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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 2, 1957)
i- i f .. . i i i t -1 4 1 '7 , - f '. i I Page 2 The Daily Nebraskon Tuesday, April 2, 1957 Daily Nebraskan Editorials: Unshaken By Shapiro The Washington Post and Times Herald had the story first last Tuesday. They said that Karl Shapiro "looked at the younger generation and accused it of 'intellectual cowardice' and apatfliy. The Post reports that Shapiro branded the students of today as "these tired young people," whose only reaction to the recent Hungarian revolution was to raise a few banners on the campus. And further the professor of English at the University said that twenty years ago stu dents would have volunteered to go to Hun gary and fight. Shapiro told Washington Post reporters that young people have lost their ideals, their illu sions have been discredited or destroyed." But Professor Shapiro failed to note in his interview in our nation's capital that student, perhaps, take a more realistic view of what can be done about the world situation. Lincoln's Sunday newspaper interviewed some students whose reactions went from "We've moved from ' the idealism of the 20's to the realism of the 50's" to "I can't see any reason why a student should be expected to take an interest in things which he has no need to be concerned about." The Daily Nebraskan makes two observations on the whole problem. First of all we question whether Shapiro has taken an adequate sampling of the Midwest; whether he can make a statement like the one he presents to the nation with any authority. As one senior in law school here put it, "I just don't believe Mr. Shapiro knows what he is talking about. After all, how long has he been in the Middlewest and didn't he say, "There is a fine literary atmosphere here" when he arrived at Nebraska? Secondly, were the students the Sunday paper spoke with representative of the situation as it exists on the campus? Was it a fair cross section of the campus? Half of the students are freshmen (and with all due respect to freshman judgment) and might not be able to grasp the presence and absence of intellec tualism on the campus. Shapiro probably feels that because there is little concern over what he has said that he is right. No, rather, the American student is cautious. Shapiro was conditioned in his youth most likely by the radicalism of the 20's. Today's young people are wary of snap judg ments; they move slowly but surely. And yet we should not take lightly the challenge that we have become apathetic to conditions around us. Perhaps some soul search ing should be done rather than excuse making. If we have been told that we are cowards Intellectually then we should examine our lives and our studies and see how much truth lurks in such a charge. American youth can remain silent as long as the idealism it harbors in its heart is not challenged. But as soon as we are taken to the block for our ideas and ideals then it is time to do some fast and heavy talking and even more, to do some furious and motivated acting. Wiebuhr's Talks One of the country's leading theologians Dr. Richard Niebuhr is on the University campus this week as the 1957 Montgomery Lecturer. He is now Sterling professor of theology and Chris tian ethics at Yale University. Dr. Niebuhr has been brought to the campus through the Lectureship, designed to generate constructive thought on contemporary prob lems. The problem he will discuss is the "prob lem of religion," probably the most vital to any civilization, and one largely overlooked in our present one. It is too often the attitude of the modern-day collegian to look on religion as something to be put aside for a time while concentrating on intellectual pursuits, if he bothers to look at it at alL Religion is taken for granted, or as some thing one can do without in newfound intellec tual maturity. In doing this the individual is failing to face up to religion as one of modern-day intellec tualism's greatest and most far-reaching prob lems. In religion the student, or anyone else, can find the basic human values too often missing in our basically materialistic civilization. These values are based on faith, a quality either scorned or abandoned as "out of date." As it often does, the Daily Nebraskan ex presses its delight in welcoming such an out standing figure as Dr. Niebuhr to the campus. R is never too frequent for University students to be exposed to a person of his prominence. But what is important is what Dr. Niebuhr will have to say to the University, rather than what be has said or done. i's Miemath Now that the press has calmed down some what following the President's whiz through Maryland American journalists and interested parties are able to evaluate the action of the chief executive in the light it belongs under. The Chicago Tribune, which has always been an ultra conservative outfit, said that it is beyond the point of arguing whether be was right or wrong. He wont get a ticket, accord ing to Maryland police. The Dally Nebraskan feels three major objec tions to the president's speeding. 