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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 3, 1969)
THE DAILY NEBRASKAN WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1969 Nebraskan editorial page PAGE 2 ASUN Viable senate needs students by Bachittar Singh Do students here really need a student government? A majority of them, judging- on a series of recent conversations, seems to think that we do. But there are many who don't give a damn about the whole thing. ASUN, as it is now, seems to be quite unpopular with a large number of students who are aware of its existence. Quite a few do not even know that such an organization exists on campus. Randy Prier, a student senator, feels that ASUN Is necessary. He feels students should have a say in the general policy-making process that might effect their campus life. Prier feels that ASUN might be unpopular because the senators have not done a good job. "But we have made some headway," he said. "The Bill of Rights, Students in the Academic Com munity policy, have given students some say." And the Council on Student Life, he continued, will provide students with more voice in the university government. Part of the problem as Prier sees it Is that senators have never really fulfilled their commitment to be the active representatives by going out and finding what their constituents are thinking. This seculuslon between the senators and the student is responsible for apathy that prevails on campus, he said. Most students never meet a senator to discuss issues and, as a result, a wall has appeared between the two bodies. A senior remarked the only time senators talked to him was during the time of elections. Once the campaign was over, no one contacted him. Another student, a junior, said she had spent a lot of her free time campaigning for some candidates durirg the ASUN campaign, but heard nothing once elections were over. So, lack of communication between senators and constituents seems to be one of the basic problems hindering efficency of the ASUN. Any organization that lacks the support of those it is supposed to represent is doomed to failure, for its strength lies in support and backing. Without this support, it is Impossible to make any demands or suggestions that might be of any significance. The students are the blood of ASUN, and until the senators can come up with something that will give them this support, most of what ASUN may attempt will be futile. As ASUN stands now, though it is the so-called supreme policy-making body of students on this cam pus, it is just a chimera. , The Administration is fully aware that the senate has no tangible support from the majority of students and as such has no valid support. And tragically the senators are too aware of this sad phenomena. An example of this lmpotency can be illustrated with the California grape boycott resolution passed by senate. Grapes were still being served in the dormitories, although senate had prohibited it. When some senators inquired into this matter they were informed by the housing authorities, that the Inter-Dormitory Associa tion would have to pass a similar resolution before the distribution of grapes was curtailed. Why should this be so if the senate is the supreme student body on campus? According to Tim Kincaid, a student senator, the problem here is that student senate is a representative body, not a governing organ. "The only power ASUN has is advisory," Kincaid said. "But the tragic thing about the whole deal Is that truly we are not even representing the majority of students. Until we can have more student involve ment and backing, we can't really do anything signifi cant." Numbers are very important to get attention. A greater involvement on the part of students would most likely reflect that something must be, or may be wrong with the prevailing conditions on campus. So to get anything going that will be advantageous to the students, ASUN must build this support. This is the base ASUN must have to become in effective body, if it is to be every successful in bringing about changes that will relate to the wants of most of the students. The communication committee formed by ASUN recently might just be a step in this direction. Randy Prier, chairman of this committee, said its aim will be to reach as many students as time will allow. The committee will try to arrange rap sessions between residents of dorms, Greek houses and senators. The object of rap sessions will be to Inform the students what ASUN is and what it is trying to do, and discuss how students could play their part in bringing about these projects. This way, Prier said, we may be able to activate the silent majority and at the same time make ASUN a truly representative body. DAILY NEBRASKAN Jacan Km aaata MM at MM, ). Talaananaai Rdltar 71-Uaa, Nawa Vt-IMf, tMHMM CMM tuktcrtirtMa rata, art M aar Mnwttw w M Hf rtar. RuailtlMal MaMay, Wrtmnir, Tiwnatey an rtay aatrtaa Mm KKMl fW tfVTHlt WClMMt M IIM pailaaH. Mamaar at lalaraallatata Praaa. NiWmi lavutlMMl MHiMkl TM tolly Nakraaaaaj k tfcrtmt MlHHtm, IMnnWI at law UHvarVty 1 NaRraaka't aamtattfrallaa), taaaMy aaaj MMwa) AMrntt Dally NatrHkM M Maaraika Uiwan Unlrrlty at Naaraata LlacaM. NatraaM WMt tfitarial Ita tHtar Raaaf ayai Manama; altar Rant Cactaui, Mava O-itHr Jim Paaaraaoi NlfM Nawa Raitara i. L. acftmMt. Dava filial aitarial Awfttafft Hly Rawnaaraari Atwtta Maan la Janat Maiwall, Vaacta H'tar tarty Varan Maavaaa.au I'aff Wrtiara Jam Dvara. UN tmiikarmaa, lart tcHailaaar, try Saaeratt, (lav dntlatr. elttar tint. Otaa Waaa. mnm "art, tua P attar, trivia Laa. Raa WMtlaa, Cant AMaiwai paotoaraeliara la lacaiy. Jim Daaa, Hawar Mnan-t, Mifca Maymaai Caay ltor. Da LaaMy, Ja Parka, aant taMtaa. malar, PHyll Atkttaaa. vtlnm It art alaaa Miaaaaf lcawaaia Lac at Aa Mlaaaar J. L. Iiaawan HaHanal A naaaaaar Maaj irawai aWakkaaaar Raa tawuai Rtntaaaa tacratary aa laaacrialltM Wl-uMr Jaaaa aatmam