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MONDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1969
LINCOLN, NEBRASKA-
Vol. 93, No. 23
! 1 ! ! "
. ( i A o
Shirley Chisholm, first
Negro Congresswoman
Youth 'realize it is
time to act, not talk'
by Bill Smitherman
Nebraskan Stuff Writer
People today tend to use s t u
dents as scapegoats for the nation's
problems, America's first Negro
Congresswoman told a University of
Nebraska audience Friday.
Shirley Chisholm, speaking to a
crowd of 300 people, said that re
gardless of criticism, the hope of
America lies in its youth.
"Students haven't grown up in a
vacuum," Mrs. Chisholm said. "They
would not be speaking out on Issues
today if there had been no sham or
hypocrisy in our society."
She added that students and young
people in general seem to have a
deeper sense of commitment to the
Ideal of social justice in America
than others. The young realize that
It Is time to act, not just talk, she
continued.
Mrs. Chisholm said that there Is a
social revolution in the United States.
She cited the examples of "b lack
people lashing out at society after
Ovyzjr of repression, stu
lents fighting against hypocrisy and
sham and women standing up for
their rights."
All this shows that something Is
wrong with society, she said. "We
can't Just Ignore the problems and
hope that they will go away because
thev won't," she added.
"The beautiful thing is that the
years of repression, students fighting
against hypocrisy and sham and worn
en standing up for their rights."
Young see problem
The future of America lies In young
white and black people working to
gether, Mrs. Chisholm said. "There
will bo soine differences of opinion
because of the different backgrounds
of the people," she explained. "But
they can be worked out.
The Congresswoman said that a
ertaln phrase had bothered people
n recent years. That phrase was
'black power."
" 'Black power' Is no different
from ativ other kind of power In the
United States." she continued. "But
we had to put 'black' In front of the
word power because power In this
country has always been assumed to
be .'white power.
Mrs. Chisholm explained that eth
nic groups have been Immigrating to
the United States for the past 200
years. They work and are gradually
taken into the system, she said.
Want power
"But black men came to America
in shackles." she continued. "They
have never really been able to move
up."
After a group has established Itself
In society the next thing it wants is
some power, Rhe said.
"Blacks today are not doing any.
thing different from what many oth
er ethnic groups have done in t h
past." she said. "They are fighting
for their rightful place In society.
"However, they are stirring up con
cern because they are out of their
"4ac, They are doing something that
Nebraskan pholo by Jim Don
no one ever expected the subjected
Negro to do."
Congresswoman Chisholm said that
no one listened to the problems of
the Negroes for many years. Very
few people saw that the country was
headed for an explosion, she eontin
ued.
"They worked at token programs,
but were really unconcerned," she
noted.
"Blacks have now become fully
awakened," Mrs. Chisholm stated,
"and they will never turn back. They
would rather die first."
But, she asserted, Blacks have
been one of the most loyal groups in
the U.S. m spite of their subjugation.
Love for country
"We have had many other ideals
and the promises of greener pastures
thrust at us," she continued. "But,
we have not. as a group, accepted
these Ideals because we love Ameri
ca. We do not love her for what she
is and has done, but we love her for
her potential."
"If you love someone though, you
don't try to hide their sores," Mrs.
Chisholm continued. "You try to heal
them."
She said that this is the reason It
Is necessary to talk about America's
problems. Then we can see the ob
stacles and conquer them, she con
tinued. "In essence, this Is what the 'so
cial revolution is all about," she
said.
Mrs. Chistholm said that racism Is
the "bugaboo of America." It is the
Achilles heel where both domestic
and foreign enemies can attack
America, she said.
However, this problem can only bo
solved with a basic change in the at
tltudes of the American people, Mrs.
Chisholm said. Without this change,
all the liberal programs in the world
will be to no avail, she continued.
"That Is why young people are so
Important, she said. They are cap
able of change."
"It will take courage to take a
stand and fight for Jour convictions,"
Mrs. Chisholm continued. "When you
take a stand, you become a target.
"It takes guts, do we have the guts
to repair a society that is decaying
and falling to pieces all around
us?"
"I think we do", Mrs. Chisholm
said. "We must find a way to light
the candle of understanding in the
hearts of people all over the nation
so that America can truly become a
country with liberty and justice for
all."
