THE DAILY NEBRASKAN
Editorials
Commentary
Friday, February 2, 1968'
Page 2
Helping to make
a home a house
The Housing Office recently handed down three
' new regulations governing dormitory open houses,
one of which is particularly distasteful.
The ruling requires that the dormitories or
ganize a procedure for registering a student's ab
sence during open houses. Although this procedure
- will not work exactly like the notorious AWS sign
... out sheets, it is basically the same idea.
Not only does this sign-out system appear to
1 .'.be' completely unnecessary when considering the
strict regulations which already insure a puritani
: cal atmosphere, but the system will most likely
; be as faulty as the AWS system.
These three rulings reinforce the set of six re-
- quirements for open houses drawn up last Decem
ber by a faculty sub-committee on social affairs
and activities.
The subcommittee's requirements were not
greeted with roaring enthusiasm by the Inter-dormitory
Association. The IDA retaliated by sub
mitting two strongly worded resolutions demand-
- ..ing clarification and reconsideration of three of
the requirements, including the "open door policy."
" This regulation demands that the doors ? all rooms
be open during open houses even those of students
who are not participating in the affair.
The resolutions have not yet been considered
by the subcommittee, so the IDA now has another
item to add to their growing list of complaints.
....... Perhaps the subcommittee and the Housing
Office assume that if the process of obtaining open
houses is a trying ordeal, the dormitories will soon
tire cf the program and open houses will be discon-
- tinued. Then maybe the IDA would abandon its
" coed visitation project, too much to the delight of
the Board of Regents.
The IDA postponed action on these three regu
lations but decided they could follow these courses
accept, reject or modify. It is doubtful that IDA
; will find it in its best interests to reject the rules
. but the association should attempt to modify them.
Their success or failure with this issue and the
open door policy will determine the outcome of Co
ed Visitation, if and when IDA decides to present
it again to the Regents.
Cheryl Tritt
Dan Looker ...
The beagleman
faces the CD's
Outlook
en
Demos
Das Looker
In the last off-year elections the Democrats
were trounced. The situation had been rarely worse
both on the national and local scenes. The nation
al election efforts were a sham. LBJ did bis best
to help his party by holing up in the White House
with his beagles and his bird while Democratic of
fice seekers tried to keep bis name out of the cam
paign. Republicans got elected in places where such
a thing never should have happened and after a
group of Democratic governors publicly criticized
Johnson for hurting his party.
In Nebraska the Democratic party was almost
washed out of existence by the Republican tide.
Even Frank Morrison, the Republican's Democrat,
and Clair Callan, a very able man with few ene
mies, were defeated by candidates who could hard
lv be called inspiring even by members of the
COP.
- That was almost two years ago. Now, every
one wonders if things have changed. Yes, they have.
Nationally, the party has never been is better
shape.
' It has more presidential contenders than the
Republicans. And the Democrats have something
for everyone. They have Wallace, the working
man's bigot; they have good ol' LBJ; and they have
a painfully frank liberal, Senator Eugene McCar
thy. - in Nebraska, also, the party is gaining
strength. It is true that there is no such thing as
a democratic candidate for office, not even a ru
mored candidate in the state. Nevertheless, you
have probably noticed that occasionally this or that
partv official will take a vocal potshot at the GOP.
Seriously, though, the Democrats' position is
not as bad as many believe. On the national scene,
Johnson still has considerable political power and
no one underestimates his chances of getting back
in the White House including Republicans and re
bellious Democrats.
Meanwhile, back in Nebraska, it may seem as
If only a few party officials admit they are Demo
crats, but a great deal of organizational work is go
ing on within the party which will pay off in upcom
ing elections. Also, capable men like Callan are re
turning to the state.
This is a political column and although some
political columnists make predictions like who is
going to win elections, this author will not do any
ting that rash, especially when there are so many
presidential candidates afield in both parties and
when third, fourth, and maybe fifth parties may
spring up, la Nebraska, it is too early to make
such predictions, since there are so few democrat
ic contenders.
