The Doily Nebraskan
Monday, November 25, 1957
Daily Nebraskan Letterip
Editorial Comment
Page 2
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An Apology
Regarding the Student Tribunal Charter, the
Daily Nebraskan printed on November 11 of
this year that there had been an alteration
In the charter between the time it was print
ed on May 1 and the second printing on May
6.
Tha editorial continued, "For as far as we
can see the only source of the error is the
pied type which a member of the council of
last year had juggled by some printer."
The editorial had implied that the coun
cil member was at the same time a staff
member of a local newspaper and, there
fore, had access to the galleys of type.
For this erroneous judgment on our part, we
most sincerely apologize.
There ta absolutely no evidence that the
Individual so charged was responsible for the
typographical error which appeared in the
charter printed Monday, May 6.
The consideration of the Daily Nebraskan in
printing the editorial was not to defame any
Individual. Rather, we believed then as now
that it is important for the University and
the students to have the best possible charter.
Since the two versions of the charter dif
fered, we presumed and wrongly so thai
more than the mechanical fragility of a lino
type machine was involved. It is obvious this
is not true.
The Daily Nebraskan in , making this
apology does not, however, change its stand
that there are some definite inadequacies in
the charter and that the work being done by
the charter committee at the present time is
not being wasted.
We had been led to believe that until the
charter was approved by the Regents,
it could be altered. It is evident from the
statements of the chairman of the charter
committee that it probably wilt be changed.
This committee is gathering material from
all over the nation which it will digest and
from which it will cull the very best ideas.
The activity is essential to developing a
strong and honorable Student Tribunal which
will serve the University on the highest of
plains.
But for the oh so human error which this
newspaper made in its judgment and accusa
tion, we apologize.
Pat On Our Back
The old phrases about American com
placency were hurled back at us by Colin
Jackson, British analyst, who visited the
campus during the latter part of last week.
Jackson, who has journeyed to the shores
of the U.S.A. six times and was a visiting lec
turer in political science here at the Uni
versity cited specific instances of where
the American public is complacent.
And it seems that he is absolutely correct.
Concerning this topic, the Daily Kansan from
KU comments, "KU students have been
accused of complacency so frequently of late
it is a wonder that Watkins Hospital isn't
flooded for requests, not for Asian flu shots,
but for blood transfusions."
Jackson, who has watched the American
people react to Sputniks as well as to the
British and French activity in the Middle
East, said Friday that the older generations of
citizens here are willing to sit back in their
country clubs and be inclined to look at the
president on television and not really hear
what he is saying.
He implied that the universities are the
only refuge of individuals anymore. Rather
pessimistically, he wondered if even the pro
fessors are listened to by the students.
The Briton made a good point when he
implied that the present structure of Ameri
can society is a vicious circle. "If people's
bellies are filled, then they will not be critical
citizens. On the other hand, the problem we
face is keeping the bellies full and the in
dividuals critical."
Jackson believes that there is a nucleus of
Americans maybe ten per cent of the popula
tionwho care what is going on.
"There's hope here," he added.
"It might even be chaotic if everyone were
displeased with the affairs of the world."
And well it might. University students, you
might well guess, are within the ten per cent
the commentator is concerned about. "If you
young people could get a little made about
the present situation, if you could compete
with the Russians not just to meet their
standards but to better our own, if you could
realize that the world around you is in danger,
then we've got a hope for the future," he stat
ed. But, as usual, most persons who hear
words such as these will say, "Fine and good.
Now get out there (meaning someone else)
and do something about it!"
We certainly live in an interesting world.
The Closing
It seems strange that the Library, one of
the few refuges frcm boredom during the va
cation period, is going to be closed over
Thanksgiving.
Of course, to many students this will mean
little. They will be gone from the campus
and possibly far from the thought that think
ing can be done on a full festive stomach.
But for the professors and the students who
have much to do and the proverbial short time
to get it done in, the Library's closing is near
tragic.
Certainly the weeping should stop on our
part. We suspect the Library's management
has not made the move to close the building
during the vacation out of spite toward any
one. Extra hours of keeping a building open, ex
tra working forces, extra costs make the
maintenance of an open library over the holi
days probably impractical.
Perhaps we're a little too practical some
times, though.
When young people with eager minds or
young people with simply curious minds wish
to direct their attention to gaining new
knowledge from books, new self-discipline
from the use of a library, new confidence in
their ability to search critically the pages of
great books, they should be encouraged.
We are curious as to how many who would
have used the library during the holidays
would be willing to say anything about it to
the librarians. We are curious as to whether
the desire for knowledge would have any
precedence over the "practicality" of keeping
a building open.
