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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (March 2, 1970)
Cultural experience? A student interviewed on page three of the Rag today said he came to the University of Nebraska for a "cultural experience." Assumedly, he Spoke of "culture" in the most general sense; the culture that any so ciety of persons can claim. All but a very few would scoff at his comment if it meant the other interpretation of culture: "culture" as the cultivation of the aesthetic aspects of society. Unfortunately, the 'only "cultural exper ience" in Nebraska is to be found in the test tubes of NU's biology labs. There are, of course, some traces of cul ture: Sheldon Art Gallery, and the infrequent importation of outstanding artists and per formers. However, there is little interest in sustaining and encouraging a native culture of any substance. This regretable truism is due, more than anything else, to the depletion of young trained and educated manpower from the state. Every year, around graduation time, thousands of the University's best flow out of the state. And only rarely do the youth of other states swim like salmon back up the Missouri and Platte rivers. Now, this is something that everyone la ments. Chancellor Varner said last week that more industry is needed in the state to re tain the young people. The Lincoln Journal pointed a sad editorial finger at the job in terviews on campus, noting that virtually every interviewer was out-of-state. Enough lamentation. Do something. There are at least two things to be done to halt the flow and to recapture those people who can contribute most to native culture. First, the State of Nebraska can (as Gov. Tiemann has sometimes attempted to do) make the University a center for learning and study and living, instead of the marginal degree-mill that it is. This means money. Mon ey that such short-sighted persons as Clifton Batchelder claim should remain in fat-cat bankrolls. He calls for an end to our reason able and fair taxation and a return to no money government. This would require a commitment from the (gasp) straight people of the state to tol erate the (gasp) liberal attitudes quite nat ural in a university. And a commitment to shell out some more money. Their money would mean better education, and thereby better-prepared graduates. Their money would also benefit the citizens themselves, providing services and programs at the Uni versity that everyone in the state can enjoy. That type of attitude would attract more qualified and culturally alive people than any thing else. The second thing that can be done is to support Nebraska's cultural endeavors with state monies. This means investing in the per forming arts and financially nurturing local and national artists. For instance, it would require immensely less money to support and improve the Lincoln and Omaha symphony orchestras than it takes to sustain the State Game Commission. And private bequests, like those of the Sheldons, are especially beneficial to the en tire state. If the people of Nebraska want to stop producing a bumper crop of college gradu ates for harvesting by the east and west coasts, the state should invest more. Nebraska must provide a "cultural ex perience" in the sense of the word to con vince young Americans that a quality life can be obtained, even'in the Beef State. Ed Icenogle PAGE 4 Our Man Hoppe By Arthur Hoppe "We shall" overco-ome, we shall overco-ome . . ." The bourbon-mellowed bass voice, singing away with gusto and fervor, belonged to none other than Colonel Jefferson Lee Stonewall of Mudge, Mississippi, the noted fighter for equal rights. The Colonel has fought all his long life for equal rights for both blacks and whites. Or, as he puts it, "All Nigras got equal rights and all white folk got equal rights separate but equal rights." IT WAS therefore somewhat surprising to see Colonel Stonewall leading the NAACP Glee & Sit-in Club at a demonstration in front of the White Plains, S.D., School Board. "I've seen the light, son," he explained happily. "It took a Civil War and a hundred years of bickering. But at last the whole danged country's united in favor of school integration." "Yes, sir," he said, removing his Panama to fan his brow, "the North's for it down South and the South's for it up North." THE COLONEL sighed. 