Instead, this column will look at such key Dem
ocrats as Fulbrisht, Robert Kennedy, McCarthy,
and, of course, LBJ. It will also look at the nation
al party where It is going, what its strength is,
and how it can accommodate the liberals. We will
not forget the local Democrats, cither, including
those on campus.
This column, I hope, will not be the usual gung
ho cm key propaganda. Eves though I admit I re
spect men like Fuibrigbt and McCarthy, I will not
push any particular condidate. Instead. I will try
to help you to understand those strange creatures
called Democrats as the semester progresses.
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Joseph Alsop .
The Saigon troubles9 meaning
WASHINGTON We are,
no doubt due for another
spate of warnings that all is
hopeless in Vietnam because
of the attack on the U.S. Em
bassy and the other Viet
Cong efforts in Saigon and
other cities. In reality, how
ever, this flurry of guerrilla
activity in urban centers al
most certainly has just the
opposite meaning.
According to Hanoi's doc
trine, the war always has
been supposed to culminate
in a "general uprising," en
gulfing towns as well as coun
tryside. In prudent prepara
tion for this "general upris
ing," the enemy's high com
mand long ago began to ac
cumulate hidden assets, in
the form of inen and weapons,
within or on the fringes of the
various urban centers where
their writ has never run.
Everyone has known that
such hidden assets existed.
Occasionally, this or that bit
of the Viet Cong network in
Saigon or some other town
has been discovered and re
moved. Most of the network
always has remained in place,
largely inactive and there
fore difficult to locate, but
ready fr use on the work of
command from Hanoi.
That work was evidently
given some weeks of months
ago. The numerous attacks in
Saigon, in HUE, in Da Nang
and at other points were obvi
ously long-planned.
The execution, in most
showing very careful co-ordination
as well as great dar
ing. But the obvious fact re
mains that most of the Viet
Cong's assets in and around
the urban centers have now
been abruptly and wasteful
ly expended, without produc
ing anything dimly resembl
ing the general uprising Ha
noi has always dreamed of. It
is as if a college boy, who
had been saving up for a new
sports car, suddenly put all
his savings into a useless
rattletrap.
The question is, why?
Quite certainly, the right
answer is not that Hanoi
thought the time had really
come for the general upris
ing and therefore moved pre
maturely. The kind of Viet
Cong planning and preparation
revealed in the recent attacks
is almost never wasted on
false assumptions.
Quite certainly, therefore,
the decision was consciously
taken to settle for the rattle
trap instead of the longed-for
sports car. Pretty certainly,
there were two aims behind
this decision. One was the
obvious propagandists aim
to weaken American and
South Vietnamese resolution
by conveying the impression
of hopelessness.
The other aim was military.
Everything indicates that the
big show in Vietnam this
winter is to be the battle at
Khe Sanh. The North Viet
namese preparations strongly
suggest, by their mere un
precedented scale, that this
battle is intended to be cli
matic. And it will obviously
help the enemy at Khe Sanh
if there is acute worry about
security throughout the rest
of South Vietnam.
But from all this, a single,
central point rather emerges.
What has happened in the
cities, what is happening at
Khe Sanh, cannot possibly be
made to fit, into Hanoi's fa
miliar and classic blueprint
for "protected war."
The student expenditure of
the hidden urban assets, like
. the preparations at Khe Sanh.
in truth makes no sense at all
unless the Hanoi leaders are
instead basing all their cur
rent hopes on a short, con
vulsive, final or semifinal ef
fort. Their adoption of the
system of win-lose-or draw is
the only rational reading of
facts, including the fact that
many recent captured docu
ments show the Hanoi lead
ers promising their troops
in the field peace-by-coalition
"in 1968."
That means, on the one
hand, that the stakes at the
Khe Sanh are almost unbear
ably high. But that means,
on the other hand, that the
Hanoi war-planners have been
driven to conclude that "pro
tracted war" is not a s a f e
strategy to adopt.
