THE DAILY NEBRASKAN
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1969
Nebraskan editorial page
PAGE 2
Adam C. Powell
the best decision?
r-."As things stand now, Adam Clayton Powell
will not be coming to campus. In one sense, this
Is probably good. For the time and money it takes
to sponsor rjch a trip, the East Union Special
- Events Committee could find someone jut as well
known with something more substantial to say.
A speaker without a bombastic emotional display
and of a higher quality of personal integrity li
desired.
'---However there is a more basic item that needs
to be considered. If the committee members, as
student representatives, definitely want Powell,
then he should be allowed on campus.
It would be impossible to tell how much, if
any, administrative pressure was placed on
members of the committee. Many persons have
said there was no direct pressure and that the
student members decided on their own not to Invite
Powell. Others say at least some subjective and
Indirect pressure was placed on the members of
the committee.
Hopefully, there never was nor will be any
under-the-table administrative skullduggery. One
would like to conclude the best decision was made
fairly.
Dear Regents:
why living rules?
Talk at the University of Nebraska over the
years about women's hours and keys, visitation
and coeducational dormitory lounges is, at best,
academic. When the Board of Regents gave ap
proval to the coeducational lounge proposal this
week, many persons felt that it was an important
step to solving hours and visitation problems.
But what one should ask U why regulation
are needed. -
Possibly the Regents and University ad
ministrators think they are protecting the morals
. of students by establishing regulations. Or perhaps
they want, as Regent Dick Herman says, "to Insist
that the privacy of all students is protected at
ail times and that study time Is not to be Inter
jrupted." Housing and visitation regulations exemplify
an amazing paradox at the University. On one
hand, students are expected to be "adults" and
to be an effective force In society.
", ' On the other, college students are so regulated
that they become a group of grade school kiddies
who can't be trusted. Then, only at that magic
moment when the diploma is Issued, does Infantile
student become grown up adult.
For the mature student, the large majority,
housing and living regulations are neither needed
nor wanted.
DAILY NEBRASKAN
Sacand tlati foataaa aald at Line!, Nat.
Talaplwnaai dltar 471-UM, Nawa Vl-UM. Itainaaa 471-ISM.
lubienplion ratal ara M par mwlir ar M r yaar.
blthad Monday, WMmMiv. Tharadav and Friday dvrln IM
' tchaal yaar axcpt dvrlnf vacation and am prlada at M Na-
kratka Union, Lineal N.
' Mambar at Inlaraallaflata Praat. NiNanal IdwaMmal AdvarHtlnf
Sarvica.
' Tla Oalrf Nakraika It a ttiMMM availcatlM. ladapaadairt a Ik
Unlvartlty a Nteratka'a admtatttratnM, faculty and Itvdant
avarnmant.
dltartal Star!
dltar Rata tayaf Manaainf Idllar Kant Carina. Nawa Idltar
Jim Padarwni Nlnt Nawa Idltara J. L. Schmidt, Dava Mlati
dltartal Aulataat Mally miwi AulitaM Nawa idiiar
Janat Maawalli Starts tartar Randy Varki Ntkrattat Hafl
Wrltars Jen Dvorak, till SmltKarma. Sara Schwtadar, Vary
Saacraat, Stava Sinclair, achltiar Slnth, Linda McCivra. Mika
arratt. Sua Fattay, Sylvia Laa, Ran Whittan, Caral Andanoai
Phetotrapnars Dan Laaly, J aha Maalacnar, Jim Data. Jakn
Nallandarfi, Mlka Haymant Caay Idltara Janklna, Satan
Mailt, Canal Wlnktar, Svaan ScMkniainatar, Val Marina,
uainatt Hart
luiliMii Manatar Id Icanonlai Local Ad Manatar J. L. Sclimldti
National Ad Manatar Maraarat Ann rawni akkaanar Ran
awil RinlnaM Secretary and Saaaariatla Manatar Janat
aatmaai Circulation Manator Jamaa Staiiart ClaulHad Ad
Manaaar J una Waaaar Advartltlnf Ravraaaatativea J. L.