'No w, I'll admit us Southerners was a little slow jumping on the bandwagon. Why, you Yankees been coming down South for 15 years, trying to integrate our schools. And we haven't done a thing for you. "But we're sure making up for it. Our fine Southern at torneys are intervening in Los Angeles in favor of a grand $40 million school busing plan. And Senator Stennis of Mississippi, a man who's all heart, is get ting a law passed making de facto segregation illegal - up North. "As for me, I'm working on a modest little project to make de facto segregation illegal nationwide." THE COLONEL struck a no ble pose. "That's right, son, nationwide. Now what good's it do to desegregate one teeny little school district? You do that in Vermont, you got one per cent little Nigras in your classrooms. You do it ' in Mississippi and you got 50 per cent. "Think 'of those poor little white Vermont tads, deprived of their fair share of Nigras. I say, son, I'll never rest until every classroom in the coun try's got 25 per cent Nigras. " 'Course, it's going to take a little busing. But I figure you can bus kids between Montpelier, Vt., and Biloxii, Miss., in only three days. Each way. And it's going to cost maybe $243.6 billion to achieve de facto integration na tionwide. "But fair's fair. We only want to do what's right by our fellow Americans. Like we say down South these days, son," said the Colonel with a jovial grin, "you Yankees got it coming to you." THE COLONEL ambled off to lead a chant "Two, four, six, eight; we sure want to in tegrate!" as the respectable Northern citizens watching from the curb muttered things like, "We ought to run these outside agitators out of town on a rail." But the Colonel's got a point. We Northerners should In tegrate our schools, too. What's good enough for these low down, no-account Southern bigots is good enough for us. Just about equally. raw nomannmi DAILY NEBRASKAN Second class postage paid at Lincoln, Neb. Telephones; Editor 472-2SS8, Bus I new 47I-35M, New 471250. Subscription rates era $4 per semester or $4 per year. Published Monday, Wednesday. Thursday and Friday durlne) the school year except during vacation and exam period. Member of Intercollegiate Press, National Educational Adver tising Service. The Dally Nebraskan I student publication. Independent aj the University ol Nebraska's administration, taculty and st dent government. Address: Dolly Nebraskan 34 Nebraska Union University of Nebraska Lincoln, Nebraska 4SMI Vdltorlel tlf Editor Jim Petersen) Managing Editor Susan Elsenherti New Editor John Dvorak Assistant News Editor Ed Icenogle; Sports Editor Randy York) Nebraskan Staff Writer Bill Smltherman, Carol Anderson, Oary Seacrest, Jan Park, Steve Sinclair, Diane Wane, Jim Jones, Linda Ulrkh, Mary Pat Fowler, Barb Koory, Mick Morlartyi Photographer Dan Ladely, Howard Rosenberg, Barb Peters; Entertainment Editor Fred Elsenhart, East Campus Editors Brent Skinner, Kathy Kokesi Literary Editor Dan Ladelyi News Assistant Susanna Schateri Editorial Assistant Sue SchMchtemeler; Sports Assistant Roger Rife; Outstate Nebraska Bureau Chief J. L. Schmidt; Copy Editors June Wagoner, Connie Winkler, Dan Ladely, Kara) Kash, Karen Holm, Jim Cray; Night News Editors pevt Plllpl, Tom Lansworth. Business Staff Business Manager I. Jane Kldwell; Local Ad Manager Ed Ice nogle; National Ad Manager Martha Todd; Bookkeeper Ron Bowlln; Business Secretary and Subscription Manager Janet Boatman; Circulation Managers James. Stelier, Kelly Baker, Dan Ladely; Classified Ad Manager Joe Wilson; production Manaper Rack Johnson; Account Representatives Linda Ruts, Gale Peterson, Ken Sevenker, Mary Dorenbech, Joel Davis. Sarah Evert, Martha Todd, Joe Wilton. DM hy Dan Ladely Students at the University are fast being placed in the same curious position as the American Indian. We have had the student as a nigger and now we have the student as an Indian. For years, Indians have been plagued with "do-gooder" missionaries who have invaded the reservations in every denominational form, all intent on civilizing and christianizing the heathen redman. IN MY ESTIMATION, as an institution, churches are second, only to the government in responsibility for all the troubles the whiteman has given the Indian. It is easy to look at University campuses as reservations. All the same oppressing institutions are present our BIA is the Administration and we have our share of missionaries and churches; all denomina tions, all trying to save our souls. MISSIONARY WORK was heavy last week as several groups were about com peting for our lost souls. Campus Crusade for Christ people were busy taking ad vantage of the anti-draft demonstration and the war in Vietnam using popular causes to slip in their little messages about God. Some other members of the "god-squad" claiming to be Lutherans cornered some of my friends in the Crib. They said they were looking for Jews and long-hairs, ob viously non-christians, and wanted to talk about Christian concepts with these two groups. Saturday morning I was awakened from blissful sleep by two Jehovah Witnesses who sold me copies of their organ The Watchtower. One of these magazines dealt with "hippies" and one of the fellows told me some incredible things about "hippies" such as the startling fact that many "hip pies" come from "good" families and are not all degenerates. Wow! THEY ALSO sold me a little book entitled "The Truth that Leads to Eternal Life," which contains some startling "truths" about our lives and fates. It seems that in 1914 Jesus Christ took power over the Kingdom and we shall all soon witness the end of "wicked oppression" here on earth. Very soon Jehovah will purge the earth of all its wicked people and oppress ing systems that cause all our problems today. From this book: "God's Word of truth tells us very clearly that we are fast