . . all student organizations of general university regulation;" (2) "to recognize and approve the constitutions of any new student organization," and (3) "to review the constitution of any student organization with power of revocation." Interpretation here would appear to mean that the Council, even though it may not be able to approve these constitutions, can nevertheless call them up for review. Both the Regent by-laws and the Council con stitution are too vague and to general to ex plicitly clarify the lines of authority between the Council, Panhellenic, IFC and the Union. It remains for the "proper faculty committee in this case, the Faculty Committee on Student Affairs to settle the question once and for all. B.B. i $ ; v ... trl , L.J From The Slot 'rounds For Doubt Must Be Cleared By SAM JENSEN Managing Editor During the past two weeks. The Nebraskan's front page and editorial page have been largely concerned with changes in administrative posts of two of the Univer sity's departments. Editorially, The Nebraskan bas deplored the means and questioned the ends involved in the transfer of responsibili ties within the department of agricultural economics and the School of Journalism. On the news pages, The Nebraskan has reported the events as they happened. In repetorial procedure, Nebras kan reporters have asked questions. The answers have Bet always been clear, neither bave they always been con sistent. Perhaps this is what is causing the confusion and misunderstanding. It Is hardly conceivable that the officers and administra tors of the University would be pursuing a policy detrimen tal to the general welfare of the University community. It is also extremely unlikely that outside interests are con trolling the policy of the Uni versity. In trying to attain a degree of objectivity, there are cer tain things that must be ac knowledged. The first of these is that C. Clyde Mitchell, chairman of the department of agricultural economics, is not the most tactful or the most discerning individual. Mitchell is a competent and stimulating instructor, but it is possible that he is not the most suitable type of individ ual to represent the University as a department head and an official of the University ad ministration. Secondly, people are leaving the School of Journalism like rats leaving a sinking ship. The reason for this may be due to a failure of the ad ministration to recognize the needs and importance of this department, but if the present director is unwilling to work within the means available to him, then someone who is willing to do so should fill the positioB. This, of course, does not mean that the present direc tors aims or objectives are wrong, nor does it mean that the administration is correct. But this rather pragmatic analysis does point out that things are unsatisfactory in their present state. What all this does mean is that, as in most cases, nothing is black or white there seems to be varying shades of gray which have shrouded and fogged a distasteful and de gradinp situation. The Nebraskan can not question the administration's right to execute its preroga tives, but The Nebraskan's prerogative remains and is the right to continue to ask ques tions. When completely satisfac tory answers appear, then The Nebraskan will in turn have satiated its appetite for asking questions. And when grounds for doubt disappear, then The Nebraskan will cease to doubt. The Nebraskan FIFTY -FIVE YEARS OLD T.ntmnn mm MMMtd ' mUw W the pmwt afrlea ta . . . , . Ubco), Kebraaks. the rt ml tifnt 4. tU. Member: Associated Collegiate Press Intercollegiate Press EDITORIAL STAFF EetaUve: Katie! Adverts Service. Z"r'ZZZZ.?? Zl Incorporated mmimii miior " SVJibed at: T.-m 29, Student Vum v,.. r.'m '"" nM m, R Moorta MltiT M fcrrHma Itia -at v fr.atrm .. Bub Cook, Arfene Hrtjrk. hmrta Sharp, Ueiversity of Nebraska lMritnm wir. L!nei!, Nebraska t Kdur tviifwa nts KUen ta pnMthi 1 orfaf. VnfaT iti wa Ml tar MwHrww wt f-vww wvnc tha w. etart annua m1Um brkB aff Wrltara CtnH facta, Walt Mm, and rment prme, mut m Hume t poMtatw aurtn (tJim j.,Ilr( na(t wt7.w, Boi Martrt. I a"Jil oi tbx 1 .Ken-; ml SeraK mAt fcBrtern: Nanr ((.i-onr, Martann Tvrm, . '(Mrt. i w '.wrmlM tm Mot"Bt ftffim Muter, Bob Hlri, Dlclt i tXtuwr Jull Bowell. s an r oo flf tu4lr)t ... -olMrr, ond-r fsrt-"-nD of ttw fc.nwmnmm m! I-jih- EURIVESS STAFF , IW lfm amrt MM " BUSIES' . . fa,ltv to nlrr.n. m mm part mt 4 Btlt,B, tbraasr HM. "Ml dwn, wjts'fi- !' rtrrHr. ttw ftmmn ml caato Hunt. Hum rl 7. w ml .rur, a, .... Wm.ta.ka Mif Little man on campus by Dick Bibler tZD v tit J The Sad Story Of Birdie Slocum Children, it is time to rise up from, your beds, throw away those nearly empty bottles, and take your weekly injection of Brownell. Those pf you who feel to weak for even such an insipid tonic may