Page 2
The Daily Nebraskan
Friday, September 16, 1966
A
Bill
A?
Now
People chan?e their m'nds m l so do
newspapers :he Univcrs.ty cannot afford
to hesitate any longer about a Student
Bill of Rights.
less than four hours after the edi
torial "Answer the Questions" had been
written for Thursday's Daily Nebraskan,
the paper realized that students should
begin immediately working tor the bill.
The editorial concerning Steve Ab
bott's speech to Senate in Thursday's pap
er itself shows that a Student Bill of
Rights is needed.
That editorial points out that at the
present time there is no code that really
says what students' rights are.
If the University, the Board of Re
gents and the state of Nebraska in almost
100- years has never gotten around to
specifying an exact code, it looks like
someone had better do it now.
And there is no reason why that some
one shouldn't be students.
Plans for a bill of rights as specified
by CFDP point out that such a student
code will follow the local, state and fed
eral laws and the U.S. Constitution.
-Thus If rules on a university campus
have "to be made and its agreed that they
wiH follow guidelines set for all citizens
why shouldn't 18-22 year-old people who
have to obey these rules make them.
What would result is not some type
of radical code allowing drinking, dope
and free sex for all students, but a re
sponsible code that would be suitable to
a modern, serious campus and worked out
and-voted on by the students.
With such a code the University would
take a large step In establishing a real
educa'onal atmosphere where students
can - take pride in their studies and edu
cate themselves both inside and outside
the classroom.
At the University now a student goes
to class, takes notes and then goes home
and forgets about education completely
unless he's cramming for a test the next
day.
With a code concerning conduct out
of the classroom made by students a
whole fiew look at the students' role in
the University -would be taken regularly
stimulating an atmosphere of ideas, in
quisitiveness and serious thought.
A- Student Bill of Rights considered
andjxoted on at yearly intervals would
be an aid not a hinderance to the edu
cational ideals of the University.
As Steve Abbott pointed out in his
speech to Senate Wednesday, the Univer
sity's definition of a university could be
accomplished in no better way than by a
Stufnt Bill of Rights.
What better could the University have
to improve its "environment directed to
ward a goal of total education" than a
Student Eill of Rights which would result
in the "acquisition of a pattern of know
ledge, skills, attitudes and values that
will result in increasingly responsible and
productive behavior."
Again as Abbott stresses "No one
learning is meaningful or significant ex
cept that which the student gets on his
own."
No one could disagree with Abbott
when he lays, "Arbitrary and autocratic
administrative control simply cannot
teach people."
And the point is that a Student Bill
of Rights would not hurt administration,
but help it make this school a real ed
ucational experience. A Student Bill of
Rights would not make it easier for stu
dents, but would give them the respon
sibility for their conduct and the kind of
University we have outside of the class
rooms. ASUN President Terry Schaaf asks
how we can ask for a bill of rights until
we have definite evidence that our rights
or priviledges are being mistreated by
the University.
But Schaaf is ignoring the bigger
concept. More than individual rights be
ing mistreated the point is that the Uni
versity is not giving students the kind of
education on a university campus that
they need for today's world.
This is the education of thinking and
ideas not just memorizing out of a text
book.
Schaaf says that the University has
cooperated with ASUN's request for a
clarification of the rules. But there still
definitely is no c o d f. any document for
the morale or atmosphere of the school.
Furthermore Schaaf. the leading stu
dent opponent of a bill of rights, says
that students do not have the right to
govern themselves outside of the class
room, but that this is a privilege that
must be earned.
The Daily Nebraskan feels that the
best way to earn this "privilege" is by
letting the school know that the students
feel the educational atmosphere and sur
roundings at. this school are unsatisfac
tory and that the students would like to
be responsible for improving them.
Last year Dr. David Trask, then as
sociate professor of history and now a
professor in the state of New York, said
that unless the University started doing
something to improve its education es
pecially outside the classroom, Nebraska
would experience conditions similar to the
riots at Berkeley, Calif.
It is obvious that one of the best ways
that the present non-educational and un
stimulating feeling at this school especi
ally outside of the classroom could be
improved is with a Student Bill of Rights.
The Daily Nebraskan, while consider
ing all the school's other great problems
at this time, hesitated Wednesday about
immediately trying to help improve an
other and perhaps even bigger problem
the condition of education and its con
nection with students on this campus.
But we realize now that the students
at this University, the student government
and the paper have hesitated and ignored
their responsibility to this school too long.
We must now declare ourselves for a
Student Bill of Rights and begin working
for it immediately so that the University
will not remain just another state school
with a thousand problems, but will be an
institution of learning.
