Nebraska Newspapers

    THE DAILY NEBRASKAN
Editorial;
Commentary
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 1967
Page 2
The Bi
On the day which many students have
been nervously anticipating for some
time the Bill of Rights vote in ASUN
the most controversial issue is still in
a muddle.
Student Poll
A student poll by the Daily Nebraskan
on housing indicates that most students
favor choice in living environments (Ar
ticle V of the Bill of Rights), but gravely
question the feasibility or desirability of
extending this choice to freshmen.
The Student Conduct Committee, in
its final vote of the article, reflected this
ambivalent attitude by splitting five to
three, the minority holding that the section
should be worded to allow for the maxi
mum choice possible, but not unlimited,
in order to account for practicality.
A petition which has been circulated
by more determined liberals demands that
the Student Senate pass Article V as it
is and that the students endorse this posi
tion with their vote.
University Toll
Another poll is being mailed out to
all parents of University students under
21 years of age by the Administration
asking them what they think about hous
ing. Meanwhile the Ad Hoc Committee on
Student Housing is deadlocked over the
question of sophomores. (The committee
has reached agreement that juniors and
seniors and students over 21 will have
choice in housing).
Arguments which have been heard
show that there has been a great deal of
thought and obviously confusion over this
issue. There are many asoect? to con
sider on the nature of the final goal for
which students are striving. There seems
to be even more aspects in deciding what
means should be employed to gain these
goals.
Stop Hedging
Because the Senate must definitely de
cide today what to do with Article V, it
is time for everyone including the Daily
Nebraskan to stop hedging.
The Ad Hoc Committee must bring
the question of sophomore choice in hous
ing to a vote immediately. If the vote, in
cluding the administrators, is in favor of
letting sophomores move off campus, the
concept of students participating in policy
decisions will justify itself and the road
toward freedom in housing choice will be
partly traveled.
if students on the committee are un
able to. convince Dean Snyder and Russ
Brown that their arguments are reason
able land sound, then the committee should
dissolve itself and the Senate will have to
find another approach.
Of Rights
The Daily Nebraskan feels that today
the Student Senate should pass the bill of
rights as it stands.
Last week when motions were made in
Senate which insisted that students be
given the immediate Treedom oT choosing
their own living environments, the Daily
Nebraskan could not completely support
these motions. But in the Bill of Rights,
Article V is not asking for immediate im
plementation, but rather it is stating a
principle which is certainly valid and
should be used as a guideline by Student
Senate.
If Article V is passed by the Btudents,
it cannot possibly mean that students can
immediately move out of the dorms. The
reality which students must face if that
policy, as opposed to philosophy, will have
to be formulated by the appropriate peo
ple, sometimes at an unfortunately pains
taking pace.
The principle of freedom of choice for
all students should be a direction of policy.
As to the question of freshmen, the
Daily Nebraskan feels that most fresh
man probably should live in dorms.,
but the authority to place them there
should come from the parents and not the
administration. It has already been de
cided by the housing committee that par
ental approval will be required for all
students under 21 to live o.f campus.
Furthermore a qualification eliminat
ing freshman m Article V is contrary to
the concept of a Bill of Rights. If a
qualification were inserted in the state
ment, then housing choice would not be
a right to which students should be en
titled, but rather a privilege which the
administration grants supposedly in the
case of all students but freshmen.
It is, of course, highly desirable that
freshmen do live in dorms because of
certain educational advantages which help
develop most young students, as well as
other advantages outlined in the following
editorial. But students if they were not
compelled to would probably take greater
heed of these advantages.
Article IV
However student senators feel, they
should also realize it is their duty to pass
Article V in order for the students to de
cide on its fate. -If it is not passed by
the students it would not be the end of
student concern over housing because Ar
ticle IV, which surely will be passed, will
call for student participation in University
policy-making decisions. Participating in
housing decisions would then fall under
this section.
If Article V does pass, it would be a
firm statement of students' belief on the
specific issue of housing.
Dorms Should Sell Themselves
The desirability of dormitory living
has come under question during the con
troversy over current University housing
policy. 1
Not Meeting Needs
Obviously dormitories are not meet
ing the needs of students if many feel
so strongly that they should be able to
choose their own living environments.
Presumably some students would
simply move out. However, a large num
ber of students support Article V of the
Bill of Rights because they think that
dormitories would have to improve their
facilities and programs in order to make
them more attractive to students who
have a choice of living environments.
These students do not picture moving
out, but getting a better experience in
the dorms.
