Paga 2
The Daily Nebraskah
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 196
Whose Reality?
tc to - Vp Raio
Another word hai popped up in the
storm over University housing policy.
To students, who in lien of their youth
are usually a bit too romantic about their
beliefs, it is a very depressing word. To
administrators, who are very clever in
lieu of their years of experience in deal
ing with touchy situations, it is a helpful
word indeed. The word is "reality."
Now, the reality of the housing situa
tion, according to the Housing Office, is
that freshmen men might very well be
required to live in dormitories next fall
when the new complex is completed.
Unfortunately, enrollment predictions
were overestimated by the Administra
tion, and, unfortunately, the 1500-capacity
complex absolutely must be filled because
the University has to pay its contractors.
Now, If enough men don't want to
live in the dorms, and no other solution
can be found to fill them by next fall,
then the freshmen who don't want to are
going to have to anyway.
This is reality. It is depressing be
cause it has nothing to do with the lovely
thoughts about "great advantages" or "to-;
tal education" or "exploring new types of
living," etc. No, it's money. Somebody
goofed and the students have to face the
reality that they have to pay.
But the Daily Nebraskan asks, is
money the only reality?
Now, the Student Bill of Rights isn't
a reality yet, in the legal sense, and may
be It won't be a legal reality in the eyes
of the Administration even after it's
But isn't the fact that some student
just don't want to live in dormitories a
reality? Isn't the fact that an overwhelm
ing majority of the student body feels
that students should be able to chose their
own living environment a reality? Isn't
the fact that some students can't afford
to live in dorms a reality?
Well, maybe "reality" isn't so de
pressing a word to students or so helpful
a word to admisistrators after all.
It all depends on which reality is the
most convincing.
Letter From Dean Snyder
(EDITOR'S NOTE: The Daily Ne
braska agrees with the following letter
from Dean Helen Snyder. We feel that it
is unfortunate when an important campus
issue becomes merely a personal confron
tation. We hope that all parties concerned
will approach snch problems In a sophis
ticated manner so that everyone is work
ing for the same goals. )
It is unfortunate that concern over
University housing policy has precipitated
an emotional atmosphere in which proper
judgment are seldom made. Evidence of
this seems to occur in the way in which a
single individual is held responsible for
unpopular housing rules.
Only a little study would reveal that
the rules have been decided upon by the
Board of Regents and the Housing office
and have been supported by other parts
of the University. I would be remiss in
my duty if I were to do anything other
than support our University and its policies.
I have several times this year sat with
student groups discussing regulations
which do not please them. During such
meetings I have encouraged student gov
ernment representatives to work with us
in specific action on specific issues to
effect desirable modification of policy. I
continue to have faith in the ability of
students to make the University a better
place.
In spite of the high feelings expressed
over the housing issues, I would be hope
ful that a serious and reasoned attempt
will be made to articulate positions and
to make a considered attempt to accom
plish what is desired. I am ready and
willing, as are my colleagues in Student
Affairs, to examine ihe points of differ
ence and to make recommendations to
modify the rules in a way that can serve
the best interest of students and still serve
the purposes of the University.
Helen A. Snyder
Associate Dean of Student Affairs
Quiet Desperation
ATTENTION LOYAL CITIZEN'S
Crime and-or evil is running rampant
on the streets of Midland City. Let us
now drop into the office of the Commis
sioner of Midland City and hear a dis
cussion among the leaders of the city as
to how to handle the situation. The people
present are:
THE COMMISSIONER: the rarely
heard from and never seen leader of the
City.
CHICKEN MAN: the fearless, white
winged warrior who oversees the citizens
of Midland City.
MILDRED, THE MATERNAL MA
RAUDER: the omnipotent protector of
the welfare of the women of Midland City.
She is so concerned for the women citi
zens that she treats them like her own
children.
ASSISTANT CHICKEN MAN: an am
bitious young fellow who hopes to be just
like Chicken Man (when he grows up).
COMMISSIONER: You probably won
der why I have called you all here. Let
me see . . . why did I call you here? Oh,
yes. Some dolt in the community had the
audacity to suggest that the citizens were
being overprotected by us. Well, he went
to the city council and told them that
something must be done and consequently
the council has demanded that we justify
our position. I can't possibly do this be
cause I have to run to two directors
meetings, a luncheon, and a golfing ap
pointment If I get a chance, 111 stop
back later and see bow things are going.
Have to run. Bye.