1) It is morally wrong to endanger lives of those . along the highways no matter who you From Tho Editor's Desk: A word or two are. In many states, speeding constitutes an ipso facto reckless driving charge. 2) Not only the president but the entire cara van was endangered by the speeding. And although policemen told the newsmen to slow down, these same newsmen who were evidently speeding were not given tickets. Guilt by asso ciation reversed to innocence by association, apparently. 3) A public official is expected to be "above average in bis respect for the laws. When he breaks a law, the public is "down on him" and if he is not prosecuted it is bad for the morale of the country. before you go . By FRED DALY Editor The recent journalistic ex citement over Professor Karl Shapiro's remarks on the "in tellectual apathy of present day college students has aroused comments on both sides of me fence. Some students feel there are grounds for Prof. Shapiro's re marks, others disagree, and a third group bas no opinion et alL It is fins flhird group we should worry about. People can have "no opin ion' for any number of rea sons. Some feel unqualified to speak, some would rather weigh opinions from both sides, a few nave no opinion on anything and some just Sont know what is going on. Perhaps it is this "no opin ion" group Prof. Shapiro is worried about. At this Univer sity, as at any other, one can jet students and perhaps instructors) who don't really know what is going on around, boSh intellectually and in world affairs, and wouldnt know what to think of things if tbey did know what was joiag on. This, -of course, extends in wardly as well as rtwardly. People whs don't care about things outside tine University oftentimes are equally as apa thetic about things inside the University sphere, including the budget, the quality of their instructors, physical facilities or even the much-belabored subject of academic freedom. They become really con cerned only wih those things pertaining directly to their own particular interests. It is rather like being part of a big machine. And, of course, there is one thing about being criticized. If you get mad enough, maybe you can do something about it. If it isn't too much to ask, that is. With the increased scope of Spring Day, and its tie in with the Farmers Fair, Ivy Day and the Union Birthday, the chance for independent men to participate in singing com petition may not be too far in the future. Dorm singing groups have been petitioning to get into the Ivy Day sing competition for a number of years, now that Independent interest in such things is slowly building op. For one reason or another their petitions have been ap proved. With the hope of stirring up some sort of discussion or the formulating of better ideas, this tentative plan is submitted for the Powers 'That Be to kick around. That independent men's groups, thinking particularly of the bouses in Selieck Quad rangle and the co-op bouses would have their own singing competition. This could be held either on Ivy Day, or better yet on Spring Day. Keeping it separate from the fraternity sing would prevent that particular competition from becoming overloaded and terribly boresome. There are now IS houses in the Dorm, each with 59 to 73 men. Another Dorm of equal size would probably increase the number to about 30. Co-op bouses would add a few more participants, if interested. Thus, both fraternity men and independent men would have competition each would be interested in. As it stands now there is little independent interest 5a the competition, for obvious reasons. The Daily Nebraskan FIFTY-FIYE XEAE5 OLD K-effiiber: Associated OtHecia,te Frees IstoreeUeilate Press - . EiJreE,lafi'jre: Rational Advertising Service, ISHWJMffRted F?,.M'.li.a et: Boom 56, Student Cxion Uiseela, Nebraska Kin & B Ti:m tWf 1"m!w TtibKhi Motto. TnssAtt. rtirtsgiunr Arinn "'m -the m-umA mr, anapl !:!'