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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 23, 1957)
Tuesday, April 23, 1957 The Daily Nebraskon i r - i ' 111 l "3 , Daily Nebraskan Editorials: Convocation Today an ex-Governor of Nebraska spoke to students, faculty members and parents at an all-campus convocation. Classes were dismissed for this annual spring Honors Convocation, held to pay tribute to students in the top ten per cent of their classes. To most students, unfortunately, this convo cation was little more than a chance to get out of class for an hour or so. Of the 90 per cent who were not honored only those with interests outside an unprecedented release from classes bothered to attend and listen to ex-Gov. Peter son. Certainly they cared little to see someone else honored for academic achievement attained by only a few. Thi xjonvocation, aside from the presence of a well-known national figure, and a man cer tainly known in this state, has significance largely overlooked by the campus. It is one of the few times during the year that the Univer sity significantly honors those with superlative academic achievment. In modern educational factories knowledge sometimes tends to be subverted for the mechanical process of attain ing a Degree. Persons who do well in their classes are either PBK's a breed held much in awe or rather odd persons who "bury themselves" in their textbooks. The national trend has been toward smashing the egghead in a figurative manner and treating him as an alien in Ameri can society. Naturally, few persons in the University could or would wish to be called eggheads. Still, it is somewhat encouraging to see the academically elite on the campus given some sort of public recognition and applause, even if it is para doxically necessary to call of classes to do it. Religion On Campus Newsweek Magazine this week has devoted a couple of pages on the study of religion on the American College Campus. We won't go into the details of the discussion by the major news gathering of the churches on the college greens of this land. There are, we dare to say, a number of students who earnestly believe and practice some sort of Christianity or Judaism. These people are not the ones whom we need to worry about. Now the Daily Nebraskan is not in a position to dictate that any student embrace any religion. We only suggest that man, as a peccable creative, look beyond himself for the answers to the questions which perplex and have per plexed societies for ages. The origin of man and the destiny of man subject to the study of escatology have pro vided fruit for thought for the greatest thinkers the world has ever known. , We believe that college students respect the thoughia of ages past but are wary of embracing the results of lifetimes of study without some evidence upon which to base conclusions. Students, then, would investigate every reli gious belief which has passed across the screen of human drama and seek some answer to the complex problem of existence. We believe that faith comes only to those who. would accept it. And many products of the present generation are not willing to accept ways of life which don't seem to have worked for the people of ages past. War, torment, grief have all survived the ages and pester man as much now and prob ably more as ever before. But man must realize that religion is more than an abstract code of thought for mankind. From The Editor's Desk: A word or two In order for it to be effective, man must be willing to live by as well as accept its precepts. And this involves, to a certain extent, the relin quishing of "freedom." . But if religion, as the apostles of that precious commodity would have us believe, is truth, then this truth will make us free. The Daily Nebraskan believes in the right of every human being to decide for himself in what way if any he will worship his God. But if man fails to look into the situation; if he fails to believe in a God merely because he does not want to investigate, then he is a traitor to the ideals of true scholarship and he is not being "true" to himself. We believe that the college student is, at present, becoming more interested in the prob lem of the reason of hfe. And along with a concern for this problem comes the quest for a God; a quest for a code of life; a quest for a rule of conduct. Religion offers this code to fallable man. It presents to man in many ways, shapes and forms the order of life and the code of conduct which can bring man to truth and to freedom. And so we suggest that man investigate religion. We add that the conclusion of such an investigation cannot be dictated. Each will answer every question through