This should surprise no
one. Quite aside from the
heavy pressure of the bomb
ing of the North, countless
captured documents reveal
that "fear of protected war"
is the central "weakness"
the work is regularly used
of the North Vietnamese
troops and Viet Cong cadres
and troops in South Vietnam.
There is considerable evi
dence, indeed, that at some
time last summer the Hanoi
leaders seriously contemplat
ed retreat into the patient
strategy of classical "pro
. traded war," only to rebound
into the patient strategy of
a climactic effort. And the
chances are that the reason
for the rebound was the ef
fect on the troops and cadres
in the South of the calls from
Hanoi for "protracted war
... up to 20 years."
God knows, none can pre
dict exactly what Hanoi will '
do, if the preparation at Khe
Sanh fail to produce the de
sired result. But it is certain
ly idiotic to go on talking
about war "with no end in
sight," as so many do in this
country, when the other side
so obviously thinks or fears
that a rather early end is
in sight.
Professors speak . . .
Policeman or counselor
Editor's Note: This fol
lowing article is the first
appearance ef a weekly col
nine which wfH be written
by University faculty mem
bers. "Policeman er Coun
selor" is Contributed by Dr.
Lawrence Peston, assistant
professor el English. Dr.
Peston is also aa active
member ef tbe local chap
ter of the American Associ
ation of University Profes
sors (AAUP).
By Dr. Lawrence Pestoa
One day on the campus of
a large university, a student
was summoned before the
dean of students on a morals
charge. He was told that he
was not in a court of law, and
that this was only a friendly,
exploratory chat The dean
pointed to a police report and
said, "I'm not concerned with
establishing your guilt or in
nocence. I only want some
idea of your own motives."
Encouraged by the informal
atmosphere, the student
talked. There was no lawyer
or stenographer present since,
as the dean pointed out, this
would inhibit both parties.
A few days later, the student
learned that the result of the
friendly chat was an "inde
finite suspension."
. This fictional episode offers
a not unfair picture of the
workings of the new liberal
ism in the more enlightened
student offices. The personnel
of these offices tend to de
claim a parental role in their
dealings with students, and
emphasize their roles as coun
selors rather than as police
men. Unfortunately, this new
liberalism frequently places
the student in a more ambig
uous position than be held un
der the old paternalism.
Maxhaim flexibility
Dean of students and their
staffs argue for maximum
flexibility in their dealings
with undergraduates. Each
case, they point out, must be
examined in its own terms and
not forced into a reproslvely
legalistic mold. Like most of
us, administrators do not en-
oy being judges. Their focus
on helping the student
solve his problems.
Unfortunately, a dean of stu
dents still retains his police
powers. As long as he does,
he can never function as a
priest or psychiatrist By the
nature of his job he is respon
sive to pressures for law en
forcement or for the mainte
nance of a particular moral
norm. He is both counselor
and Judge-policeman, and this
puts the student on an uncer
tain footing. At what point in
an interview does a counselor
leave off counselling and be
gin to function in a quasi-legal
capacity? There are seldom
any witnesses present to make
a guess.
By and large student af
fairs personnel are sincere
and dedicated people who are
concerned that no injustices
be done. But the premise gov
erning their work is a con
fused one, for it fails to allow
for this basic contradiction in
their roles.
Contradictory relation
The standard rejoinder of
student affairs officers is that
faculty are in precisely the
same contradictory relation to
a student Faculty members
advise and counsel, but they
also give grades; and what
are grades but a kind of judge
ment even on occasion a po
lice action?
Personally, I suspected my
self of committing mlsjudg
ments every time I sent
grades in, (the more so since
in the study of literature it is
difficult to find an objective
means of testing a student).
And certainly a teacher may
in a fit of pique give an F to
a student. There is no doubt
that some of us on the faculty
have to put our own house in
order.