? wcjmm til exam pw.-tth. b unr fcwue to m i;"..t orttr A.twvut, f tin(i?i aha ItatvwrsMa t,i , Kiraaiiia wr.anr ttm rohortaraiua m h OammrtitM tttaM fjs.rc m xjw(nt of 4ttMMiM aiilmaa. f 'uiiiit-v.nana inr U!rtiiirtim ttm ttultoenmutttw mt M.w"t i , inn mtui) be frtm from editorial isnm; a &u jj&rt 4 tti fculiRoumit&tfw m t tins lMt mV ewmtw the tam af tth t'umnit), ar Mi i mtty wnum Mumuil t t rovrit . The iff v &--(-- ntf jfcWmMHtOy witn vir U'iiist t"'' w. r So ' ctu & 4m ju'tsawMfL IMirURr ft. K-'.im rmt arc SS.M jtar tuimtnm nr f Inr V r'i-jl km -! -nfl ripi mtn aft tta Tvmt f Si Ijukwu, ptmamuM, unur tarn atcf. el a-ueiint a, UrlX. EDITORIAL STAFF Mauaelnc .tr...-.- J fattm Cdltertai raa Efiifeir. . .... .... OMok Sbacroa Kewa ZilitM...... -Ssam Sanaa, Sua IrnlaaJ Sswrti eflitaE.M.MMMM. Bok Mantel Cup Edit. .... BlacBmm, Carole Fnnk firaacfw Mayer, ttam Waitoukmkl Itfitfbt lEffiiaja KiSibsf ..,..................-. Sam uum AT ffottM. ,...i..-..WaJtr rattonae ta,fit riHtrrap!...... .Dale tuswla Mttifl Jtnrir........ -JtiHe PmJ min lUtaaa... . mm f am ttflportor Ixi6y Stotwr. MttrtiVB Mbifttak, Mtmmtlur 1 tbyim. Data Mmxwell, itaoOr Vt haMa. Eknrottty Hail. IMnoita fa nana. Kill buoiwrt m VOiHn. rr rrwn.. Mary fat tmnn, Ilwanaav tow. Imnit LiBtip. tf Wrttera. Rnc ItrLcmc. tut)- Kootnta. M Win, Ximrr KoAsata, oaJM xttirua. t"ta Mum. 2.USLXLS-S STAFF iMtn Waanaw.. ........ .M.....Carea Mr,iw Kinnt (siMiineae IKaaakfer. ............ -iJT fupdinia Cirauiu.Ufia ""rn nri. . i- Kirtia Peanuts . . . o? I BKXON-SEE WHAT I LIKE IT? cl NOW. LETS MAVE NO AVOCE TALK ABOUT NOT GETTING ANV CHRI5TMA5CARD5! minniairudlinnieinite TTlHrn DDdetd By DICK SHUGRUE Editorial Page Editor Cecil B. DeMille deserves com mendations he has received from the press all over America for his production, "The Ten Command ments." De Mille has created a master piece in motion picture entertain ment which, I believe, will re establish peoples' belief that mov ies are worth viewing. One of the country's papers which has been invited to send a representative to see the movie while it was playing in Houston, Tex., commented that if the mo tion picture industry were able to meet the same standards in all movies that were met in "Commandments," movies would have no war with television. I suppose the film had all the qualities which draw crowds ( pag eantry, extravaganza, wealth, big name actors, fabulous scenic ef fects and what have you. Yet "The Ten Commandments" had more and the "something extra" made this a picture worth seeing again and again. The added "attraction" of the De liille movie was the message it has to offer to the many peo ple who will see it. Of course the ideas presented by the great pro ducer are not new: they are the on; they are the truths which make us as men free. Those who view the movie with a critical eye will charge that it, like George Wright's organ music, is nothing more than a big produc , tion capitalizing on the emotions and religious sympathies of Amer ica. I would say, rather, that this nr. v JSaS f Courtesy Sunday Journal and Star de Mille movie can and should be a turn ing point in this country's feelings about the motion picutre industry in general The picture is a chal lenge well met. It entertains, it informs, it thrills. The actors? De Mille has gath ered about him some of the fine performers of out time. Academy Award winning. Yul Brynner plays the part of Rameses, pharoah of Egypt, Edward G. Robinson the wicked Dathan, Anne Baxter, the wife of the Egyptian king. Moses is portrayed in the movie by Charlton Heston who puts more than well read lines into the part. He has the stature of a leader and the bearing of the king, and wheth er or not De Mille cast this man knowing that he has "appeal" does not alter the fact that he forces the viewer to sympathize with the cause the movie presents. In a brief introduction preceed ing the three hour and 45 minute movie De Mille states that the film portrays the answer to a question of whether man should be a slave to other men or free under the law of God. He retells the story of Moses' freeing the He brews from the bondage in Egypt and bringing them to the borders of the Holy Land. For those who believe in God, the movie is additionally thrilling, I believe, for the stories they have been told since childhood of the great mountain of Sinai and the opening of the Red Sea are there in color and wide screen to awe even the least impression able. That awe which De Mille