have a few more minutes of re spite, but mind you, then we must be about the Lord's business. I see that my friend Roger Henkle has greedily snatched up the only important issue on cam pus, apparently in the hope that I would be able to find nothing to write about. However, I shall foil him again, for I have received many requests Jess Jestin' for another of my charming tales of the West, and today you shall hear the gripping story of Birdie Slocum, the Flower-Girl of the Plains. Birdie was the only daughter of V Lr' m AM To r , Courtesy Lincoln Journal Professor of Agricultural Economics (Eds. note: Today's "Chal lenge" is aa article submitted by Clyde Mitchell, former chair man of ie department of ag "ricultural economics, to Decem ber 2, 1953, edition of The Ne braskan. It was originally titled "Must A Prof Surrender His Beliefs To Be Paid?" and was run shortly after the Regents adopted a policy endorsing the principles of academic freedom in 1953.) From an imaginary editorial in the Podunk Tribune: "Professor Doakes is currently under attack by the Podunk Chap ter of Sons and Daughters of 100 per cent Americanism for his leftwing views. Naturally, he and his pinko friends are howling that their rights of free speech are being threatened. "Heck, Professor, nobody is try ing to take away your free speech. You can talk all you want to about how nice it wauld be to have socialized medicine, pubbc hous ing or any other new dealish scheme you want. Nobody will stop you. "But our taxpayers here In Podunk support the University, "and we intend to have some say so about whom we hire. We don't like our money going to pay peo ple who say things we disagree with. Remember, professor, noth ing in the American constitution gives you the right to work for the state." Unfortunately for America, this imaginary editorial, with real names and places, has appeared all over the nation. Professors have been gagged or fired be cause their views and opinions on economic and social matters were unpopular. In a slightly different way, the "right to a job" argument has Hoi Po sifions come up in Washington. A Federal employee is summarily fired with out a chance to find out why.. He "hears" that a loyalty board has considered his case, although not finding evidence of disloyalty, nevertheless has ordered him dis missed as a "security risk." The man, believing himself to be completely loyal, demands to be faced with the allegations, to meet his accusers and to force them to prove his guilt or with draw accusations. Under regualtions set up under Truman and continued under Ei senhower, he is denied this right. He is told that in accepting a fed eral job he has surrendered his rights. "You have all your rights as an American citizen," he is told, "but you cannot claim the right to work for the government. If your su periors fire you, they do not have to tell you why." Somehow is this hysterical era the direction of justice has been lost. No longer is a man presumed innocent until positive proof of guilt is established under law, with the rights of the accused protected. We have moved over into the fanatic realm, where charges of guilt, even those made irrespon sibly by spiteful and anonymous tipsters, are accepted as proof. The reason for this hysteria, of course, is the desire to ferret out any Communists who may be employed in the government. It is highly probable however, that the methods employed are as sini ster as communism itself. It is possible to staff government and universities with people who relinquish their basic rights in ex change for jobs. The result will be a loss of one thing Americans have long considered priceless the free and questioning spirit. No, no one has any inalienable "right" to a job with the state Good, Evil Columnist Interprets 'Academic Freedom' By JACK FLYNN Academic Freedom? This is a question which is both ering the minds of many people in our world today. The answer to the question is of signal import ance to the student, for it is he who will be most directly affected. The lectures of Dr. Reisssman and the dilemma of Professor Mitchell puts the question of "aca demic freedom" to the fore on our campus and the student body The Mirage scratches its collective bead and wonders what it is all about. Here is my interpretation As defined, "academic freedom" Is "the right of the teacher to teach whatever he desires and the right of the student to hear what the teacher has to say". Political theories, both national and international, and religion are the two areas of academia most often connected with the question of "academic freedom". Should the teacher be allowed to teach the theories of commu nism and socialism? Should teachers be allowed to teach theology and evolution and should there be a chapel or medi tation room in the Student Union? It is