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The Daily Nebraskan
Monday, December 12, 1966
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Lost Cool
BY LIZ AITKEN
Campus
Op
mion
Living in an academic community,
one comes to realize the importance of
original documents and their impact on
scholarly research. In recognition of its
potential significance to those who quest
for knowledge at our University, I present
this transcription of a tape recording
made at a recent meeting of the secret
society of the Black Bats.
This little known group of older wom
en on campus performs a function not
unlike that of our own dearly beloved
Black Masquers; but beyond only the most
superficial of similarities, there is no con
nection whatsoever between these groups
(as our MB's will be the first to admit).
Due to journalistic code, I cannot tell you,
dear reader, from what source I received
this illuminating tape, but can only sin
cerely hope that you can put this trifle
to good use.
worked as news editor of the Rag, she
held the Job of editor for a semester,
, and her cumulative grade average is above
a 3.5. This girl has served the University
through the hundreds of hours that she
devoted to making a good paper and has
exhibited leadership unequaled .by any
other student at the University.
CAPTAIN BOSS: Hear Ye, Hear Ye!
The first meeting of the Black Bats is
now in session. We all know that this is
the meeting where we pick next year's
members, so let's do this up right.
MEMBER WOODCHUCK: Excuse me,
Captain, but I think with only 15 of us,
that microphone really isn't necessary.
CAPTAIN BOSS: I'm perfectly aware
of that, Woodchuck, but . . . well . . .
it makes me feel important. Maybe I'll
just turn it off and talk into it anyway.
MEMBER SEASONS: Good idea,
Captain. After all, if we lose our self
confidence, what do we have left?
CAPTAIN BOSS: Now that that's
settled, we'll proceed with the business at
hand. First, we'll go over the precepts on
which we choose next year's membership
so that we can be sure to make the
right selection. Heckboy, read.
MEMBER HECKBOY: The Black
Bats are to recognize outstanding indivi
duals In the areas of scholarship, leader
ship, and service to the University.
CAPTAIN BOSS: Hold it I'm sorry to
interrupt you, Heckboy, but that tittering
in the back is going to have to stop. Now,
. go on. . ... .
MEMBER HECKBOY: But that's a3.
CAPTAIN BOSS: That's it? Not much
to go on. Oh well, we'll just have to
muddle through somehow. Member Tee
mon, would you please present the first
applicant.
MEMBER TEEMON: As our first ap
; plicant, I present to you the record of
B.K. (Columnist's note: All applicants
to the Black Bats are referred to only
by their Initials. This is to Insure com
plete objectivity, as no one knows who
is being discussed.) B.K. has a 3.7 aver
age ana has starred in numerous plays.
She has been selected to numerous hono
rary organizations, both scholastic and
otherwise. Not a production is carried
out of which she is not a member or about
which she is not consulted. She is highly
regarded by both her contemporaries and
the faculty. This girl really sounds like a
top prospect-
MEMBER CONNOR: We-e-1-1-1-1, I'm
not so sure.
MEMBER TEEMON: What do you
mean, you're not sure? This girl sounds
great. She devotes hours and hours to the
plays she is in and they are one of the
most tangible evidences of service to the
University community. Her leadership in
her field is unquestionable. What's more
we've never had a member who's been
In dramatics.
CAPTAIN BOSS :And for tfnv?
" ion, Teemon. We don't want any of those
artsy-craftsy" types in our organization,
And you know what those theatre-majors
- are like. That could give our group a bad
. name and we might lose the exhalted re
; sped we now hold on campus. And an
, other word, Teemon. I'd be careful if I
: were you. You've already been demoted
. once for your new-fangled Ideas - next
: time you could be replaced. Frost, next
applicant
CAPTAIN BOSS: (yawning) I'm
afraid it's no go. We have to turn her
down for the same reason she was turned
down last year only one activity. You
know as well as I do, Woodchuck, that
these girls must be in at least three ac
tivities. After all, the more activities they
have, the better they are. Right ?Heck
boy, I believe you have the next applicant.