Schmidt, Maraarat Ana drawn, Jatt Pavls, Ja Wlkwa Unoa
"Ihay're to prevent any milifont take-over of this office. . ,1"
Ron Alexander... RAPPING at random
The two largest colleges In the University, the
college of Arts & Sciences, and Teacher's College,
require all students to take at least two courses
in the natural sciences. Science is the most disliked
of the requirements with the possible exception
of language.
Most liberal arts students feel the science re
quirement is a waste of time. It is a waste because
the material is relevant only to those who need
the tools for further work in their scientific field.
It is wasted effort for non-science majors because
they will never use the information in a normal
living situation.
Basle Information rarely stimulates the in
tellect, thus material Is learned not because It
Is interesting or exciting but because of the re
quirement and the needed grade. If the science
courses provided thought-provoking material they
would be worth the time investment
For liberal arts majors it is difficult to justify
taking science courses in lieu of other courses
that meet the concerns of today. The information
gained from a science courses is useless on this
count.
Resulting from this irrelevant material is a
distaste for the sciences. Courses in which the
students study only for the grade lose their potential
for meaning. The sciences suffer as have the
languages, in having to gear down courses so the
majority of students will pass.
Departments end up worrying about minimum
standards Instead of maximum intellectual
challenge.
Important also Is the inequality of competition.
Beginning courses pit engineering and science ma
jors against education and liberal arts majors.
The former have a vested Interest in learning basics
for their careers. Whereas science and engineering
majors have specific courses in the liberal arts
designed for non-major requirements such as
English 21 & 22 or History 81 & 92), no such
options are available for liberal arts students in
the sciences.
The argument that the science requirement
broadens one's education comes into clearer
perspective when one considers the equally
broadening experience of working in a packing
plant or traveling for a month abroad, neither
of which is now required.
What Is necessary then, Is for the science
departments to create courses for non-majors which
provide a more relevant introduction to tit sciences
and are of Interest to students.
A course in the history of scientific ideas might
cover major conceptual discoveries such as the
atomic theory, the theory of evolution, and Eins
tein's theory of relativity between energy and mat
ter. A possible alternative might cover the adapta
tion of the scientific method to the 'other' sciences
such as political social sciences.
Another course might deal with the history
of technology, showing the development of
technology and the application of it to man's pro
blems: The relationship between society and
technology.
Still another course could focus on great men
in the field of science. Albert Einstein, Charles
Darwin, and Isaac Newton contributed too much
to civilization for us to be unaware of their
discoveries and the significance of t h e s
discoveries.
If these courses were offered to non-majors
I think Interest In science and knowledge of scien
tific matters would be Increased. Perhaps in offer
ing these courses we could abandon the ideas of
requirements.
So we should work to create science courses
which will aid non-scientists in achieving a decent
respect and meaningful understanding of science.
Open forum
Dear Editor t
Having read the article In
The Daily Nebraskan (Sept.
29), concerning the budget
for the university, we have
come to the conclusion that It
would be advisable for
anyone connected with high
er education to enter the
fields of either coaching
students and faculty or
coaching football In order to
provide for himself an
o utrageously comfortable
living.
II. M. Glide
Matt Baudler
Dear Editor:
On Saturday, September
27, during the football game
between the University of
Nebraska and Texas A and
M, the stadium announcers
called the attention of the
crowd to the presence of the
President of the Benevolent
and Protective Order of Elka
of the United States of
America, asking recognition
for him.
Wt find this action highly
Inappropriate and objec
tionable for the University of
Nebraska, or for any of Us
representatives. The Order of
Elks is a racist organization.
Title III, Chapter 6, Section
144, of its national constitu
tion begins:
"No person shall be ac
cepted as a member ef this
Order unless he be a white
male citizen of the United
States of America. . ."
