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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (May 4, 1967)
THE DAILY NEBRASKAN Commentary Thursday, May 4, 1967 Editorials Page 2 Faculty Evaluation Next week the Faculty Evaluation Committee of the ASUN will once again distribute evaluation sheets in many Uni versity classrooms in an attempt to formu late a booklet which will be of value to students. It is vitally necessary that the student body and faculty review again the purposes of the project and under stand some of the problems which are being faced so that they will be anxious to give sincere cooperation. Too Laudatory The purpose of the book, now in its second year, is simply to give students an idea of what a course is about and how, in the students' eyes, the instructors comes across. Reservations which hind ered the initial publication of the book, concerning irresponsibility and lack of ob jectivity on the students part were ne gated by the first booklet which proved, if anything, too lauratory. The booklet was completely fair in that an evaluation of a professor was not made unless a substantial number of stu dents in the given class filled out the evaluation form. There were no flippant or libelous remarks to injure the attempt at professional quality. However, in many ways the first booklet did fall short and the committee, beaded by Student Sen. Tom Morgan is earnestly trying to find ways to make it more valuable. The major problem was, and continues to be, that instructors are reluctant to volunteer to be evaluated. 225 Consented Out of 600. instructors contacted this spring for the upcoming evaluation, only 225 consented to cooperate. While this represents an increase of over 100 from the first book, it is still far too few to allow the evaluation booklet to be inter esting to a large majority of the student body. Another problem, which cannot be dealt with in any specific manner, is that it appeared that the comments students made were not thorough enough. It is of course basic to the success of the book let that evaluations are completed as honestly and with as much perception and consideration as possible. The Faculty Evaluation Book was or iginated and carried through under the assumption that the University commun ity saw a definite need for it. While it is understandable that some instructors are reluctant to be evaluated for reasons such as their classes consist only of gradu ates or otherwise specialized students, it is difficult to see the reasoning behind reluctance of so many others. Students' Reactions Some instructors have probably mere ly ignored the requests of the Evaluation Committee out of indifference, while oth ers have defensively refused, possibly be cause they are leery of their students' reactions. It should be remembered that the book is for the information of both the students and faculty. While it helps stu dents select potentially useful and inter esting courses, it can also give instruct ors constructive ideas about how to up date course material and improve class presentation. A successful Faculty Evaluation Book will reflect an academic sophistication on both student and faulty levels and will be further proof that they can work to gether in building a better University. BOOK REVIEW: T 1 1 ai A I 4 Baiawm, man aiiu ai um (EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is book review of "The Furious Passage of James Baldwin" by Fern Maria Eckman. Joel Weishaus wrote the review for the Collegiate Press Service.) . .. Several years ago, the morning sun was momentarily blown out by a cold lambent wind, as a ferry boat threw it self against its moorings like a crazed waterbeast. Uptown, in a Manhattan apartment, another man, who could have been the boatman's twin, was awakening to a breakfast of coffee, and a day he'd greet as a gift long hoped for but never ex pected. American Negro For the father of four novels, three books of essays, two plays, and a host of assorted writing and speeches, had passed his 40th year as an American Negro who refuses not to be one. Still, somehow warding off the insanity that killed his stepfather, somehow, still surviving the lntrovertive spotlight of a tendentious in telligence. Venetian blinds squeeze out the bright sunlight, simulating his favorite mood of day, twilight. He sips his coffee, lights another cig arette, and begins to fill a reel of re cording tape in a halting melodic cad ence . . . "The