In other words, freedom of choice in
student housing hopefully will make the
dorms sell themselves and increase the
educational benefits that they might of
fer benefitting both the small number
of students who might want to live some
where else and the majority of students
who do find the dorms satisfactory.
Practical Choice
If student! could decide, many would
find dormitory living a practical choice
they are centrally located, provide es
sentials such as food and laundry facili
ties, and have space for meetings and
informal socializing. However, through de
tailed planning and reform, competitive
dormitories could become an ideal choice.
Ideas for dormitory improvements,
which win be discussed in depth by the
Ad Hoc Committee on Student Housing,
appear to be limitless: better food pre
paration, more single rooms where pri
vacy would be maximized, more but
smaller study areas where concentration
would be easier, floor arrangements which
would place students of similar interests
and ability together, expanded coed visit
ing hours and liberalized women's regu
lations. One large possibility is building dorms
with suite-type room arrangements for
students, especially upperclassmen, who
want more intimate living conditions.
As dormitories approach apartment de
sign they would become more attractive
to many more students. They would com
bine the conveniences and possibilities of
group interaction which are now pro
vided with the privacy of more secluded
living.
Fulfill Goal
Possibly these types of dormitories
would do more toward fulfilling the Uni
versity's intended goal of providing an
atmosphere which enriches the student's
education. A student would to an extent
learn to interact in group living but he
would also be able to more easily pursue
his academic work.
A facet of education which so far
the University has overlooekd in its ar
gument for dormitory living is that stu
dents must learn to depend on their own
company and their own resources in
handling every -day life. While apartment
living teaches these lessons quickly and
thoroughly, dorms could conceivably do
the same in a limited manner.
Of course, even with greatly improved
and diversified programs, dormitories
would not be ideal for everyone. Stu
dents must be able to choose. When they
are, those who choose dorms will un
doubtedly get more for their money.
A Letter
The Daily Nebraskan received the
following letter last Sunday in its office
and found a reprint of the letter in its
paper boxes on Tuesday. The letter in
the paper boxes read:
"This Letter Tt The Editor Was Not
Printed la The Daily Nebraska!.
Dear Editor:
The article in the Friday, March 10,
1967, Daily Nebraskan revealing the Par
ty for Student Action platform and the
editorial lauding the actions of eight Ne
braskans were, in my opinion, premature
that other capable candidates will file for
ASUN elective offices, and to already en
dorse two candidates is an example of
biased reporting.
On most campus issues, the Daily
Nebraskan does an accurate job of re
porting, but in political elections it is
easy to allow prejudice to enter a news
paper. The students at the University
have a right to know ail the issues even
if they are not in agreement with the
Nebraskan'! editorial staff.
I hope that In the upcoming election
a get both sides ci aB the issues instead
of the biased report we have often re
ceived. The Nebraskan can be either a
detriment or an asset to the campus
this campaign will provide a fine oppor
tunity for the paper to prove which it is.
Carol Bartlett
This letter is such an obviously "dirty"
campaign trick by some candidate that
the Daily Nebraskan really hates to even
waste the space in the paper for a reply.
The first sentence, "This Letter To
The Editor Was Not Printed In The
Daily Nebraskan," is supposed to have
great significance, but, of course, the
letter's author forgot to point out that the
paper never received the letter until late
Sunday afternoon long after Monday's
letters were already sent to the printer.
As for the content of the letter, the
Nebraskan will praise individuals when
ever we feel they are worthy of being
recognized. It should be pointed out that
of the eight students praised in Friday's
paper, no one party was represented and
certainly no one philosophical belief. But
this is besides the point. If the Nebraskan
felt that only one group deserved praise
that is the only one who would receive
It on the paper's editorial page.
The Nebraskan did not consider that
editorial an endorsement of any kind
nor could anyone except possibly those
people running for ASUN offices who rea
lize they deserve no such recognition.
As for the news content cf the paper,
every reporter on the Nebraskan staff
knows that all news especially political
news must be objective. We will con
tinue to report news on all announced
ASUN candidates and the organization of
any political parties.
Ill S W t W t F s M
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BOB SAMUELSON'S
All The Lonely People
Maximum choice within existing
framework. In my opinion, this is the goal
of housing which students should be seek
ing. Complete Choice
There are many who maintain that
University students should have final and
complete c h o i c e in their housing. This
leads the way, they would say, to ulti
. mate student determination of all policies
and regulations which affect students.
After considerable thought and much
soul searching on this subject in order
to determine what I feel is in actuality
in the best interests of University stu
dents in particular and the University as
a whole, I have had serious misgivings
about total student determination of life
outside the classroom at this time.
