DAILY
NEBRASKAN
Editoriab
Commentary
I
Wednesday, February 7, T968
HE
.Student rights:
"time for facts
A statement of student rights appears almost
.ready to emerge from the coccoon deftly woven by
the Chancellor's six man committee. Unless the
committee informs the University now of the gen
eral content of the new student rights statement the
finished document will come as a complete and per
haps unwanted surprise.
The five-month metamorphosis from 17 amend
ment Bill of Rights to a committee statement on
student rights probably has been a stimulating and
enlightening experience for the six people who
are recreating the document.
As for the remainder of the University, few per
sons even remember that a statement on student
rights is being rewritten and the ones who are
aware of the undertaking have no idea what they
can expect in the statement.
A lucid and specific statement on student rights
is badly needed in the University. If such a state
ment could be made a part of University policy it
would constitute a great advancement.
The architects for the new statement are quali
fied and competent people and it is almost certain
that a far reaching and well-reasoned document will
be the result of their conferences.
Last fall rather than risk a straight aye or nay
from the Board of Regents on the original Bill of
Rights the Chancellor appointed a committee to re
work the statement which in essence meant de
liberalize and broaden the bills perspective to
avoid rejection from the Regents.
Judging from the length of time it has taken
the committee to construct the document, even with
the original Bill of Rights as a guideline, it is evi
dent the committee was not sure what position the
statement should take to broaden the perspective of
the" original document.
The committee reportedly has arrived at a de
cision as to the content of a new statement, which
probably will have a better chance of becoming part
of University policy than the original document.
However, the University should have many ques
tions about the document which need an answer now
and not when the new statement suddenly is place
before students and administrators and faculty for
their immediate approval.
" - - For example, although committee phrases such
as "academic due process," a "set of expectations
and responsibilities" and "changes in disciplinary
procedure" sound very impressive, the group has not
explained how these ideas are going to be incor
porated into the new student rights statement.
n , . No one knows exactly what thickets of red tape
the document must wade through to become Univer
sity policy. There is no assurance that the document
will become University policy at all.
The precise content of the statement remains as
much a mystery now as it was last fall when the
' Chancellor's committee began its project
Since the committee has neither given a progress
report nor communicated with University students,
this is the time for the committee to present some
answers and some concrete facts.
Larry Grossman . . .
Moondog, etc.
There is something about big cities which at-
tracts madmen. These men are not mad in the
sense that they are dangerous personalities, wishing
to inflict harm on the rest of mankind, but rather
are colorful specimens of humanity who exhibit
special eccentricities. New York and Chicago are
excellent places to find these madmen.
Last Fall I was wandering the streets of Man
, hattan with a group of friends from the University.
Our hotel was on 54th Street near Central Park.
The first evening of our stay, we left the hotel and
walked to 54th and 6th Avenue. On the corner, lean
ing against a wall, was a giant with a seven foot
spear.
Momentarily we were speechless, even a little
scared by this figure. The man was well over six
feet tall and had a stocky build. He was wearing
a huge fur coat that came up to his bearded chin.
His collar was turned up, hiding most of his face,
and a Viking helmet with horns was pulled down
over his eyes. He held a spear from which a rein
deer hoof dangled. He appeared to be sleeping. He
took no notice of us the entire time we stood gap
ing, and the pedestrians of Manhattan, acting in
their classic fashion, raced by without the slightest
sign of surprise or interest.
Our first reaction was that we had seen the
Norwegian ambassador to the United Nations, but
all of us agreed that the people of that country no
longer dress in the Viking style. Actually the man
at whom we were staring was the famous Moondog.
He stands on the corners between 42nd and
55th Streets and 6th Avenue everyday from noon to
...midnight. He is a musician, composer, and a star of
'tte underground cinema. He has written music to
the Mother Goose Rhymes and has invented two
musical instruments, the Trimba (a triangular drum)
and the Oo (a triangular harp). He has worked
closely with Andy Warhol in one of the most re
cent works of experimental cinema.
Moondog is a friendly person in spite of his for
midable appearance. I saw him everyday I was in
New York. He always was busy contemplating the
reindeer hoof suspended from his spear, talking with
curious passers-by, or dozing against his wall.