We would like to have the facilities of the
library available to the students during the
holidays.
from the edit
First Things First. . .
At least we won one-fourth of the game Sat
urday. The Huskers bowed but had little to
bow rheir heads about. For 18 seniors, it was
the last time they'll don a Husker uniform.
Lincoln Star sports writer Don Bryant point
ed out that both teams have not been up to
par this season it was Oklahoma's worst
season in five years and the worst in NU his
tory. At least local sports writer Dick Becker
won't have any "student apathy" pictures to
print this week maybe he'll have to stick to
sports pics . . . with the exception of our
uniformed cheerers, almost the entire student
body and alums remained until the final sec
onds of the game this week.
For Your Information: The second bouquet
presented Nebraska Sweetheart Ruthie Gilbert
Friday night at the Kosmet ceremonies (the
first bouquet was from Kosmet Klub) was from
the disbanded (?) TNE's.
Thought for the day: Only 13 more school
days until Christmas vacation.
Students at Pitt are complaining about some
campus signs that are cluttering the lawns.
The signs say, "Let's Keep Our Campus Clean."
Homecoming Queen at Washington State Col
lege was a Swedish exchange student, Ingrid
Oretorp, who expressed her preference for
certain Swedish dating customs over those she
by Jack Pollock
found in America.
Said Ingrid, if a boy asks a girl for a date in
Sweden, "It means much more interest in her."
And at dances in her homeland girls are quite
likely to go by themselves, rather than with a
boy.
"I think I like the Swedish plan better," she
said in an interview with the campus paper
"Daily Evergreen," ' ecause you never dance
more than one or ... o dances with a boy. At
least you can't get stuck with a bad dancer for
the evening."
Evidently for lack of anything else to discuss,
students have been debating pros and cons of
motives for joining (but not necessarily par
ticipating in) campus activities. At Kansas
State College, one coed, a junior in elementary
education, in a superb summarization of her
profound judgment said, "A student should par
ticipate in only those (activities) in wh'ch he is
genuinely interested."
Which actually does have some merit. Let
those who want activities join to their heart's
content. Let those who want to study study
no one's forced to enlist for campus activities.
For those who are genuinely interested, or
who engage in activities to gain experience in
their vocational lines, let them join so far as
they can help themselves. For those patriots
who actually join to serve the University com
munity, bring along your friends with similar
aspirations . . .
Daily Nebraskan
FIFTY-SEX TEARS OLD la aeaaemle year.
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Member: Associated Collegiate prew ux. Nwruu, u luw i.
Intercollegiate Press editorial staut
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Representative: National Advertising Service, uitoriai tditor ick thusn
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Incorporated Newt Mllor sr
Publish at: Room 2. student inioo ",:::::::::::::::::::::::::Er.
Lincoln. Nebraska tD m Bob Irflan4 ehif,
uaeou, rtcoraau Carola Fraak. Genre Mayer, Oar Korr. Kml Hints
11th A R Sport Writer. . . Ke line. Del Haamoaaea, Boa Baa
beta. Harold rrtedmaa. Hob Win.
M tVaOr etaka ki aabitaaaa Mnadar. Taeadaf. Staff Writer BobM Botterfleli, Pal
ffaaaaaaar aa4 Irtdii ortnf tbe ebool year, eicept Klannlr-, Emm L.tmpo, Herb FTobaaeo, Hraa Smltb
arma eaeanoaa aaa run patios'. aa m taaaa a brrtar, Margaret Wsrtmaa.
avMlafeet aarlac aotast, or atiavat of tb laterrti Reporters Sharoa AhraJirjii, Jo At.
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aa ataaeat Affair a aa npmtmm of ataoeat aplaiea. war. Karen Karrer, Roberta Knanp. lianrte. kaaua,
FaMteatoa anaer tba iarhdiettaa at tb aabeaanmute Marato Koop, Carol tonikoaaer, Garry Lanpheimer,
aa ataaeat raMleattoa hall a fre fmat editorial Janet tra4r, Jallenne Mebrlnc. Soanae Rrtrhatadt,
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aart a aay aaeaaher af tnr faealty af tae I nlver.tty. or HI fH.vr.Sa sTArr
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Alumnus Sounds Off Via Mail
To the Editor:
Although my copies of your
journalistic joke are received
somewhat later than on campus,
I have followed your articles on
the Student Trbunal with some
interest. My former connections
with that Charter should give me
some bases for observations.