Waype Kreuscher
ffan Mm Writes . .
Who Would HaveThunk It?
A returning alumnus could easily take
a glimpse at the new University build
ings, the vast increase in enrollment, the
shiny new cars and speeding Hondas and
conclude that "things have certainly
changed."
If he'd spend a little time at the Uni
versity and find out about the resurrec
tion ol three-dimensional Homecoming dis
plays, the came old mickey-mouse or
ganizations that are still around and do
ing little and hear the bushed whispers
that the sub rosas are on the comeback,
be might conclude that "the old Univer
sity looks different, but will always be
the same."
Those who know the real situation,
however, realize that its only just below
the surface that the University is t h e
same and that fit the roots of the Uni
versity, things have changed vastly since
the "good old days" or even since last
fall for that matter.
Who would have thu&k it that after
many years of neither knowing nor car
ing, the Inhabitants of this campus in the
midst of an essentially conservative state
would finally decide that they do have a
right to make decisions?
With all due apoloj'es t Mary Mc
Cartney, just who would have thunk H?
The changes in the thinking of the
University student were shown last year
in bids for the senior key system i which
hopefully will evolve into keys for all
21-year-old women and for those women
under 21 who hive parental consent), the
ASUN tuition study and the establishment
of a pass-fail system to lake effect for
second semester.
Two Items currently ia the news,
however, accentuate this change In think
ing more than any other project the
drive fur a student bill of rights and the
questions arising from the distribution of
student activity funds.
Who would have thunk it in a mil
lion years that students at this univer
sity would ever express the desire to
truly govern themselves and not simply
playatji?
ASCN calls itself a government, but
yet it does not govern except by consent
Alright, some might say, if you don't
like It, change schools or they might sug
gest that anarchy would result
Those who look back to the state
ments the CFDP members made last
spring, however, can easily see they do
not want anarchy and some of us happen
to think the University is a fine place to
be but could be alot finer.
The CFDP'ers only desire that the
students be allowed to make rules to gov
ern themselves outside the classroom
rules within the existing structures of lo
cal, state and national laws.
Since rules and laws would still be
made that would retain a sense of order,
is it that outrageous that those laws be
made by the ejected representatives of
the people who must live under them? I
think not.
What would the American people $av
If someone told Ibem that the federal gov
ernment with their elected representatives
would only have the power to serve as a
pressure coup to an outside force that
would make laws yet not be required to
live under them.
It is most likely that the laws or
rules that a governing student govern
ment would pass would be more respects
ed than present rules are even if the
rules were to remain the same) for the
simple reason that the rules would then
be self-imposed.
(And as any coed can tell you, a
self-imposed diet is the only kind that
ever works.)
Along the lines of becoming a real
government, another question brought
forth by Abbott arises. Why is it that stu
dent fees are distributed by an outside
force and that student roups have to beg
for allotments?
Why can't the ASUN distribute the
funds between student groups that use
then?
Without this power, ASUN Is a tra
vesty and any plans toward governing are
doomed to fail (If you disagree, review
your American history text as to the rea
sons behind the failure of the Articles of
Confederation and you'll see that not hav
ing any financial authority is one of .
them.)
As of this moment, probably not many
people are concerned about this concept
but watch this angle it may be an area
of concern.
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Our Man Hoppe-
The Plan To End All Plans
Arthur Hoppe
Good news! For years
we've worried about being
incinerated to death by a
thermonuclear explosion or
suffocated to death by a
population explosion. Well,
we don't have to worry any
longer.
We're all going to be
bored lo death instead.
This exciting warning
comes from Professor Rene
Jules Dubos, who told the
American Institute of Plan
ners that our mass-organization,
computerized, overly-planned
society was
going to stifle us all. So the
planners, he said, had bet
ter plan a better plan to
preserve our individual
spirits. In a planned sort of
way.
But fear not. The plan
ners can count on us indi
vidual spirits in this brave
battle ahead. Of course,
we can't fight our organi
zation society alone. So to
preserve our individualism
w e've organized. What
we've organized is the Na
tional Organization to End
mm 5Mfe
Some people think Com
munism is the worst evil in
the w orld, that it alone de
prives people of freedom
and full humanness.
I reject this view. Com
placency is the worst evil,
the pride of moral vicissi
tude. This evil I call the
Svstem.
C. Wright Mills said the
political ideologies of both
East and West are bank
rupt I agree. Jefferson and
Marx? They were true radi
cals who acted on ideals.
LB J and Kosygin are
victims as well as agents of
the same defunct System.