Clrwiaiiaa Maaaaar Jamaa ttatw" Claw Wat A4 Maaar Jwa Waaanart AavartitMia RaaraaaMatlvaa J. L. takajiMi. Jaa4 Carta, Jaa Wilaao, Liwa ftakiaaaai. LUCKY WINNERS swam fiASKtRvitL6C8MAjV Ya gotta have a gimmick . . . Kelly Baker You can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant . . . including Alice. I've always been wary when Hollywood decides to make a film of a book that I've liked but this is the first time that they've taken on a favorite song. The picture begins like "Tom Jones" with every chick trying to lay her hands on Arlo first a groupie who thinks he'll be "an album"; then the owner of a coffee shop who figures she'll collect in kind for a train ticket that Arlo's father (Woodie) owes her; next a girl whom Arlo meets at Alice and Ray's and finally even Alice offers. "Alice's Restaurant" is at its hilarious best when it follows the events of Arlo's song the Thanksgiving dinner, Officer Obie annd the Induction center sequence but the force of the film Is dissipated when it leaves the song and concentrates on other incidents. Perhaps what I regret most is the loss of the fantasy element the hope that If you sang along that the draft board might not take you. It's part of the old Tinkerbell conspiracy that we've grown up with that things might change if only we wish hard enough: Tinkerbell will live, the war will end and people will be happy. Not so in the movie version, which paints a bleak picture of hippie culture. Arlo is the only one who shows any signs of learning from his experiences and he leaves. r "" 1 Alice and Ray, having driven Shelley to' his death, decide to begin anew by being married again. Even this fails, and the final shot shows Alice standing on the steps of the church where she and Ray have been living. Ignored by her husband, she is truly a bride left waiting at the church. It is as if Alice served Chinese food at her restaurant ... the film is great while you're watching it, but an hour later you wonder what you saw. Dear Editor: I was appalled at the gross number of errors, misrepresentations, u nsubstantiated statements, and contradictions in your Nov. 24 issue of "factual" informa tion on drugs. The section on "Drug Forms" was pathetic. The writer obviously did not understand what he was at tempting to discuss. Much of the information can be regard ed as inaccurate. By the way, what is a drug? The series of comments by consumers under "Users Find Knowledge, etc." provides in teresting reading, but are neither supported or refuted by facts in this issue. There are a number of Inaccuracies among these statements, and evldenre and information to support this contention is available. The title of the article "Drug Abuse May Be Possible etc." Is misleading, Is not well sup ported by the contents of the article, and is essentially refuted by the foregoing discourse on "Few Hard Drags etc." This is not to say, however, that the situation cannot and does not occur. Several sections were quite accurately portrayed such as those on "Researchers Work etc.," "Pot May Be etc.," and "Marijuana Research etc." There still were several inac curacies In the reprinted article from the National Observer as related to marijuana research. I agree with Dr. James God dard's wait and see attitude on the use of marijuana. I again feel, however, that the sug gestive title "Pot May Be 'No More Dangerous than Alcohol' " can be very misleading. Dr. Goddard ob viously does not say that it is. By the way. he is not the Na tion's Top Druggist." I am not aware of there being such an individual. There are several aspects of marijuana use that were not covered. Essentially no adverse Open Forum or harmful responses were reported In this issue. Yet such information does exist In the scientific lite rature, particularly of the past year or two. What about the reports of cannabis induced or precipitated psychosis, that ud to 70 of regular hashish users in India and other Eastern countries suffer some impair ment of physical health, or that teratogenicity (malformed offspring) in laboratory animals treated with hashish has been reported? In addition, the following adverse reactions to marijuana have been reported: panic fear, deperson alization, gross confusion and disorientation, depression, and recurring paranoid phenomena. 1 have only dealt with some of the more factual articles and have left the others to the philosophers. I would only hope that the facts and all the facts, right on down to basic defini tions and descriptions, are henceforth presented. We all must have In hand the total drug information that b known to date, and then only can each individual Judiciously make the choice for him or herself with regard to the virtues or adversities of a I n g a particular drag. Obviously all the information Is not in yet with regard to such drugs as marijuana, LSD, DOM, and mescaline, and will not be for several years to come. One can only make such decisions on the basis of what Is presently known. Dr. 8. J. Stohs Department of Pharmacognosy College of Pharmacy Editor's notes la addition to Dr. Stohs' letter, the Nebraskan received similar rrltklsm from Dr. R. D. Gibson, Deaa of the College ef Pharmacy. Most ef the technical in formation in the drug Issue was taken from authoritative sources. For example, much of the information In the section on "Drug Forms" was tuken from pamphlets, studies aud fact sheets from the Food and Drug Administration, Depart ment of Health, Education and Welfare; Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, Depart ment of Justice; Drug Educa tion Project of the National Association of Student Person n e I A dmlnlstrators, and magazines Inc'uding Science Digest and Consumers Report. To the editor; In regard to the recent arti cle on student deferments, there was an Important misunderstanding which does need further clarification. The Se ectlve Service Regulations do not set absolute percentages of graduation