THE DAILY NEBRASKAN
Editorial
Commentary
Monday, February 5, 1963
Page 2
Senator in
a glass house
State Senator Terry Carpenter last week launch
ed another attack in his continuing series of one
man campaigns. His target this time is the Uni
versity Board of Regents' drug policies and the
18 University professors who submitted a letter
to the Daily Nebraskan suggesting new policies for
drug control.
This is not the first time the Senator has placed
University officials on the firing line about the
drug problem. Last fall after the University had
one isolated marijuana case, he demanded that
the University use undercover agents to halt what
he termed a growing problem. Carpenter is still
pounding the same note and his remarks appear
to have little evidence to validate his accusations.
First he accused the Board of Regents of
"sweeping the problem under the rug." The
Regents issued a statement last fall clearly stipu
lating the University's position on drug abuse and
promising cooperation with state and federal agen
cies. While the harshness of the policy can be ques
tioned, the statement obviously does not "sweep
the matter under the rug," but rather states a de
finite, well defined stand on the matter.
The Regents drug statement also stated that
"drug abuse has not been an acute problem at tht
University. Contrary to Carpenters accusations,
drug abuse at the University campus has not reach
ed the proportions which Carpenter suggests, nor
does it warrant his drastic actions and overambi
tious statements.
Carpenter's solution to the University's prob
lem is to use undercover spies but this solution
appears to be palatable only to the senator.
The Student Affairs Office has clearly stated
its hesitancy to use undercover agents and has
not seen the necessity to ask for this unsavory
type of "aid". Several University professors, whose
statement also aroused Carpenter's ire, have also
expressed the view that spies would lead to en
ticement and entrapment and the efforts would be
extremely detrimental to the University atmo
sphere. Although the drug division of the safety patrol
can legally hire student spies, one would imagine
they also would hesitate to use such an action
before they received sufficient evidence to war
rant such a controversial move and even then
would reconsider the damaging effects to the en
tire University.
Therefore, until Carpenter discovers factual ev
idence to support his lambastic accusations, per
haps he should concentrate on real drug problems
such as the one in Scottsbluff.
Cheryl Tritt
Craig Dreeszen . . .
A senate critique
This year has marked a change in student
government at the University of Nebraska; Senate
has taken on a new role. Traditionally student
government has been adept at making noisy pro
tests aimed (for want of something better) at the
administration. Or student leaders either retired
to the tavern in despair because of general stu
dent apathy, or kept busy with trivia pretending
the real problems weren't their concern.
This year, I think it is fair to say, has been
different. The ASUN Senate has begun to assume
the role of a government rather than an organ
ization and of leadership rather than following.
Student power is beginning to be a reality at Ne
baaska. I suppose I should offer evidence to support
those assertions. First, one point should be made
clear. The most important work of ASUN is not
usually done on Wednesday afternoon at the Sen
ate meeting; but rather the most significant work
is done by the committees.
The area of educational involvement is an ex
ample. Students have always been frustrated and
uncertain about the relevance of their college edu
cation. Freshmen come to college thinking they
are about to participate in an exciting and stimu
lating educational experience.
When they are disappointed, as they invari
ably are, they usually have been looking at them
selves for the problem. We are starting to realize
that maybe it is the institution that is wrong rath
er than the students.
Starting with that premise, there have to be
some things that can be done to improve the
educational environment. To help discover and im
plement these charts has been the goal of the
ASUN Education Cc remittee. Some of the projects
of the committee are as follows: establish inter
disciplinary courses, establish new honors programs
and improve existing programs, suggest an alter
native to the present faculty advisor system, coor
dinate advisory boards, evaluate the pass-fail op
tion and make a proposal for expanding it, help
the experimental Centennial College, participate in
a revision of the Freshman English course and
help the counseling service with an attltudinal
characteristics study.