(Exit Commissioner for two weeks)
CHICKEN MANj Well, this could
mean one of 52 things only. Obviously,
the loyal citizens are sot aware of the
danger lurking everywhere and running
rampant in the streets. We must show
them why it if imperative that we pro
tect them. Isn't that right, Assistant?
ASSISTANT: Yes, Sir.
MILDRED; Very good idea, Chicken
Mm FJnt we must devise a catchy term
on which to base our statements. How
about "total welfare?"
CHICKEN MAN: Yes, very good.
ASSISTANT: Yes, very good.
MILDRED: I don't possibly tee bow
the citizens can feel that they know more
about what protection they need than we
do. After all, we have spent years read
t
... BY JERRY OLSON
ing books about government and our sys
tems have worked perfectly for years.
CHICKEN MAN: I think the whole
problem arose when Joe Ceiling wanted
to move out into the suburbs. Evidently,
he is not aware of all the sin out there.
Why, I've heard that there is a tavern in
the neighborhood and that the men ac
tually have women come to their houses.
MILDRED: No? Well that certainly
does not contribute to the total welfare of
the citizens. Why, to allow Joe to move
out into those nasty suburbs denies him
all the welfare protection of living in the
city. Besides, I feel it is our solemn duty
to protect him and keep him virtuous.
CHICKEN MAN: Good Point, Mother.
ASSISTANT CHICKEN MAN: Yes,
good point. Mother, I mean Mildred.
CHICKEN MAN: Well, I think we are
ready to issue a statement. Mother, why
don't you do it?
ASSISTANT CHICKEN MAN: Yes,
good idea.
MILDRED: OK. How does this sound?
"Citizens Welfare is the purpose of the
city. To allow the citizen the choice of
leaving the city is denying him part of
his development which comes from living
in the city. There is violent crime and-or
evil everywhere and it is our responsi
bility to protect the citizen and keep him
virtuous and safe."
CHICKEN MAN: Good job That
statement is just confusing enough to
make them believe we've said something.
Any suggestions the citizens might make
would simply be ignoring administrative
policy. Oh yes, another complaint of the
citizens is that nobody in city hall will
give them a straight answer that we just
run them back and forth.
(Enter Office Secretary)
OFFICE SECRETARY: Chicken
Man, there is a citizen here to speak with
you.
CHICKEN MAN: Oh. tell him that he
must first speak with Mr. Jones at the
central desk, and tben get an OK from
Miss Smith in the Office of Citizen Wel
fare. Then be must file his topic with you
and wait two days while we consider what
be has to say.
OFFICE SECRETARY: Yes, sir,
CHICKEN MAN: Oh yes. then give
him an appointment with my Assistant.
He can handle it
W-E-MrL-L-L!!!!
Avoid Personal Attack
Dear Editor:
Recent letters to the Daily Nebraskan in regard to
housing policy have shown a lack of knowledge of the
source of that policy. There is at present student concern
over seeming inconsistencies between existing Board of
Regents By-laws. The question to be decided is whether
administrative policy is in accord with these By-laws.
Personal attacks accomplish nothing. Dean Helen Sny
der may be merely performing her role as an agent of
enforcement. Those who find fault with the Regents' By
laws or specifically the enforcement policies should direct
their energies toward changing or clarifying these policies.
reggy Kaufman
Barbara Beckmann
- Peg Wagner
Jean Jaspersen
Ann Windle
Larry Johnson
Gene Hohensee
Darryl Gless
Dave Cummins
Rich Hilsabeck
Jay Lefko
Carolyn Freeman
Curt Bromm
Jan Connell
Diana Focht
Erma Winterer
Pam Hedgecock
Pam Wood
Bev Armstrong
Elaine Kallos
Jan Kaufman
Candy May
Susie Sitorlus
Eileen McGill
Steph Tinan
Carol Bischoff
Barb Ahlschwede
Joan Spivey
Linda Mahoney
Judy Mahar
Diane McDonald
Dede Darland
Susie Diffenderfer
Jan Binger
Jodi Thurbcr
Marv Almy
Mary Ann Deems
Candv Sasso
Cathie Shattuck
Marian Sicklebowcr
Our Man Hoppe-
A Civilized Value Scale
Arthur Hoppe
The International Com-'
mission to Determine Hu
man Worth has met in Ge
neva to set the relative val
ue of American and Viet
namese lives.