credit hours which must be completed each year In order for the student to receive a II-S deferment. The Regulations say that the student must be MORE . . . completing enough course work each year In order to receive his degree in the normal number of years. This Implies that about 25 of the student's required credits for graduation be completed each year. At the University of Nebraska, the school does In form the local draft boards that the student is making sufficient progress to qualify for a II-S deferment If he fulfills the University's set nnitber ef hours for class standing. This means that If the student has completed 11 hoars alter his freshman year, 13 hears his sophomore year, and St hours after his Junior year, he does satisfy this requirement for a II-S deferment. I apologize for not having made this clearer at the time of the interview. Curt Micka Lottery betters immoral system The draft lottery is now history. Some things are apparent. First, there still seems to be a great deal of misunderstanding, though not as nearly as great as a week ago. Local draft officials say they think they understand the new rules, and in about two weeks will have the system worked out. Explanations coming from the selective service headquarters are also becoming easier to understand. For example, about a week ago reports were suffi ciently unclear that they were being misinterpreted in news items in the mass media. Second, nothing in many years has caused more concern and comment from nearly everyone in the University community. Many are the tales of a four year ROTC student with a lottery number In the 300's; or a student who turned down an appointment to a reserve unit and finds himself in the top 100. President Nixon must be given credit for a better draft under the lottery system. Now, for the first time, the uncertainty is removed; young men can begin to plan their lives with better knowledge of their immediate futures. The reforms, however, do nothing to the basic premise: The draft is immoral because it supplies men to fight in war. The fighting and killing of war Is a foremost atrocity of society. In this need for a draft is what is so contrary to the American ideal. PROSPECTUS Over the Thanksgiving holiday, I. decided it was time to reflect upon the manifold blessings of the past year for instance, the revival of patriotism. The revival has occurred not only on the bad Bad Fascist Right, but also on the Good LIBERAL Left. The big question is, "Who are the real, honest-to-God patriots?" This is an important question, for it dominates not only the letters-to-the-editor column of most newspapers, but the pronouncements of the nation's politicos and pundits. These generally follow the Spiroistic method: Intemperate Attack, Horrified Response, Intemperate Attack, Horrified Response, and ad infinitum. This cycle used to be known as name-culling, or simply shouting, but In these days of the sanitary engineer such labels are merely reminders of less enlightened times. What is really needed to settle this argument is a television, debate which allows the studio audience to decide (real participatory democracy.) The only problem is that if a majority voted for anyone, they would no longer be silent, and how can anything be decided by un unsilent majority? Anyway, there are three participants: Sea. Charles G., Vice President Spiro A., and the host, beaming Bert P. On the screen, an American flag waving In the breeze, with "This is MY Country (and don't you forget it)" superimposed over it, while Bert sings, "There She Is, Miss America" (the only song he knows, but patriotic.) The show begins: BP: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome you to this historic occasion. Welcome Due to the seriousness of the subject matter, I will refrain from my usual witticisms and proceed with the business at hand. Tonight, Sen. Charles G. and Vice President Spiro A. will be telling you all you folks why they are such great patriots. After each makes his presentation, you folks here in the studio will decide, by the level of your applause, who Is the Reul Patriot. The winner gets nn all-expense paid, one-day vacation for two at Whitticr, Calif., to visit that great shrine of American patriotism, the birthplace of president N's high school football coach. How ubout that, folks? (Applause) The lower nets shot so vuu folk nut tw in our annuo audience huve responsibility. a great big And now, our first contestant ... I mean debater, a man who needs no Introduction, the Vice President of the United States, Spiro A. SA: Thank you, Bert. I mny not be Miss America, but I ve got a great pair of legs. (Laughter.) But I'm here on serious business tonight. The question of who's the bigger patriot must be discussed at a high level; we must not allow emotions to sway us. That Is difficult to do when I think of thut lousy, effete snob who calls himself a Senator and putriot who is waiting off-stuge to mislead the American people, but I restrain myself and don't allow myself to punch that stinking pinko in the mouth, which Is what he deserves. Why, that snobbish (Senator Charles G. bursts in, shouting) CG: Shut up. you fascist pig! We reul Americans have different flag decals than you phony totalitarian patriotsl Now that proves something. SA: Don't bring my ancestry Into this, yoa pseudo Republican. CGt Now Just a minute. I'm more Republican than you, yoa mouthpiece of the silent majority I SA: You turncoat, you dove, you can't . . . CG: Don't tell me anything, you brown-shirt! SA: You're color-blind, my shirt's blue I CG: God, you're dumbl SA: Don't bring religion Into this, you WASP traitor! CG: Am not! SA: Are too! CG: Am not! SA: Are too! CG: Wanna step outside? SA: Yes, if you're man enough. Let's go. Quick cut to program title as SA jnd CO walk ort. Audience follows (at leust those who aren't already fighting.) BP smiles on, crooning as fighting noises swell. Blackout.