FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1968
PAGE 2
THE DAILY NEBRASKAM
On apathy:
an epitaph
A long time ago, when today's book-weary
seniors were wide-eyed, pledge pinned freshmen,
every time the editor of the Nebraskan couldn't
think of anything else to write, he tackled apathy.
"You students aren't concerned," he would say.
"You just don't give a damn. Why don't you do
something?"
But that was a long time ago, when the grass
was green and the war was just starting and only
Watts was burning. That was v. hen editors could
still chirp about closing 14th street or building
more parking lots without feeling silly. That was
before SDS and before Chicago and before Robert
Kennedy.
Apathy had its roots In the 1950's, in Dwight
Eisenhower's administration, in panty raids and
pledgeship. Everyone condemned it, but nothing
changed.
THEN CAME THE WAR and Che Guevara and
Eugene McCarthy and Mark Rudd and Robert
Kennedy and Chicago and Carl Davidson.
Somewhere between Khe Sanh and Selma,
Alabama, apathy died, as it had lived, quietly.
As the New Left grew, the Old Right became
more belligerent. There were still the books and
the fraternity parties and AWS. But now there
was Hyde Park and the rag went commie and
the ASUN president acted like he knew who Frantz
Fanon was and sort of admired Che Guevara.
A bunch of people bought flowers for their
cars and went to McCarthy rallies and worked
for Bruce Hamilton. Apathy was buried beneath
the soils of Nebraska, and everything was changing.
Everyone was convinced we could do better and
was going to work to make sure it happened.
AND OF COURSE the students' new-found
desire to participate began to show everywhere.
Eugene McCarthy won the Democratic nomination
and was elected President. We pulled all our troops
out of Vietnam. Racism came to an end in Nebraska
and across the nation. George Wallace and Ronald
Reagan became forgotten men. Eldndge Cleaver
was granted a full professorship at the University
of California.
The administration agreed to allow the students
to control student fees, women's hours and
dormitory rules. Ernie Chambers was elected to
the Omaha School Board. Lewis Hershey was
replaced by Dick Gregory as Director of the Selec
tive Service.
As the writers had predicted, the world, after
apathy was buried, became a much better place
in which to live.
Ain't it wonderful? JackTodd
The twelve days
of Christmas . . .
by Jim Evlnger
This Christmas season heralds two things :
-to most of the world it signifies a special
Ito many of the University's fraternity pledges
it marks an intensification of physical and mental
hazing as a pre-finals climax to pledgeship.
The pledges of one house, for instance, will
probably begin today a "Christmas Party" thrown
annually by their actives. The "party" is unique
in that it features mental and physical strain. A
group of actives, feigning anger with the world
and espousing the "Old Guard" brand of pledgeship,
will begin a week-long performance.
In the past, about six actives have taken over
a floor of the house, indulging themselves in a
destructive and senseless spree. Prompted by fear
of chastisement by and alienation from the actives,
pledges undergo pushups on floors covered with
broken beer bottles.
Mental stress supplements physical dangers in
this "Christmas Party:"
sometimes a fist fight is staged between the
six and the house president;
the housemother, after being serenaded with
obscene songs, moves out (in accordance with the
plan of the "party;)
in recent years a robbery of the house
treasurer's safe has been staged by the six in
front of a pledge who is forced to witness the
affair. He is threatened with physical harm if he
reveals what he has seen.
Though this 40-year-old tradition and other
spects of the house's pledge program are in direct
opposition to its nationally stated policies, the
"party goes on with full knowledge and consent
of alumni, at the local and national level. Local
chapter alumni also participate in the "party."
Xhe pledges are emotionally torn between bolting
the chapter and putting up with the emotional
and physical pressures. It is a paradoxical situation
that pledges must undergo such activities in the
name of friendship.
A number of houses are moving away from
this type of malevolent hazing which has been
rationalized as brotherhood and kinship. Many of
these houses, which are moving towards a pro
gressive pledge education program, are suffering
transitional pains. There is conflict in members
with traditional attitudes attempting to Implement
progressive programs.
Criticism can be levelled at this one particular
house, but many, in varying degrees, also permit
such practices. In the arcane and antiquated
vernacular of pledgeship, there la "no excuse" for
houses not to actively seek the remedy of this situa
tion. Houses who have signed the IFC Pledge Contract
and ignore its principles should commit themselves
to the Ideas outlined in the contract. '
The purpose of pledgeship Is not to train pledges
to become actives who will train pledges to become
active who will tra'n 'edges. . .
Too long have Greeks emphasized the freshman
bv constructing oledgeshlo programs. Too Ion? have
tipoerclassmen thought such programs Irrelevant
to their lives. There would be value and meaning
for all members of a house if a fraternity program
was implemented. Pledge education can be an In
tegral part of this without being the vocal point
of house activity.