Even though a private
organization may still have
the legal right to select its
own members, we believe
that public recognition of any
racist organization by this
university Is reprehensible.
Immoral, and beyond all
limits of propriety for any
institution supported b y
public funds.
We wish to recommend
greater circumspection, in
the future, in giving public
recognition or support to
racially discriminatory
organizations.
Michael K. Davis, Del E.
Stltes, Ed Strayer, Cherry
Kellison, Michael McCrady.
William A. Davis, John
Weeks, John P. Shaw, Joe
Augustine. Nelson Potter
Jr.. Phyllis Vermis.
William D. Staley, William
C. Saints, faculty members
of the Pliilosophy Depart
ment. Dear Editor:
As one of those "women
holding babies (who) don't
quite understand" to which
your article on women's
rights referred (Sept. 25), I
must say that when it comes
to the repeal of abortion
laws, no, I don't understand
at all.
Perhaps this is because of
the very fact that I am a
mother as many repeal
advocates are not. Giving
birth is an awe-inspiring
thing. Through it. one can
appreciate the tremendous
significance of human life In
m ml ftmr re tir
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AY0 boTurca
VP Mr wo . C I
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inr tMr &ok of
luiwerr !
perhaps a unique way.
Reform is in some ways
necesisary. But to advocate
repeal is to say that human
life has no value.
Everyone agrees that to
bring about an abortion is to
destroy a potential human
being. However, abortion
advocates pounce on the
word "potential." emphasiz
ing that the fetus is not yet
human. But when does
humanity come?
Physically the human
organism is In a constant
state of growth, change and
degeneration from the mo
ment of conception until
death. Mentally, we all know
people who have not achiev
ed humanity no matter
what their age.
Any sort of line, drawn at
say four or five months, after
which the fetus is supposedly
capable of living outside the
womb, has to be purely
arbitrary. Isn't the day of the
test tube baby close to
scientific reality?
It is Ironic that on one end
of the spectrum we are
fighting so hard to save
human life, through the
repeal of capitol punishment,
an end to the war in Viet
nam, etc.. when on the other
end of the spectrum we are
fighting for the right of
arbitrarily destroying life If
we so choose.
When people advocate the
repeal of capital punishment,
they usually argue that no
matter what the man's crime
he does not deserve such a
punishment and that the
chances of convicting an In
nocent man are too great.
Basically, they are arguing
that human life is always too
valuable to destroy, and that
even if it were not, man Is
not capable of being fair
and just destroyer. Shouldn't
these same arguments apply
to the unborn child?
Shouldn't our goal rather
be trying to make the world
a place In which the child
could receive a fair op
portunity for life rather than
In gaining the legal op
portunity of deciding If, from
the point of view of our owe
personal convenience, It
might not be easier to have
that life terminated?
in his hierarchy of values,
each man has one thing
which he valuer above all
others. If this is Pot properly
the value of human life, then
what can it possibly be?
Belh CowjiU
Inside Report
New York City
selects a mayor
By Rowland Evans
and Robert Novak
New York - A sudden loss of support by
City Controller Mario Procaccino, law-and-order
Democratic nominee for mayor of New York can
be directly attributed to the success of his enemies
in goading him out of seclusion.
The battle plan by his managers i to Bmit Pro.
caccino's visibility to the ftaoluje jmum was
conclusively demolished last ekhiwhttnreivae!:
to three televised debates wi h h is two jWali -Mayor
John V. Lindsay, running for reelection , m
the Liberal party nominee after losing the Repub -lean
nomination, and state Sen Johr i March!
nominee of the Republican and Conservative
parties. . ..
Those debates might well accelerate a decline
by Procaccino which has caused far ' mow concera
among his backers than they wil "dnit publicly.