nearlng a worldwide change. It shows us that our time is the one Jesus Christ had in mind when he foretold the end of this wicked system. Jesus foretold many things that his future followers should watch for so ' they would know when the end was near. He said that the days of this wicked system would be marked by such things as world wars, food shortages, increasing lawlessness and a growing loss of faith in God. (Matthew 24:3-12) He said there would be "anquish of nations, not knowing the way out." (Luke 21:25) We have seen the fulfillment of these prophesies in our lifetime." The book denounces such wicked acts as sex relations between unmarried persons, homosexuality and blood transfusions. One chapter entitled "Popular Customs that Displease God" tells us that such popular Christian customs as adora tion of the cross and our celebration of Christmas and Easter are pagan in origin and do not please God at all. "Real Chris tians can give gifts and have good times together throughout the year. (Luke 6:38)" I don't agree with the doctrine and philosophies of the Jehovah Witnesses, however, I think they have the best literal translation of the Bible of any Christian group today and they certainly must be complimented on their propaganda. It is the best I have seen except, perhaps, for that put out by the U.S. government. LIFE HERE on the University of Nebr aska reservation is not easy. The system is oppressing and the BIA-Administration requires us to conform to their standards. Those of us not financed from outside sources find money scarce and job discrimination against students is strong outside the reservation-campus. ' Indeed, it is hard to find housing, jobs and equal treatment for students off the reservation. Students who find their lot discouraging often turn to liquour and drugs to escape the realities and hardships of life on the reservation. Our problems are numerous and the missionaries certainly don't help. This con centration of God's work on the students and campuses around the country is not at all surprising since we comprise the last pagan society in the world in need of salvation from our heathen society. I am asking them to leave us alone and' to let us solve our problems ourselves. I HAVE LONG equated religion with two things oppression and weakness. Religion is the oldest living oppressor to be found in world civilization. It also represents a weakness of man never being able to cope with death. It presents the facade of the possibility of eternal life appealing to those who cannot stand the idea of being eliminated from existance by the most ultimate and simplest fact of nature death. hwwMH.ttiwst.ltio. V r 'It'ViJfllMMy''f ? t Tn I 'Everybody lower your voices! . . . Nobody knows we're here!" Academic Innovation by Dave Buntain "Many faculty members use the Centennial College as a lightning-rod to ward off those who favor educational change," according to Dr. Phil Scribner, a Fellow in the experimental college. Speaking at the Union Board recognition dinner last week, Scribner urged students to adopt the cause of academic innova tion in the same manner that they have adopted social causes in recent years. ALTHOUGH MUCH of his speech merely traced the develop ment of student activism at NU over the last four years, his comments about the Centennial College deserve close con sideration by students and faculty members alike. If student attitudes are any indicator, the College has been highly successful. Despite a variety of problems common in any first-year operation, the College has fulfilled the goals set by its early proponents. It has become a "living-learning" experience with students and faculty exploring common concerns Nixon picks the wrong issue by FRANK MANKIEWICZ and TOM BRADEN WASHINGTON - It is now clear that Richard Nixon's Southern strategy so dangerous to the nation is not even giving the short-term help to Republicans for which it was designed. The latest polls show George Wallace losing no ground despite Spiro Agnew's radical speeches, despite the guileful These election analysts - who know their business - set out to determine as best they could what happened to the votes which went to Robert Kennedy and Eugene McCarthy in the Democratic primaries of 1968, but which, of course, were cast for others if at all in November. In significantly large numbers, both .iv.iuj aim Mcuiriny votes retreat on school integration and voting but particularly the Kennedy vote rights, despite Clement Haynsworth and went to Wallace. Harrold Carsweu. THE EXPLANATION - given the ex phcit campaign of the three men - e 1,1 racism. Any voter and who voted for If Mr. Nixon and Atty. Gen. John Mitchell had read their history as carefully as they have played their politics, they might have discovered why the strategy would not work, and their countrymen would thus have been spared much pain. FOR IF HISTORY is any guide, it is not racism alone which is the strength of Wallace it is something far more (Mticuit to define and it may perhaps cumbed to the oratory of William Jenn ings Bryan in 1896. Both Kennedy and McCarthy