Any external pressure trill not change compla
cent attitudes. Change must be from within the
house. Progress must be now.
Greek houses that fail to move forward are
Bot only stagnant, but actually losing ground at
site expense of Sheir members.
'Why don't you write a letter to the editor . . . V
Ed
itorials
C
oinniinniinitairj
George Kaufman
How straight can you get?
The STS (Students for The
Society) meeting came to
order, sort of.
"Now," said Dave Bundle,
radical sort-of president,
"we're here tonight to revive
STS on this campus and do all
sorts of radical things just
like we see going on on other
campuses on the Huntley-'
Brinkley Report every night."
"But how are we going to
do that?" asked a coed in
credulously. "After all, this is
Nebraska, not Columbis or
Burkley."
"I know, I know," replied
Bundle. "But I've just read
the latest Ramparks in
terview with Mark Rude and
I've got a lot of good ideas.
First, we're going to work for
equality for blacks."
"But," interrupted the
same caed, "we couldn't even
get one Negro . . . that is, ah,
black ... to come to our
meeting."
"Well, never mind that,"
said Bundle. "We'll work on
that later. Right now, let's
attack ROTSEE on campus.
Any suggestions as to how to
do it?"
"How about we burn down
the M and M Building?" sug
gested one member, turning
ta page 97 of his paperback
autobiography of Jerry Rub
bage. "No, we can't do anything I
might get arrested for,"
answered Bundle. "I've got to
student teach next semester
and that would look bad on
my record."
"How about we all burn our
draft cards on the steps of the
M and M Building?" asked
another.
"N'a," contered the guy sit
ting next to him. "My draft
board is considering my Two
Ess deferrment right now and
that would really sack it.
Besides, my parents would
stop sending money."
"Also," protested one of the
coeds, "we girls couldn't take
part in it."
"Well," said Bundle, "then
we'll all think about it and I'll
appoint Fred to head a com
mittee to receive suggestions
and he can report back at
next month's meeting."
"I can't do that," objected
Fred. "I sent in my draft
card last month and I'll be in
trial next month."
"Let's march around with
wooden guns and attack
ROTSEE for fighting with
guns instead of ideas," of
fered another.
"We can't do that," said
Bundle. "Then I'd have to get
rid of all my Jay Guevara
posters and burn my copy of
the Jay Guevara Diary."
Suddenly a young man
stood up.
"Why," he said as attention
focused on him, "can't we
just meet ROTSEE intellec
tually instead of trying to
stage a circus all the time:"
"Man," muttered Bundle,
as the group filed out of the
room glaring at the young
man, "how straight can you
get?"
SDS asks that academic
credit for ROTC be taken
away as a first step towards
removing the military from
the University all together.
We believe that ROTC in
herently opposes the ideals of
free inquiry on which this
university is based.
One of the prime functions
of the military is to instill
obedience and a fearful
respect for regulations. The
Reserve Officer Training
Corps teaches c a 1 1 e g e
students to expect and de
mand this obedience from
their underlings while at the
same time obeying blindly
orders from this type of obe
dience. IT IS ALL TOO easy to
follow orders without thinking
of the consequences when
obedience to military regula
tion is placed 'an a higher
level than a man's cons
cience. A man who wouldn't
think of harming a child
napalms both children and
their mothers in Vietnam
because he has been taught
not to think and not to ques
tion his orders. So we see that
while on the one hand the
university promotes free in
quiry and Intellectual honesty
tvn the other hand, through the
ROTC program, it promotes
blind servility and an undue
respect for regulation.
After obedience ROTC
teaches conformity. A
university strives to promote
an atmosphere where differ
ing points of view can be
brought up and discussed.
ROTC forces conformity down
the thiv-ats of its students. Not
only are there strict uniform
and personal appearance
regulations but ROTC also
tries to regulate the minds of
its students by constantly
drilling on what political and
sociological thought is cor
rect. Differing opinions are stifl
ed. Several freshman students
were told by their instructors
nftt to accept literature being
passed out by the Nebraska
Draft Resistance Union.
Dissentors in ROTC are
quickly shown that they had
better conform to the norm if
they want to get anywhere.
MANY A SENIOR ROTC
student can be spotted as
he unconsciously marches
around campus. Such action
is indicative of the state of his
mind. He has been so instilled
with the r i g h t n e s s or
wrongness W things like
marching or political thought
that his mind is closed to dif
ferent ideas. We see that this
unthinking conformity to a
standard is diametrically op
posed to the ideals of in
dividuality on which this
country is based.
In the last six years there
have been two Kennedys
murdered, Martin Luther
King killed, and riots and
campus disorders in every
major city in the country.
People act perplexed at all
the violence and dash fran
tically around trying to throw
violence out of the culture.