With the CFDP's first policy state
ments on this idea last spring, I imme
diately reacted unfavorably against such
a proposal. Then I began to consider the
implications on such statements with less
adverse reaction to them, and I became
convinced that if enough students could be
made to favor this extreme point of view
things at the University might begin to
change. Idealistically there is nu logical
argument against such a philosophy.
But as students of a University, we
have surrendered, rightly or wrongly,
some of the rights we would possess as
individuals outside the confines of this in
stitution. This is true historically and
courts have upheld the country's univer
sities' policies of restrictions on students
based upon "in loco parentis."
Only recently have courts shown a
slight tendency to step back from their
original decisions, but it was a long time
before the Supreme Court reversed ear
lier civil rights decisions in its Brown Vs.
Board of Education at Topeka decision.
Our Man Hoppe
It may be equally as long for the law to
change in regard to "in loco parentis."
Article V
The point of all this, and I think the
point is pertinent to the situation of hous
ing (Article No. 5 of the Bill of Rights)
and other areas of administrative control
of students.
Under present Board of Regents By
Laws, the Board can require all fresh
men to live in on-campus housing. There
is nothing we as students can do about
this except to oppose the law in principle
and wait for the courts to catch up with
our thinking.
In the meantime, we must work within
the system for maximum flexibility. Total
student control of students desirable or
not, is in the future, not the present.
Equitable Participation
We can, however, demand equitable
participation in those decisions which af
fect us, and as courts liberalize, our defi
nitions of what is equitable and what is
not may rightly change.
Happily and rightly the University's
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs is
quite willing to share his decision-making
powers, and he has demonstrated this
willingness.
The most important election issue on
campus this spring should be how stu
dents can gain some reasonable (and
equitable) voice in rules that affect them,
making sure that the bodies on which
they serve have a real and final voice
(subject to the proper channel of appeals)
in the areas in which they work.
Committees which are only advisory
are not, repeat are not, acceptable. This
is the real issue at hand: How do we
achieve this equitable participation the
maximum choice within the existing
framework with a real voice.
Quiet Desparation
...by Jerry Olson
Sir Ronald's Enchanting
Arthur Hoppe
Well, as you remember.
Sir Ronald and his faithful
squire, Sancho Nofziger,
had barely entered The
Tangled Thicket in search
of The Unruh, that fear
some creature who dwelt
somewhere within its mur
ky depths.
, White Charger
Sir Ronald had dismount
ed from his handsome
white charger and with his
famed Swinging Sword he
was cutting a brave swath
through the magical Bu
reaucratic Brambles, which
screamed piteously at ev
ery nick, almost as though
they were human.
"Hola!" said Sir Ronald
suddenly, raising' the tinted
visor that kept falling down
over his eyes. "What man
ner of enchanted vision is
this Idescry far off to t h e
East?"
"What does it looke like,
Sire?" said Sancho.
Mirage
""Why," said Sir Ronald,
frowning, "it would seem to
be a big white house that
somehow shimmers and
glitters, advances and re
cedes, looms large and
fades. A mirage, if I be not
mistaken."
"Oh, no, Sire," said San
cho happily. "It is the Tan
talizing Treasure! How for
tunate we are. While all
shining knights who pass
this way see it, few have
drawn this close. Look, it
is now almost within your
grasp!"
"Hmmm," said Sir Ron
ald. "Why should I grasp
for it?"
To Ilorse
"Why, Sire," said Sancho
surprised, "it is filled with
fame and power and treas
ures beyond one's imagina
tion. Quick, to horse! We
must pursue it least some
other knight captures it
first."
"Hold, there, varlet,"
said Sir Ronald irritably.
"I have pledged my sacred
word to serve the people of
my beloved Golden State
for four long years, here in
The Tangled Thicket. And I
am not about to skeedad
die off after some Tantaliz
ing Treasure."
Sancho was amazed.
"But, Sire, the Tantalizing
Treasure always 'casts an
enchantment over any
knight who sees it Invari
ably, he flies off in all di
rections spouting oratory,
slaying mythical drag
ons . . ."
Tor Purity'
"Oh, I felt the tempta
tion," said Sir Ronald, nod
ding. "But I merely mum
bled my battle cry, 'For
Purity 1 For Righteousness!
For Just Plain Goodness!'
And I gave no further
thought to yielding."
"But, Sire, the fame, the
fortune, the . . ."
"A pox on fame and for
tune; I shall net seek the
Treasure."