the way he feels is best. But the campus must not be self-sufficient. It must look to some other source than man for the answers to the enigma facing the world today. If the answer is in religion, then man will feel the peace which a sincere trust in God can offer. If not, then we are always willing to accept an answer if it is worth living and dying for. before you go . By FRED DALY Editor Dont tell anybody, but it would, seem to the casual, dis interested observer that Spring is finally here. It took time, and a number of snow storms, rain and a hurricane or two, but at last the University is nodding sleepily in the sun. You know what this means, of course. No more studying all the time because it is too cold to go outside. No more spending 10 and 12 hours a day in the Library to keep warm. No more midnight oil being burned while the blizzard howls outside. Instead, windows are thrown open for ventilation, a little balmy scent of the Great Out doors wafts in across the sill, and with a course cry students belt from their rooms, out into the glorious sunshine and are not seen again for hours when they return to their domicles at peace with the world. Naturally, some people hold stock with ""spring fever'-' and that sort of rot, claiming that a student's energy sags frighiV fully with the first sign of warm weather. There is nothing to that at all. It's just easier to think lying here under a tree with the leaves coming out and the little birds hollering their fool heads off. It is envigorating charges the brain. Makes you want to spring right up and rush out to do a full day's work. Work? Well, maybe tomor row. - i A fraternity at a West Coast college held a "We Hate Wom en" week. Members were their "mungiest" clothes, boarded up doors and windows of the house, and circled their lawn with barbed wire. Those who were able grew beards, and all refrained from speaking to women, attempt ing to prove that "every man is an island." The basic rea son given: "Men are weary of continually trying to maintain their b e s c appearance. They want a vacation." Sure! And how much suc cess do you think this editor had trying to convince The Powers how nice it would be for me to grow a beard for the Grand Island Centennial? Only five more weeks until school is out, not too late to pull up a few low grades, etc., but apparently a little too late to make PBK. And only seven more weeks until graduation, and the Big Start on the Road of Life. Brrrrrrr! . The Student Council is still working on a proposal to bring a student tribunal to the Uni versity. This was brought up last spring, and was a referred to a committee to consider the possibilities of such a plan. Also being considered (al though none too seriously) is an honor system. Before anything could be done with a tribunal, if it is proposed, the issue would have to be referred to an all-campus student election. We hope the Council comes up with something before school is out. Such things tend to die out over the summer. Certainly is tired out today! TKl3 a gill "This Is another in the series of thought pro voking editorials which have appeared in news papers ta this country. The present ideas appeared ta the Omaha World Herald. The American Association of University Pro fessors has reaffirmed its stand though not quite so flatly as before that invocation of the Fifth Ammendment by professors questioned about Communist activities should not be cause for dismissal. reporting on the case of a University of Kansas City professor, the Association said: JA refusal to answer questions about pos sible Commaaist affiliations Is til-considered btit, standing alone, it does not merit dismis sal . The Daily FIFTY-FIVE TEAKS OLD Member: Associated Collegiate Press '"I Intercollegiate Press EOT-esssisMve: Natisnal Advertising Service. Incorporated FiL'-iiied at: Boom 28, Student Union Lincoln, Nebraska lftli&R TW peer Krtr m BaMMte Mnaday, Ted, Ko-ntim ifcMa t during the acbool uif, except ',.tMof awl rwrtodj. and w twine k ft e&i i sr Airrf'Hv tf Btwd"ta of thm Dnlwrwlfty i siu uw !,! oa at te Oomrnlttea ; fe an -mlim of rtn.1cnt (lR3oa. .!, .,,!,'. v.i'Vr the lHTti"Uiia of the Nnbfommlr tm IrKMwartaot anaO ba free from editorial ch . t - off ftoe aubeommltfcfe or ra the pw4 of nf tmwnfcer the fw-i!' of the ntverltf . tr mi . a ef ear aereoa aete the Unrramlrji. Tat fsHsis, i tH : are praenl) re- i for aftat n- easy, or do or eeuee ta at (.. tMejr 8. 