Meeting to he held on
Fiilinghl-I lays grants
A meeting for students Interested
In Fulbilght-llnys grants for 1970-71
will be held 2:30 p.m. Tuesday In
Boom 108 Burnett.
Applications are In 710 Oldfather
and are due Nov. 10. For further
Information contact Roberto Esquen-axi-Mayo,
70!) Oldfather.
Promotions, punishments:
pressured by 'politicking'?
by John Dvorak
Nebraskan Staff Writer
Decisions involving faculty mem
bers and departments are made with
only the best interests of education In
mind. Is this popular assump
tion true?
To what extent do shining up, kow
towing and logrolling affect deci
sions? Are certain faculty members
punished and oppressed for one rea
son or another? Does a form of aca
demic politics subvert the real goals
of education?
There are approximately 1,000 fac
ulty members at the University of
Nebraska and t h e r e are a possible
1,000 answers to these questions.
"We're in a curious situation be
cause we professors are involved in
a highly political kind of life," said
Dr. Leslie Whipp, assistant professor
of English.
"Yet we really aren't prepared for
political experiences. I'm a good case
in point because I'm politically naive,
and many of my colleagues are in
:ompetent in these matters as well."
Another faculty member, who has
spent 13 years at the University,
said, "I just work as hard as I can
and do the best job I can and 1 e t
everything else take care of itself.
My director tries to do the best job
possible, too."
But another veteran faculty mem
ber has the opposite, and a far more
bitter view.
Faculty members don't usually
speak out on the Issues within the
department or the institution, he said.
When they do speak out too much,
they are labeled as troublemakers,
said the assistant professor, who pre
ferred to remain anonymous.
"If the faculty member continues
to ask . embarrassing questions, he
becomes ostracized and is punished
he said. "This is the way dissenters
are quieted."
As soon as a professor becomes
difficult, it affects the meetings and
conferences he attends, his commit
tee assignments, salary, promotion
al opportunities and everything
about his job, the assistant profes
sor added.
"I know," he said, "because it's
happened to me. They're doing every
thing they can to make me leave, but
I've fooled them. I'm not going to
leave."
The assistant professor pointed out
several areas in which he feels he is
being punished.
"They found out what classes I'd
like to teach, and they won't let mo
teach them. They won't let me at
tend meetings and conferences out
side the state. They'll never promote
me. I seldom get raises; this year I
got $300, far less then the average
five per cent."
This assistant professor received a
B.S. from the University, his masters
from a prestigious southern school
and his Ph.D. from an Ivy League
university. His doctoral dissertation
was presented to an Internationally
renowned authority in his major field.
He freely admits he has the label
"troublemaker."
Leaves quietly
Generally, an unwanted faculty
member leaves quietly for a n o t h e r
job, the assistant professor said.
There's about a two year tlmo lag
between the first messages of d 1 s
approval and the time the unwanted
faculty member takes a new Job,
If the departing faculty member Is
repentant and does not speak out
publicly, his reputation does not fol
low him.
"I could take any number of jobs
right now," said the assistant pro
fessor. "But my home is Nebraska.
I own property here, my friends are
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Monday .
Time Out
schedule
The schedule for Time Out is:
Monday, October 27
7 p.m. Charles Palmer "Student
Self-Determination"
Tuesday, October 28
10:30 a.m. James Turner "Mi
norities on Campus"
1:30 p.m. Dr. William Bircn
baum "Educational Reform"
7 p.m. Carl Davidson "Schools
Must Serve the People"
All the lectures will be held bi
the Nebraska Union Centennial
Room.
Informal rap sessions will be
held at 9 p.m. Tuesday at the foil
lowing locations: Palmer, Harper
Hall main lounge: Turner, Abel
Hall North main lounge; Biren-i
baum. Cather-Pound-WRA cafeter-
ia; Davidson, Union Centennial
Room. I
SiiiuiitiiiiiitiiiiuiuiiutitiiutiiiiiitiiHiiiiiiiuiiuimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiil
here and all my professional con
tacts are here."
Dr. Royce H. Knapp, regents pro
fessor of Education, said that he
hasn't run across politics involving
promotion and salarly in more than
20 years at NU.