MEMBER HECKBOY: This appli
cant, J. A., has excelled in student govern
ment. She has been extensively involved
since her freshman year, held posts of
distinction while serving as a senator and
has been a Master at campus politics.
Not a move is made without consulting
her and she holds the admiration of all
who have come in contact with her. She's
tops in leadership and service but . . .
ALL FOURTEEN BLACK BATS: In
unison) But what.
MEMBER HECKBOY: But her grade
average is 1-1000 of a decimal point be
low our preferred average. But in this
case
CAPTAIN BOSS: Stop there, Heck
boy, go no further. I know of the case to
which you are referring and it makes no
difference if she is majoring in pre-med
and E.E. If she's too low, she's too low.
Afterall, if our Teacher's College women
can keep up their averages after going
through that rugged student teaching,
then she can be expected to keep up a
decent average in the field of her choice.
What's more, the Student Court has set
a precedence for us in the area of per
centage points. Next applicant please.
MEMBER SEASONS: My applicant,
whose initials are Z. T., . . .
MEMBER CONNOR: Flush! I know
that creep and she's just not our type.
Why, she doesn't even wear hose; she
wears socks, not long socks, but those
short kind that went out when we were
all in ninth grade. I mean she's just not
the type, definiately not one of us. She's
so creepy she whistles when she walks to
class. Now I mean really!
CAPTAIN BOSS: Well, I guess that
matter's closed. Too bad because she has
excellent records, but then we all know
about the blackball, don't we? Member
Sissy, I think it's your turn for an-applicant.
MEMBER FLUFF: Oh no, wait. I
just can't stand it any longer. I have the
most wonderful candidate I've just got to
break in and read her application. Pretty
please. Her initials are A. C. and she
is just fabulous. Get a load of this record.
She's assistant to the secretary of ACE,
she was 4th runner-up in the Girl of the
Decade contest, she's Sgt.-at-Arms of the
Home Ec. Majors Club, she Is the newly
elected treasurer of the Tolkien Society,
she's Vox Populi's public relations chair
man, and she's a cashier at the Union!
MEMBER TEEMON: She really does
serve the University, doesn't she.
MEMBER FLUFF: Oh yes And she
has no problem with her grades. She is
exactly on our required grade average,
and this is with a double major in Home
Ec. and Elementary Ed.
MEMBER WOODCHUCK: Captain
Boss, I question this girl's membership in
Vox Populi. You did specify that no fu
ture Bat could be a member of a group
that held any sort of views on any matters
that could be construed as controversial
and Vox Populi is a campus political
party.
50e OufefW
TffAr ITS ABouT
ft., STRAIKED J ijp2S
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TO DREAM THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM
72 v ftpno Pnhnrnv s Just as unequivocally that it is not a court but
XV un-ui ii j ratner a piace where a stU(jent goes to seek- help "if
Basis For Student Involvement
Dear Editor:
The article in Wednesday's Daily Nebraskan describ
ing the Bill of Rights discussion involving Student Af
fairs staff members and ASUN representatives was in
accurate at one important poini
I am referring specifically to the section regarding
the possible use of legal opinion to define the limits
of University authority over its students. The statements
as reported were a confabulation of comments made by
two discussants.
The comment was offered that a legal opinion could
be obtained from the University attorneys defining the
limits of the University's authority over its students. It
was pointed out, however, that such an opinion probably
wouldn't result in a very pleasing outcome in that the
courts have consistently ruled that colleges and univer
sities have broad latitude 'in what they can require of
students.
These comments were offered as information and were
not intended to flaunt the authority of the University or
to intimidate students.
Although legally the University may have more au
thority over its students than some might wish, it does
not necessarily follow that the University must operate
in an authoritarian manner. Nor would such legal position
deny students the opportunity to openly question any as
pect of the University or to work to change those aspects
of the institution they feel are ineffective or unfair. If
legal concepts do not provide a basis for active student
involvement, certainly educational objectives do.
Russell H. Brown
Office of Student Affairs
Student Justice. Is Confusing
Dear Editor: .
If the article about the Student Tribunal in last Fri
day's edition was factual, then student justice at Ne
braska is certainly in a confused state.