. . Another eccentric of New York is the Tenor of
Wall Street. I was walking through the crowded fi
nancial district during the lunch hour one Friday,
when I heard a thunderous voice singing arias from
Italian opera. The singer was off key but his
volume momentarily shouted down the roar of the
city; I caught a glimpse of the Tenor before he
disappeared down a sidestreet. He looked middle
aged and had wild grey hair flying about his head.
Chicago is the second fertile ground for eccen
trics. For two summers, I saw an unusual old man
strolling along Oak Street Beach on the Near North
Side. He always dressed in an immaculate white
suit, white shoes and white hat. He wore a red
flower in his lapel, and rain or shine, always car
ried an open red umbrella. Around his neck hung a
gold chain and a large golden clock which he con
sulted frequently.
Another familiar sight in Chicago is an old man,
befit over with years, who wanders with his pet
chicken. The chicken rides on the man's head. To
gether they explore the sidewalks and curbs. I have
seen them all over the city. They appear to be hav
ing a good time.
The eccentrics of our big cities are not hippies.
These are not students dropped out for a semester.
Moft are middle aged or older and have dedicated
themselves to their particular role. They pursue
this role as their occupation. Next time you're in
New York looking for work, talk to Moondog. May
fee he needs an assistant.
i
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After the born loser, the millionaire
New York The immense
nonsurprise of former Vice
President Richard M. Nixon's
announcement of candidacy
does not change the basic
Republican situation one par
ticle. Whereas, the situation
is already being importantly
changed by the perceptible
jelling of Gov. Nelson A.
Rockefeller's intentions for
1968.
To begin at the beginning,
there used to be two quiet
imaginable but highly unlike
ly future developments that
would have made Rockefeller
decide to stay quietly in New
York. One is out of the way
now. Sen. Robert F. Kennedy
has now announced that he
will not contest the Democrat
ic nomination with President
Johnson.
Though no longer more
than academic, this point is
worth mentioning because it
throws light on Rockefeller's
cool self-appraisal. Briefly, he
knows that his main appeal
derives from the Republicans'
hankering for a winner. If
Kennedy had instead decided
to destroy both himself and
his party, the Republicans
could then have been confi
dent of winning with a zombie
at the head of the ticket.
And in that event, Rockefeller
would have lost his main ap
peal. Another development
As for the other possible de
velopment that may still
keep Rockefeller out of the
race, it would be n unexpect
edly good showing in the pri
maries by Gov. George Rom
ney. Rockefeller has pledged
his support to Romney, and
he still means every word of
that pledge. But the fact re
mains that the pledge will be
rendered meaningless if Rom
ney does even half as badly
in New Hampshire as the
pollers have predicted.
In that event, in truth, it
is not impossible that Rom
ney would actually give up
his candidacy, perhaps ask
ing Rockefeller to take over.
It is not widely known, but
JRomney started to withdraw
some months ago, when he
first began to run into bad
trouble. On that occasion
Rockefeller only barely per
suaded him to go foreward.
But this is by the way. The
main point is the increasing
predictability of Rockefeller's
response, if Romney's can
didacy ends in disaster in the
primaries. The argument
about what-to-do-then no long
er concerns candidacy versus
noncandidacy. If Romney
fails. Rockefeller and hie
advisers will instead be of two
minds about how he can best
become a candidate, with the
highest hopes of success at M
ami.
A waiting gam
The point at issue will be
whether to play a waiting
game, or whether to fight the
Oregon primary against Nix
on. All reports indicate that
Rockefeller should have no
trouble beating Nixon in Ore
gon. And Rockefeller's activist-advisers
argue that he
must go into Oregon, in order
to give the Republican gov
ernors and other potential
supporters a standard to ral
ly behind.
The argument of the anti
activists is more subtle a d
complex. It is also far more
important, since it appears
far more likely to convince
Rockefeller. It runs as fol
lows: Subtle argument
First, going into Oregon
would automatically rekindle
the antique feud between the
Republican Party's moderates
and conservatives.
Second, another spasm of
feuding, with all the conser
vative fire aimed at Rocke
feller, would obviously impair
the goernor's chances at Mi
ami, no matter what the re
sult in Oregon. With a split
party, there would also be
doubts about the governor's
ability to beat President John
son. Third, it will, therefore, be
better for Rockefeller to stay
out of Oregon, and to gamble
exclusively on the two factors
that now favor a near-draft.
The first factor is the con
spicous lack of enthusiasm
for Nixon among the great
majority of the 26 Republican
governors, who can only form
up behind the New Yorker if
they do not want the forme
vice president.