"I would have to see some evi
dence," he said. "There may be some
Internal situations where people may
feel they have been discriminated
against. But I've never felt it a n d
I've never seen it work."
Dr. Robert E. Knoll, a full profes
sor and director of the Centennial
College, pointed out that promotions
are as important in the University as
they are in the military.
"Essentially promotions are in the
hands of your peers and you're in
trouble if there are animosities," he
said.
A dean can correct salaries of fac
ulty members and in theory at least,
promote them as well, Knoll said.
Such action could correct the results
of politics on the lower levels, but it
is hardly ever done, he added.
"If a man were promoted solely by
the dean, then he becomes the
derm's man," Knoll said. "This situa
tion works to the disadvantage of all
concerned."
One faculty member, recently pro
moted to associate professor, agreed
with Knoll.
"To be promoted, you must prac
tice an almost subtle kind of politics,
perhaps public relations would be a
better term, but you can't be obvious
about it," the assenter said.
Trouble really hits, the associate
professor added, when a facul
ty member does too much politicking
or plays the wrong kind of politics.
Doubts
Bill Kelly, a political science teach
er when not pursuing his Ph.D.,
doubts the importance of politicking
in gaining acceptance in a depart
ment and getting ahead.
Kelly offered a list of ideas f o r
getting ahead Vhich he intends to
employ after receiving a doctorate,
if he stays in teaching. .
"You've got to show people you
are a scholar by publishing in qual
ity, scholarly journals.
Senate
ASUN
by Sara Schwlcder
Nebraskan Staff Writer
Charging that ASUN gave no no
tice of a 30-day time limit for con
testing ASUN elections, plaintiff
Stan Peters presented his case to
the Student Court Sunday against
Election Commissioner John McCol
lister and ASUN president Bill Cha
loupka. Peters ran for a senate scat last
spring and allegedly found Irregu
larities In electoral proceedings.
Ho did not file suit against Mc
Cotlister at that time.
Peters attempted to file 56 days
later, after the constitutional time
limit had expired.
The hearing Sunday centered
around the legality of a petition sub
mitted by Peters which would allow
him to file suit against McCollister
even though he did not comply with
the 30-day limit.
Counsel for Peters, Terry Schaaf.
submitted his petition to file suit on
June 17, 19S9, 4(5 days after election
results had been posted.
He said that the only time he
could prepare the petition was the
week of May 3-10 because law fl
nals were held the week of May 11
17 and unuYr-gradunte finals were
held May 18-28 and vacation in
cluded the first part of June.
"I was not aware of the 30-day
limit at that time," Schaaf said.
"Even If I had, that week of May
3-10 would not have been adequate
time to got the facts."
He said that It was the responsi
bility of the Election Commission to
inform candidates of the 30-duy lim
it, and contended that McCollister's
exclusion of it "might border on
negligence."
"We only had 18 days to file the
suit with dead week, and vacation
the only time the ASUN office was
not closed," he said. "Even then,
there was no chance that the court
would meet to hear the case."
Interpretation of the 30-day clause
was questioned. Arguments centered
around whether; "30 days" meant
class days or calendar days.
"The Constitution actually contra
dicts Itself In two clauses," ' Schaaf
commented. "First it says Specifical
ly "class days," then in reference
to the same subject later, says
"days."
In addition to the ambiguity In
the Constitution, Schaaf contended
that McCollister "was not aware of
the 30-day limit either."
"You must have the reputation
of being a real good instructor. It's
difficult to measure what a good
teacher is, but you can establish a
reputation in time.
"You've got to work well with
people, be happy and take pressure
with a grain of salt.
"When called upon to work on
committees, you've got to do a vig
orous, conscientious job.
"You have to establish good per.
s o n a 1 rapport with individual stu
dents and show them you're inter
ested." Professors don't want a bunch of
shrewd politicians around them, Kel
ly said. Politics might work at times,
but It generally just makes enemies.
Whipp thinks the situation varies
greatly from department to depart
ment. "I have received promotion and
raises without any special kind of
seeking," he said.
Whipp is in a department which
over the years has earned an excel
lent campus-wide reputation. The
faculty of the English Department
have wide respect for the fairness of
their chairman, he said.