16. e. S3. per epmester or f 4 fei , ,,rt a- en w.i8 rtene matter at w I "' I j iMf&aiij., nattt the aet of A usual , ISiS. 1 " The slight hedging in this statement might be because of its timing. It was issued hard on the heels of the AFL-CIO Executives Coun cil's expulsion of Dave Beck because he refused to answer questions about what he did with Teamsters Union money. So far as we know, nobody save Mr. Beck and his lawyers has contended that his refusal to talk meant abso lutely nothing. If most professors agree that Mr. Beck should lose his job and we surmise that such is the case then the stand of their association can be justified only on the assumption that Communist activity is less reprehensible than misuse of a union's funds. That is a dubious assumption, to put it mildly. . " Nebraskan EDITORIAL STAFF editor Fret Daly Manatrlns Edltee- Jaefe Folloek editorial race Editor ....... .. , ...Dlek Sburrae Newt Editoro Omtm JoBee, Bob Ireland porta Editor ..Bob Mattel Copy Editor .Art Blacbman, Carole Frank Coerce fcioyer, Horn Warbolackl Nlfht New Editor Art Blaekmaa Ar Edlte. Walter ratterena Stnff PhntMrrTIX!r. Den Vrm iMflee axwiwtary. Jnlle fowcll Society Editor m FarreB Reporters. ........ .Itana Maxwell, Mary Fatternoa, Kmmlr Llmpo, Keltk Smith, Bob f.rtmmit, Kan Hall, Jack Carlfo. Mike i-ourh. Staff Writer Cynthia Kunbea. Hob Wire, Oery nuMtfers, HUm Vt'ldman. BUSINESS STAFF tiMineae Memtrer Georee Mednoa AHlt,nt Bueloeat Maawjera .lrry Epmtrto Olretuattoa . .iuekJ;!rT fM Vvtt, JorJV UMa CHARLIE 6i?0U)N I CAN T PLAY CENTER FIELD ANY MORE.. K WflT?Jl MS. THE X10S ARE 700 TAU OUT THERE! v JallJtaaBMW tSl. KAU ,Vtf ?!P? STAPl COMPLAINING. AND GET 60INS! ALL A n v BUT SO&E&ODY SETTER TELL ME UMENTKE INNING 15 OYER: IkhrasliGn Lellerips To the Editor: The University is desperately in need of additional revenue. The in crease in enrollment and rising price levels have forced the Uni versty administration to seek a multi-million dollar increase in the University budget for the next bi ennium. Unfortunately the greatly in creased needs of the University come at a time of severe drought and declining farm prices. At such a time the Legislature is quite naturally hesitant to add to the tax burden. The most common suggestion is that the tuition should be raised or even doubled! Promising as this m ght at first appear; it has one very serious drawback. The University was founded in order to give the people of Nebraska op portunity to receive a college edu cation. To raise tuition particular ly in a time of agricultural de pression would tend to deny this opportunity to many students. As an alternative to an equiva lent tuition increase an increase in parking fees would have much to recommend it. Such fees could be founded on either the benefit principle or the ability to pay prin ciple. The benefit principle is one with which most students on this cam pus are familiar. It simply works on the basis that you should pay for benefits received. University students meet this principle in such non-educational functions of ttie University as the dormitories and the student health service. If a student chooses to live in a uni versity operated dormitory, the dorm fees are expected to cover the costs of housing and feeding him. Similarly, if a student de sires a poliomyelitis shot, he can get it at cost at the Student Health Center. Likewise providing parking space must be regarded as a non educational function. In providing this service the University must acquire lots, divide these lots into parking stalls, surface ttiem with crushed rock, and police and main tain these lots. It would seem fair that students should be expected to pay for benefits received; yet at present only a nominal fee of $1.00 per year is charged for a student parking permit. This situation is aggravated by the fact that generally speaking student car owners who receive such parking benefits for practi cally nothing are financially bet ter off than students without cars. While it is true that many students need their cars in order to com mute to class, it is also true that to a large percentage of students their car is merely a weekend con venience and a social asset. Any increase in tuition would bear heavily on many students. An in crease in parking fees would ex empt those students financially unable to own a car while requir ing those who do bring a car to campus to pay for the benefits they are receiving. An increase in parking fees could be productive of consider able revenue. During this school year the University has issued 4,171 student parking permits at $1 a permit. At the present time the University owns 2573 parking slots on this campus and 644 slots on Ag campus. (This excludes 577 slots on city owned streets and those in fraternity and sorority lots.) Some of these slots are, of course, regarded by students as more desirable than others. This accounts for the fact that the park-" ing lot near the