The second factor
The second, much more
persuasive factor is the stead
ily increasing evidence that
the winner-loser contrast be
tween Rockefeller and Nixon
is having more impact with
each passing week. For ex
ample, the conservative Rep.
Melvin Laird, who was Barry
Goldwater's strong backer,
would seem am immensely
unlikely Rockefeller enthusi
ast. Yet, Laird has just
been making strong pro
Rockefeller noises.
Again, there is the Gallup
Poll of Republican organiza
tion people. In the last three
months this poll shows that
Nixon has suffered a dizzying
decline, while Rockefeller has
made a handsome gain of no
less than 10 points. In the
very group where Nixon
should be strongest only 55
now favor Nixon, with 41
for Rockefeller and the rest
undecided.
Such are the points know.i
to have impressed Rockefeller
the most. Despite contrary
reports, it can be categorical
ly stated that he has had noth
ing whatever to do with the
write-in drives that have ap
peared in both New Hamp
shire and Oregon. And the
chances are high that he will
simply wait for his party to
come to him which is a
fascinating but far-out gamble.
Graduate viewpoint
Editor's Note: Kenneth
Goldberg is a graduate stu
dent in philosophy and last
semester led a Free Uni
versity course entitled "Mi
nor American Poets." His
column is the first in a se
ries of articles, which will
be contributed by residents
of the graduate floor in
Schramm Tail.
by Kenneth Goldberg
The university is often stu
died as a microcosm reflect
ing the ideals and functions of
the society which supports it.
Ideally, universities are in
stituted to provide a setting
for scholars and students who
seek an understanding of
themselves and their world.
Undoubtedly, many students
enter the university with the
notion that they will be able
to communicate with creative
scholars and intriguing col
leagues. Soon many of these
idealistically inclined students
begin to realize that the uni
versity is a complex insti
tution which is established in
part to meet certain demands
of our society. Besides this,
students begin to realize that
they are not all at the univer-.
sity for the same reasons.
Why am I here? is a ques
tion which is not easily an
swered. Some come without
any particular notion as to
what college is all about.
Mama and Papa said to go;
the war looks pretty bad; and
what sort of job can a high
school graduate get?
Some come for profession
al indoctrination in some pro
fessed vocation. For them al
lege is a vocational training
schoo.l and a degree is more
important than an education.
Some come for the sport of
YR's to meet
Thursday night
Young Republicans will
meet Thursday at 8 p.m. Pro
fessor Arthur Winter will
speak on the contemporary
problems and challenges fac
ing the Republican Party.
The University as microcosm
it all. For them the parental
exclamation, "My college
days were the happiest days
or my me, ecnoes in ineir
minds as they court every
available social activity on
campus.
These possible answers can
partially explain what is found
at the university. The Mama
Papa syndrome prevails. Be
ing a legacy of a fraternity
alumnus almost assures and
in many cases guarantees
admittance at least to a pledg
class. And what better reason
could a dean of students give
for an anti-open house policy
in the dormitories than, "Ma
ma and Papa wouldn't ap
prove"? This Mama - Papa
syndrome has some unfortun
ate side effects.
The typical freshman ar
rives on campus with a copy
of the rush rules in his pocket
but without the vaguest notion
of what he might find inter
esting in the university library
or art gallery.
He has probably been told
that since he was able to
graduate from high school, he
will surely be able to gradu
ate from college. Little does
he know that in most cases
the college classroom situa
tion is substantially different
from that found in the high
school.
At the university, assign
ments are made and profes
sors are available for consul
tation: but the student is ul
timately responsible for his
own education. Professors
and graduate assistants often
encourage personalized edu
cation by posting office hours.
The popular notion that uni
versity professors work in
ivory towers comes to the
campus in the minds of many
freshmen. Little do they know
that professors are often first
class humanists who are con
cerned with patching up ill
thoughts, just as doctors are
concerned with healing sick
bodies.
Since an educated populace
is essential to the survival of
a democracy, the government
has long involved itself in the
education of its people. In
addition, protection against
governmentally controlled ed
ucation has usually been held
in check by placing local
school boards and state legis
latures in control of local af
fairs. Granted that the state uni
versity administrators have
equated an educated society
with a safe society. I submit
that we live in a safe society.
In a safe society only ideas
which are not dangerous to
the established government
are allowed expression. Furth
ermore, the university com
munity as a whole does not
decide what are safe ideas.