reason I never will hate anybody again is that it's it's too too demeaning a confession, you know, on your own part, if you need to hate some body. It means that you're afraid of the other thing, y'know which is love and to be loved, which is another confession." Not Ordinary At first sight, it seems precocious to write the biography of a writer still very much alive. But this isn't an ordinary biography, as James Baldwin isn't an or dinary writer. If the artist has no choice but to be an artist, Baldwin had less than no choice. It was: make it as a writer, or perish in the black bag he hated and didn't understand. Haunted by the love bate relationship with his stepfather, pur sued bv "Charlie's" hallucinations of the Negro, doubtful of even his claim to man-' hood Baldwin writes and lives only for his salvation, and thus the freedom of his race. James Baldwin is a writer who can't be judged by his work alone, for he's an artist, -a1 man, in his own words, "dis tinguished from all other -responsibile ac tors in society ... by the fact that he is his own test tube, his own laboratory, working according to very rigorous rules, however unstated these may be, and can not allow any consideration to supersede his responsibility to reveal all that he can possibly discover concerning the mystery of the human being." Thus, the man and his work are one, and both must be scrutinized. Unique One For more than 29 months, Fern Mar jia Eckman, a prize-winning feature writ er for the New York POST, followed Bald win around the country, making tape re cordings of his speeches and remarks. These, along with long, searching talk sessions held in a relaxed milieu, is what makes this book a unique one. James Baldwin's writings, particular ly his novels, may be far from being "great literature," but his gift is that of revelation, a gift of prophecy. A preacher while still in his teens, a would-be actor, Baldwin became shaman to the Black People of America, working the magic of intellectual catharsis; and guru, a teacher to America's Caucasions. For ". . . no general, no statesman, no priest and no saint can .bear witness to the human condition as the artist must." As "one must be aware of the possibili ties of the human spirit and, by watch ing, tell what we could if we only dared become." Pier Begins The reel of tape is finally exhausted, James Baldwin sits back, and the ferry is finally calmed of its passengers. Now one must look very closely to be able to see where the boat leaves off and the pier begins. And the little black man, who tied the beast down, has disappeared prob ably to get another cup of coffee. Mares Only Th ey re Off ooawusnc RMJ K WAT, feAty Wtat A t&UP F&SHMXU QtQ Cor i Guxoitj 2? 1 GOMMT OL SMICK. 35 B7 Our Man Hoppe- Phynkia Got The Bomb Arthur Hoppe Herewith is another un written chapter in that stan dard unpublished reference work, "A History of the World, 1950-1999." The title of this chapter is, "The Ratt that Smiled." The failure of the major powers in the late 1960s to sign a treaty against nu clear proliferation produced the predicted dire results. Germany, which had blocked the treaty because it wanted bombs for peace ful purposes, got theirs. It was touch and go whether the Israelis would conse quently get theirs. But, for tunately, they developed a nuclear deterrent in the nick of time. So it went. Every time one nation got the bomb, its neighbors perspired until they got theirs, too. Bombs proliferated ever ywhere. Yet an uneasy peace pre vailed. For each nation feared to unleash its bcmbs, knowing retaliation would be instant. And thus the theory of peace through nu clear deterrence reached its ultimate flowering. Then Phynkia got the bomb. Now Phynkia consisted of 13.6 square miles of abso lutely arid desert. Its popu lation of 48 eked out a mis erable existence forging dirty French postcards and exporting lice for use in sci entific experiments. Their hereditary ruler, or Ratt, never smiled not even when he was hailed by his people, as he invariably was, as "The Greatest Ratt in History." So when the Ratt ac quired the bomb (in a swap with an unemployed camel driver for 1.3 kilos of adulterated rot), he sat for a long time looking at this, the ultimate weapon, un smilingly. "Only I," he said, "un derstand the theory of And itunnm: NAME STABLE ODDS TRAINER TIP Termite's Dream Limniads 1-1 M'lady Kid Sister Nordic Queen Antigoglins 1-1 Marlowe's Doctor Dylan's Dream Seraph