The success or failure of these proposals is
not as important as the larger goal which is to
bring about a change in attitude on the part of
students, faculty and administrators. If the Uni
versity is to become a better educational institu
tion, there must be a continuing dialogue and co
operation among all elements of the University
Community. Students cannot bring about Improved
education working In isolation, neither can fac
ulty or administrators.
We are beginning to see this larger goal being
realized. For example, the Chancellor's Centennial
College Committee has three student memberr, the
English department has asked for student help in
revising the freshman course, the counseling ser
vice is working quite closely with ASUN to plan
and evaluate educational experiments for next fall.
If student power is bringing the students' influence
to bear on the decisions makers of the Univer
sity, this is student power.
This kind of exercise of student power has not
been limited to those in educational reform. All
those involved in student government this year
are seeing themselves in this new role. Perhaps
I should qualify that. There is still a significant
number of senators who are playing games. These
activities Jocks don't realize the difference between
previous senates which were organizations and this
one which is a government
Those committee chairmen and senators, bow
ever, who see themselves as catalysts for change
are making a significant contribution to the welfare
of the students and the University.
The Senate is still in the midst of an identity
crisis and has a long way to go but "I've got
to adroit its getting better a little better all the
time."
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7
William t'. Buckley . . .
Is there a last straw?
It is increasingly difficult to
work up public indignation
over outrage, as long as it is
committed by a labor union.
In the past few years in New
York City, labor unions have
closed down newspapers and
killed off three of them. La
bor unions have shut down the
ships at sea, closing off pas
senger and freight traffic. La
bor unions have grounded the
airlines, or most of them,
leaving passengers the option
of flying either to Toronto or to
Detroit, but nowhere else. The
labor unions have shut down
the schools, all the schools,
in violation of the laws which
it is the supposed purpose of
the schools to preach obedi
ence to. The labor unions have
shut down public transporta
tion, causing something like a
closing of the entire city. The
labor unions struck the taxis,
and violence was inflicted on
the independent operators
who declined to join in the
strike.
New York's severest retalia
tion against these strikes,
some of them illegal, others
merely convulsive, economi
cally, socially, and culturally,
was fifteen days in jail during
the Christmas holidays for
Mr. Albert Shanker, the lead
er of the teachers' union, dur
ing which he is said to have
run out of tea and crumpets
on the third day, resulting in
a loss of weight of three and
one-half ounces.
Who will turn the knob?
I remember three years ago
arriving at a television station
and meeting at the elevator
Professor John Kenneth Gal
braith, all six feet five of that
eminent intelligence, who al
ways gives the impression
that he is on very temporary
Roger Slark . . .
leave of absence from Olym
pus, where he holds classes on
the maintenance of divine
standards. We rode up the
elevator and met Billy Rose,
the impressario, rich famous,
a little cranky, and (if my
memory serves) Dick Greg
ory, the amiable but extreme
ly touchy Negro Comedian. It
was opening night for a new
talk show hosted by David
Susskind, and the gimmick
was a Sony-sized television,
set on a swivel, which would
face whichever member of
the panel the questioner,
ho spoke half mile away
from Grand Central Station,
was addressing his question
to.
Now gentlemen, Mr. Suss
kind explained, there has been
a jurisdictional question be
tween the unions here on the
question which union has the
responsibility for turning the
knob at the control booth
which swivels the television
set towards the guest being
questioned. So, when a ques
tion is asked, the person the
question is directed to should
get up from his chair and run
quickly towards the chair op
posite the television, exchang
ing places with whom ever
was sitting there.
Ilerolc physical assertion
To this day I cannot be
lieve it! we all received our
instructions so dutifully as if
we had met at the rim of Mt.
Sinai to receive there from
our transfigured Maker eter
nal commandments concern
ing our future behavior. I
dimly remember an evening
spent jumping up from my
chair and passing Mr. Gal
braith running at sprintspeed
from his chair to occupy
mine, diving Into the empty
chair, panting and attempting
a suave answer to the lady or
the gentleman from Grand
Central Station who little
knew what heroic physical
etertions were involved in sit
uating the guest in front of
the little screen.