"I suspect this is very unusual in
a department." Whipp added. 'Char
acteristically, a department c h a i r
man identifies with the administra
tion. We in the English department
are pleased with our chairman, but
if we had a less competent man in
that slot, it could be very distres
sing." A lot depends on having a strong
department chairman. Several facul
ty members pointed out that with a
fair chairman, no one has to politic
for an idea or for a raise. If t h e
idea has merit or the raise is de
served, it will come.
Knoll pointed out that just as poli
tics in salary and promotion may be
prevalent, politicking occurs in other
areas as well.
"A great many people want to
teach a course in their specialty,"
he said. "In that way, they get to be
experts and build a reputation."
Unfortunately there Isn't always
a formal .procedure for deciding
which professors teach what cours
esa situation which invites politicking.
loser contests
election rule
Counsel for the defense, Thomas
Sutherland, responded to the accu
sations by contending that it was
not McCollister's responsibility to
tell candidates about the 30-day
limit.
"The ASUN Constitution is there
for anybody to see," he noted.
"The person is supposed to know
the law, and Ignorance of the law
is no excuse. If you were speeding
down "0" Street and a cop stopped
you, you couldn't be excused be
cause you didn't know the speed
limit.".
Sutherland also said that a stu
Greg
Instructor to
Culture returns to the Nebraska
Union Crib Tuesday at 4 p.m. when
a University of Nebraska English
Instructor will read selections of his
own poetry.
Greg Kuzma, who teaches poetry
and fiction writing, will read his
Kietry for about an hour Tuesday,
uzma has had two of his works
published. They are a book of poe
try entitled "Something at Least
Visible" and a pamphlet called "Sit
ting Around."
The poetry reading program Is the
' "V v;,7j'
' . v-
Graduate students are often the
subjects of politicking, he said. Grad
students are assigned to work for in
dividual professors, and so politicking
often ocurs in deciding which pro
cessor gets which graduate student.
"This is a contemptible procedure."
Knoll said. "I'm not sure the gradu
ate students are even aware of.it.
But I don't think it is widespread."
Politics whether it is in salary,
promotion, course assignments or
anything else generally occurs
when there are no well defined pro
cedures for decision-making, Knoll
continued.
There ought to be some kind of
pattern, he said. Each department
has a slightly different way of mak
ing these decisions and some kind of
stated policy is necessary, Knoll
added.
"I have real sympathy for depart
ment chairmen," remarked Dr. Bert
M. Evans, assistant professor of ag
ricultural economics. "They sudden
ly become a department chairman
or director and they're not prepared
for it."
Some people do well as chairmen
because it's their nature. Other peo
ple are teachers, not administrators
and if thrust into the chairmanship
do not do well, he added.
"Some chairmen don't really want
to become administrators so they
withdraw and things just run on their
own," Evans continued. "When the
going gets tough and decisions have
to be made, you've got problems."
Another professor, who did not
want his name printed, agreed and
even went so far as to name depart
ments which he thought had either
good or bad reputations.
English, economics and chemistry
in particular have excellent reputa
tions, he said. Among those depart
ments with less than excellent repu
tations are mathematics, history, the
languages, political science and an
thropology. "We politic when there is no bet
ter way of doing things," the pro
fessor said. "When there are good
strong admj4pttitttors who know
' which direction to go, you avoid pol
itics and personalities. Politics Is evi
dence of weakness."
dent running for the senate should
"know the laws of the body he is
being elected to."
Responding to charges that Peters
was not given "reasonable time,"
Sutherland questioned the meaning
of being reasonable.
"There is more to reasonableness
than the fact that Peters had finals
that week or that he didn't know
that there was a 30-day limit. Tlie
law is there, and that is the only
issue here today,"
The verdict will be handed down
by the five-member court on Wednes
day. NtbruKan phot by Den ttdoly
Kuzma
irive reading
first of a Series of Informal cul
tural and educational programs
planned by the Union. The Union Is
planning to let any person or group
present a cultural or educational
program on Tuesday afternoons In
the Crib.
Kuima's poetry has appeared la
such magazines as "The New York,
er," "The Paris Revue." "The At.
lantlc Monthly," and "Poetry." lie
received a M.A. In creative writing
from Syracuse University iu 1967.
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