The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, August 01, 1961, Image 1
Increasing Enrollment Page 3 Lincoln, Nebraska What-To-Do Plant Tours Page 2 ONTOSHY OF NEBR) LIBRARY AUG 1 ibi Summer Nebraskan Tuesday, August 1, 1961 .Define ' By Gretchen Shellberg What is the Midwest? In a series of five articles the Summer Nebraskan has attempted to answer this question by studying education, defense, agriculture and young people in the Midwest and, more specifically, in Nebraska. Although no conclusions were stated in these articles, one attitude appeared to be prevalent in each area. That is that the Mid west is changing. It's social, political, eco nomic, educational, and religious philoso phies no longer reflect so strongly the tra ditional "isolationism" which once ear marked the Midwest. This change in attitudes is reflected in Ne braska, the geographic "mid" of the Mid west. This state has advanced a great deal since the very core of the agricultural con servatives met and drew up their Populist Party platform at the Omaha convention in 1890. Today, Nebraska is beginning to empha size industry along with agriculture. It is no longer strictly isolationist. It has become Their Midwesl America's "front line" defense-wise despite the fact that it is located in the geographic interior. ' Nebraska, and the Midwest, are not "apart" from the world. They are "a part" of the world. Our farm problem is the world's economic problem as well. Although the Midwest has been accused of being too slow and too conservative, it is the conservatism that makes it what some would call "solid," the backbone of the nation. As a conclusion for this series on the Mid west, the Summer Nebraskan has asked leaders in Nebraskan government, educa tion, business, religion and communications to comment on what they think the Mid west is. These men's answers are printed in full. Some give an overall picture of the Midwest; others refer specifically to their field. These men are the leaders that have shaped the Midwest, the Nebraska .which we know to day. They are commenting on a land they Jmof well, for they, and men like them ia other states, have built the Midwest. S. DAK.. I 5 w,s' L cST Qj. vF C0tO KAN. j w. w' J WHAT IS THS MlOU)ST? A lumni Association Strives 'To Strengthen Friends hip ' By Don Ferguson "To strengthen loyalty and friendship among the Univer sity's graduates and former students." This, along with encourag ing a greater interest in the University, is the primary goal of the Nebraska Alumni Association, according to Association Secretary Arnold J. Magnuson. "Membership ia the assod tioa is at an all-time high," stated Magnuson in his year- rnd report, "showing as in crease from 8,60$ to 1,979 in the past twelve months." The Association had its be ginning in 1874 when J. S. Dales 73 was elected presi dent and began publishing the "Alumni Bulletin" in 1900. The publication was short lived, but was revived in 1904 under the name of the "Uni versity Journal," published in the interests of alumni." "Nebraska Alumnus" The magazine, which be came the "Nebraska Alum nus" in 1924, is the only con necting link between the Uni versity and its alumni. It is a 32-page magazine published ten times yearly. Edited by Dick Coffey ('55), the "Alumnus" is devoted to interpreting the University of Nebraska to its graduates graduates and friends." "Continuing Education," ac cording to Coffey, "Is another major consideration ia plan ning the magazine. We ese many articles which reflect the opinions of faculty, guest lecturers and alumni." The Alumni Association maintains addresses, b i o graphical, and occupational information on over 80,000 stu dents. All inactive alumni re ceive at least one solicitation each year. Alumni Clubs Alumni Clubs are current ly active in 50 major cities throughout the United States. Last year, 44 meetings were held in 31 cities with an at tendance varying from 30 to 500. The Association secre tary attended the others. Gubs can obtain films, slides, name tags, red "X" feathers, prepared programs and other promotional mater ials from the Association of fice. Homecoming is one of the key dates for the Associa tion Coordinated with the Alumni Innocents reunion, N Club reunion and various oth er reunions, the Association promotes the Alumni Luncb- eoa and various other class reunions. In the spring, in connec tion with graduation, the Association sponsors the Alumni Round-Up Luncheon. This year's luncheon featured 18 class reunions. Service -Awards Also, on graduation day, the Association presents from three to five Distinguished Service Awards to prominent faculty or graduates. The awards are based on individ ual contributions and achieve-1! ments. In 1936 the Alumni Associ ation promoted the founding of the University Foundation with its primary purpose be ing to administer gifts and funds. The Foundation broke from the Association in 1940 and incorporated, however, both organizations work hand-in-hand in the promotion of the University. Working together, the two groups have developed the Distinguished Teaching En dowment Fand, the Hisker Educational Athletic Award Program and "Big Red." The Teaching Endowment Fund povides "supplemental salary incentives for outstand ing University faculty mem bers" and the Athletic Award Program secures gifts of 11,000 from a maximum of 75 firms, industries and in dividuals for the support of a