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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 25, 1969)
i PAGE 2 THE DAILY NEBRASKAN FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 1969 It fv r ) i. i 1 -I j s a n '. A "'1 - f ' I j Campus Opinion Reaction to Thursday's Dear Editor: The past week has been one of uncertainty and con fusion to a great many students. Always before, students have heard the echo that this Is an "academic community" in which the student's main goal is to achieve a minimum re quirement, that being a 2.0. How wer to my amazement I have discovered that this echo doesn't really exist. It is only a figment of the ad ministration's Imagination. Obviously, my fears are warranted because this was exactly what the Student Affairs Committee did. More specifically the case was that of ?.lr'. Bob Zucker, who recently appealed a sub committee's verdict that he shouldn't be allowed to run for president of ASUN because of an accumulative average of 1.9. however! tiie main Committee of Student Af fairs granted Mr. Zuck er's appeal, but at the same time denied the appeal of Mary Langdon, who had a 1.8 average. Why? You people, who are a part of this so called academic environment should be aware of what the "officials" are doing. Perhaps without anymore ado, I could ad dress some rhetorical ques tions that certainly need answering. (1) Why should someone with a 1.8 average (Freshman standing) be denied the right to run for senate when Mr. Zucker (ninth Semester senior) who attained a 0.00 average last Sofciifkfi- (CQnmKaiQnH) ' i "' -m ! ii.....i..n..,.m nnMiiimiiaMl i and Chaloupka The campaign views of ASUN presidential can fidate Bill Chaloupka are not aid that different from the other two candidates Bob Zucker and Ray Vavak. There is an important difference, however. Chaloupka apparently has a better grasp of how to effect the Improvements he advocates. He, unlike Vavak, realizes the role of ASUN in accomplishing Erogress; that Is, student government's real power I in the area of solely-student concerns. Vavak has proposed wide-sweeping educational reforms, for which ASUN would be a tool ASUN's real value, however, is actually in changing the non-academic problems at the University hous ing, discrimination, hours, etc. Curriculum com mittees and advisory boards are the vehicles for changing and upgrading curriculum. Chaloupka has indicated support of such com mittees, especially the Council on Student Life. Jack Todd . . . Ex post It Is April, and our swttt old etcetera senate has spent another year sitting on its etcetera knitting (we presume) doilies, etcetera. Their performance has been . so charrvcterlstically gauche, io horribly cluttered, such miserably bad theatre that we find ourselves asking, not whom we should elect, but why we should elect anyone. It seemed tht last year's BORDER- i Tills ! n v. ; semester be granted the right to run? (2) WHAT ABOUT ALL of the capable students with an accumulative below a 2.0 who were under the im pression that a person can not run for Senate unless he has a 2.0 accumulative? If this rule was to be disputed why wait until after filing is closed? (3) If Mr. Zucker's pro minance and reputable past history in Student Govern ment had not been so outstanding, would the ap peal still have been granted? The idea of having minimum requirements is to protect a student (like Mr. Zucker) from extending himself in student activities at the ex pense of his academic pro gress; in light of Mr Zucker's last semester 0.00 average, perhaps this rule should have been invoked to protect Mr. Zucker from himself. (4) Why is Mary Langdon's case different? She is only a Freshman with a 1.8 average while Mr. Zucker is a senior, whose last four semester's have been on the downward trend. (5) Was the student affairs affairs committee deciding whether Mr. Zucker was technically a student or wnether he was qualified to be the President of the stu den body? Surely in order to hold this position, if he were to be elected, it demands an above average grade stan ding. (6) One of the primary reasons for the granting of facto's campaign struck an all-time low In generating the blahs, but the senate's performance this year has led this little club so far down the ladder of respect that it is difficult to oppose anyone, let alone support a candidate, for fear someone will think you're serious and have you clap ped In Ye Old Madhouse. The Student Independent Party (SIP with an in before Wife Wihvfh'l' Ui the appeal was due to Mr. Zucker's illness last semester. If this was the case, why was Mr. Zucker, who wants to assume a high position of leadership in Student Government, reluc tant to approach the faculty in order to receive an ex tension of time in order to complete his courses? How can one achieve results in student government if one cannot easily approach the faculty? (7) I have come to the stark conclusion that in all fairness to you people of this academic and rule provoking community, the Student Af fairs Committee should define a set of qualifications that are fair to the student and then follow their guidelines. IF CHANGES are to be made let the rules be reformed, but once established there shouldn't be any need for granting of appeals because the rules are defined and can only be Interpreted one way. Also, I feel that since Stu dent Affairs is uncertain about the existence of these rules, they should make up their