principally in these two questions that the controversy over "academic freedom" lies. No honest man will deny that good and truth should be t he earthly goals of man and that evil and false things should be opposed. Someone once wisely said that you can not know good until you know its opposite, evil. 1 think that this is justification for the teaching of "opposites" which is implied by "academic freedom". What does "freedom" mean? Does it mean that the person who possesses it has the right to do whatever he desires whether it be right or wrong? There are those that bold to this definition which I consider to be completely false. I will define "freedom" for you "Freedom is the right of the individual to be good and to do whatever he desires that is good as defined by God's Law and the civil laws which are taken from it." Therefore, "academic freedom" is "the right and duty of the teacher to teach the individual to be good and to do only that which is good". If we are to know good by know ing evil we must insure that "op posites" are taughk But evil must never be represented as good. Teachers must know the differ ence between good and evil and define the subjects of their teach ing as such so that the easily impressed student will know every thing for what it truly is. Only then will we have "Academic Freedom"! Convincing Argument To the Editor: Please accept my congratula tions for being alive. To my mind The Nebraskan of fers one of the most convincing arguments that this state really has an institution of higher learn ing The vigorous way you defend free speech and academic freedom stands out like Mars at Perhelion. Please keep it up with good heart. Truly each generation has to win its own freedoms and it is hearten ing to some of us old roosters to note that The Nebraskan is furn ishing its full quota. When the bells of doom's day sound, truth will still be struggling for a chance to be heard and the mossbacks will still be sitting on the lid. W. T. Davis or the county or the city or the nation. But our citizens will rec ognize that the type of government employee or school teacher most valuable to America is one who will not surrender any of his basic rights merely to draw his salary from public funds. The Nebraska Board of Regents recently adopted an outstanding statement of principles regarding the rights and responsibilities of teachers, a statement of which Nebraskans can be proud. The number of universities whose governing bodies have been simiarly courageous is unfor tunately small. The number heading the other direction is frightening. And most frightening of all is the now of ficial attitude of the largest em ployer of professional scholars in the world the U. S. Government. a respectable cattle rancher, and as lovely a lass as ever straddled a pony or baked a blue-berry pie. She was a great favorite with her father's men, who were be witched, beguiled, bereft, be knighted, bedraggled and bedad at the very sight of her. But for all that, she was a simple girl who wanted only to grow up and become Princess of Monaco, a a Alas, her fond dream was not to be; Grace Kelly married Princa Rainier, and one day in '76 Birdie Slocum met the man who was to change her life. That day she took a buck-board into town to pick up some hard tack and sour-dough for her moth er, who prided herself on setting a good table for the men. She had made her purchases and was gazing at some of the old Paris creations in a store window when her eyes caught the reflec tion of The Man. He was Ace O'Shaugnessy, soft- spoken, flint-eyed, craggy-jawed, thinning-haired, runny-nosed, runt- ish gambler, who divided his tim between baccarrat and bawdry, and was known all over the West as "The Laughing-Stock of Mur- dock's Saloon." a a Birdie loathed him on sight, and despite his protestations of eternal love and devotion, as well as his promise of a million dollars for her on their wedding day, abso lutely refused to have anything to do with him. Instead, she loaded her groceries and went home like a good girl. Six weeks later, Ace died, and when his personal effects were ex amined, it was discovered that he had fourteen million dollars sewed in an old sock and hidden in his burro. The money was willed to the Iranian Fly-Casting and Vodka-Swilling Club. a a a Birdie was never the same girl after this heart-breaking revela tion, and she soon left home to join a group of touring players. Her family never heard of her again, but informed sourced say that she eventually wound up in the flesh-pots of the University of Ne braska, where she contracted Crib Rash and died. Nebraskan Letterip Removal Of C. Clyde Mitchell To The Editor: I want to compliment you and your staff on the manner in which you have discussed of C. Clyde Mitchell's removal from the chair manship of the agricultural