is able to offer the audience is another fine point of the picture. I suppose that as a Christian I was "taken in" by the film. I am not ashamed, however, to admit that I felt some what of an added thrill ast see ing the Sea open or the firey fin ger carve the law into the stone of the mount. For those who don't believe, there is the attraction of pageant ry in the film. Whether or not man believes in what the movie por trays is not the question or the challenge that the movie must answer to entertainment. I have stated that the film is fine enter tainment. It need not be more; but it is. As to the historical accuracy of the film I am not certain. What matters to the viewer is that it looks authentic. DeMille listed such authorities on Jewish history as Philo and Josephus as his sources along with the Oriental Institute in Chicago. The movie is not offensive to any religious group . . . unless, perhaps, the Cult of Amen Re. But that is beside the point. I believe the movie "The Ten Commandments" is a must for movies are worse than ever. This film can destroy that misconcep tion. For those who believe that movies have always been good, this picture will enhance that be lief. More than that is the fact that "Commandments" fulfills a need of human freedom ... a task worth doing in these days of strife. pandoria Here's hoping Karl Shapiro's wrong. He had written ;n March 9th's Nation Magazine that the present generation of college stu dents is without literary idols. That part of his statement might be right. But he admitted last week that maybe the present student is looking for something more than a literary Presley. We (college men) were called all sorts of unnice things in the series of articles by leading professors from all over the nation. Passive, hollow, sub missive, were just some of the ad jectives used to describe our ac tion. But I'm not so sure they were all right either. After all the best judge of youth is youth itself. And perhaps it's ibecause we don't have any literary gods that we seem so silent. Yet this silence is more than brooding. We are do ing more than mimcking the words of professors. Shapiro said that bis generation bad all sorts of idols to clamber after. There were the boisterous Mr. Mencken, Marx, Ezra Pound who's still around but less noisy) F. Scott Fitzgerald. Some one to go around for everyone and for every class of thinker. Now we have Mr. Shapiro, fol low" Dylan Thomas, Bennett Cerf and s myriad of little people who cry aloud but never too loud for the generation to Pied Piper along after any one & them. Well, what's left for the student of today? 'What can be look for ward to I mean other than a degree and a "good job") Mr. Sha piro says that perhaps the young man of today should Erst of all set down the ideas of what be be lieves in. "Tbe Manifesto form of writing like that of Pound, the Dadaists, or anyone else who bas something to say is effective to begin you on s course of action," be said. We can look for a leader, too. If the day and age calls for a political leader, then let one come along and we will follow. Maybe we're waiting for a spirit- Dick Shugrue ual leader to lift us up by the soul straps and set us up in the "right way." I don't know yet. On account of the respect for ex perience I will grant Mr. Shapiro that I am surrounded by many who don't care where they are going. But as long as a few young men exist who snap at the idea of being brainwashed I can feel fairly secure as a "careful young man." Through These Doors... Now I would like to get back to what I was trying to say before being interruped by a copy pen cil. As you may remember (if you have a mind that is tryly remark able), I had mentioned unions sev eral times. I had especially men tioned the teamsters union and their boss, who were in some dif ficulty with a rather shrewd old boy named McClellan and an equal- Papers Too Sensational Collegians Believe: ACP (ACP) Almost everyone is fa miliar with a criticism often lev eled against daily newspapers in the United States, that of "sensa tionalisms, the over-emphasis on fires, murders, sex, etc. Much of the criticism stems from the belief that newspapers, in their overemphasis on sensation al news, fail to give due consider ation to the really important news news of world affairs, scien tific and educational achieve ments, governmental affairs, etc. The ACP asked the following question of a representative na tional cross-section of college stu dents in order to get the collegiate slant on this issue. Oa the whole, da yea think the average daily newspaper is the U.S. rerplays er underplays sen sationalism (accidents, fires, mur ders, sex, etc.)