minds and then inform you," the students, exactly what their "bylaws" consist of. It is only then through this information, that there will be no more misin terpretation and misun derstanding. Paul Telglee Student Affairs Committee Member Dear Editor: In granting Mr. Zucker's makes three This Is the best method for obtaining the desired changes. ASUN, Chaloupka says, should be working in the areas of governmental affairs, faculty evalua tion, social regulation, and human relations. He does emphasize the Importance of education, and student government's role in Improving it. And even here, he has offered better methods for accomplishing this: advisory boards, the new Teaching Council, the quarter system, pass-fall ex pansion and projects such as Centennial Col lege. His interest in education is obviously in techni ques and approaches and broad concepts in educa tional improvement. So, while all three candidates seem to be saying many of the same things, Chaloupka has been the one who has (to this point) expressed the best ability to accomplish them. Ed Iccnogle view on the senate election and and Id after) Is rein forcing Ray Vavak's image as the last of the great crackpots. Vavak and Bob Zucker, who ought to know better, have caMed for stu dent participation in the editorial policies of the Dully Nebraskun. This is the kind of campaign euphemism (meaningful dialogue is another) that the candidates would, of course, forget over 1 9 "X;. appeal for eligibility as candidate for ASUN presi dent in spite of his scholastic average, the Student Affairs Committee has chosen to Ig nore the clear intent of a rule of the Faculty Senate. In justifying an average that was below 2.00 and declining, they considered an allergic reaction which did not appear to incapacitate Mr. Zucker in extracur ricular activities. This in the presence of half a dozen deans and a handful of the lesser clergy. The Committee on Student Affairs is to be commended for ignoring a rule of the university because it was inconvenient. If we, as students, teachers and ad- minlstrators, had sufficient strength of will to ignore the rules whenever they are in convenient, we would be well on the way to establishing a remarkable university. Mlkey Brazeal Bill Gilpin Dear Editor: Compared to the antics of the Student Affairs Com mittee and the Subcom mittee on Student Activities and Social Affairs this past week. ASUN looks like a serious governing body that may yet lead the University Community out of the Wilderness and into the Promised Land. The latest comedy started last Thursday. April 17, when the Subcommittee denied the appeals of five students who had been declared ineligible to run for the ASUN Senate and for the summer. But Imagine If they didn't. One has an im age of harried editorial assistants scurrying all over campus at thirty minutes to deadline, saying, "and what do YOU think about the Vietnam War, Bob Zucker, or t he Afro-American society?" Now, as your guide on this tour of the labyrinth of my mind, I would like to ask for ASUN President because of low grade point averages. 1 shall refer only to three of these students Bob Zucker, Mary Langdon. and Howard Waldbaum. Zucker Immediately filed his Intention ,o ap peal to the Student Affairs Committee. Langdon ap peared at the Monday meeting and appealed at that time. Waldbaum neither ap pealed, nor did he appear before the Committee, as he had accepted the decision and rationale of the Sub committee's interpretation of the rule regarding "unusual circumstances beyond the student's control." The Monday meeting of the S.A. Committee which was held before a half absent Committee but a packed gailery reversed the Sub committee decision and rul ed that Langdon and Zucker could In fact run for office. The Subcommittee thereupon reconvened itself immediately following the adjournment of the Monday Committee meeting and reconsidered the Waldibauim appeal. Applying the standards and rationale of the Com mittee's determinations in the Langdon and Zucker ap peals namely no standard and no rationale except the de facto abolition of the 2.0 cummulative grade point average requirement the Subcommittee, to be consis tent, reversed its earlier one minute of silent medita tion on the future of ths stu dent senate of the University of Nebraska. Senate's reputation has fallen so low that If we are to have one at all, next year will be, as they say, exceeding critical Virtually all the present candidates are characterized by an absolute lack of in tellectual power, debating ability, strongly held ideals and energy. A primary ex ception to the rule is Bachittar Singh, a Malaysian student who may be the last of the non-stop talkers. Alii the would be solons like to talk about "com munication." but that's about as far as they get. Singh, on the other hand, communicates from dawn to dusk with power, intellect and persuasion. With these talents. Singh could be just the kind of smelling salts senate needs. Singh If running with Lan- innnufitinniiiiim!M!nini!mn!iiiiimin:iiinimminimnmniniimniimnmiiii'a Tht Dtflj Nebrasksn is solely t stu dent epmted newspaper independent of editorial control by student govern ment, administration ind faculty. The opinion expressed on this page is that of the Nebraskan's editorial page staff. eligibility holding and declared Waldbaum eligible to run. NOT CONTENT AT this decision, the entire Monday proceedings were challenged on several grounds