Rather, the powers that be
from state legislatures to
boards of regents decide.
On the other hand in the
ideal educational situation, no
idea is supressed. Rather, all
ideas are expressed, evaluat
ed, and refined in an atmos
phere of sincerity and hon
esty. Although university s t u
dents are being educated,
their education is not com
pletely unhampered by the
u n i v e rsity establishment.
Whether this impediment ef
fects the over-all quality of
our educational system is not
the present concern. What we
should all realize, though,
without placing any value
judgments on one or the oth
er, is that the ideal university
and the ideal reasons for com
ing to a university do not al
ways correspond with the ac
tual functions of universities
or the real reasons for at
tending them.
Union walls
to he painted
students
by
Daily Nehraskan
Feb. f, 1M
Vol .1. Ma. u
TKUuPH ONES, Mutt ,72-a5, Newa 472.J6W, BlulnM 47J-B90.
&.KM ti .. .7 . . F emeter or al tor the academic ywr,
yty. Wadnead.y. Waday and Friday during th aghool JTar
meet durlni vacation and nam nwi. h. .. -,,...,.. VT,'
jcept during vacation, and nam parted!, by the atudanu of the UnlverMty
jpruKiicUoo o( the Faculty Subcommittee on Ktudenl
hall Kaa, Jam M.Aa.4i . ai ... . ...
S.1.1. L ln JPf'cUoil o( the Faculty Subcommittee on Ktudenl
tor what uy cauu be prtnid. ' " """ P"
lumber Aaaociated Collegiate Praia. National Educational Advar tiling larvie
.,. , . F.DITORIAI. RTAFF '
: lUl?mVlTitt. Mi lor Jac k To!! Newt Editor Ed Irmotfl,,
Night New Ldiu J. L Schmidt; fcditorial Fag Amliitai!. Jan. Wagoner
A-.tnol Night Nre Editor Wilbur Gentry; S porta Editor Gaor,. Kaufman!
AMUlanl Sport Editor Bonn! Ronnraui New Aeiliuiat lJm Placak
8tJf WrttM-: Jim tvtnger. Barb Martin. Mark Gordon. Jan Parka, JoTo
MoCullouih, Jane Manweil, Andy Cunningham. Jim Padanen, Monica Pokomy.
Phylll ArtkUion, Kent Cockaon, Brent Skinner. Nancy Wood, John Dvorak.
Keith Wllllami! Rraior Copy Editor Lvnn GolUchalk; Copy Ed I tori: Hetay
Fenimor. Dav K.hpi, Jan Dwya, Molly Murrcll, Lou Mary RuaeaUi Photo
raphar Ml Hayman and Dan l-artely.
HfSiNtaS ftTAFF
Butna Manager Glenn Frleodt: Production Manager Charll Jtnxteri Na
Donal Ad Manaaar Imi. Mttrifk. knrf ...it i&H . . V
iioliingaworthi Hulnc Secretary Jan Boatman) fiubacriptlon Manager imt
Li ifWi jj-i n. ' """ ioar, amu' j &riu loan Mutator ,
MMM IT vi ttm.ti I ..
Paints and brushes are the
only materials students will
need to redecorate the Ne
braska Union walls at the wall
paint Feb. 8-10, according to
Peggy Williams, contemp
orary arts chairman.
The temporary construction
walls in the union will serve
as the canvas for the paint
ing project.
The union reserves the
right to remove any display
from the walls.
Further information may be
obtained from Miss Williams
or Carol Graham of the con
temporary arts committee.
East Union hosts
Stanley Einstein
Dr. Stanley Einstein will be
featured Thursday at East Un
ion. Speaking in the auditori
um, the topic of his lecture
is stated to be drugs.
Dr. Einstein, who heads
New York State's Institute for
the Study of Drug Addiction,
Is being sponsored by East
Campus Special Events.
Rodney Poivell ...
Sugar Crisp
or Wheat Chex
While others worried about vital University
problems, I found myself troubled by the same old
trivia.
Will it be Sugar Crisp or Wheat Chex this mor
ning, will June Gale recover from pneumonia and
so on throughout the day. So I decided to do some
thing about it. My first attempt to break out of my
unconcerned mold was to start wearing a "Don't
Knock Dean Snyder" button, but that didn't do any
good people only laughed and said "Who'd want
to?"
