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Summer Nebraska.!
Tuesday, June 11 1968
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Superman is dying.
University students 'are
already preparing for his
funeral and plan to place him
fa an unmarked grave.
Just who are supermen,
heroes or ego models?
According to Webster's a
hero is a man admired and
emulated for his
achievements and qualities.
Students' reactions are far
more diversified .in their
definitions of heroes. Most
reject the word "hero" and
substituted the word
"leader." "Ours is an age of
questioning minds," one coed
answered, "and the need for
an inspiring person to channel
the energies and creativity of
young people will be neces
sary for the success of our
generation."
Another student felt a hero
is someone who is physically
and mentally superior and
someone who has a great deal
of wealth with time to engage
in unusual activities.
1 No one can be a real hero
until he has died for a cause
or for his country, asserted
one student.
Professor Alan P. Bates,
chairman of the Department
of Sociology, at the University
of Nebraska where the poll
was conducted, believes the
term hero is too old-fashion
ed. It implies a person who
can do no wrong and in this
sense is obsolete, he said.
Of the students polled, 309fc
said they do not have any
heroes at all. And the validity
of some who claim they do
have heroes can be doubted
because of the initial reac
tion to taking the poll.
"But I haven't got a hero
to my name," objected one
student who proceeded to list
four men on the questionaire.
A typical reaction was, "Oh
yes! Now what is his name?
I just can't remember."
Other responses were:
"You've got to be kidding."
"I never really thought about
it." "All I can think of is
Superman or Mickey Mouse."
"Anyone who is a dove is my
hero." "Surely, I must have
a hero." "I guess I'll have
a hero so I don't have to
answer the next question."
"What if I can't spell his
name?"
Few people simply sat down
to think about the questions
seriously without comment.
variety of Heroes
The list of heroes ' students
finally arrived at covered the
wide range of founding
fathers, George Washington;
philosophers such as Ghandi;
humanitarians like Dr. Tom
Dooley; sportsmen, Arnold
Palmer; entertainers, Bob
Hope for example; and more
current men such as Dr.
Campus
Receives
Visitors
Each summer the
University of Nebraska is
host to hundreds of the state's
most talented high school
students.
Over 400 All-Staters, who
enroll in summer courses in
music, speech, art and
journalism, will live on the
campus from June 9 through
June 27.
The students will represent
134 Nebraska high schools.
Eight hundred boys and
girls, from nearly every high
school in the state, will
participate in the annual
Boys' State and Girl's State
program in mid-June.
The lab school at Lincoln's
East High School will enroll
nearly 800, according to
summer sessions director,
Frank Sorenson.
The elementary summer
school at McPhee is expecting
at least 300 youngsters, he
said.
"Also, the University ex
pects from seven to eight
hundred recent high school
graduates to get a head start
on their college careen,
Sorenson said.
This represents almost
twice as many June high
school graduate . than last
year who enrolled at the
university in summer.
g
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: mm
atever Happened
The hero is vanishing in American college students' way of judging idealism.
The late Robert F. Kennedy, and his late brother, John, were both mentioned
in a recent hero-poll at NU. The study showed that students were more in
terested in the man's ideas than the man himself. (Photo by Mike Hayman)
Christian Barnard and Rap
Brown.
Leading the list of those
who have heroes is predic
tably the late President John
F. Kennedy who was men
tioned by 41 of the students
polled. Abraham Lincoln
ranked second with votes of
respect from 25 of the
students. "My dad" toppled
into third place by
commanding loyalty from
13. Dr. Albert Schweitzer
and Sen. Robert Kennedy
came next with 11 each.
while 57c of the students
named Sen. Eugene"
McCarthy and Eisenhower to
their lists.
The list includes 65 other
names but none of them could
muster enough support to be
worth mentioning. Fifty
persons in this group were
mentioned only once. Presi
dent Lyndon B. Johnson and
Richard Nixon received only
one vote apiece.