1. The original draft of the
Charter was written during the
winter of 1956 by Sam Van Pelt
and myself after we had attended
the Big Seven Student Government
Convention in December, 1955. In
May the student body overwhelm
ingly authorized the Student Coun
cil to work on a tribunal proposal.
The mandate was accepted by the
Student Activities Committee of
the Student Council, which gath
ered materials and discussed ideas
for most of the last school year,
1956-57. A Charter was written, and
that Charter was discussed with
the Student Council advisers as
well as Dean Colbert and Mr. Pit
tenger. The Student Council sub
mitted that Charter to the student
body last May, and it was adopted.
2. Your editorial pages have re
cently made a so-called expose of
typesetting manipulations by mem
bers of the Student Council last
year. I choose to call your state
ment of the facts an inaccuracy
rather than a lie. The editor at
that time was Fred Daly, who
had in a series of editorials dating
back to the spring of 1956 sup
ported a tribunal. The night that
the proposed charter went to press
Daly was out of the city. At that
time Mr. Shugrue, the editorial
page editor, took it upon himself
to write an extraordinary front
page editorial against the proposed
Charter. When two members of the
Student Council were made aware
of this situation, they made every
effort to contact Fred Daly, who
finally reversed Mr. Shugrue's us
urpation and did not run the ed
itorial. There were no alterations
Senior
Survey
ron warholoski
Since everyone else in this office
Is availing themselves of the free
advertisement of a column, I
thought that one more wouldn't
hurt the already gummed-up
works. Besides, I want and need
something to defend myself with
from the merciless attacks of my
colleague in the struggle to get
the paper out Sara Jones.
I'm not really sure just what
this column is going to talk about
columns already appearing weekly
in our little picture magazine run
the gamut from hysterical jabber
ings to ridiculous nonsense. (As to
which columnist I am referring to,
I leave it to the imagination of the
readers, if there are any.)
I'm rather excited about start
ing a crusade. The pronouncement
of the eleven faculty members who
advocated the change of the condi
tions for granting a teacher's certi
ficate is something that has been
needed for centuries around our
morbid little university. I have yet
to hear any of the people that I
know in Teacher's College enunci
ate one nice word about any of the
education courses to which they
are subjected.
I must say that eleven profes
sors would have the gumption to
jump ahead of the administration
in proposing a policy which affects
so many people completely sur
prised me and I must admit that
it's an added welcome. It seems
that our administration has to be
prodded into everything construc
tive except raising tuition and the
idea of having some faculty mem
bers of the side of the prodders is
a comforting thought.
I'm not really sure that everyone
reads the Letters to Editor sec
tion of our progressive little pa
per; but for those who neglected
to read that particular section in
the Tuesday November 19 edition,
I would like to bring their atten
tion to a particularly interesting
letter.
M. K. Elias, an instructor in the
graduate college had this illumi
nating bit of wisdom to pass on.
The letter read and I quote "there
are some aspects in our University
of Nebraska, and not so much in
our pre-college educational sys
tem, that are in dire need of revi
sion." That statement lets the imagina
tion run wild, doesn't it? Of course,
one has to be an embittered sen
ior to realize just what is really
meant; for by then, one has seen
the procedures of education in oth
'er universities and has had tima
to ponder and wonder about the
good old University of Nebraska.
As a closing thought, and since
we- are discussing the University,
I wonder if the proposed stager
ing enrollment, which was the
main reason given for the tuition
increase, is going to materialize.
I'm betting against it.
made in the proposed Charter.
3. The recent advocacy by cer
tain members of the Student Coun
cils and of the newspaper to radi
cally' change the proposed charter
is a direct disavowal of the opin
ion of the student body. When the
student council submitted the pro
posed charter to the student body,
it was asking its electorate to ac
cept the charter. At that point he
Sudent council resigned control of
the charter by submitting it to the
students. As stated above, the stu
dent body accepted that Charter
last May. How is it possible for
the elected representatives of the
student body to deny the actions
of the student body as well as
the actions of the previous Student
Councils? The student body has
not asked for a new charter; it
accepted one already, and it has
a right to expect its representa
tives to see to the immediate im
plementation of that Charter.
4. The accepted Charter of the
Student Tribunal is a workable and
The Galley Slave
dick shugrue
No man is good enough to pass
judgment on his fellows unless the
evidence which will support the
charge is ture.
No man with honor will main
tain that he is right in accusing
another of petty and malicious ac
tion unless he can penetrate the
mind of the accused.
With these thoughts in mind I
read the letter from a former stu
dent at the University who is now
attending some Ivy League school.