The meeting was called
after charges were made in
the U.S. that restrictions on
bombing North Vietnamese
civilians were endangering
the lives of American pi
lots. "A single American
boy," said one typical an
gry letter writer, "is worth
a score of unfortunate Asi
ans." The American position
was ably defended by the
Honorable Homer T. Petti
bone of the U.S. Bureau of
Moral Weights and Meas
ures. "We do not contend, gen-
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...NUtes J
(Btf Karen Qo (Bcnnct 1
I y h
"Something familiar . . . something peculiar . . . some
thing for everyone A Comedy Tonight ..."
If you're interested in Nebraska, history, music, chore
ography, art, drama, costuming, politics, playwriting, cre
ativity, humor, or girls . . . Pershing auditorium is THE
place for you this Friday night.
Ordinarily I'd confine myself to discussions of music-department-type
music in this column. But "Coed Follies"
is not to be ignored by anyone who deeply believes that
music deserves to be a part of everyone's life, and that
everyone deserves to have a part of music be in their
life.
Take a whole living unit of people (most of whom
have never performed on a stage or had any musical
training), combine tnem with a few people who do have
such fringe benefits, add hours and hours of time, de
pendable leadership, and faithful followers who try and
who show up at most of the rehearsals, plus a large dose
of listerine and roriciden (to battle colds and laryngitis)
and the result is a surprisingly musical performance,
although music is only one of a multitude of factors in
volved in producing a successful skit. ,
Admittedly the lyricwriting and singing'is not the tech
nically skilled work of a "Rita" or "Carmen" Opera. It
isn't even as coordinated or harmonious as a good high
school musical. But it is hardly fair to even compare
the Follies with any performance based on professionally
staged music.
The wonder of the Follies is that everything must be
done by the girls themselve s and within a remarkably brief
period of time. Alter all, with little more than six weeks
of planning and a month of actual preparation, what could
even a Rogers and Ilarnmerstein have done if they
also had to attend classes, tarn in assignments, take exams,
attend other meetings, and keep their datemates happv???
Since the tunes are necessarily borrowed, the artistry
Involved is the selection of songs, creation of appropriate
and rhythm-right lyrics, and the psychology t convince
every girl within your living unit that the too can sing
and is actually needed in spite of bow musical or non
musical she thinks she is.
Strength in numbers arid the fun of new lyrics to old
songs produces a surprising supply of singers who never
knew they were! And because the lyrics are usually vital
to the storyline, these unexperienced show-women also
learn to be pretty strong articulators. There's no question
in my critical music mind that the finished products, mu- .
sically and otherwise, are delightful entertainment How
ever ...
Perhaps the question should be not the product . . .
but the purpose. Traditions from time to time must be
examined and investigated, or they can become dictators
instead of inspirations. So let's ask the brutal question: Is
the Price worth it? Many hours, taut nerves, lost tempers,
sluffed assignments, slipped grades, sore muscles, lost
sleep, diminished menial and physical health, and a sizable
financial investment all this is the toll for each EIGHT
MINUTE skit put on ONCE in front of judges and an
audience that can't possibly appreciate all the effort en
tailed. The rewards? Prestige for the groups that "get in";
even more for those that place on judgment night; good
public relations for the University; Increased loyalty,
pride, unity within each group (after the tempers are
found again); experience in showmanship, group psychol
ogy and human relations. Are these benefits too costly??
Do they even rslst?? Hopefully such projects do leai to
worthy developments of the body, mind and soul that
can't be measured and tagged for sale.
I don't know. It's one of those Questions that reallv
can't be answered until we've lived a little longer and
can see things in perspective.
Let's hope Uiat the Follies . . . aren't
tlemen," he began gravely,
"that one American is
worth a million Asians. Our
restraint in using nuclear
weapons proves this. On the
other hand, it would be a
travesty of logic to argue
that an American and a Vi
etnamese are of equal val
ue. "To begin with, Vietna
mese are smaller. On a
straight per-pound basis,
they are obviously worth
less. In addition, the aver
age peasant neither dresses
properly nor does he speak
English, so that you must
shout at him to penetrate
his stupidity."
"Hear, hear," said the
British delegate. "We felt
the same about our Fuzzy
Wuzzies. Dashed good fight
ing men, though."
"True," said Mr. Petti
bone, turning the point to
his advantage. "But that, of
course, is because he places
such a low value on his
own life. For example, we
compensate the benefici
aries of friendly civilians
we accidentally kill with a
few hundred dollars. If they
were Americans, each
would cost us thousands.