scholarship for a University of Nebraska Athlete. Big Red The "Big Red" project was started in 1954 when the Asso ciation devoted one issue of the "Alumnus" to a discus sion of the athletic program at the University and' its needs. It presented a pro gram to secure $4,000 for grant-in aid scholarships for worthy athletes who are C nancially in need and scho- lastically qualified for help. Since the Legislature was in session this year, the Associ ation saw the need to tell the story of the University and its financial needs. It sent 400 packets across the state to secure support for the Uni versity's program. The Association, which is opea to any graduate or per- soa that has attended the Uni versity for two semesters, caa point to the stadium and the old Student Union build ing with pride, since it helped promote both additions to the campus. "It (the Association) pro vides the means for appre ciative alumni to help insure that young people following them win have the same or better opportunities than they did," according to one-time Association Secretary James S. Pittenger. Ratings Pittenger, now assistant to the Chancellor, said that peo ple are often talking about the ranking or ratings of a University as compared to other colleges. If no such rating were available, the greatest single status symbol of an. institu tion lies in the success of its Alumni," he said. "Through the Association it is possible to keep track of our alumni accomplishments and promote them to the public." "The association is doing an excellent job of helping to build our University," Pit tenger said. Gov. Frank Morrison Ill. ll,ar.1.i,n, , t, ,, ,..,. Governor Frank B. Mor rison is a past farmer, teacher and lawyer. He was elected governor in 1960. Morrison has served in the past as District Gov ernor of Rotary Internation al, director of the McCook Chamber of Commerce, and member of the Board of Consumers Public Power District. He is a member of the Lincoln Rotary Club, Masons, Scottish Rite and Shrine. "We're living in a world of transition or of rapid change in our economy, political concepts and society. Scientific research is opening doors to storehouses of knowledge that were inaccessable to former generations. ' This storehouse of knowledge is available to the peoples of the world regardless of nationality, ideals, creed or geographic location because transportation and commu nication makes knowledge available to all men. "Life in the Midwestern part of the United States, perhaps is sounder than that in other parts of the world because the Midwest is in the center of the great land mass and not subject to the hysteria of other fermenting parts of the world. "The people here are honest, sincere and hard-working. They are trying to build civilization, not to destroy man kind. "The air is a little purer. "The sun is a little brighter. "We have large areas of uncontaminated water and unutilized land that as yet haven't been tapped by human consumption. "Midwestern people have intellectual and spiritual qualities which can be used to attack economic and polit ical problems. ' "Our problem is, basically, to upgrade our educational structures and interest our young people in fields of engi neering, research and agriculture and to take a renewed interest in making our economy keyed to possibilities of expansion in all these areas. "Educational structures in the Midwest must be up graded to serve as a nucleus around which our potential can be achieved. "The Midwest has unlimited opportunity if we have the motivation and ambition and vision to achieve it. "The future depends on truth and its dissemination to people through education (here education includes school systems, the church and the press). We must implement lessons of truth to make human life more valuable. Teach ing is at the core of civilization and those in the teaching profession should be the most able, the most knowledgeable and the most informed of all professionals. "We need a psychological readjustment to our respon sibilities in the Midwest. "Education in the Midwest compares favorably with education throughout the world but it still leaves much to be obtained. We haven't scratched the surface of our potential yet. If we consider education's relative import ance in society, this area should be of primary concern." Dr. Frank A. Court Dr. Frank A. Court has been pastor of Saint Paul Methodist Church in Lincoln since 1948. He conducts a weekly radio broadcast en Sunday mornings from sta tions KFAB and KFOR. Dr. Court has also been active in civic affairs, par ticularly in the area of youth work. He is a mem ber of the Governor's Youth Committee and the Lincoln Youth Committee. He h a also served as Imperial Chaplain of the Shrine. "Nebraska is many things to many people. You will find in Nebraska just about what you desire. While it is a conservative state, yet it has given to the nation such liberals as Frank Norrii and William Jennings Bryan. "It is a state of many school districts and churches. This came about as the early settlers desired schools and churches close by. We may have outgrown this phase of many school districts and churches, yet we have not out grown a desire for education coupled with spiritual under standing and inspiration. "Nebraska believes in a life guided by knowledge and inspired by Christian love. This is seen in the high moral standards of the city, hamlet and country