That individual charges that I,
through personal spite and whim,
during the last semester tried to
halt the student tribunal.
This is untrue.
I have been willing to give my
whole hearted support (whether
that be much) to the student trib
unal. I have attempted to carry
out my duties as editorial page
boss of this rag in light of the
needs of the University, rather
than my personal ambitions (and
we're all ambitious). I had an op
portunity to examine the charter
which was passed by an uncon
scious student body last spring
and I found that the charter is
not only unworkable in its present
form it borders on the ridiculous.
I was erroneously informed by
the author of the letter on this
page as to the nature of the
charter, however. He told me that
the passage of the charter merely
meant that the students wanted
A charter, not necessarily this
charter and that the council of this
year could work out a suitable
form. This was the understanding
of the personnel at the newspaper
in general.
It has been charged that the
editorial opinion of the newspaper
is such that it is discouraging the
tribunal. I would suggest that the
individual who has been so quick
to fling the charges talk with the
chairman of the tribunal commit
tee for the truth.
In regard to the charges that
a member of the council was re
sponsible for a typographical er
ror in the charter as it appeared
in the May 6 Nebraskan, we have
apologized.
Circumstantial evidence, which
sometimes sends men to the gal
lows, led us to make the charge.
The individual involved was at
the printers, he may have had
cause to change the charter for
he wanted it to be passed, and
the changes were made.
However, we accept his state
ment that he had nothing to do
with it for he respected as a
man of honor.
That should close that episode.
As far as we are concerned it
is closed now that a public apol
ogy has been made. I personally
won't demand an apology from
the writer of the letter on this
page since there are more im
portant things to do than to boost
my own ego by such a demand.
But I will say that I don't think
the charter as it stands can work
for the good of the University.
As this newspaper has mentioned
before, Chairmen Dave Keene of
the charter committee is polling
all the universities and colleges
in the nation which have tribunals
to discover how they operate, with
in what borders they function, and
just about any other material re
garding the charters he can.
This seems to me to be the
sensible way, the prudent way, to
handle the charter. One can't write
a document like that and expect
to reflect the sentiments of the
University at large if he has mere
ly one helper. But with hundreds
of persons lending suggestions,
complaints, criticisms, the charter
should be much more successful.
Now Keene has stated that he
wants - gripes from the students
about the charter. These should
be substantiated rather than mere
opinion. In other words, if a stu
dent is dissatisfied with a partic
ular section he should say why
the section seems wrong to him
and make some suggestion for its
improvement.
Some persons have charged that
a tribunal can never work at the
University.
Hogwash.
It can and should, if the student
body works together to make it
a strong tool which will establish
and enforce a uniform code of
justice for the students.
The Gadfly
Sara Jones
The current intra-college con
troversy over the certification of
teachers brings into sharp focus
two problems long recognized and
yet long ignored by Nebraska cit
izens. First, Nebraska's requirements
for a teaching certificate are
among the lowest in the nation.
Second, secondary teachers are
generally underpaid, overworked
and accorded little social standing.
The eleven professors have not
come up with any new and shat
tering statement. They have only
stated that which everyone knew
already there is a teaching prob
lem in Nebraska. Sputnik came
as no surprise either, but suddenly
America was forced to realize that
her smug confidence in her own
superiority was ill-founded that
thirteen stripes and forty-eight
start were no protection against
a superior technology.
Consider the facts. Starting sal-'
ary for a secondary teacher in
Nebraska is about $3500. Social
standing of a school is almost nil.
Retirement plans do not provide
the security which students right
ly or wrongly are demanding. As
one Arts College instructor put it,
"Any physics major who graduates
with a degree in Arts College and
decides to teach is insane."
The proposal of the eleven will
not solve anything. In the first
place the Issue is already being
obscured by petty rivalry between
the two colleges Involved. Second
ly, only the most vehement pro
ponent of the liberal arts phil
osophy would maintain that all
teaching methods courses should
be sacrificed to courses in subject
matter. Every college student can
name four or five of his Instruc
tors, past or present, who are
skilled In their subject matter
and hopelessly inadapt in presenta
tion. Possibly out of the controversy
may come a method by which
highly gifted individuals in Arts
College may be able to gain a
certificate by means of a short
ened teaching course. This would
at least provide a few extra teach
ers, of the type that would like to
teach a few years but not make it
a permanent profession.
But the long-term solution can
come only from the citizens of
Nebraska and from all the Uni
versity students.
First of all Nebraska must real
ize that she gets just what she
pays for. Every school district
must be willing to sacrifice a few
buildings for a few teachers, must
raise me levy and do without.