Suspensions results
The analogy begins to break
down, however, when one
talks about suspensions. For
a disciplinary suspension, on
some occasions, at some uni
versities, may be a hasty re
sponse to community pres
sure. By contrast, an acad
emic suspension results from
a convergence of many poor
grades in many courses.
In other words, there is a
buiH-in guarantee against the
student's being suspended as
the result of a single, Isolated,
arbitrary action.
Then, too, the student knows
from the beginning that he
will be graded. He also knows
that a transcript will not say
whether his "F" was given
for cheating or for academic
irresponsibility or even for.
sheer inability.
But he has no assurance
that his disciplinary record
will not become known at a
school to which he wishes to
transfer. He has no assurance
that damaging information
will not be forwarded to the
police as the result of a friend
ly counselling session.
Given the present ambigui
ty of his position, a student
would be well advised to re
member the following things
Daily Nebraskan
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kUldMO. Joa) Dan. Lraa Wvoiacqua.
if he faces possible disciplin
ary action for misconduct:
Guidelines for the student
1. The student before going
unaccompanied to his first in
terview at the office of stu
dent affairs, should establish
clearly whether any informa
tion he gives in that interview
will be used against him, in
forming the vtce of his re
quest. 2. If the student is arrested
by the local police for a viola
tion of law on or off campus,
he should remember his con
stitutional rights not to give
self incriminating evidence
before securing counsel.
Many student affairs offices
have a working relationship
with tbe local police, and
(quite apart from what may
happen In a court of law) the
student's evidence may be
forwarded from downtown to
the campus.
3. It is frequently in the in
terest of an office of student
affairs to press for an early
disposition of a case on cam
pus. If the case also involves
court action downtown, the
student should under no cir
cumstances consent to any
informal discussion of his case
on campus without an attor
ney present.
4. The student whose case is
not yet adjudicated has the
right to attend classes and
pursue his academic studies
unimpeded, unless he presents
a clear and present danger to
the health and safety of him
self or others.
A student should never re
gard a dean er counselor as
an enemy to be outwitted. And
the above rules-of-thumb are
not intended as an incitement
to non-cooperation with the
authorities; (I'd be very un
happy if they were interpreted
in that way. But no student
should be unaware of his
rights In a potentially explo
sive disciplinary situation.
The real change in student
affairs offices will come when
counselors recognize that in
such a disciplinary situation,
a rigid adherence to due proc
ess is as much in their interest
as it is in the student's.
DN
Goes to the movies
The bundle in "The Biggest Bundle of Them
All" is supposed to be $5,000,000 worth of platinum.
It isn't. The biggest bundle of them all is Raquel
Welch
Raquel, whose amply physical qualifications
are known to most persons, co-stars with Vittono
de Sica Edward G. Robinson, Godfrey Cambridge,
and Robert Wagner. As Wagner's mini-skirted
moll, she helps kidnap de Sica who portrays Ceasare
Celli. a once-notorious Mafia leader of the 1920 s.
Instead of getting a ransom for Celli, Wagner
and his gang are corned into helping the extrava
gant, aging gangster make his comeback. They
plan to heist an Italian shipment of platinum worth
$5,000,000 under the guidance of The Professor,
Edward G. Robinson.
Wagner and his crew bungle the caper as they
do the whole picture. His acting is so impoverished
that Raquel Welch, who is not famous for her
drama talent, appears to be an actress with prom
ising ability.
De Sica gives a good performance as Celli
and is equaled by Robinson who delivers a "Madi
son Avenue" prescription on crime and how to make
it pay. This is the only witty scene in the whole
movie.
Excitement in "The Biggest Bundle of Them
All" is completely lacking from the plot, the pho
tography, and the majority of acting. Raquel makes
up for this as she undulates in a variety of seduc
tive garments. The outcome is a picture with the
sole purpose of showing-off Raquel Welch.
It does. GAF
John Reiser ...