appeared as symbols of popular protest McCarthy against the way in which a President can manipulate the rest of government and the nation Into a war; Kennedy against an established order that somehow gave the individual no chance to control the basic decisions which affected his life. BY NOVEMBER, 1968, only Wallace appeared as the enemy of the establish ed order, only he seemed willing and able to achieve real change it elected. And it was that image of real change in fact, protest, and this Kennedy, McCarthy and Wallace all achieved. THE TROUBLE with the Nixon Southern strategy is that it ignores the chief characteristics of populism. It ig nores the spirit of protest, the desire for reform to turn the country around and the yearning for individual participation. It ignores the need for an angry leader. It borrows from the Wallace move ment only the single issue of race, of fering as a spokesman Agncw who is not angry at the Establishment but angry in its behalf not the rebel but the warden. And as the polls Robert Kennedy and who thL LJZa - whlch had earlicr cau8ht the vision now. show thaJ ,s Pot cnou8h George Wallace Jan Lrdlv hnSTo n f h Kncdy ond McCarthy voter. The history of third-party r so because he found their vlw, nn ror?n? The SP0'" of the V1' of course- In the UJited ?tates is that 11 ' "vns VH I CIVlcll FT1 "nPatbIe. Far more likely nSJiatn5wollfnd those views - 0' Ken nedy and Wallace L relevant. ffi r.Lh!s,?fy Populism, differed. But even where they seemed to differ most on Vietnam Wallace, McCarthy and Kennedy all articulated a great surge of desire to get out of the war and in any event to stop being lied to about it. Another aspect of American populism be best explained by a significant elec- taking its name from thi niM-!.' toral study conducted at the University which battled Gr -v. HinvSZTii of Michigan after the election of 1968. Benjamin Harrison in gg I sue? LJA-h! MONDAY, MARCH 21970 THE DAILY NEBRASKAM movements they stinc once like a bee and then die. The reason is that their ideas are always merged into a major party. But Mr. Nixon has not adopted any of the Populist ideas that matter. And by adopting Wallace's racism he has bartered the moral leadership of the nation without apparently gaining the slightest political advantage for himself. together. AS IT HAS developed, the Centennial College has also become the most publicized member of the University (outside of the Athletic Department). Reporters, professors, and even the Lions Club have devoted long hours to discovering the significance of what's happening at the Centennial College. With the College's much-publicized success, it is little wonder that those within and outside of "CC" are now debating the course of the college in future years. For most, the problem involves three questions: should the college be expanded, should it be limited to freshmen, and should more residential colleges be planned along similar lines? WHILE THESE are important concerns, I would like to raise a more fundamental question: Shouldn't the University begin applying the lessons of the Centennial College to its general undergraduate curriculum? As long as the main concern about CC's future is expansion its significance for the University will be missed. Even If the College is expanded greatly, it will still influence but a small percentage of the student population, perhaps two to five per cent of the undergraduates. Rather than concentrating on the College as its sole vehicle of innovation, the University should begin at once to project the desirable features of the College into its over-all educational scheme. These features include living-learning situations, close contact between professors and students, Interdisciplinary studies, and the relating of academic work to actual student experience. WHILE SOME departments such as the English department have made notable efforts in this direction, such changes cannot occur until the University is willing to re-evaluate its entire approach to undergraduate education. One possible first step would be to move Freshman English courses into the living-units. In making such a move, the University would profit from studying the experience of Michigan State University, where all freshman literature classes are taught in the residence halls. PROBABLY THE MOST far-sighted of MSU's Innovations has been the growth of a new campus, Oakland University, as an experimental college. It Is a pleasant surprise to discover that Oakland's former chancellor has become NU's new chan cellor, Durward Varner. As Varner assumes direction of the University, we must hope that he will be able to bring the experiences of Oakland to Nebraska; that his other responsibilities will not prevent htm from being a strong force for educational progress. IF HE DOES continue to press for academic change, pro grams such as the Centennial College will come to be viewed as valuable forerunners of widespread instructional Im provements. If not, the Centennial College will remain an academic curiosity, which serves to mollify advocates of greater change. PAGE 5