None of the astronauts were
mentioned and neither was
the late Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr., nor "my mother."
There was a greater con
sensus of opinion among the
girls than among the boys.
The heroes listed by the
girls include: John F. Ken
nedy, mentioned by 449b of
the girls; Abraham Lincoln,
D wight D. Eisenhower, 14;
Robert Kennedy, Eugene
McCarthy and Dad each had
11; Jacquelyn Kennedy,
Paul Newman and Thomas
Jefferson followed with 8
each.
Kennedy's Popular
For the boys heroes were:
John F. Kennedy, 3 6;
Abraham Lincoln, 20; Dad,
16; Robert Kennedy and
Winston Churchill with 12
each; Dr. Tom Dooley,
Robert E Lee. Pope John
XXIII and Teddy Roosevelt
were each favored by 8 of
the boys.
Most of the girls equated
Robert Kennedy and Eugene
McCarthy; if they mentioned
one, they usually mentioned
the other. The boys ignored
McCarthy completely, and
admired their fathers more
than the girls did.
"Serenity
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BE AN AGGRESSIVE READER
THE "NOW" PEOPLE
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READING DYNAMICALLY
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An ' interesting trend
emerges as students are
divided by classes. Fifty-eight
per cent of the freshmen ad
mire John F. Kennedy. Other
heroes listed were Abraham
Lincoln, 42; Dr. Albert
Schweizer, 16; and Dr. Tom
Dooley, Robert Kennedy,
Thomas Jefferson and Steve
McQueen were each men
tioned by 10.
The sophomores rank John
F. Kennedy first also. He was
listed by 47 of this class.
Dear ol' Dad was second with
27 class support; Abraham
Lincoln, 29; and Dustin
Hoffman, 3.
John F. Kennedy and
Robert Kennedy tied for first
ChurchUl I
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to Superman'
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Pope John XXIII
on the Juniors list with 25
class support. Abraham Lin
coin, Eugene McCarthy,
Dwight D. Eisenhower and
Paul Newman were each
favored by 20 of the class;
Dr. Albert Schweizer, 5;
and Dr. Christian Barnard,
Dad, Sir Thomas Moore and
Teddy Roosevelt with 10
each.
The seniors could only
agree upon two men, John F,
Kennedy and Winston
Churchill, who were sup
ported equally by 28 of the
class. All others mentioned by
Exclusively
this class received only one
vote apiece.
Exact percentages are not
as important as the trends
which they indicate.
Trends Noticeable
The most noticeable trend
is that as students becom
older they become more
critical and objective. Twice
as many freshmen and
sophomores look up to John
F. Kennedy in comparison
with the Juniors and seniors
This trend shows up again in
another area.
When students were divided
Into interest groups according
to their major area of study,
other predictable trends
showed through. Those in the
medical area tended to list
more humanitarians and
doctors, such as Dr. Dooley,
Dr. Barnard. Dr. Schweizer
and Abraham Lincoln.
Political science and history
majors had diverse reactions
but stayed within the political
realm. Four men Winston
Churchill. John Kennedy,
Robert Kennedy and Thomas
Jefferson were each men
tioned by 20 of the student
and all others received one
vote apiece. Others mentioned
included Lenin, Thoreau,
Percy and Andrew Jackson.
For students in engineering
and architecture, father came
first in front of John F. Ken
nedy, Abraham Lincoln, Pope
John XXIII and Teddy
Roosevelt.
Looking at the overall pic
ture, most of the heroes
mentioned more often by
students are those who have
died. The reasons for this
trend will be examined later.
Those without any heroes
at all gave several reasons
for their point of view. Most
felt they had outgrown their
need for heroes, yet felt that
they wre necessary for the
younger generation.
"Heroes are necessary for
little kids but not for older
people. It's good for kids to
have somebody to look up to
and adore; it gives them an
incentive for hard work. An
older person should make
more stable goals." a
freshman boy replied.