I do solemnly believe that if
the Queen of England had
asked Mr. Galbraith of Mr.
Rose or Mr. Gregory or my
self, to make such asses of
themselves in order to in
dulge her imperial pleasure,
we'd every one of us have
said: Madam, go jump in the
royal lake. But not so the la
bor unions. You treat them as
faralistically as a fog, a
drought, or a hurricane.
The other day a colleague
of mine, a lady of bright dis
position and middle years,
went to her garage to fetch
her car, only to find the ga
rage doors closed and her car
interred inside. A strike. She
has asked the doorman of the
apartment building to raise
the garage door, but he h a s
informed her that the striking
garage attendants removed
the spark plugs from the ma
chine that hoists the doors so
that there is no feasible way
to lift them. I spoke of "her
garage" intending to be pre
cise. She owns her apartment
and, accordingly, a part of the
garage which is a part of the
building. So that her car is
being detained in her garage
against her will, and if y o u
think that big brave courage
ous lawabiding people-loving
John Lindsay is going to ut
ter one word of reproach to
the labor unions, let alone
dispatch a unit of policemen
to wrench open that garage
door and restore a citizen's
rights, you are a romantic,
and a patriot, and out, out of
this crazy world.
lflllllllllllll!lltll!tllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
Campus 1
j Opinion
Dear Editor:
Carol Madson is alive and
well. Hyde Park is dead and
not very well indeed or so
we are told.
I, who have virtually nev
er taken the podium at Hyde
Park, protest.
Why: Idisagree with a
statement that there is a lack
of new issues on campus.
There is at least one issue
lurking in the nethermind of
each student at the Univer
sity, although it may be afraid
to crawl out. And besides,
"old" issues never die they
change. Life is ongoing, and
all that.
Why else: I don't remem
ber being asked about this ac
tion at all. The first sign of
the impending assassination
attempt was a n e w s story
that read like an obituary.
Why not have at least one
more Hyde Park and soon
with the new issue of wheth
er or not Hyde Park serves
a useful function?
And another thing: Read
ing that students interested in
continuing Hyde Park should
Inform the Union program of
fice, I went there. The exact
conversation:
"Hello. How do I express
Interest in Hyde Park?"
"Call Carol Madson."
To those others (I hope I'm
not alone) interested in Hyde
Park, I would suggest you
both go to the program office
and call Carol Madson. She's
in the phone book.
Please, could we at least
work on the suggestion of a
Hyde Park session on Hyde
Park? Maybe I'll even take
part.
Jerry Wolfe
Dear Editor,
What ever happened to the
concerned college student?
More specifically, whatever
happened to the concerned
University of Nebraska s t u
dent? Are they still hiding In
the dark environs of the Union
Crib? Or perhaps the cob in
fested corners of a downtown
"art shop"?
Or, are they hiding within
themselves . . . away from
reality and the cold life of
Joe College and Susie So
rority? You say the cold life
of Joe College and Susie S?
Aha, perhaps you disagree.
Well Mr. U of N Typical
Student, there is more to this
college life than dating and
partying and football, yes
even football. Maybe it is bet
ter to hide from these things,
but we can't hide from every
thing. Come out of your hiding
place. Leave the dark
corners. Take a stand. Revive
Hyde Park. React.
Sincerely,
ex libris
FOR THE OBJECTIVE THINKER
This nation was founded
upon the self-evident rights
of "liberty and the pursuit of
happiness." Nothing trans
gresses these rights more
profoundly and more obvious
ly than the United States
Selective Service.
If we examine the antece
dent and the consequence, we
find that if a person has
reached his eighteenth birth
day and has maintained his
health, he is then qualified,
without any individual con
trol of his own, to be forced
Into following the orders and
dictates of another person.