To begin with, the charter of the Tribunal states
clearly that it is to serve as a court. Yet Mr. Martin
he desires."
In the first column of
this series a reference was
made to the writer Lillian
Smith, and in this, the
last, column I again turn
to her writings. I do th i s
not only because of the
great degree of understand
ing Lillian Smith presents
on man's role in life, but
also because she died last
September at the age of
69.
In her book "Killer of
the Dream," and in her
other works, she constant
ly voices her belief that
today man is on the thres
hold of a truly human
world, or, at least, today,
more than ever before,
man has a greater possib
ility of realizing that type
of world. She feels this
human world can only be
won if all men join to
gether to resist the exter
nal forces in themselves
that are pushing them,
driving them, toward de
humanization and destruc
tion. In view of her belief in
the possibility of attaining
this human world on could
perhaps call Lillian Smith
an optimits, or an idealist.
If so, she would have been
pleased to accept the title.
Yet she was also a realist
in that she realized that
this human world could on
ly be won by the individual
and corporate acts of men
responding to life in their
everyday actions.
She realized, perhaps
decisions on our campus
have got to br made in the
light of whether or not they
help realize the truly hu
man world, and whether or
not they develop people
who will in their lives
make the needed decisions
to bring about this better
world.
It is only with an under
standing of our goal a
goal where people are es
teemed above all other
things that we can real
ly understand the signifi
cance of a Student Bill of
Rights, Student Advisory
Boards, housing policy, or
a Free University. Only
with an understanding of
where we are going can we
better make the decisions
that must be made along
the way. This, then, has
been the purpose of this
column to give one view
of where we are going, and
what we are striving for.
As a final attempt at an
understanding of where we
are going, I again will re
fer to Lillian Smith. The
passage below is from her
book "The Journey" and
was the last passage that
was read, at her request,
at her memorial service on
Sept. 30, 1966.
"A century from now,
men may think it strpnge
that we so long spoke of
our times as the age of
anxiety; that we let the
greed of ordinary men and
the power-lust of dictators
ever from other living crea
tures: when he learned to
realize his brokenness and
his great talent for creat
ing ties that bind him to
gether again; when he
learned to accept his own
childhood and in the ac
ceptance to become cap
able of maturity; when he
began to realize his infinite
possibilities even as he
sees more clearly his limi
tations; when he began to
see that sameness and
normality are not relevant
to human beings but to ma
chines and animals; when
he learned never to let
any power or dictator cut
his ties to the great reser
voir of knowledge and wis
dom without which he
would quickly lose his hu
man status; when he
learned to live a bit more
comfortably with time and
space; when he learned to
accept his need of God and
the law that he cannot see
Him, to accept his need of
his fellow men and the law
that he cannot use the m,
either; when he learned
that "what is impenetrable
to us really exists,' and al
ways there will be need of
the dream, the belief, the
wonder, the faith.
"To belive in something
not yet proved and to un
derwrite it with our lives;
it is the only way we can
leave the future open. Man,
surrounded by facts, per
mitting mmself no s u r-
I am not against helping students, and if the mem
bers of the Tribunal wish to do the same they can write
their rules of procedure accordingly. But in that case
shouldn't their work be kept confidential? Should they
be passing judgments and sentences on to the Office of
Student Affairs? No respectable priest would hear a con
fession from one of his flock, give absolution, and then
run with the evidence to the local constable.
There are, on the other hand, those who feel that
the Tribunal should revert to its role as a court and
judge not "why the student acted in the manner he did,"
nor whether he has "learned his lesson," but whether he
is in fact guilty of a violation. (Naturally before this
can be done there must be a set of rules to violate,
I personally feel that such a code is long overdue.) Then
whether the student arrives with a chip on his shoulder,
his hat in his hand, or his tongue in his cheek he could
and should receive all the benefits of due process in t h e
effort to determine his guilt. Only in a context such as
this does it make sense for the Tribunal to hand down
a judgment and a sentence.
Richard E. Gilbert
Associate Professor
Dept. of Chem. Engr.