In fact all major world lead
ers are victims of nebulous
ideals and impersonal in
stitutions, and this is our
grief, for no matter wheth
er totalitarianism is for peo
ple or against them, it is
still the same bane.
liberalism, which pa
rades under the banner of
social concern, alw ays tends
towards the same bureau
cratic welfarism (i.e.), the
System). Conservatism,
which pretends to be the
treat protector of individ
ual rights, always tends to
wards the same intolerant
conformity (l.e., the Sys
tem). Where do you turn? A
council of big businessmen
make America's political de
cisions, and any meaningful
participation in this Repub
lic by ordinary men is to
day an Illusion.
But do the citizens even
care? Sen. Hrutka quoted
Arthur Sylvester as saying;
"Look, if you think an
American official is going to
tell you the truth then you're
stupid. Did you hear that?
Stupid."
But despite the govern
ment's admitted penchant
for lying, most people con
tinue to believe Big Broth
er. "Our System Right or
Wrong" is their unthinking
slogan. Do yon ooubt me?
And when did you last
question or get involved in
any political action? Oh
Agenbiie of Inwit. We listen
to Bob Dylan and think that
is doing enough toward pro
testing against the System
of spiritual degredation.
The Bible introduces this
conviction in the OT.- Men
are referred to the action of
God in history: too group
interested nature of man's
ideas is exposed: the self
justification of man's jus
tice is shown. Only a living
realtion with Christ. Only
by leaving everything to fol
low the living Christ will
man be saved that is, by
showing this relation by lav
ing otheri.
The new Left existential
ist alto revolts against tot
alitarianism, first yon are
responsible for awakening
yourself. Then you "carry
your private complaints to
their public dimension."
Von are called to "partici
pate" in democracy by act
ing. It is not enough to be
the arm chair critic conr
placently sitting by an ivory
tower.
Repentance, Agenbite of
Inwit, lends us to look seri
ously within our stives and
see really what is happen
ing. We must throw aside
the categories of our fath
ers, of society even, and
look through our own eyes.
Anything else is based on
illusion. The opposition to
day is cot between Commu
nism and the Western
world, but between the
apathy-breeding System
and our own vibraat selves.
Organizations.
Ah, what a glorious Initial
planning Session we fa e I d.
The meeting was opened by
our Acting ssociate Execu
tive Director, Dr. Homer T.
Pettibone, who delivered a
rousing prepared address
on the desperate need in our
society for individual initi
ative and freedom of
action.
When the ovation had
died dow n he read us the 22
pages of proposed by-laws
for our organization and
called for a vote on their
adoption.
Unfortunately several
delegates ' equipped with
Roberts Rules of Order ob
jected and a lengthy de
bate ensued over whether a
third amendment to a
substitute motion took pre
cedence over a quorum call
on a move to table.
"Members, members!"
cried Dr. Pettibone. bang
ing his gavel over the din.
"We cannot hope to pre
serve individualism unless
we are prepared to proceed
in a more orderly fashion."
With the by-laws at last
adopted as amended, the
next item on the agenda
was a brilliant speech by
Professor Percy B. Planner
on "Our Basic Goal: Un
trammeled Creativity."
Unhappily, his time was
up before he could reach
his point, but mimeo
graphed copies of the full
text were distributed to the
.'press.
Eafb member then sub
mitted his own plan on bow
best to preserve individual
ism. This resumed In tome
acrimonious debate. As s
compromise, it was sug
gested that a Comprehen
sive Planning Study be
made of all plans with the
members agreeing to abide
by its results This was
adopted on a split vote.
It was thus 2:07 before
we turned to New Busi
ness. A motion was immedi
ately made and seconded
that we disband the Nation
al Organization to End
Organizations. It p a s s e d
unanimously.
"We hope by this unani
mous action," Dr. Pettibone
later told the press, "to set
a shining example for all
organizations."
But to tell the truth, the
reason it was unanimous
was that we were all In
danger of being bored to
death,
Nevertheless, I, for one,
flan lo carry on the fight
rultaor Dubos can count
on me. Every tame a plan
ner wants to plan my indi
vidualism for me, I plan to
tell him it's none of bis business.
I Campus
I Opinion
Bowl Game Problem
Editor: ,,.
With the football season not even starting until Sat
urday, this is hardly the time of year to be thinking
about bowl games, especially in a year when we must
open against well respected Texas Christian and Utah
State, play probably for the Big Eight Title at Colorado,
and play at Oklahoma, where Coach Devaney has never
won.
Despite this, I'm still confident that the 1966 Husk
ers will go to a bowl game and I see a very interesting
and perhaps bad situation developing.