"Now while many of
these peasants own their
own homes, few own their
own cars, television sets
or freezers. Clearly, they
would be considered poor
credit risks anywhere, sim
ply because tbey aren't
worth much."
"What non-Frenchman
is?" said the French dele- '
gate with a shrug.
"Generally speaking, con
tinued Mr. Pettibone, "they
are poorly educated, ill
housed and underfed. Few
read good books, play golf
or even go to the movies.
In a word, gentlemen, they
are natives."
"Oh, natives," said the
Belgian delegate, nodding.
"We had to deal with them
in the Congo and we know
what they're worth."
"All we ask," said Mr.
Pettibone, "is that this
Commission set a fair ratio
say, 30 to one so that w e
may go on bombing in good
conscience."
A lively debate followed,
highlighted by an hour-long
speech by the German dele
gate on genetics, Nietzsche
and the superiority of the
Aryan rate. In the end, a
compromise of 28.2 Vietna
mese per American was
unanimously adopted.
"I feel this standard,"
Mr. Pettibone told report
ers waiting outside "accu
rately reflects the view of
civilized people every
where." An irate African journa
list protested that the Com
mission', members in
cluded only delegates from
technologically advanced,
Caucasian, Christian na
tion. "Good heavens, man,"
said Mr. Pettibone in sur
prise, "who else is civilized
enough to compare the val
ue of human beings?"
University Money-Oriented
Dear Editor:
As every student of this University knows, the Uni
versity is in dire need of financial resources. We have
been lampooned with the idea of a $95 resident tuition
increase. As if that isn't enough, the dormitory rates have
been increased some $75 per academic year.
There now seems to be increased interest in the rules
and regulations which govern the residency of students
attending the University. Questions have been raised con
cerning mandatory on-campus residency and certain indi
viduals have taken physical actions to express their dis
content with current policy.
.All of these questions and actions, boiled down, amount
to this one thing. The University wants the $95 a month
which they could make if every student resided in a dormi
tory. The University is money-oriented enough to real
ize that they are losing $800 for every student who has
chosen to live off campus.
As one who has resided in a dormitory and is cur
rently living off campus, I am happy to say that I have
seen the light and realized that the rules and regulations
concerning housing were made and are being enforced
by a money-oriented University.
John L. Schmidt
Higher Qorm Rates Unjust
Dear Editor:
The recent announcement of an increase in dormitory
fees has caused us to wonder whether there will be an
improvement of the facilities at Selleck Quadrangle ini
tiated. Evidently not!
The increase in payments were not designed to give
improved service to residents of any dorm. The purpose
as we understand will be to pay for new dorms.
However, the present conditions in Selleck Quadrangle
do pot match the standards of the other dorms on this
campus, by a long shot. No other dorm has Selleck's
special features; among them: lounges furnished in early
junk, a scratchy intercom, a lighting system that the
column set would enjoy, rooms furnished (bare essentials,
with paint scraped off).
Of course, Selleck does not fall behind in one area.
Yes, Selleck has poor food. We really don't mind thess
inconveniences, if the fees were proportional to the fa
cilities provided.
As it is we are being overcharged, and soon we will
be forced with a fee increase, which will probably not be
followed by an improvement of the facilities. If conditions
were improved, an increase would be justified, if not,
there is excuse for higher costs to future residents of Sel
leck Quadrangle.
Jim Deltch
Pierre Daggett
Tuition Increase Intolerable
Dear Editor:
It seems strange that the basic issue of "can we afford
a raise in tuition" has been passed over for "better student
instruction."
I seriously question the importance of this Lsue being
cognizant that 1) the base of college instructors is rapidly
expanding, 2) this is a state university as opposed to a
private college, and 3) there is a significant portion of the
student body t h a t is presently financially pressed and
whose views have been unrealistically represented.
Consider this if you will. A student will work at $1.40
a hour 15 hours a week during the school year and 40
hours a week during the summer. This brings $1476 minus
approximately $100 in taxes leaving a total of $1376
His "lnut of CM tuition, $100 books and supplies,
$840 a year in board and room ($40 board and $20 food per
month), plus $100 for clothes, shoes and toiletries leava
him with expenses of $1374.
With the remaining $2 our young man will buy In
surance, pay for his medical and dental eipenscs, and
have money left over for transportation, household and
social expenditures.
Could it be that no one has considered the possible
elimination of this element of our society. It would be
embarrassing to peek through the facade of our bill of
rights and find that all men are born with equal oppor
tunity ... and then there are others.
James Schmitz
Daily Nebraskan
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