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THE NEBRASKAN
Nebraska! Editorials:
Towards A Stronger System
Tuesday, September 18, 1956
trailing faces have shifted back into the typical
aoUaga gaze of indifference, handshaking has
become a thing of the past sod pledges are be
ginning to see that there is more to the fratern
ity picture than meets the eye.
Rush Week is over.
Fraternity Rush Week was one of the most
successful in the last decade, both in numbers
and in organization. The perennial problem of
violations was held to a minimum. More speci
fically, spiking and undo pressuring during the
actual Rush Week were combated.
The IFC realized the fact that there is actually
no way to prove the existence of spiking. In the
past years it has shown up in the rapid pledging.
Therefore, three compulsory periods were set
up allowing a man to see at least three houses
regardless of his status. Also, it was highly em
phasized that a pledge pin did not obligate a
man m any way.
The new program, requiring all rushees to
attend not only six houses during open house
but three compulsory parties with different
houses before pledging worked out very formid
ably for both the fraternity involved and the
rushee.
At ihe end of the third of these compulsory
parties all men were required to return to the
tJnion ballroom for one hour before they could
return to the houses and file pledge assumption
cards. During this hour no man officially affili
ated with any fraternity eould make contact
with she rushees.
A total of 13 men went through Rush Week
with only 47 not pledging. Many of this remain
ing group are now participating in open rush,
although they are prohibited from pledging for
30 days after Rush Week. Participation in Rush
Week increased nearly 100 men over last year's
total.
However, figures also point out a sore spot
in the present program. One of the contributing
factors for the compulsory periods was the
fact that it would supposedly keep all houses
open at least for the first two days, regardless
of whether they already had their pledge class.
Of the total men pledged, 375 had filed their
assumption cards by early Saturday afternoon.
Thus resulting in the tendency for some houses
to "shut down" on rushing at that time. This at
titude' not only hurts the particular house em
ploying it, but reflects back on the entire fra
ternity system.
A more complete understanding between the
fraternity and the pledge should take place due
to the new program. For the first time, quartile
ratings for high school scholarship and ques
tionaires were available to the fraternity. And
making conditions reciprocal, the rushee was
better informed about the system, due to better
individual house rush programs during the sum
mer and the IFC Rush Book.
The fraternity system has taken the first step
in strengthening, but the ever important phases
of pledge training and scholarship remain to be
conquered. Full membership or active status
can not be reached without fulfilling these attainments.
When We ire 27
Twenty -one is a magic year for most young
people. It means that they are old enough to
drink, legally and old enough to vote. Which of
the two they consider more important is strik
ingly revealed in the results of a recent survey.
Only two out of five college students eligible
to vote for the first time this year in the presi
dential election plan to do so, the survey says.
A total of 1300 students from 24 colleges were
interviewed for these statictics.
College students for years have led a fight for
lowering the voting age. In the past they have
often been attacked as too liberal or too radical;
but rarely of being too uninterested.
Yet this latter would seem to be the case.
Tor example 34 per cent of the test group indi
cated zero interest in who should be or would
be the next vice president. This in a year which
has brought two vivid reminders that the vice
president is only heart beats away from the
presidency of our country.
Answers to most of the questions indicated an
overwhelming lack of either knowledge or in
terest in the political parties. This, in a gener
ation which has vastly greater opportunities for
informing itself than any other in history. It
must be remembered also that this survey was
devoted to college students, the presumably
more enlightened leaders of tomorrow.
This is also the generation which is being
given infinately more opportunity for political
leadership. Those who watched the conventions
eould not but be impressed with the youthful
ness of many of the leading figures. Gov. G. Men
nen Williams, Sen. Jack Kennedy, Gov. Meyner
and Sen. John Clements are a few of the younger
men who are recognized leaders in their party;
holders of positions of great responsibilities. .
It would be interesting to know if the figures
given by the survey hold true for the University.
Certainly there has been no dramatic evidence
cf political awareness by University students.
College students should assume two duties in
regard to the national political scene. One is to
be informed and concerned about the issues of
the day. These are not nebulous things to be
written into a convention platform and forgotten.