Nothing this nation has done
or will do could be more col
1 e c 1 1 v e or socialistic than
forcing its citizens into ser
vitude for the state.
, Not only is this detrimental
to the individual members of
the United States, but also to
the common national defense.
We are currently engaged in
a severe conflict in 8 o u t fa
east Asia, and yet we are re
lying on an army that under
goes a major turnover every
two years to support our
cause.
This is the richest, most
powerful nation in the world
and the citizens should de
mand the highest quality of
professionalism for their de
fense. We need an entire army of
well disciplined military
men, each trained and o u t
fitted with the best equip
ment our technology can pro
vide. This army should be
paid wages commensurate to
civilian jobs and should not
be subject to political restric
tion when engaged in a ma
jor conflict.
The draft's p r 1 m a r y de
fense, and one that is pro
fessed by the most "demo
cratically" minded people,
is the emotional bromide,
"All American men should
serve their country in t h e
armed forces." These people
claim that a conscripted ar
my is necessary to maintain
our free enterprise system,
even though they are willing
to sacrifice every principle of
that system for this m a i n
tenance. No end can be sup
ported, however, if its means
are in direct contradiction to
Daily Nebraskan
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Member Aeeocuud Coiieaia'e Preee, National ErtttoaUal AdvarUctaf Herrfee.
KRITOHUi. TFP
IMllor Charfl Trllt, Vtuarlni editor Je TmMi Hew Editor C4 Iraanirlai
mtm Htm ICdltoi t. I. HrhmlM: fcdJtorlai pan Anriatant June Wagoner
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Alalnt Sporta. Editor Bonnie Bonaeaui News Aanlatant Lynn Ptaceki
Staff Writer! Jim EMntei , Hark Martin. Hark Cordon. Jan Parka, Joel
MnCnlloah, Janet Matwall, And Camninitham, Jim Pwleraen, Monica Pokorny,
Phrllle Adkleaoa, Kent Cockaon. It rant Skinner, Nunpy Wood, John Dvorak,
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Boelnm Manaior Glenn prlendti Production Manarer Charlie Maxtori Ka
feonal Ad Manayor Leete Harlrhi Bookkeeper and clamitlMl ada manaaer Onry
aolllnaawarUii BualneM Reenttary Jan Boatman i nubecrtpuon Manaaer Jan
Boeej Saieames Da Crenk. inn Looker, KaUiy Pre! lb, TxM SlMumur, Dabafca
that end.
Another defense is the ex
treme cost of sustaining a de
cently paid army. In f a c,
however, researchers have
shown that by eliminating the
expensive training necessary
for a two-year army, the ex
tra funds would be available
at no added tax burden to
the nation.
Lastly, people contend that
only an insufficient supply of
persons would voluntarily en
ter the armed forces. This is
definitely a gross assump
tion. To realize the number
of individuals who would in
list if wages and benefits were
increased, one only has to ex
amine the surprisingly large
number of men who are join
ing under the present condi
tions. Of course, a voluntary sys
tem would be most appealing
to a particular socioeconomic
class. This suggests to many
people an army representa
tive of only one social stra
tum. Which Is more rational,
providing a person with
state welfare or providing a
person with a job and s u b
stantlal income?
Corps declines
JL
Washington (CPS) -The Peace Corps, once
the Mecca of many student idealists, is on the
treshhold of what could be the most crucial per
iod in its seven-year history.
Few will deny that the Peace Corps has been
one of the most successful and popular of the
New Frontier programs initiated during the Ken
nedy Administration. But the Peace Corps now
faces many new and delicate problems, most of
them a direct result of the war in Vietnam.
Peace Corps officials who in the past have
had little trouble convincing young people to give
up two years of their life to work in an under
developed country now find themselves on the
defensive for the first time. The major problem
is the Peace Corps' close association with the
federal government at a time when the govern
ment is unpopular among young people.