Damning the Demos
into Death Valley
Getting the disclaimer out of the way first
This column speaks for no one, save its author.
I don't speak for the University Y.R.'s or for the
Republican party of Nebraska, with which I some
times disagree sharply.
I admit to belonging to the more "liberal"
wing of the Republican party and reserve the right
to indulge in criticism of the party whenever I
think it's merited.
I have a less-than-perfect record as a predic
tor of political affairs and strongly urge that no
money be wagered on the basis of any predictions
contained in this column.
Now then
Senator Everett Dirksen is apparently to be
the chairman of the platform committee at the Re
publican National Convention this summer.
Dirksen's credentials for most of the job are
in order, but there is one part of the job I wish he
wouldn't be doing.
The platform chairman traditionally reads the
platform in its entirety to the convention and to a
nation of very bored viewers. Dirksen is a molas
ses slow speaker and the prospect of his spending
two or three hours on the television screen is stag
gering. . Why not get a professional for the job say a
Hollywood movie star? If the party doesn't share
my affinity for Raquel Welch for the job, they might
be able to get Ronald Reagan, whom you remem
ber as the host of "Death Valley Days."
As long as we choose to have the platform pre
sented at all, we might as well have it done in
style. Miss Welch would be perfect the viewer
could turn down the sound and really enjoy the
show.
The more logical course would be to scrap the
platform altogether. Nobody reads a party plat
form after the convention anyway.
The platform is part of the convention because
the Presidential aspirants, in earlier days, did not
attend the nominating conventions. Thus, the plat
form was the only public statement of the party's
view of the issues.
Now, of course, the acceptance speech of the
Presidential nominee sets the tone of the campaign
and draws the lines upon which the party will base
its thrust. If the candidate chooses to ignore the
platform entirely, the few who notice the discrep
ancy will just have to ignore the platform too.
The fight over the platform is spirited and quite
often bitter, but it does little if anything to con
tribute to any meaningful dialogue on the issues
within the party.
If the two parties want to give the voters some
thing exciting and, perhaps, meaningful, why not
take the time usually used for the reading of the
platform for a debate among all the serious aspi.
rants for the party's nomination? There's a show
guaranteed to draw viewers and provoke discussion.
Neitner party, however, is likely to adopt that
idea, because of the tradition that candidates do
not visit the convention floor and because of the
fear that such a public debate might force the con
ventlon to nominate the man the public really
wants, Nixon supporters don't like the word "de
bate" either.
Dropout counseling
organized by SDS "
7JhlCPS)-StuAents for a Democratic
society (SDS) has set up a dropout counseling ser.
vice for students "who feel college is channeling
them into a mold rather than helping them become
independent, dynamic human beings."
JDSKew York 0ic is compiling a list of ac
tivities for potential dropouts. The organizers of
.at6ra'illchfle.CUrk and Jonathan Lerner.
lrv. activ",e delude organizing projects and
Klni.UJ?dergund.newgPllPer- The "e all
K ib,iSHmrntJ nd re tended to permit
those dissatisified with the system represented
Za rL ""'c community to explore themselves
in a dynamic and free way."
i. mf?'the M vailable to any student who
is considering dropping out of school.
rTT nd ,MiM Clark hope to eventually have
regional counselors throughout the country, much
Un25in te!!0rganlzation8 now ProvWe draft
ior. win H laCl: ,0n!, 0f ie coun-
SSrnitKheiP dr?ft"8Me en who lose
Uielr deferments by dropping out
word failure" from the concept of dropping out of
XElA? 1,01 afflilure 10 'S which
STS y.Uv.3 irt M U 18 not coldly to re
fuse to shoot a Vietnamese, It is not cowardlv to
cut tte imbillcal cord which keep, you ta the un
versity when you realize that the university it ere-
ating you in its own lma?e; obedien bored feSsT
,iin,fmiU!ly ,n,racUbl mS1 raffi
than indefinitely open like the sky."