'Promiscuous' Has Two 3Ieaniii2s
Dear Editor:
It has occurred to me that during Thursday's Hyde
Park gathering, some of the audience may have (in fact
certainly had) misinterpreted my usage of the word
"promiscuous." Upon recalling my discussion of Miss
Brenda Lyle's column-platitudes regarding the plight of
the female Afro-American on this campus, I find it neces
sary to clarify the nature in which the term was used
I realize now that there are those who have been
exposed to only one definition of the word "promiscuous"
or those who refuse to see (for some misunderstood rea
son or another) something other than a sexual connota
tion applied to it.
To those people I call their attention to "Webster's
New World Dictionary of the American Language " Web
ster gives two definitions of the word "promiscuous."
First, he defines it as consisting of different elements
mixed together or mingled without sorting or discrimina
tion. Second, he defines it at that WW, i. u
even more than the self- and demagogues get out of mise- " "ihiitive flash, no eed by a lack of discrimination;" specifically, engag-
satisfylng cynics of her day, bounds even for a brief nypowwis, no risk "'6 u intercourse indiscriminately or with many
MEMBER FROST: My aoplicant ii
a very active member In the Newman
club . . .
CAPTAIN BOSS: Go no further, Frost.
Honestly, you should know that we can't
consider this girl. It might look as if we
were playing favorites if we should pick
a member who is so closely t.'lgned with
one denomination. We don't want to look
pro-Catholic, do we ?I think It's time to
reiterate our basiw' precept of middle-of-the-roadnesi.
I can't stress this concept
enough. We dont want anyone who is con
nected with any outspoken opinions. Leave
that to the radicals. We want girls who
have no enemiei because la that way,
we, as a group, will have no enemies.
Right? our girls must smile aiot and
must do everything Just like everybody
else. Is this clear? If io, let'i move on.
Woodchuck, your turn.
MEMBER WOODCHUCK: Now h e r
Is girl I'm sure you're all going to
like. She's a hold-over from last year.
J.S. holds a gold key for scholarship, she
CAPTAIN BOSS: I am fully aware of
the fact that I specified no political opin
ions, Woodchuck, but her membership in
Vox Pop has no bearing in that conisdera
tlon. Carry on, Fluff.
MEMBER FLUFF: I don't have much
to add but that I think she's just wonder
ful! She's been awfully nice to me lately
and just yesterday she offered to shine
my shoes and carry my books. With all
that leadership coming out of her ears,
I just don't know how we can pass her
up. And girls she's in Home Eel III Is
everyone agreed?
It Is my deepest regret, dear reader,
that at this very point the tape broke,
but there was enough left on the reel to
be able to hear the wild cheering of fif
teen high-pitched voices. (To relieve any
anxious minds, I think it is safe to say
that A. C. has nothiug to fear come Ivy
Day.) I truly hope that this document,
never before published and completely
true, can be of help to you In any research
that you might be engaged in. My personal
suggestion would be to use It for a term
paper in any Sociology or Behaviorial
Science class, preferably those dealing
with child development
that the journey toward a
human world is a hard
journey. It m not a journey
that could be won by elo
quent words or by an aloof
ness from the acts of men
in the world. Rather the
level of attainment of the
truly human world depends
upon the degree all men
make the right decisions in
their own lives. In a letter
to her publisher she once
wrote what could be a
criterion for these individ
ual acts that will help
bring about a better world.
"You do what you must
span of years; for parallel
with the anxiety and the
terror and the inquisiters
and exploiters and the aw
ful poverty and ignorance
there is another way of
life building firmly, stead
ily, swiftly on scientific
facts and techniques and
on man's newly discovered
humility and dignity and
on their concern for each
other.