alike. "This is a state of beauty, not only in the sand hills, the Fort Robinson area, but all over the state. Nowhere does God have a larger canvas to fling his colors against in the dying day. To drive across Nebraska means an ever changing scene of the yellow of sweet clover, the golden wheat, the dark green of the alfalfa, the sombre green of the corn with its golden tassels with the great ranges to the west filled with the moving color of cattle. "Primarily, Nebraska means opportunity for education and growth. Much is made of the fact that many young people leave the state. That is true in every state. We live in the United States of America. Here in Nebraska, educa tional opportunities are provided equipping the young peo ple to go anywhere to meet the competition of the day and to serve this present age. "We are still idealists. We believe a person owes some thing to the state, the community and the church. "When big busniess today looks for a man or a woman to join a company. It looks beyond grades and marks to personality, character and initiative. Because Nebraska's young people are high In this personality area, they are much ia demand. "I have taken graduate work at Stanford on the West coast, studied four years at Boston on the East coast,' had churches in the Middlewest and the North, and often visited 'X the South. There are defects in all these communities and states just as we have them in Nebraska. "We are midway on the highway map to anyone driving across the country, so we like to say we are the heart of America. What other city of our population has so many strong churches as Lincoln? And one can find the same in any other Nebraska community. But not being perfect, there are a great many things that need to be changed and done to make Nebraska better. This gives an oppor . tunity for all." James Raglin l . j f . l.V" v.' JvjH James Raglia Is tha assistant managing editor of the Lincoln Journal and a past sports editor for that paper. Stagnant, behind the times, lacking in vision and un able to, or uninterested in progress in any form. That is a sampling of criticism of the Midwest often voiced by its own residents. This home-grown criticism serves to defeat itself. If one looks in a mirror, smiles in satisfaction and goes on unchanged then you produce a continuation of status quo. But when the seed of disconent is sown by the mirror's reflection and produces criticism, change soon follows. The Midwest today is looking in the mirror and finding blemishes that need to be eliminated. It is not as sleek or chic as its Eastern or Western coastal neighbors. Neither is it as content. This discontent offers promise. Out of it surely will come improvements and progress. Why this faith in a people's ability to institute self im provement? Because the people are still proud of their ancestry and. still retain much of the vigor of their fore fathers. What kind of people make up the Midwest? They are too complex for brief analysis, but they include the: M Maverick: Robert Taft (Ohio), George Norris (Ne braska), Col. McCormick (Illinois), Earl Browder (Kan sas), William Jennings Bryan (Nebraska) are but some of the Midwest sons whose divergent political and social philosophies left their imprint on the nation and the world. Aspiring to popular causes was not the goal of these lead ers. The Widwest still spawns such leaders. I Inventive: The Wright Brothers of Ohio opened the airways to man and its mysteries continue to be explored by such Midwest men of science as James Van Allen of Iowa, one of the world's leading astrophysists. D Devout: Though divergent in application, the Midwest still stands firm in its sincere and devout belief in God and remains a pillar of patriotism. w Wise: The Midwest is blessed with people who possess that wonderful ability to practically apply their intellect. The Midwesterner has 7 senses, the addition having that wondrous commodity labelled "horse sense." E Energetic: Buffeted by winds, weather and wisecracks, the people of the Midwest battle back today much as did their forefathers. Creation of new uses of agricultura products is being spearheaded by Nebraska; industry is being vigorously sought; discontent with the status quo continues to spur the Midwesterner to an unceasing aspir ation for better things. s Stalwart: Courage is not a declining commodity in tha Midwest. Fighting the elements to fighting the enemy .Midwesterners have warranted honors for their resolute ness, their bravery, their inherent devotion to completion of the job. Midwesterners believe deeply in "seeing things through" and don't believe in doing things half way. T Truthful: If, as critics say, America is losing its sens of values in a wild pursuit of pleasure, the Midwest de serves exclusion. For here there is still a majority that won't join the pleasure pursuit if, in tha chase, principal ia sacrificed. Mayor Bartlett 'Pat' Boyles ' Lincoln Mayor Bartlett E. "Pat" Boyles to a Lincoln lawyer and University of Nebraska graduate. Prior to being elected mayor la 1959, he was a deputy elec tion commissioner from 1951-59. The 55-year-old attorney was the first "write-in' mayor in Lincoln and the second to be unopposed for' a second term. "The Midwest has grown to include the Dakotas, Ne braska and Kansas in addition to those states on the other side of the Ohio line. 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