Elgin plant is never completely filled. Such differences in location and convenience would lead to the idea of scaled parking fees. Thus the University might charge $20 per semester for the privilege of park ing in the more desirable parking lots such as the Union lot, those in front of the Quadrangle, and the West Stadium lot. That such fees are not exorbitant is shown by the fact that private parking lots located similarly charge $6.50 to $10.00 a month. A $20 fee of course, require some guarantee that parking space would be avail able. The remaining parking space (University owned streets and the Elgin parking lot) would be open to all students who pay a $10 per semester parking fee. This would entitle them to park in these areas on a first come first served basis. Assuming an additional 2, 000 students purchase the $10 per mits this also would raide $20,000 per semester. The parking plan I have out lined would raise $80,000 a school year a sum slightly greater than the amount raised by a $5 per semester tuition increase. Such a system based on benefits received and ability to pay would be far more equitable than by raising the same amount of revenue by a blanket tuition increase for all stu dents. A special feature could be added to this plan to raise even more revenue. The University could use the plan of the University of Wis consin and charge a $1 parking fee for all University-owned parking slots on football Saturdays. As suming that 2,500 slots are filled for each of the 5 home games, the University could gross another $12,500 in this manner. Another special feature might involve converting half of the South Mall into a parking meter area and charging 25c an hour for those who are late to class or who don't wish to walk the extra blocks. The plan outlined here is neces sarily a broad one and offers a great deal of flexibility. As a rev enue raising device it could give the university finances a consid erable lift without additional taxes and in lieu of some of the prob able tuition increase. Ernest Enke To the Editor: The University administration must be laughing up its sleeve. Not only has it been putting the axe to its faculty members with impunity remember Bill Glass ford and Clyde Miichell-but now it has a faculty committee to han dle the public relations end of the procedure. They may exaggerate the effi ciency of the committee investi gating Dr. Mitchell, who was shipped off to Mexico, but who expects the group to reflect a gut less faculty (who either keep their mouths shut or run off to another school) with little more than a wrist slap? I can see it now: Dean Breck enridge and Dean Lambert exer cised poor judgment in the way which they handled the announce ment of Mitchell's demotion. The committee discourages this sort of action and trusts it will not happen again." D.B. To the Editor: The fraternity . system must be on pretty soft ground now that they have said that spiking is legal. What will become of the "hon est, upright and true" frat man who used to think that hard rush ing was the way to get a man? Now all that he will have to do is take the high school freshman into the woods and keep him there until school (four years hence) begins. The frat men have done it again. They have stepped out on a limb and proved that they can't compel with one another hon estly and must sneak around through the summer months and grab innocent little boys. Lon Kraemer ' LITTLE MAN OH CAMPUS by Dick Bibler ftfP' feu y -a- r I 7 J ' PH01C6KAFHY MA6A2INE5? $0- StyftNT IN HCf HAS THEM ALL CH.CKp.gl0; The Campus Green who knows Is it meant that we should wait, for liars, and would be guardians, (call them what you wll) who in their own striving, gather about them the ones ; who will never understand, but I understand. ' Is it meant that we should wait, for those, well I hate to say it, who don't drink, gather them about me, I'll listen to their story,' not seriously I think, (but I'll understand.) You're not serious, they do have belts on their panta. Don't they? Edwards - To Wordsworth Blow gently soft, sweet breeza Make each tiny pedal twitch The yellow bees will buzi And the big-brown cow will moo . , . Bob Ireland Dick Shugrue are paying top guys top prices for getting into fraternities and break ing down the unit rules of the organized houses. The Communists must see that there is a definite place for the fraternity system in a democratic society. After all, the frats allow a man to be selective about his com panions, to be expressive about his ideas and to be at odds with the government of an institution in a truthful say. Down in the same place (Texas) . the University has a very inter esting way of supporting itself. The