They censor television,
movies, comic strips, and
children's books.
But this fights only the
symptoms of the disease
leaving the disease itself un
touched. People ignore the
fact that American
universities teach the violence
of Hiroshima the violence
of Vietnam to its students,
tomorrow's leaders! As long
as the university trains men
in violence, attempts to curb
violence in other areas will go
for nothing.
PEOPLE WHO TRY to
defend ROTC on at least a
semi-rational basis usually
point out that ROTC is strictly
on a voluntary basis and that
the student can take it or
leave it. This argument
stands up under only the most
superficial examination. Ac
tually the most vicious forms
of coercion are used to attract
students to ROTC.
Besides -spreading pro
paganda about the All-
Daily Nebraskan
Second-daw (out paid at Unoern, Nek.
TELEPHONE Editor 47J-MM. Urn m-XSm, Bottom 7-I5M.
Addmn oomsrnondenee to Da'ly Nebraekan, Room II, Stadett Union, Vatvanttf
at Nebraaka. Uncola, Nebraaka 0.
SalwcrlptlM rate are 4 per w mooter er' to for the aeademle .
Pahliahed Monday. Wednesday, Thareday and rrtdajr dvrtae the acbool year
except darlna eaeatton and exam aertoda by the etadent of the OnlTeraiiy
of Nbraka under Uie kjrliwllctton of the Faculty Subcommittee ea Stadent
PuMlcatlone PuMlcattona ahall be free front eeiuorehlp by tbe MbeofnmiHee
or any pertron antatde the Itnlreretty Uembare at fee Nebraska are reapoaeiM
tor what they enaae to be printed
Member Aeeoeuted Collegia) Pre. NattonaJ EdacaHoaaJ AdrartUini tenia.
Editorial Staff
Editor Jack Todd; Manuring Edttai d lei
leeaotlei
chalk: Nlehl Neva Rdltnr Kent Coekeoai Editorial Pace Amietant Molli Marrelli
A intent Night New Editor Joh Krandai S porta Editor Hark Gordon i Aoaietanl
New Editor Lynn Gotte-
afe A mutant
Sporia Editor Randy Vorki Nebraska Start Writer Jim Evtnger, John Dvorak,
Larry Erkhott. Georee Kaurman, Julie Morrta, Jim Pederaen, Terry Gmbe, Bill
Smltherman, Connie Wlnkleri Senior Copy Kdltor Joan Wagoneri Copy Edtbira
Phyllle Adklaaon, Dave Flllpt. Jane Wagoner, Andrea Wood; Photography Chief
Dan Ladelyt Photographer i. E. Shawi Artlat Qall P tetanias.
Business Staff
Barineea Mmafar J L. Schmklti hook keeper Roger Boyet pradacttoa Mae-
atter John Fiemlngj National Ad Manager Frtti Shoemaker Bnatneaa Secretary
and Claaained Ade Linda Ulrichi Hvbeertptlrra Manager Jaa boatmen i Circulation
Manager Ron Pavetka. Rick Doram Advertising Mepreaertatlrefl Meg Brown
Joel Davie. Oieaa tVteadt, Maacy CulUlaU, Daa Leaker, Ted Slaaghtar,
American army officer and
bringing in unwitting coeds to
make it look 1 1 k e a social
organization, ROTC recruits
by threatening with the draft.
The bedazzled sophomore
looks at the draft, the coeds,
the montly paycheck and
signs the next six years of his
life away. There are many
senior ROTC men around who
wish they could go back and
make the decision about going
advanced again.
Four years of the service
after graduation doesn't
seem so bad until you're
about to graduate. Right
boys? It's obvious that
pressures like the monthly
paycheck and the draft take
away much of the element of
choice and work towards
pushing the sophomore ROTC
student into signing his future
and maybe his life away
at a time when he may not
yet have had a chance to see
opposing views-
SOONER OR LATER any
one advocating the end of
ROTC must face the agru
ment, "But what do you guys
want to do anyway? Give up
our armies and let the com
munists take over?" Some
day this argument will be
looked on with the same con
tempt that the Joe McCarthy
era is now viewed with, but
for now it remains the In
dignant and instant reply to
anyone talking about ending
ROTC.
a a
There are other good
arguments against the in
timate involvement between
the military and the
university, and the points ad
vanced here could be ex
panded ten times. If you have
additional ideas or want to
help talk to us. SDS and
America needs you now ! ,
Pete Johnson
Dave Bunnell
Inside report . . .
Nixon and
governors
by Rowland Evans and Robert Novak
Palm Springs, Calif. As President-elect Nixon
met privately with Republican Governors last Fri
day afternoon during their winter meeting here,
outspoken Gov. Norbert Tiemann of Nebraska
brought into the open what was foremost in their
minds.