Queens' Palace 1-1 Lois Lane Newly Appointed Casement Claviharps 1-1 None Chief Clockwatcher Great Spirit Passe-Partouts 1-1 Red Folly's Girl Xmas Queens' Palace 1-1 Lois Lent In Everything Youngster Minerva's Bird 3-1 Go-Go Girls Another filiter TheGmk Avoirdupois 81 Nona 100 Year's Old Vlcks GoatHousa 84 Non Earolna (HjraciniJjf Magistrate Firstlings 2-1 None Flight Officer Thelma Matchbox 4-1 None Vice Bandage Roller Sudsy Passe-Partouts 9-1 Red This Page Goldenrod Pinoins 8-1 Doorkeeper Why Bazaar Calamity Jane Antigoglins 5-1 Marlowe's Doctor Too Haw Davey Auto Haven 8-1 Cellar Dweller A Great Image Aqua . Auto Haven 7-1 Cellar Dweller A Swimmer Pilgrim , Cupid's Message 10-1 None Eastern Contractor Puck Vires 10-1 MoonGodde-, Sorority Scribe Mother's Mother Queens' Palace 8-1 Lois Lane Chief Bandage RoHer XmSm Minerva's Bird 204 GoGJrfc Epiphany peace through nuclear de terrence." And he fired off a dirty postcard (regular mail) to the U.S. State De partment, demanding an immediate surrender. The State Department, after finally locating Phyn kia on an old map, dis patched an Ambassador. "I fear you don't under stand the theory of nuclear deterrence, old chap," the Ambassador told the Ratt with a patronizing smile. "While it's, true you could blow us up, our swift nu clear retaliation would re duce Phynkia to an abso lutely arid desert." "Big deal," said the Ratt, looking out the window. "You must think of your people," said the Ambassa dor nervously. "I am," said the Ratt, ducking a rock. "And your loved ones and friends." "How do you spell that last?" asked the Ratt, leaf ing through an English Phynkian dictionary. But it proved untranslatable. A week later, the U.S. surrendered. Russia, after similar negotiations, follow ed suit. And so the Ratt came to rule the world. He piled all the bombs in a heap and carried the de tonator around his neck. This deterred reformers from overthrowing him. Or even jiggling him gently. But in the end, a lasting peaae was finally achieved through nuclear deterrence. The fret to sense its com ing was a holy man who visited the Ratt on his deathbed and said, "Re pent, my son. For though you have gained the world, remember: You can't take it with you." It was then that The Greatest Ratt in History, fox the first time in his life, inSed, Shame, Lassie, Shame Dear Editor: . . t 4i . Shame, Lassie, shame ... or An Open Letter to Pat Layman: There you go thinking again. I now take pen in hand to write thee an epistle. 'Tis filled with hearsay and rumor and in no way is to be seriously contemplated. 'Tis rumored that somewhere beyond Nebraska s con servative hills is something called Western Civilization and from thy actions, Lassie, I almost suspect that thou belongs'! there. Here, as thou knowest we're forbidden to listen to dangerous thoughts on our crystal sets and our graduates get high on Hyggie (Nebraskan, April 6) and turn into beasts called Lums or Ad Stabilizers. (A Lums is a beast from the letter A.) These good creatures prevent as long as possible the traumatic experience people in Western Civilization actu ally TRY to go through. I hear its called growing up and it involves Sin Terrible Sin like thinking and mak ing decisions and holding hands and (shudder) being re sponsible. Therefore, Lassie, bow thy head beneath thy yoke and be not shocked when the Big Ad team fends off the monster Modern America. Some day you might like hyggie too. ' Clark D. Spivey, Jr. P.S. My underworld informant just dropped by to say that not all our graduates swallowed Hyggie and that he's heard via the crystal set that the enemy may actu ally be threatening. Next thing you know students will be claiming "rights" what ever they are . , . Second Bests Try Harder Dear Editor: We feel that free speech and right of expression plays an important role' in a democratic state, and we also believe that a column such as this one is a vital means of exercising this freedom. However it is unfor tunate that some people who exercise this freedom gross ly abuse it by writing articles consisting of misinforma tion. Such was the case of Tom Bleser's letter, April 26. Bill Steen, whom Mr. Bleser stated was our "pre vious hero behind bars" has certainly never been pro fessed at any time as our hero. The resolution that our club passed concerning Mr. Steen and his bookstore stated that although we do not necessarily agree with all literature sold in his store we do firmly believe in his right