know-it-alls say that when the educational institution began the state gave it some worthless land in the western portions of the state. Now that oil has been found out there the U of T is fabu lously wealthy. The fraternity and sorority hous es are doing all right for them selves. One Big Tex bragger said that the oldest house on the cam pus was built in 1948. That, of course, couldn't be true. After all, if we could be staying in a place that was 40 years old and my mathematics are right 1948 wouldn't be a true date. The independents have it pretty nice, too. -Z3 A new dormitory is being built which will house hundreds of 3"m.mg people who want to get an educa tion. The cost for the place is astronomical. But the poor processors still have to rely on the state legisla ture, for their bread and butter. And from all indications the same problems that face educated persons up here face the Texans. It wouldn't be surprising, how ever, to discover that the Texana have a Century Club for the teach ers. That's the least they can do. A closing note. Spring fever has hit the Uni versity of Oklahoma. The student senate passed a resolution 23-5 asking the university officials to allow the wearing of Bermuda shorts at certain meals in tht women's dorm cafeteria. The students asked that the shorts be allowed at breakfasts, to Friday and Saturday suppers and Saturday lunches on non-football days. They argued that shorts art accepted as proper wearing ap parel for women, that the ap proach of warm weather increases the comfort problem for quad res idents and that shorts are mora convenient and comfortable than dresses. I've never stopped to ask, tha women around here what the rules are on wearing shorts around the campus for meals. I suppose that it never gets warm enough in Ne braska for the girls to get up ia arms about such a problem. Boys just seem to do it. They'ra all aggressive. The "grader" system one of the stalwart parts of any over crowded department at our Uni versity has a number of de fects. And I suppose that those who get the crumbiest grades feel that the system is weakest. For the sake of argument let's say a young man who considers himself a ''brain" submits a test paper to the instructor who in turn smiles and says," Nice day, eh, Swanson?" The next step for the paper is to the hands of the grader americanus, a species who is nocturnal and somewhat bug eyed after slopping through a se ries of papers. Swanson gets his paper back, with a five on it and can't see why. He takes it to the teacher who "ups" the grade after a thor ough examination of the work and a discussion with the grader. The system has failed. For the grader is supposed to relieve the teacher of the pitiful job of correcting papers. And yet in doing so he creates a number of complex problems. Teachers pride themselves on the "long hours and careful prep aration ghey put into their classes. If they miss correcting papers they are missing half t fun of being a teacher (maybt nd on the other hand, a stu-, .it fells that he has established a certain rap port with the "head man" and can write his tests placing a spe cial emphasis on the elements which he feels are appropos to the teacher's style. An example? Well, a certain prof stated in class that little magazines were begun because much fine literary work and particularly poetry was not be ing accepted by the "Big" maga zines such as Post and Colliers The grader then places his red pencil marks around the word "big magazines" and, draws ques tion marks in the margin indicat ing that he didn't catch on to the thought the teacher and stu dent were trying to convey. Some folks say that readers have no sense of humor. Gener ally true. And when they try to crack a joke, most students feel that they are Just heing smart alecks. Recommendations: 1; Have all readers take the course from the teacher who is teaching it so that they know what's being discussed 2) Have the graders available for consultation. 3) Have the readers visit class meetings once in a while so they can understand the vier points which the students are discussing. Oh yes. I do grade papers, convention last week deep in the heart of Texas, a brother named Igor from California mentioned that the Communists are trying to infiltrate the fraternity system on the west coast. Bro. Igor said that A the Red Your own "Leading Lady" say DRESS YOUR PART and start with (c Mir V (ciMUi - for Play MZ4Z7 , ' black ot natural leather jf "1 for Orast.. ntf?!)?... . - A v 1 . for Every Day...M228t ...black or brown caV JAMWA LEWIS, Iwlurod in MGM'S "Relntna County." Filmed In MOM Camtra 66 and color. Peter, Dlvitlon ef International Shot Co., St. leuil 3, Ma, .(IP