"I feel we should all admire
and respect someone, possibly
someone from another
generation, but I do not feel
we should put someone on a
pedestal as a hero would be
Enough ' persona Isatisfaction
should be gained from living
our own lives in the manner
we see fit, a senior girl
Reject WorihipplBg
Most rejected the concept
of hero worshipping. They
prefer to base admiration
upon ethical standards and
human dignity rather than on
personality appeal. A
charismatic leader simply
does not exist.
Individuality is emphasized
with high standards and
values as the guide.
Of those who said they have
no heroes, 58 said they felt
a need for leadership of some
kind. But not the kind of
leader who is reversed as if
he had no human weaknesses.
The majority of seniors,
60, said they did not have
any heroes as compared to
24 of the freshmen who
denied having heroes. This re-1
Traditionally
sound education
with a modern
point of riew
Nebraska' &sst ad Meet iwt&rv
Iwinesi CeSege with cesnalet
Courses Cffertl la
Private Secretarial Professional Accounting
Executive Secretarial Business Administration
Stenographic Accounting
General Basinets
Approve! far Vifsrs
incoln ScliGo!
i::i x itt9 mUM
NET Journal Probes U.S. Violence
In Aftermath of RFK Assassination
People who missed Monday
night Educational rplaylstan
special. . 'This Question
Violence," will be able to see
a videotape replay of tne live
hour long documentary on
the Nebraska ETV altwork
tonight at 10:30.
The special was b e 1 n
prepared at Prt of the NET
JOURNAL series for fall sir
ing. it ii hatng prsanted noi
specifically in the aftermath
assassination.
The program probes the
toots ol violence in Amarioan
life, seeking a cultural and
historical basis to answer th
emphasizes tht fact thjt t
students grow oldfr a 4
broaden thair aducatioa they
become mora objectively
critical.
Why does Superman hav
0 do aeaa ro m commute
a hero? What is the reason
for the lack of supermen
todav? Why is Superman's
bust gently balanced oa thf
edge of Its pedestal and when
wiUitfauanacruroDiff
With today's methods
modern communication, few
public figures ean evidf tht
dare of nryift eves. Even
Georee Washington cannot
escape eriucism as mf
relentless public reviews re
cent articles about some of
' . . a. t
his scandalous escaped1
More Realistic
Professor Bates explains
the ick of living heroes, by
pointing professor Bates
explains the lack of uving
heroes by pointing out the
fact that dead men aren
here to be stained by publici
ty. Young people are oecom
ine more realistic about
human behavior. They f ee the
good points yet ere aiso more
aware ol the bad points than
their fathers had been.
This poll was taken before
the assassination of Dr.
Martin King. Jr. and he
wasn't mentioned by any pf
the students. Later some of
the same students who were
questioned discussed Dr.
King, declaring that he had
been a remarkable man and
commanded much of their
respect
Today's youth are cynical
of the public relations system
s urrounding political can
didates. Set up m glorious
leaders, they, art more, likely
to Detonsiaerea pnony; uaxes
speculates.
This if not an age of heroes
for contemporaries, com
paratively speaking. There is
an enduring need lor nerees
but the social situation
defines the heroes of Our
time. Bates said. T
Students no longer look up
to people as idols, they do
look at their ideas and
philosophy, analyze them and
aaopt inose wtucn uey una
acceptable.
They don't so mucb criticize
human failingi as they take
these failings in stride and
examine them with
unillusioRed objectivity.
Superman is dying and he
may oe placed in an un
marked grave because it isn't
the man who is important but
ratner bis ideals and the
values he stood for.
of Ccirc
question: Is , this a viqlent
society?
. It , contains portions of a
seminar filmed during the
weekend of June 1-2 in Los
Angeles,; at which the subject
of violence was discussed by
anthropoliglst Margaret
Mead, psychologist Bruno
Bettilheini, hlstrolal Daniel
poorstein, author Paul Jacobs
(the New Radicals).
psychiatrist Alvin Poussaint
of tufts University and Dr.