eco nomics department. You have displayed a healthy respect for facts and have used restraint and good judgment in dealing with this question. Active student interest in questions of this kind is essential for the de velopment of a strong University community. The University community must be the place where the develop ment of ideas is encouraged. You as students and student leaders share responsibility of rbuilding nomics were informed by the ad and maintaining a vigorous Uni versity environment where the search for truth is held as the highest objective. We as staff members of the University also share in this res ponsibility. The members of the Department of Agricultural Eco nomics were informed by the ad ministration on March 16, 1956, that C. Clyde Mitchell would be replaced as chairman of the de partment. Following this administrative de cision we were asked to make suggestions for a possible succes sor. From subsequent statements attributed to the administration and reported in The Nebraskan, inferences can be drawn that th Department of Agricultural Eco nomics was a party to this decision. I think it should be made clear that to my knowledge no members of the Department of Agricultural Economics were instrumental or a party to recommending a change in the charirmanship. The working: relationships in our department have been excellent despite a wide range in professional training and points of view. During the past few years the research, teaching and extension programs have been improved to the point where our department is nationally recognized as a strong department. C. Clyde Mitchell has consistently attracted competent professional personnel. Despite a relatively low salary scale, C. Clyde Mitchell was abW to attract competent staff mem bers because of his stimulating leadership and because he en couraged independent thought even when we disagreed with him. Kris Kristjanson Associate Professor of Agricul tural Economics Solution To Parking Problem To the Editor: As I have read a few of your articles as of late which all de plore the tragic situation with re gard to the parking of automobiles on the University campus, I thought I might be able to add a sugges tion. I think everyone at the University is thoroughly agreed that the park ing situation is atriocus at the pres ent time and that within a few years it will become even more acute. a ,1 also realize that any complete solution would be very expensive, i.e. building a multi-story parking lot. As long as all students who can possbily afford a car and a lew who who can't, but think they can, insist upon wheeling their belch-fire eight convertible down to school every day, the parking problem will never get much bet ter. It has been my observation that most of the parking is used by students and faculty that live at least three or four blocks from campus, but still live within the city limits of Lincoln. a Since so many students and fac ulty livei throughout Lincoln, it seems that one solution, although not the most pleasant, but still practical and probably the most inexpensive would be for the Uni versity to either rent city buses or buy their own buses and allow students and faculty to arrive at the University at the most conven ient time they could decide upon. The buses would, of course, have to have definite schedules and would have routes that would accomodate the most students and faculty while driving the shortest distance. These buses would be free for riders at the University's expense. I don't believe these buses would be too expensive to operate 1 if only operated in the morning, at noon and again at four and fiva in the afternoon. a a a I, like everyone else at the Uni versity, detests riding a bus, city or otherwise, and revel at the free dom of riding in private car where you can go where ever yovi please. However, if the parking prob lem is to be solved before fifteen thousand students are enrolled at the University, rather drastic mea sures will have to be taken. I am an Ag College student, and this past year have had downtown classes at eight a.m. three times a week. To get a parking place you must arrive at least by 7:45 and I am certain that about 30 to 40 cars each morning are driven by stud ents living near Ag College. If a bus or two were chartered from Ag College these students would probably ride It. If not, then possible a compulsory system could be arranged. This, of course, is not fool-proof system, and would have many prob lems before it moved smoothly, but if the present trend continues, I am certain very drastic mea sures will have to be taken to get students from their homes to clas ses and back again. a a You asked for suggestions and I thought I would give you one. I am certain it is not the most per fect solution but at least it. is a try, Rull Lf