These political issues can and do affect young
people as well as their elders. College students
today make more money, hold more jobs, pay
more taxes, and are called upon - for more
military service to their country than at any
previous time in our nation's history. These
things are all political issues.
As leaders in whom a great deal has been in
vested, college students also have a responsibility
of political service. This does not necessarily
mean running for political office. This does,
however, mean intelligent voting, encouraging
others to vote, informing others on political
issues and helping the party of their choice.
Political opportunity and political duty go hand
in hand. The mature, intelligent college student
will accept both willingly, realizing that the fut
ure of this country involves in a very real way
his own personal future.
Afterthoughts
No Answer .
Radar controlled brakes apparently aren't the
answer to the highway safety problem, congress
men investigating automotive safety were told
by automobile corporation ofifcials.
Automotive engineers revealed during a re
cent tour of project engineering laboratories that
the corporation . has been experimenting with
radar brakes.
"Our preliminary finding is that they are not
the great safety device we thought they might
be," he said.
The corporation has equipped a car with two
sets of brakes, one operated by the driver and
the other by a passenger who simulates the
actions of a radar set.
Platzer said the brakes tend to create emer
gencies because radar cannot think or anticipate
braking needs.
"Drivers actually are required to be more
alert than with nomal brakes," he said.
"Radar will apply the brakes when a car
approaches another car stopped for a through
street, but, if that car moves, the brakes are
released and the driver finds he has an emer
gency situation."
From the editor's desk:
...with malice towards none
A new staff doesn't change
the appearance of a college
newspaper in any sizeable
manner. The front page and
the editorial columns look
about the same as they did
last semester and for all
practical purposes they are
the same.
Whatever improvement is
made will not be mechanical,
it will be in the 'general tone
and spirit of the paper.
During the current semes
ter, The Nebraskan staff will
attempt to produce as profes
sional a paper as possible We
will plagerize or steal any
thing and we will copy or in
vent any idea that will en
able us to advance from one
of the better college news
papers to the best college
newspaper.
The Mitchell issue is safely
In the hands of a faculty sen
ate committee. Let it remain
there and let professors clean
and wring out their own dirty
linen assuming that it is
oiled in the first place. Pete
Elliott is our football coach
and seems to be doing a
magnificent job. Bill Glass
ford may be selling used cars
for all we knowor care.
The Nebraskan will not
create issues. This does not
mean that controversy will
be avoided. Dr. Peter Mar
shall once said before the
United States Senate, "Lord,
help us to stand for some
thing, lest we fall for any
thing." The Nebraskan will stand
for whatever it believes is
right and whatever will bene
fit the University, its faculty
and its students. This does
not mean that we will ac
cept any phrase, "for the
good of the University," as
final dictum on any matter.
No one of the three groups
which compose our corporeal
University body, administra
tion, faculty or students, are
possessed of any great
amount of divine wisdom en
abling them to always know
what is best for the othef
groups.
The Nebraskan's facilities
will be available to any of
ficial University organization
for any legitimate news and
probably available for some
news that is not so legitimate
in the eye of journalistic
ethics, the kind of news that
the Kosmet Klub show or the
All University. Fund drive
might covet in order to ful
fill their purposes.
This college newspaper will
do the best job it can to ob
jectively serve the University
community. The legitimate
purpose of any newspaper is
to promote and report the ac
tivities of its community.
Often things occur which
some people would say are
best not said, especially in
print, but sometimes these
things will be said, in print,
in The Nebraskan. What
things will be printed and
what things will not is a mat
ter of policy, a policy that
will be consistent no matter
who is involved.
. The Nebraskan offices will
always be open to those with
questions and those with
something of interest for the
paper's news or editorial col
umns. The Nebraskan will report
thoses things which happen
at the University 'of Ne
braska which is as it should
be and will be.