I am
a Walrug
Badly shaken by this initial failure, I went home
and stumbled upon an ad for Playboy. The words
jumped out at me: "You're a Playboy Man You
dig lively interchange on controversial issues en.
joy daring dialogue by people creating excitement,
creating news . . . And you carry it off beautifully
with women."
The answer
I siopped right there. I was in a cold sweat.
This was what I had been searching for, this was
The Answer it had been there all the time, hid
among pages of undulating, undraped bodies. All I
had to do was have a few lively Interchanges and
a couple of Daring Dialogues and I would be set.
A new world was opening up for me; tomorrow
I would begin, tomorrow I would be a new man,
I would like the jazz beat, my wit would be wry.
Hope was springing all over my chest, and it was
beginning to hurt like hell.
Lively interchange
That night, I dreamed about my first Lively
Interchange. I was in a small, sparsely furnished
room. The door was closed But who was I have the
Lively Interchange with? Her figure began to
emerge in the dim light of the room. No, it couldn't
be! I strained to hear what was she saying? "The
door must be open, the door must be open" she
kept repeating it, slowly advancing toward me,
meat cleaver in hand. I woke up screaming. This
wasn't my idea of a fun lively Interchange.
Buckle down, Winsocki (I sometimes called my
self that in moments of stress) I told myself. It
was just a dream. And even if Lively Interchanges
failed, there were still Daring Dialogues. I went
through the day, smiling cheerfully and asking ev
eryone I met if they wanted to have a little Lively
Interchange or a swell Daring Dialogue. No re
sponses. I went home discouraged.
Darins dialogue
I felt much better after a cup of Ovaltine was
in my stomach. So I had failed. After all, tomorrow
was another day. Refreshed in spirit, renewed in
hope, I went to bed. Soon visions of a grandiose Dar
ing Dialogue were dancing in my head (an old soft
shoe routine to "Tea for Two" quite good too). A
portly, middle-aged man was pointing at a certain
bathroom fixture and shouting "The University's go
ing to pot, the University's going to pot, the Uni
versity's going to pot."
Suddenly he had a plumber's friend in his hand
and was approaching me, smiling hideously and
making strange, menacing gestures with the self
same plumber's friend. I woke up screaming.
I gave up my plans shortly after that. No more
Lively Interchanges or Daring Dialogues for me.
My life was ruined. Then I saw an ad in the mor
ning paper. It promised adventure, excitement, ro
mance. This was what I had been looking for. It's
done wonders for me, and I expect to be successful
any day now. Yes, my search for the Great Ameri
acan Navel is almost over.
If any of you readers out there want to get in
on the fun, the number in New York is Plaza 234
0829. Good Luck, and remember, a clean navel builds
strong bodies twelve ways.
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiipj
(Campus opinion!
& g
Editor's Note: The Daily Nebraskan reserves the
right to edit any letters submitted for publication.
No unsigned letters will be published, although a
pen name may be used in certain cases.
Dear Editor:
It is not often that the potential power of 5,000
students hinges around two dates. The first is
Feb. 8, by which time candidates must file for
IDA elections. The second is Feb. 16, the day of
the IDA elections.
Student leaders in University residence halls
have almost succeeded in killing this organization.
Rather than remembering that IDA was their or
ganization to mold, they have only acted under fear
of what IDA might do to the "sovereign dorms."
At a time when "dormies" are ready to emerge
from the mire of apathy, at a time when they are
mature enough to become responsible campus citi
zens, their own leaders have deserted them by set
ting up isolationist shells within individual dorms
and blaming IDA for inaction.
How can a resident say IDA is doing nothing
for him or his dorm when his own representatives
will not attend meetings, present ideas or even
run for IDA executive office if they do see faults?
Put up good candidates on the 8th and vote for
them on the 16th. And make your representatives
serve you rather than preserve isolation.
,. John Fryar
Dear Editor:
I have refrained from shooting the white rab
bits in my backyard, because I thought it might
disturb my neighbor next door who likes to watch
the animals and does not know anything about
them.
But now that Terrible Joseph has come and
wishes to save us all from the sins of ourselves,
I can no longer mow the grass in my landlady's
backyard, because I no longer have the trust in
xny roommate that I once had.
I may be busted for drying the grass before
I rake it up if he sees me and is stimulated by the
emotions of Joseph.
Is there nothing incredible enough to dissolve
the crystalizing outrage of Terrible Joe?
Adam Craft