including the fact that no quorum, had been present. This led to an emergency Student Affairs Committee meeting at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, April 24. The Monday Committee meeting was declared not to have occurred and was there after referred to only as "historic Monday." The Thursday meeting did occur and resulted in Bob Zucker being declared eligible to run for the ASUN Presidency by an 11 to 6 vote. The rationale and standard applied was nearly as strong as that applied on "historic Monday." The Subcommittee members then accepted this determination and argued on Miss Langdon's behalf in an effort to keep the Committee holdings consistent. Other members of the Committee, apparently fearing consistency, denied her appeal and asserted that the 2.0 rule barred her from running for office. When challenged to justify their Inconsistency or distinguish the two appeals, a motion for adjournment was passed In stead. ALTHOUGH AREQUEST was voiced that the Sub committee again reconsider their decision regarding Mr. Waldbaum, the Subcom mittee refused to reverse its dicaps, the grcatast of which Is that ha doesn't wear wing tips and probably never owned a v-neck sweuter. If you bother to vote, and Bachittar Singh is almost reason enough to go to, the polls, the executive slate of Bill Chaloupka, Diane Thelsen and Brent Skinner is worth thinking about. Chaloupka has some of the same energy and Intellectual grasp that is Singh's forte, along with a helluva lot more of the old acumen than his opponents. As for the rest, there are good candidates and bad candidates, but from ex perience even the good can didates will make bad senators, mainly because of a lack of energy. And now, a preview of next April's column. It will start something like this: it Is April, and our sweet old etcetera senate has spent another year sitting on its etcetera. . , decision of Monday after noon, on the grounds that he was Just as eligible to run as was Bob Zucker. It is particularly absurd that Miss Langdon should be denied the opportunity to run while both Mr. Waldbaum and Mr. Zucker are allowed to run; all three appeals were substantially in distinguishable. Is the 2.0 cummulative grade point average stll a requirement for participa tion in extra-curricutor ac tivities? Using the cases of Mr. Zucker and M r . Waldbaum as precedents, the answer is obviously "NO," but using the case of Miss Langdon, decided the same day, the answer is just ais obviously "Yes." If yes, what is the criteria for determining whether an ap peal may be granted? To run or not to run? Larry Donat Dear Editor In light of events during the past two weeks, the minimum requirements for the student participation in extra-curricular activities have come under serious question. Two particular rules which are open to challenge Include the requirement that a stu. dent must maintain a 2.000 cumulative average and the rule barring first semester freshmen from holding office or accepting featured ro!es in campus productions. In furthering the interests of students and the University Community as DAILY NEBRASKAN Wiwd (! p Mid it Unootft, No Jvitphttti Kdtiitr- 47) am, Nm 4 7J. !. twriMM 4T ufrH-rltion rnlM nr M par MmMir V pi oaUntl pMhliihrd Morula? WednMday Tharwlajr tatf aTrkUif tut'liif tit Editorial Staff grilliMv Kd Itwnntlm Manutna Eilltm Una Oottorhatlii Htm Ertttar jim Kvinari Stint Kiw blitnt Haat ttM-kaoai luiitanti tMiiuiit uiw Wiii'.n-ri AwinUa .i Nwt fcditiM ml WmnIi SiknU Editor Mark (;.. r.li.i!, Sphiaaaan siaM Wiilar John Dvorak llm Mmlanwk, OmmW W'lialw, um IraXna Hill SmlUwrmak. ua VWIchlrmoiar u PoUay. Run lalrmt, Jiiaiwlla Ackcnnan. KavhllUr Slnghi Hhotumaphwa ln l.art-lv. Linda Krniwly Mlk Haymaai Rapurtti rbvtoaraptMraj M Anm. Iihn Nnilrmli.rm Cop Cdilnra J L aVImiliJL Jou Wan Mr, lav rilli. Kara NrhwIiHler. auaaii MnalJ. Business Staff u.inu Manaavr Ruaat Hmjtoi Uoal AS Muafar M Parlal flTNlui'ljim Manaaor Rand lrM Haukwaiiar Ron Hawllm "UcraUrf Jan Hiiatmain I'laMilietl Ada Nancy NUl BuhmMpUne kWiua Linda tllrlrhi Ctrrulatlni, Mimiion llMt l-vlha sink Jma !"''WJ. Advwiuina HrprMpniativMi umla Hoolnaun, J. Tnf CD (S) S O tilings whole, the fo.lowuv; changes in these rules are being pi0. posed to Dean G. Roue t Ross by several concern, a students who have selected Becky Broman to serve as their spokesman. IN REFERENCE to the 2.000 average, it has been proposed that this be deleted from the eligibility re. qulrements stated in the Campus Handbook. The basis for this is primarily on the premise that the University should let the students decide for themselves whether or not they are capable of handling both activities and main, taining grades. The University should also take into consideration the dubious validity of the re. quirement because of past appeals granted disregarding the rule. Regarding the Freshman rule, at this time there is no freshman representation on the Student Senate. If this clause were to be taken out of the Handbook, this misrepresentation would be corrected. According to University officials, first semester freshmen are unfamiliar with the University and are therefore unqualified to represent it, yet transfer students, in their first semester, are eligible. In the interest of faculty administration, and student's, it is the duty of the Ad. ministration to consider these proposals. Becky Broman H't rlruwa. Uam UraJaaalfl. niuw ,MHii..ii.:..i,lli1M,,.i ,.. UII..M,.,: t.rmtmmtm