Maybe a few Touchdown Clubs
could donate their $25 and $100 for
better teachers instead of better
football teams.
And then, most important, Uni
versity students must realize that
the only way we can have good
teachers is to have good students
go into that profession. Those
Teachers College students who
chose that college because the
courses were easy, or jobs were
plentiful can get out. Arts College
students who sneer at the profes
sion can remember that they are
contributing to problem and
can take a Ixig look at hem
selves and re-evaluate the profes
sion they have chosen and mayoe
decide their services are needed
more in another area.
But above all, this is not a time
for petty intra-college squabbles
and inert agreement that some
thing really is wrong. It's time
for Nebraska and for the Univer
sity which should mold Nebraska
to act.
worthwhile plan. In spite of tha
trivial flaw of a too high averag
requirement for Law School rep
resentatives, the Charter provides
for a reasonable system of student
self-discipline. The Charter as
sumes a degree of mutual confi
dence between student and admin
istration in the deliverance of
cases to the Tribunal. Some have
qualification could lead to an
emasculated Tribunal; however, if
there cannot be confidence in ad
ministrative sincerity on t h i a
point, how can one expect greater
sicerity in a stronger plan or
even sincerity in allowing any
stronger plan? Both the students
and the administration will have
to prove themselves, but this can
be done as witnessed in the func
tions of AWS, Student Council,
IFC, etc. There can be no perfect
Tribunal, but this one allows for
growth and responsibility within
a reasonable framework. T h i
plan is not so radical that it lacks
any chance for administrative ac
ceptance. I regret that this leter h a
grown so long, but it takes spac
to correct easily made mistakes.
I hope that the personal whims
and spites of a few will not destroy
a plan that was made for and
accepted by the student body.
Marvin Breslow
toadie...
by bob Ireland
A distinguished British com
mentator voiced his opinion con
cerning the present condition of
United States public education
Friday at the second Daily Ne.
braskan press luncheon of the cur
rent semester.
Colin Jackson, commentator of
the British Broadcasting Company
whose business it is to periodically
feel the international pulse and to
express it to his listeners had
much to say regarding the brand
of U.S. education and most of it
wasn't very pleasant.
Jackson first of all asserted a
very sincere and deep feeling of
anxiety towards what he termed
the U.S. "Country Club Set" who
after achieving success in business
retire to the golf links and tha
palatial sitting rooms and seem
to assume a dangerous condition
of complacency.
It is up to the present crop of
college students, the ones who ara
now most active in expressing
opinions, to continue their present
feeling of concern and refashion
the American educational system
to a more practical and cultural
design.
Both Jackson and Dr. William
Hall, director of the University
School of Journalism and also a
luncheon guest, both stated that
now is time for educators around
the country to express their ideas
and take command of the situa
tion. The educational reform meas
ures which are being called for
by national leaders in lieu of
alarming Russian scientific ad
vances will have to come from
the people, both of these men
stated.
And both added quite prudently
that the motive for this education
al metamorphis should not be tha
Sputniks alone but a basic desira
on the part of the people to achieva
greater culture in our present sys
tem. The cry has been asserted long
and loud from educators around
the country that culture has been
lacking in public education for
the past few decades.
The United States has for too
long been governed by the axiom
what is right for the businessman
is right for the country.
This maxim of national progress
has thus partially produced tha
desire for what might have been
educationally inclined people to
pursue more lucrative professions.
One of the results thus being
that the educational fields suffered
both in quantity and in quality
despite those few dedicated and
competent men who remained on
to assume the leadership of edu
cation's battered and torn ship
(I grow Churchillian as my zeal
increases.)
Of course the lack of culture in
educational systems cannot solely
be attributed to the less stringent
requirements on the part of ad
ministrators. A large amount of
blame rests on modern conveni
ences (such as the common car)
and their influences on the modern
student.
Times are easier and students
today (including yours truly) have
much more leisure time to drive,
and play. Too little time is spent
reading and obtaining culture.
People complain that too 'ew
students are interested in science.
Colleges can't force students to
become cultured. They can how
ever, by altering their required
curricula, at least expose a better
brand of education to students and
thus warm their appetites.
I DID YOU EVER SET
THAT SHOT YOU
LUEl?ES3tU0CI?!ED
VA30UT, LINUS? J
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KHVZT A BIT.,
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then you V 0M,YE5..r
DIDN'T EVEN (CflED ANYUiAYll
0V NEVES WANT TO LET 'EM
THINK THEYEE SETTING AUW
WITH ANYTHING!
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