It is essential, Tiemann politely told Nixon,
for the new President to communicate effectively
with the people. Consequently, Tiemann continued,
wouldn't it be a good idea if he worked through
the 31 Republican Governors to reach the people?
WITHOUT MAKING commitments, Nixon nod
ded agreement. But Tiemann's question reflected
apprehension about the President-elect on two levels
which was informally but widely discussed among
the Governors here.
On one level, the Governors recognize that Nix
on received little pre-convention .support from them,
never had been close to them, and might well ignore
them from the White House. But on a deeper
level, the Governors were worried that Nixon's
personal isolation from everybody but his intimates
during both the campaign and the transition period
might continue during his Presidency, to his great
disadvantage.
Actually. Nixon did much to still these fears
Fridav when he met all 31 Governors in small
groups at the Palm Springs home of Walter An
nenberg. publisher of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
NIXON PROMISED THE Governors they would
have control of Federal patronage in their states
He pledged that the often slipshod liaison between
statehouses and the White House during the Johnson
administration would be improved with Vice
President-elect Spiro T- Agnew as the go-between.
To the puzzlement of some Governors, Nixon told
them he planned to keep them abreast of foreign
affairs developments.
Most important was the image of quiet con
fidence he gave. In private conversation over
cocktails here some Governors had expressed fear
that Nixon was afraid of the burdens of the
Presidency. His performance Friday dispelled such
worries.
After those meetings Nixon aides slipped out
the reassuring word that Governors will plav a
big role in the Administration. Anart from t h e
aDDointment of Governors to the Cabinet .they were
informed a high post will be found for the defeated
Gov. John Chaffee of Rhode Island, immensplv
popular with his colleagues perhaps as director
of the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEOV
WHILE LEAVING Palm Springs less appre
hensive than when they arrived, however, the
Governors were not fully satisfied. They complained
that the President-elect for all his reassurances
gave precious little hard information in the
meetings at the Annenberg home. "He talked in
directly in parables, you might sav." one
.Governor told us.
Moreover, some Governors are still muttering
about the Nixon campaign which, in many states,
drained almost all Republican campaign money.
When Governors seeking election pleaded for funds,
they were told that they could ride home on Nixon's
coattails. Thus, those who in fact ran ahead of
Nixon are now self-righteous about it.
Such aggravation has been compounded in the
transition period when Governors, including the
few who backed Nixon for the nomination had
almost no contact with the President-elect until
the Palm Springs meeting. That gave rise to their
fear that he will be isolated by his buttoned-down
young aides in the White House.
WITH THIS BACKDROP, the Governors here
were surprisingly guerulous on relatively minor
matters. Western Governors grumbled about a
possible non-Westerner as Secretary of the Interior
farm Governors grumbled about a possible non
farmer as Secretary of Agriculture; most
Governors grumbled about Nixon's long-range in
tention to purge Ray Bliss as Republican National
Chairman.
Besides, all did not go as well here between
Nixon and the Governors as was advertised An
imaginative plan by the Governors to place their
representatives in all departments of the Federal
government to facilitate state-Federal relations was
eviscerated by Agnew's staff, apparently acting
under the Nixon staff's direction.
Once the Nixon administration actually begins
so almost surely will the traditional honeymoon
period start. Then, the complaints of the Governors
probably will turn to cheers. But the unease they
displayed at Palm Springs shows that the image
left by the Nixon campaign and transition period
poses more of a problem than Nixon insiders
suspect.
CI Wl PabHihen-HaD yadleato
Student power
are unable to pay. Most of these people S
a better life and with the proper kind of he?n
tZSfTt a.betttr quaI,ty hVproiS
kind of help is given them. v 1
"The Past several years have seen the rise nf
"Student Power." It has manifested i t g el f ,?n
demonstrations, disorders, campus take-overs and
political campaigns its effect, have been profound
- not always prudent, but profound. Were the
?"lf ffrgies directed in waging war on poverty,
the battle could be won.
STUDENT POWER WOULD be a positive, rele
vant force which could in the near future win
the war on poverty. The demonstrations have had
hSI , yLthe.have gerved the,r PurPose. The
time for the sit-in, walk-in, yell-in is over. Now
Is the time for the work-in. There are jobs to
be done for which no agency can be funded. Jobs
which are in the main unglamorous.
Most of you are young and healthy, you all
nave some ability which can be used. We offer
you an opportunity to be of service to those who
most need your skills. On Thursday night at 7:30
I and some of my staff will be in the Student Union,
Room 332, and we will at that tims answer any
questions you might have about our program and
your role in it. We will also be ready to sign
up volunteers for a variety of unglamorous jobs.
John Calloway
Depnty Director
of Lincc-In Action Program
i
I