Ralph Greeson of UCLA
Medical School.
A segment fumed at a
Detroit hospital for violent
children studies the innate
character aggression and
Its
life
influences in American
Richard McCutcheon of
NET Will host the program,
which may include Uve in
terview relative to the
documentary.
IiW anSTKROQERe' NEIGHBORHOOD
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tart kli Cliairav Campaum. (We-T
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haw CMamoa abjaota ralata t ayary.
T aopilritiorn of adanca. (NET)
prf Cliraaaa rvtl ,
rji ravlaw Osaplaa bjoho Updike.
7i AMCTICA (0W) ,
-'RIHta 1J M naa an arnirn.ir
tour" 4 m at the wartd'a Teat
- i rrMetace. Vwara will
aruaarmaa'a Waarl, ChlBatewn,
Oaia Park. tM other fa mom
eaue vauu r-r' v a awvivun vm j
FRANCIS BACON SAID:
"We do not understand
Nature by staring at
her, but by interrogating
her:
Are you frying to
understand by staring
' of books?
;:ic2 cur full page ad
tlpOti READING DYfiElICS
WE NEVER CLOSE
AT
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LOWEST PRICES
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No Better Gas Sold
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DIVIDEND HONDED GAS
16th fir P Sts. :;
JUST SOUTH OF CAMPUS
dish, "Paella I'Amarlcaine." Th
- French Chef haa ralected food that
are available In every aoperniarlut
. to (I this one-pot. Mnleh atyla. etc
dinner. (NET)
J:M HOUSE AND HOME
Hoateaa Janet Hun and her xuert
Dr. Hani Fox rilaruM the resulta
of ttie rioeth Central Henloji nutrlticn
research project on eallnx hnbila
of pre-schnol children. (U of N '
:00 NET FESTIVAL
"Choplm A Quaitlun of Stature" ex
antinea the romantic lexand urnun
dlnx the Polih miapoaer'a life and
Vaiary, In hia first American
television ppearanee,. Is the featured
artist. (NET)
(Color)
"The Missile Navy'' focosea on the
history of Navy rocket and missile
development. Narrated by Chat
ItMMtl.U
10:30 NET JOURNAL
"TMe question of Violence"
Wednesday, Jane It
StM MISTEROOERS' NEIGHBORHOOD
Chef Brockett makes some Ml and
little rainbow - cookies, and Kind
lltterbaakets. (NET)
5:30 THE SWEnMH SCENE
Viewer catch xllmpaea of bird,
animals, and flowers aaalnst a
background of mountains and glaclera
In Sarek, one of flweden'e national
parks.
1:00 THU! CREATIVE PERSON
Touch Clay A C e r a m I e
Eiperience eaplores the works amt
personality of ceramldat Dlk
Schwanke. (NET)
:N WHAT'S NEW
"International MsKilnc" Mill
presents a panorama of chlldren'e
actlvltle mm uenmars:, vxmam,
France, Greece, Italy. SwUterland.
United Klnxdom, and Germany.
(NET)
T:00 HANS THE PUPPET
MASTER Puppetmaater Hani Schmidt
demonstrates how to prepare ft
performance with paper bad PUPPtta,
(CKN)
7:30 TIME FOR LIVING
Hosta Richard Thorn bury and Herman
seinwenn oner paints 10 consiosr
when choosing wher to live. Thld
program ooncludes (he series. (NET)
1:00 BLACK JOURNAL (Color)
This munthlv series, utillilnf a
maiiaiine format, re porta 0 n
achievements and attitudes of black
Americans, ranging from the arts
to politic, and from education te
employment. (NET)
:W FRIENDS AT MY DOOR
This program shows the opportunity
available to Nebraskana to promote
International understanding through
Continued on Page 5
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