Jan 1, 1967, falls on Sunday. It is traditional to play
the big bowl games on New Year's Day but when it falls
on a Sunday, the games have In the past always been
moved up to Monday, Jan. 2.
Looking at our schedule for this year I see we are
going to start school again on Monday, Jan. 2. Can't you
see it now? The football team playing an important
game in Dallas or New Orleans and the students won't
even be able to watch it on TV because we'll be in
cl&ss
If we do to a bowl game, I do hope the start of school
will be delaved, but after last year when we played on Satur
day night and were to be back in school Monday morning,
I have to wonder.
One last comment for comparison: this summer, I
had the opportunity to talk with some students from
Michigan State, who played in the Rose Bowl on the
same Saturday we played in the Orange Bowl. They
said that their classes didn't start until the following
Thursday.
Harry Argue
Chaff Quotes Enjoyed
Dear Editor:
Enclosed is a portion of a newspaper article I re
cently enjoyed:
"Capital Citv Mobs Jeering students were quieted to
day after being 'stirred up' by outside agitators who
w ere not inside the Cabinet.
"Quelling the disturbance was silver-haired R. Wil
kins Chaff, who implored the gathering to 'return to
your cubicles and be students again.'
"Cause of the trouble, one Marty Luther Aitken, was
given a warning for disturbing the peace of mind of those
present. Under her direction, it was reported, the hun
dreds of spectators usually seen and not heard at Sen
ate meetings chanted 'Student Power, Student Power.'
"Student leaders universally deplored this totally
new tactic, which left thousands of undergraduates
maimed and thinking. Chaff, very typical of the respon
sible response, said in a prepared statement that the
new doctrine might endanger harmless clauses in the
Constitution.
" "This so-called Student Power is dictatorship in re
verse,' declared Chaff, 'and I will have none of it. As
elected leader of the students, I will continue to ask
Administration what the students want.'
"Chaff went on to say that students might earn their
rights bv proving to the Faculty Senate that students
are people. Taking what rightfully belongs to one, he
pointed out. has never been the accepted method in our
student Movement.
" 'Let us never forget,' he concluded, 'that the A
in ASUN means not Able to think, but Administered.' "
Freud McKissick
A (Sroutw 0 ittllrta
I came across a rather
interesting little pamphlet
the other day a pale green
triple-fold entitled "Under
the Ivy."
"Freshman Weekend," it
said, "will take you behind
the formal scenes of the
University . . . What does
(the professor) know other
than the notes he feeds you
every M-W-F? ... You
will get to know student
leaders and find out why
campus life Is vital to them
. . . test your opinions and
beliefs on anything and ev
erything that is of interest
to you . . ."
Probably the most strik
ing thing about Freshman
Weekend, sponsored bv the
University YM and YWCA,
is that the above claims are
true.
I was fortunate to h a v e
been one of the upperclass
counselors invited last year,
and it provided me with an
f-rpcrience I will not for
get, and which I should not
have pasted up as a fresh
man. Take for Instance the fac
ulty members who will be
along on the weekend out
ing: Dr. Patterson front
philosophy. Dr. Pkkerlng
from L'CCF, Dr. Mientka
from math, and Dr. Bob
neau, selected Builders Out
standing Professor last
spring. Plus some others.
And Camp Kitaki, where
Weekend takes place, is a
nearly perfect retreat from
our sometimes sterile cam
pusa rather rustic cabin
, and forest setting on t b
Platte River.
Though a cloie account
ing would reveal that the
Y1T and YW actually lose
money on the deal, they ad
vertise a cost of $13 cover
ing registration, transporta
tion to and from the camp
the weekend of September
30, two nights lodging and
six meals.
Freshmen attending the
camp have always felt it
was a rewarding experi
ence. It serves as a very
Eersonal Introduction to liv
ig a meaningful student
. . By Phil Boardman
life. As one freshman last
year said, "I needed to g e t
away about then and talk
to someone."
I am only sorry that a
conflict with Derby Day will
probably compel most
pledges to miss an educa
tional experience that the
Greeks might do well to
recommend to their fresh
men. In any event, I urge fresh
men to take advantage of
this lively investigation of
college life. It's one of those
experiences you can always
be glad you were a part of.
So do stop by the Y office,
third floor Nebraska Union,
pick up the information,
and sign up. Find out what's
"Under the Ivy."
Daily Nebraskan
jfiTjl.-.. K. IW4'
Xt.
Mt-mber AMociated Collegiate
Press, National Advertising
Servk. Incorporated, Published
at Room SI Nebraska Union,
Lincoln, Neb., W5H.
TELEPHONE: 477-S7H, Ex
tension 2MB, 258 and Za0.
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