Of course you might keep
an eye on it, Sancho," he
added, "in case it comes
seeking me."
"Verily, sometimes I
think I serve the most clev
er of masters," said Sancho
to himself proudly. Then
he scowled and scratched
his head. "Either that, or
he's some kind of nut"
All rigbt, children,
sleepy-pie. No, you," just
have to wait and see how It
all comes out There, there,
I know you can hardly
wait. Daddy feels the
same.
Once again the time draws near for the student body
to select its leaders in the ASUN for the upcoming year
And for the third time in as many years, a new political
party is born. Two parties have come and gone. But what
will happen to the third?
Lasting Influtnce
The Party for Student Action (PSA) is, from all indi
cations, destined to become a lasting and influential
campus political party. It has drawn from the failures of
its predecessors and patterened itself after national politi
cal parties. PSA is not a one issue party to be committed
out of existence. Nor is it a mutal election society to be
dissolved immediately after the April elections.
PSA is based on a variety of fundamental concepts:
a firm committment to the welfare of the students in
the University community; practical and reasonable pro
posals to effect change and fulfillment of long-range plans;
and experienced leadership which will be sensitive to the
desires of the students.
The outstanding attribute of the Party for Student
Action is its attitude of committment to the student and
his pragmatic approach to the accomplishment of long
range goals. The founders of PSA are people with a long
record of service in student government.
Need For Change
They realize the necessity for change in the Univer
sity but they also recognize that cooperation and confi
dent student participation in policy-making are the most
effective methods of achieving their goals.
What does PSA mean to the student? It means the
rational implementation of the Bill of Rights to insure
the students have those conditions indispensable to the
achievement of their education.
It means that the welfare of the student not only in
the University community, but in the local and state
communities will be increased through student govern
ment. It means the quality of education will be improved
through student involvement.
The Party for Student Action is designed to act in
the interest of the students. It is a progressive party,
but by no means radical. It offers confident leadership
toward the goal of a better University which will meet
the needs of today's students.
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Campus Opinion j
AWS Elections A Farce
Dear Editor:
Congratulations to the new AWS Board members, who
almost without exception were able to command the blind
faith of hundreds of University women at Wednesday's
election. (
Yes, once again the women on campus have placed
tremendous trust in AWS representatives about whom
they know absolutely nothing. Once again AWS will be
manned with coeds infamous for activity points and large
sorority backings. And once again AWS Board members
will feel responsible to no one and to no campaign es
poused principles. For, with few exceptions, these girls
were allowed to be elected without ever stating their views
publicly. They made no campaign promises because there
were no campaigns.
Poster campaigns were eliminated by the present
AWS Board. Limited as this type of campaign is, it
would have been something. Also, final elections came
as an anti-climax to the primary of last week. These are
serious criticisms of present election policy of AWS. ; r
However, the candidates themselves also deserve 1
criticism. They made little effort to present their views !
on campus issues. Maybe they, have no views or positions.
Do they realize that they will actually have to vote and
go on record sometime after they take office? It must
scare them to think that they have no idea who or what
they are representing, that they have no mandate from
the women on campus because they did no more than put
their names on the primary and final ballots.
But in any democracy, the blame must eventually rest
with the voters. The candidates were made to take no
stand whatsoever on housing regulations or women's hours.
They were allowed to avoid each and every issue. It
must scare the women voters to know that their fate for
the coming year rests largely in chance and the eeny-meeny-miny-mo
vote they cast Wednesday.
For all these reasons, AWS Board can no more con
tend to represent the women on campus than can Dean
Snyder. It would be hard to construe the election results
as more than a popularity contest. AWS elections this
year were a farce and a slap in the face to any thinking
coed, indeed, to any citizen of a democracy. And to those
women who did not Vote this year, perhaps congratula
tions are in order. Under the circumstances, this was the
only valid protest possible.
Toni L. Victor
Parent Speaks
Dear Editor:
Perchance a parent should have no voice here but 1
do have a question to ask. Recently I wrjte to my dis
trict senator urging him to vote against an increase in
tuition at the University. His reply was that he had made
a personal survey of students and of t e 33 that he talked
with most are not particularly concerned about an in
crease. Is there that much apathy on campus?
My generation is forever condemning your generation
for protesting too much on almost every issue but are you
leaving the fiscal protests up to us ?
Judging by his letter, my senator is influenced by his
constituents opinions, so here is your chance to be heard
Write to your senator.
La Vera B. Rush
Daily Nebraskan
Man 19, 1W7
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