to sell it. It is the idea, the cause, not the man that is our "hero", Mr. Bleser. Also you might be sur prised to learn that Mr. Steen is not currently behind bars. The "weak sister" whom you mentioned "spent most of his time throwing rocks at other democrats" is Pro fessor Braeman, history professor and Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Howard University. We felt that this gentle man, while not necessarily prejudiced in favor of all Democratic politicians, would be an interesting, informa tive and reasonably objective speaker. Mr: Bleser is also mistaken in assuming that we did not campaign for our candidates last fall. Admittedly we were not conspicuous by our flagrant banner waving on campus and our participation in parades. Perhaps if you would have walked from door to door with us in below freezing weather canvassing this city prior to last fall's elections you would not be in such a hurry to accuse. Of course we do not worry about your unconstructive and misinformed criticism, Mr. Bleser. We take it with a grain of salt. If we may borrow one of your phrases, "the. Democratic Party will continue to be great in spite of you." But we do worry about such things as the results which our canvassing produced last fall. We worry about the people in this state and are concerned with their fu ture in it. And, yes, we do worry about our club. We do not profess to be the strongest organization in the world. Of course, you must realize our environment is not exactly similar to that of Cook County, Illinois, eith er. But we do believe "second bests try harder!" Bob Bartee President, Young Democrats AWS Privileges Lost Dear Editor: TO ALL WHO HAVE RENOUNCED THEIR MEM BERSHIP IN AWS: If you renounce your membership in AWS, you are renouncing your privileges as a member of AWS but not the rules and regulations. Because AWS rules are University of Nebraska law, you will still have to follow these rules (i.e. hours, number of overnights, getting special permission slips, etc.). Any infraction thereof will be handled directly by the Office of Student Affairs. Some of the privileges of AWS you will be denied are: key privileges, extended hours, voting in AWS' elec tions, participating in Coed Follies and Ivy Day Sing. Ann Windle AWS President Gather Secession 'Inane' Dear Editor: We feel that the action taken by 13th floor of Cather Hall was completely illegal and nothing more than a childish move for attention. Most of the "proposals" they have demanded, before they will consider coming back to Cather, are already provided for in either the present constitutional system or in Sturgis' Rules of Order which the hall goes by. The executive council, as it has done in the past, is doing all that is within their power to make the laws more workable, clear, and acceptable to the majority. Two weeks before 13th floor seceded because of their grievances against the by-laws, a meeting was held for the expressed purpose of rewriting and reworking the by laws. The meeting was well publicized and open to all now so interested in the hall's judicial system and its by laws, why didn't they show interest at the meeting, which is the normal democratic procedure. We therefore censure 13th floor for their illegal and inane action in seceding from Cather Hall, and request them to present their views through the normal demo cratic processes if they wish to be heard in the future. Cather 5 - Robert Frost House Daily Nebraskan V.I. N N.. M M,r 4 ,h, Moond-flaBB putan paid at MneoIB, Neb. TELEPHONE! 4774711. P.itonalona 3M, 25M and MM u'' Z'JJ." iwP!L"m""" " the'academto roar, fab. Ilfhati Monday, Wednesday, Thuoaday and Friday durto th achool rear, accept I?" J-JIS """V ?!rtol' " '""nta of Um Untrorelty Nabrae. E"l?f H"!..?2ic2?,.J! r,mlt ftibennmU.. on Student Publication.. Publication ahall bm tim (ram onuwaMp by Uw Subaaumittn or any paraea Sfto'l prtn'tS.''- UmMn " " .2Z. VStuTSS Member Aaaoclatad Collealat pram. National Adrarttaran Harriet. In. -poratad. Publlahed at noom 1. Nebraaka tlnlon. UmxZ nST . M91? RMTORIAI. HTArr ...l:("L'k!,,',J" ltJ!'."Ch,l;' " Olloei Newe editor JaS itW- ' M",1'" "annam JCdltnrlal Ha a. Aecl.tant Kuala Phalpat ... '"I""" ' irta Kdltor Tarry Oraemlrki senior ,tafl Wrltere, Julie Morrta Cheryl frill. Handy Iran Junior tafl Wrltara. Mirk lm. I)vid Hunlaln Hi.a.i K.,y.. I in, fvlnaer, Dan 1-ook.r. Paul Eaton. Mark Oordnn. Chri. 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