7
The Nebraskan
FIFTY-FIVE YEARS OLD
Member: Associated Collegiate Press
Intercollegiate Press
IpreeDtatlve: National Advertising Service,
Incorporated
Finished at: Room 20, Student Union
14th ft R
University of Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska
Tlw f1irka u pahlishrd Tur.riay, Wrdnrvriay antf
FrMajr during th it-hunl yrar, excrpt diiriita vaeattnn
" rism periods, anil anr Ihmif It piitllhrl dirrlnt
' lV lulta of the l iihcrslly of .Nrnranka iimt-r
!( KHfhnrtatioii of thr Committer on Kluilwit Affair
en rxtrrton of (ni)rnt opinion. Pnhlirntlon nnoVr
th Miri1lrtioa of thr Siilx-omnilttrr on Ntudrnt I'nhll
ftin iall hr frre from t-rillniial censorship on the
art of tl Sitbrnmmitter or on Ihe part of an.v memlier
ef Ihm fiM-nltf of the ( diversity, or on tit part of any
rwtm onMiie of the i iilvmlty. The memiieni of tha
Krnncokaa taff an pernonaM.v mponnlMe for what they
ssj, cr or un to b printed. February , IDs.
Entered M xwond class matter at the post offlre In
Lincoln, Nebraska, under the art of Auut 4,ll.
EDITORIAL STAFF
ditor
Bam Jensen
"""" toiior Bob Cook
Manatln Editor , jrrfd rsiy
New. Editor Lwx SwUr
Sport. Editor fv.lt Blora
Copy Editor. Nancy Coover, Sara Jones,
Bob Ireland, Dirk Hhuarue
A Editor ' Don Herman
MKhl News rdlf.ir Nanry t'oovrr
Assistant Business Managers Don Berk.
Larry Epstein. Tom Nrff, Jerry Kiillenllnr
Htaff Writers Walt Swifter. Cynthia Zarhau,
Nancy Delonc, Marianne Thyfrson
BUSINESS STAFF
Business Manager Grori Madsea
, CtrrulatUa Mamf r MwnM,i Richard Hendrlx
It I 1
i to
You know the rules about m pets ia the frat, Irving!
v
Neophyte Considers
Rush Week Humerous
By DAVE MERRICK
This was my first year on the
active side of the Greek fence
during the hectic rush week pe
riod. A senior friend -of mine once
told me that the only way he
avoided apoplexy (it definitely is
in season during the first week
of September) was to keep at
least one eye and one ear alerted
for humor. Now, this was a per
fectly logical suggestion, because
after one thinks about it, what
time of the year could possibly
be prone to more "bloopers" than
the tense, "let's make an impres
sion," rush week? Keeping an eye
and ear open for humor was ex
actly what I did during the week's
activities and it proved very prof
itable, indeed. To be perfectly
trite, I had a ball!
For instance, try to visualize
the expression on the face of an
unsuspecting laundry man who
had walked into a house to make
a delivery when, all of a sudden,
out of the chattering crowd came
versa 1
Now that you have been snagged
by the peculiar heading above
this column, allow yourself to be
come intent until the final period.
Yes, your eye must become
trained to this spot once a week
for the remainder of the semes
ter. And let us explain why it must
be this way.
For in this lighthearted (and
lightheaded) literature, without
fear or favor tooward the right
eous and the wicked, the mighty
and the damned, campus issues
that burst from asunder and quick
en the pulse oftrue Cornhuskers
must be delved with. For it is
here one may find a stauch de
fender of home, motherhood and
the flag.
The author of this is the first
to realize his limitations (along
with his instructors); but along
with these he is also proded by a
purpose. Without this column
there would be either a blank
space or an ad; and you may be
the sole judge to make the desci
sion of which makes better read
ing material at a college level.
Possibly we can relay to you
the reasons why there is no place
like Nebraska or how to survive
on dorm food or how to convince
your parents that life is a bitter
mockery without a new convertible.
However, you will never be
faced with such paragraphs as:
"Just what Is dada? "sorry
maam, your son was killed."
Mustn't be smudged )( edit, cen
sor, cut, kill, you do it, string him
up, he's crazy, the majority rules.
Average. AVERAGE. AVERAGE?
AVERAGE Did you hear? send
in your dollar and you're aver
age, don't live too long, straw
berry preserves."
Nor will there be:
"Shackled to the leg of life I pass,
Moving with a motion not my own,
Upand down and around I go
With nauseating life."