Privately, they acknowledge that his huge lead
of the summer has been severely na"0-.
has gained a little ground but the most dramat c
progress has been made by March!. What Just
a few weeks ago seemed a certain runaway by
Procaccino is now a three-way race where the
result is unpredictable
The reason Is the abandonment of the strategy
responsible for Procaccino's upset victory in the
June Democratic primary: keep out of sight while
maintaining an Iron-hard anti-crime posture sure
to appeal to this terrorized city's mldtUe-lncome
whites. Moreover, simply by staying unveiled, Pro
cacclno gained through the summer to Increase
his lead.
But after Labor Day, Procaccino began popping
up on the television screens with shrill answers
to the charges of his enemies. What New Yorkers
saw was no steadfast nemesis of crime and anarchy
but a highly excitable little man with a weakness
for malapropism.
What finally lifted the veil was the charge
(made under needling from a TV newsman) by
J. Raymond Jones, Harlem Democratic leader who
Is supporting Lindsay, that Procaccino was a
coward. When he heard of it, Procaccino dissolved
into tears among campaign aides. Even if it lost
him the election, he told friends, he could not
bear for his family to carry with them forever
the shame of alleged cowardice. Rejecting the ad
vice of old pro Democrats. Procaccino agreed last
week to the debates.
Against this 'chaos, the smoothly-directed,
lavishly-financed Lindsay campaign is making some
small progress mainly among lower-middle-m-come
Jewish voters who have turned against the
mayor as champion of the Negroes. In recent en
counters with generally hostile groups in Brooklyn
synagogues, Lindsay has won applause by attacking
the Vietnam war. In the past week, Vietnam has
become a major theme of his campaign.
But the reully dramutlc progress has been made
by Marchl, regarded as a poor third through the
summer.
Cooly dignified and self-possessed (though a
bit long-winded). Marchl is making progress among
the middle-income whites who detest Lindsay's
establishment liberalism but now wonder whether
Procaccino really fits the role of mayor of the
nation's largest city.
Nothing grows in
middle of the road
by Frank Manklewlci
and Turn Braden
Washington It Is possible that If Richard
Nixon were John Kennedy or Dwlght Eisenhower
he might be able to make his "middle view" on
Vietnam a salable commodity.
But the trouble is that the President has so
thoroughly exhausted the old political trick of being
In the middle of the road that when he does try
to take a position as on Vietnam he sounds
not as though he were seriously recommending
a course of action for his countrymen to follow
but as though he were scoring another point in
a campaign dt-bate.
It is clear, for example, that the President
cannot support the proposal of Sen. Charles Goodell
(R-N.Y.) to make the end of 1970 the deadline
for American troops to withdraw.
He cannot do this because It Interferes with
his plan to hold on In Vietnam with decreasing
vigor but with determination until Hanoi agrees
to the kind or fig leaf he thinks he needs as
the price of total withdrawal.
Mr. Nixon chose to dispute Goodell, but net
head-on. as a man might who had a plan he wanted
to sell. He chose instead the slippery argument
that the Goodell plan might prevent him from
getting the troops out even before the end ofl970.
It was a curious debating trick, intended to make
the President sound a tittle more Dovish than
Goodell. And It was followed at once by the
declaration that he would support the Thiei
government, which made him a Hawk again.
It Is an old practice of American poUtldana
to denounce the extremes and seize the middle
ground. Theodore Roosevelt was a champion at
tie technique. But It Is successful as It was
with R-wsevelt only when the middle position
actually represents a strong belief betwrea tw
real extremes.
Mr. Nixon has mastered the technique, but
not the beliefs. Take, for example, his press con
ference remarks on school integration.
On inflation, too, the President carefully pave4
two sides of the road in order to predetermine
where the middle would be. No serious economist
believes that the way to halt Inflation is t
jawbone. a. the President defined the extreme.
The middle of the road is a fine place, but
as James B. Weaver, the Populist candidate for
President in 13'J2 and the first American poUticiaa
to use the phrase, remarked of it: 'The trouble
with the middle of the road is that nothing grows
there."