Peace Corps officials, including Agency Direc
tor Jack Vaughn, are not ready to admit the Corps
has problems. But some other high-ranking govern
ment officials have confirmed privately that the
Corps may be in trouble.
Recruiting figures alone indicate the Peace
Corps has less appeal now than it had a year
ago. In November, 1966. the Peace Corps received
7,097 applications from college seniors. Last No
vember, applications were filed by only 3,786 sen
iors, narly a 50 percent reduction.
The main reason for this, Vaughn said, "is a
feeling that we are an official part of the Estab
lishment." One government official explained, "Be
fore the United States became deeply involved in
Vietnam, young people did not mind so much be
ing associated with the government, now they do."
However, Vaughn says the expanding group of
student radicals who want to be completely dis
associated with the government is not affecting the
Peace Corps. "Our message is more to the con
cerned, and the concerned can be of almost any
political stripe.
But Vaughn admits Peace Corps recruiting on
campuses is more difficult now than it was sev
eral years ago. "Most campuses are boiling," he
said. "There is more noise and more turmoil,
which makes it much harder for us to get our
messages through." A few years ago it was easy
for a recruiter to talk with students, he said. "But
now there's a lot of rivalry, and it's harder to
get that conversation for a half hour."
"In the past," Vauhn admits, "the only thing
holding us back has been the lack of enough can
didates to serve as volunteers." Since the Coi-ps
now must appeal to young people who as a group
are becoming more and more anti-government,
this problem is just beginning.
Every color
but green
Kreuscher
Wayne Kreuscher . . .
Hie King's back
Once it seems an awful long time ago a na
tive sophomore wrote a column called "If I were
King?" in the Daily Nebraskan.
Unlike a Frank Partsch's "Closet Case" or
Kelly Baker's "If Ups the Word," this column was
seldom funny, good satire or even witty. Nor was
this farcical "king" an intellect like Steve Abbott.
Instead the sophomore with big ideas and even
bigger plans plus a sometimes gutty opinion usu
ally wrote simply about issues he thought were
important.
Inevitably this column will be much the same.
Like that sophomore from another period in the
University's like, this column will be concerned
with ideas, issues and problems.
Hopefully this column will show a little more
maturity than the sophomoric "king" and the wri
ter of this column is definitely more interested in
walks in the park and serious study than was the
sometimes gunning underclassman.
Yet many of the same questions seem impor
tant and whereas much written here (beginning
with the column's title) may sound like history,
people and events unfortunately don't change much
at the University.
Important question still include:
What's wrong with the Greek system when
many units still train their future leaders only
with pushups and humility? (An especially perti
nent question now that pre-initlation periods will
soon be here.)
What's wrong with a campus of 18,000 students
that can't spark enough excitement to back Hyde
Park once a week? (Especially since the first
Hyde Park three years ago was interpreted as the
beginning of a Rennaissance of thinking and new
ideas on campus which apparently died quickly.)
Why are nice boys and girls still concerned
with collecting money for charity while allegedly
"dirty" people, who sit in the Union cafeteria,
do all the thinking? (Or at least, they used to do
some thinking and plan teach-ins and bring na
tional topics to the University campus.)
Why can't University students have an idea
they think could benefit the school such as the
Student Bill of Rights and actually do something
with it besides forming another committee to dis
cuss it?
Should the senior honoraries have any purpose
on campus other than wearing their honor once
a week and on special occasions? Are they an
outdated idea on a modern question?
What is wrong with a student government that
has a great deal of potential, but seldom uses it?
What is wrong when the majority of the members
of Student Senate are worthless as student load
ers? When will women students ever be treated like
adults or many of them even wish to be adults?
What has happened to all those once young
sophomores and juniors with their idealistic ideas
who were sure conservative, status-quo, mickey,
mouse Nebraska was changing?
These and other questions, have been asked
a thousand times In the Daily Nebraskan. This
column will ask them again, but hopefully with
more success.