? The results: Mea Wemei Total Overplays ...68 17 "1 Underplays i 8 Undecided . 18 21 The figures show a fairly size able majority agreeing with the charges of "sensationalism," and a large group of students unde cided on this issue. In addition, the coeds appear to be more in clined to go along with the charg es of "sensationalism." Among students agreeing with the "sensationalism" charge the LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS by Dick Bibler majority feel newspapers sensation alize in order to build circulation and sell papers. Other students think "sensationalism" is the only way newspapers can capture and keep mass appeal. Still others cite specific newspapers as being out standing in respect to sensational material. Here are several typi cal comments: "The appeal is directed to in dividuals of a lower caliber, hence sensationalism," is the feeling of a junior at Memidji State Teachers College (Bemidji, Minn.) A Lynchburg College (Lynch burg, Va.) sophomore believes "sensationalism" is necessary "in order to build up circulation." But a freshman coed at Columbia Col lege (Columbia, S. C.) simply says: "It sells more papers." Witb'stadents indicating they be lieve the average newspaper un derplays crime, sex, accidents, etc., the predominant feeling seems to be that most newspapers do a fairly good job, while only a few of the big city dailies do most of the sensationalizing. Students undecided on the ques tion generally fall into one of two areas of belief. The first is indicat ed by the comment of a fresh man at Villanova University (Vil lanova. Pa.) who believes news papers neither overplay nor under play, but "state things the way they actually happen." A Southern Oregon College (Ashland) senior represents the other point of view with Ibis re mark: "You can't generalize it depends upon the individual paper." george moyer ly shrewd young one named Ken-. nedy. Our nation Is based on a system of checks and balances.. This in eludes the traditional ones incor porated in the constitution and a few not mentioned there. One of these is the balance of organized labor versus big business. In ordinary times, these two pow erful forces are in a balance at each seeks to advance its own in terests. However, these are not ordinary times as our president has observed many times (after he bas slowed down.) The Ameri can corporation is taxed and leg islated until even the best shyster they can hire can't figure a way to keep a decent profit out of Un cle Sammy's clutch. On the other hand, labor runs wild. The only check on the unions is the Taft-Hartley labor act which is not strictly enforced and is not nearly the strong legislation needed to alleviate the situation. Labor's weapons include such clever and unfair tactics as the closed shop, a little piece of un ion legislation to force the laborer to join the union to get a job. An other plan, the union shop, forces a laborer to join the union organi zation in bis plant within 39 days after being hired. Recently, labor reached a peak in benefits that they could extract from a weary management. Wages were so high that any increase further would be lost in the infla tion spiral. Working conditions were at a new high and the guar anteed annual wage appeared to be at the breaking point for most smaller industries. So the labor bosses have turned to bleeding their membership. It becomes apparent that the beast can't be allowed to devour the American laborer; the support of the economy. What is needed is a system of legislation that will return the unions to the benefi cail position in' the economy that they once enjoyed. I am suggest ing that a little something of the old Teddy Roosevelt trust busting spirit can be applied to crgainzed labor. LABORDE TRAVEL SERVICE, Inc. 22 Eat 42nd Street, Hw York 17, M. Y. SPONSOBED BY THE COOPERATIVE BUREAU FOR TEACHERS PretenU ART IN EUROPE A STUDY TOUR 8 Countries 43 Days An exciting adventure, viEiling est capitals of Eurep. with emphasis oa tbe history of tb. at arte ia Western Europe. England Belgium Holland Germany Austria Greece I tcly France 6 reens cf oesit t7aivity cf Chicago (University CoUg) By shrp, June 26-At?s$t 21, $1295 Ey cir, July 4-Auvst 21, $1433 plus tuition for information tonlatt the tour dirextmt PROFESSOR FIIIUPP FEHL Morrill Mai! Univert.tiv of Nebraska o c 1