"I believe future gener
ations will think of our
times as the age of whole
ness: when the walls be
gan to fall; when the frag
is in a locked cell. Ignor
ance cannot seal the mind
and Imagination more sure
ly. To find the point where
hypothesis and fact meet;
the delicate equilibrium be
tween dream and reality;
the place where fan
tasy and earthy things are
persons.
a ?y fis,cussi0n there were no sexual references
Intended and I offer my apologies if any of my state
ments were so received. But for those of you who did
associate a sexual reference have told me and others
a little bit about your thinking and lack of understand
ing. Bob Pickens
metamorphosed into a work CUi. r i t
of art; the hour when faith tilllia 8 KolC Important?
in the future becomes
knowledge of the past; to n
lay down one's powers for Uear Editor:
others in need; to shake , Howard Moffett of the Collegiate Press Service In
off the old ordeal and get S0" rePorts (Daily Nebraskan, Dec. 2) that the people
ready for the new; to ques- of Vietnam and of Southeast Asia are quite convinced
tion, knowing that never that the primary force to contend with in the Vietnam
can the full answer be war is China. Since who aptnaiiv u,;Me m, ' ii
do, what seems right what ments began to be related found; to accept uncertain- times unknown, the hitherto authoritative emffiK oft
would make you despise to each other; when m e n ties quietly, even our in- given by the press to the Viet ConThas
yourself If you didn't do. learned finally to esteem complete knowledge of misplaced if not misleading ; "g ha been occasionally
Or you do it because you
love somebody, or a lot
of people, so much that you
Just have to do It. Then
when things happen, you
stay as steady as you can
and that's that."
It is In the light of Lil
Uan Smith's faith in the
realization of the truly hu
man world that I h a v e
tried in these columns to
look at the events that have
happened, and that are still
happening, on our Univer
sity campus this year. I
have tried in this column
to show that all student,
faculty and administrative
tenderness and reason and
awareness and the world
which set him apart for-
God: THIS IS WHAT
MAN 5 JOURNEY IS
ABOUT, I THINK."
Deo. U. im
Daily Nebraskan
VoL SO. No. m
fKond-claaa Mtin paid at Lincoln, Nb.
Member Associated Collegiate Press, National Advertising
Service. Incorporated, Published at Boom 51 Nebraska Union.
Lincoln. Neb., 68518.
editorial staff
Editor Wamt Rraueeheri etanaelnn Editor Lola Qulrnieti Newa Editor Jan
(tidal Nlatit Newa Editor Bill Minien iporta Editor Bob Flaenicki Srnirr Staff
Wrltcra. Julie Morrla, Raadj Irajf. Tonl Victor, Nancy Bndrlckwn ; Junior Sufi
Wrttera, Cheryl Trttt, Churl Dunlap, John Oar. Bob Hehpurn: Newa Aaalatiat
Eileen Wlrthi PhoUxraphera Tim Rubin. Howard Keneuuert Copy Editor a. Pes
Bennett. Barb Robartaon, Jana Rosa. Brut Otlee.
BUSINESS STAFF
Boelneen Maaaaer Bob Giant National Advrrtlilna Manner Dwlfht Clarki
fAal AdvertlatBfl Uln. Pti.rU. ni n.Miri ihutu.. u a .
Ann Olnn. Mary Jo McDonnrlli Secretary. Unda Uftt Bualtwaa Aaalatanta. Jerry quences WOUld be better left to. thft Bnor-nloHnr.. v,
Wole. Jun Waltere. Chuck Salem. Ruaty Puller, (inn Frlendt. Brian Hala. Mike "China Uffltfhorc W6 8PeCUlaIlS f th
Cretan Subscription Manaaer Jus Biutai Circulation kLmaaer I.ru auhl.., vmua naimus.
UrouuHua AaaUtanl Gary Meyer.
i, iw?Sti0n",ihf SUght l0,intrie"e us today is why
is it that world leaders make rm mu., J t..:.:i
Mao s representatives when they talk about bringing the
waring parties to the conference table? Has the de-em-phasing
of China's role by the press influenced theTr
SSLS?6 they we apprehensl- S
The logical corollary to this i. that wK 'SJ"
sent the declaration of a truce would "also be well-nieh
impossible. But who's to bell the cat? well-nigh
The only benefit acquired by keeDins tha Rpnnhlir.
of China out of the United Natfons h Alen Wit
o LmCierflSchgIy 1SOlatef Whether this ultimately leads
iu twne rasn course of action with A P VJJ C f at I n rt aan a
Non-China Watcher
(