But this still leaves more world
ly matters such as cutting and
cramming, average raisers and
favors, blind dates and reasons
to get blind on dates, jocks and
jargon and even specifics like:
How to make a proposal in the
it happened at nu
After s? much registratimi, it
seems the,' just don't can ny
more. ,
One conscientious freshman, . ft
er being reminded to fill out his
ID card after it had been stamped,
went to a table and did so.
The registration worker was a
little surprised, though, when he
went through the same long line,
just to show her that he had done
it.
76e SOU
are pleated to announce
THE NEW LOCATION
of The Lincoln School
SUITE 443 STUART BUILDING
Offering complete courses in
PROFESSIONAL MODELING
fashion, photographic, tele
vision: NON-PROFESSIONAL charm
and self-improvement.
TELEPHONE 2-2311
USE NEBRASKAN
To place a classified ad
Stop in the Butineti Office Room 20
Student Union
CaU 2-76S1 Eat. 4226 for Oat.,
fied Service
Hears 1-4:39 Mon. thrv Fri.
THRIFTY AD RATES
1.10 $ .40 $ .65 $ .85 $1.00
11-15 I .50 j .80 1.05 1.25
18-20 .60 I .85 1.25 1.50
21-25 .70 1.10 1.45 1.75
26-30 .80 1.25 1.65 2.00
stacks of Love Library at 9:30
p.m. on the night before your
Anatomy 96 final.
Yes, all this and more! And
should you desire any particular
issue to be grappled with this 13
pica, just enclose three Red Dot
pins, 23 cents in Egyptian stamps,
an I like Nasser button and your
selfand you will be given the
utmost of consideration.
WAD I n UAO II UCTC uiiru t
TERM INSURANCE SHOULD CON
SIDER CONVERTING TO PERMA
NENT PLANS Of 61 INSURANCE
BEFORE THEIR TERM POLICIES
BECOME TOO COSTLV THOnilAtt
HIGHER PREMIUMS AND LOWER
DIVIDENDS
a smiling fraternity man wha
shook the bewildered fellow's hand
and finally asked him to come
back that evening for a party.
Rumor has it that one confused
rushee apparently forgot his own
name when an overly-enthused ac
tive introduced himself. The rush
ee's explanantion was the active
attacked him with an almost
breath-taking flourish, and that it
was awfully early in the morning,
and. . ., well. . ., uh. . .
One story illustrates the old
adage, "When in Rome (or the
Gamma Phi house), do as the
Romans (or the Gamma Phis) do.
A non-smoking rushee who evi
dently carried the adage in mind,
was offered a cigarette. Possibly
thinking that the socially proper
thing to do would be to accept,
she took the cigarette. Imagine
trying to hold back your snickers
when the rushee, not wanting to
make the active reach across tha
table with a light, held the cigar
ette at arms length to be lit!
One house had just finished talk
ing a rushee into pledging and
had turned him loose in the living
room to receive his congratula
tions. Several actives who had
not known that he had already
pledged had just come upstairs to
"hot-box". When they spotted the
fellow wandering around a 1 o n t
they decided they had better take
him upstairs. Being rather' meek,
the newly-pledged man decided 'r
that he better not interrupt, so he
sat through the fraternity's his
tory, national standing, and social
position for the second time that
afternoon and. . . , needless to say,
pledged all over again!
My last anecdote concerns none
other than your own insignificant
columnist. Insignificant, indeed,
for when I walked up to one rush
ee and smilingly said, "How do
you do, I'm Dave Merrick!", ha
looked blankly at me and replied,
"Oh?"
STUDENTS
'H&w ran you
looh neat
If your Bhoet
are beat?9
Utizm : Uzlkzi
143 10. 12th St.
They're smart on campus
. , V
,
They score in sports...
They rate on a date,..
They're KEDS1
LA I'NDRY : T.adifK wearing nppar! A Wntd: Collrne girl to hlp part tlma
mm m nmna. mar Huimwri im wiin uomratic work and mint Ilk.
Nanca. Ph. 3-3178.' children. Koom and board fumlahad
n4 with addMtodai pay, hMM h-bnVI.
...they're great I
United Gffafe Tluh
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