The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, November 06, 1970, Page PAGE 6, Image 6
Not the ogre you'd expect Michael Davis is hardly the ogre that events would cause most people to envision. He was dressed in coat and tie, not in skirts as Regent Schwartzkopf had lead some to believe, and complained that Schwartzkopf s comment made his girlfriend wonder if he were a transvestite. Intelligent, thoughtful and well informed, (probably bet ter informed than the Regents) Davis did not fit the picture of rabid radical that the Regents seem to have sketched. One wonders if the Board members themselves would have found him anything but personable and sincere had they taken the time to meet him now or back in August Six men of great honor On October 28, the ASUN Senate approved a petition of the Free Speech Movement which called for an "exposition of the facts" in the Michael Davis case and directed that the Regents be invited to send a representative to debate with Davis. The next day letters were mailed to members of the Board and other University officials asking them to attend an open hearing on Friday, November 7. As of yesterday, Regents Elliot, Greenberg and Raun had declined the invitation, pleading pressing schedules. It was doubtful that any of the Regents would comply with the Senate's request to appear but these men were courteous enough to reply . . . Adkins, Herman and Schwartzkopf were not. 'Informer' misinformed Yesterday's Informer accused the Regents of being "ir responsible to the point of openly flouting established policy when they find it convenient to do so," Paraphrasing from the University's Policy Statement on Campus Disorders, the Informer tried to show that the Board's actions were inconsistent with established University policy. However, the Informer's accusations were technically inaccurate on several points. The Policy Statement on Cam pus Disorders requires a policy making body, when petition ed, to hold a public hearing "at which the policy indicated by the group of petitioners in their petition shall be discuss ed." It can be argued, quite strongly, that a personnel decision does not fall into the realm of "policy." Contrary to implications in the Informer, the petitioned body is responsible for setting up the hearings "for some time convenient to the interested parties, if possible no later than two weeks after the petition is submitted . . ." It must be recognized that the Regents lead very busy private lives (the office is not a paying one) and notice of less than one week might make it impossible for them to attend a hearing. Also, the 600 signatures gathered on the Free Speech petition would not be applicable as the "100 signatures required to overrule a decision not to hold a hearing." According to the Policy Statement, the petition requiring 100 signatures must be directed to the "University Senate Committee on Student Affairs" (now the Council on Student Life) only after the Board decides not to hold open hearings and the CSL has concurred in the Regents' decision. However, though not legally bound, the Board of Regents is morally bound to defend their position. It seems that they prefer to let the Issue die without responding to the charges that the information they used in deciding to halt the appointment of Michael Davis was erroneous. Robert Kaun, president of the Board, admitted that the the Regents were not entirely sure of the validity of their information at the time when they mude their decision. There Is now great doubt In many minds as to the validity of the Regents' Information and this doubt grows eueh day that the Board declines to defend it. THE NEBRASKAN Talaphonaa: f. ill tor: Butlnatti Vt-2!9Q, Newt: (''lit. tfacond ClflM poiitig paid at Lincoln, Nab. Subicrlption rates arc U par aamaatar of M.JO par y;r. Publltnad Monday. Wadnatdny. lhurdy and Friday during tha chool y.T acp durlna vaca tion! and axam paring, Mambar of tha Inlartoliaulala Praaa, National Iduca- lonal AdvorHilng Servlca. Tna Nabratkan la a ttvdant publication, Indapandanl of tna Unlvaralty of Nab ruska'a administration, faculty and atudant govornmont. Atldrota; Tha Nabratkan 34 Nabratka Union Unlvarally of Ntjraka Lincoln, Nabratka aMt dltorlal Staff fdlior: Kollvy Bakart Managloo Cdltori Connla vVlnkhtfl Nawt tdltori Bill Sin tharmnnj Spuria Editors: Jim Johnston and Rogar Rltai Nabratkan Staff Wrltars: Gury Saacrast, John Dvorak, Mick Mor laity, Martha Bangart, Davo Brink, Stvva Slratuar, Pal McTaa, Caret Ooatachlws, Monta Oarlath, Charlaa Harpstarj Photugrapharst Dan Ladaly, Mlka Maymam tnlortalnmanl tdltor: Prod eiswnhnrti Lltarary tdltori Alan Boya; Nawt Atslttanli Andria Thompson; Copy Editors! Laura Partwh, Jim Oray, Warran Obr, Blylha Erlckton; Nghl Nawt Edlton Tom Lantworttw Night Nawa Assistant: Lao, Schlaichar, Pentagon begins push for missile money Tearjerk Soapflakes presents by Frank Mankiewicz and Tom Braden WASHINGTON - With the election out of the way, the battle for real power in Washington will begin. It has, in fact, already begun, with Pentagon "sources" explaining to newsmen that by 1974 the United States will be reduced to the status of a second-class power. The argument is also being put forward by the military-industrial public relations front called the American Security Council, with full-page newspaper ad vertisements. Since the National Strategy Committee of the council consists largely of retired generals and admirals, the point of view is predictable, but the White House has been circulating the advertisement as though it were an official document. It Is, in fact, not only unofficial, but totally erroneous. The United States is not falling behind Russia in the arms race, but is far ahead, so much so that if we stopped building missiles immediately we would still be ahead several years from now. There are even more important numbers. Of now, we have 1,710 long range missiles as compared with a Soviet force of 1,518. In addition, this country is now installing MIRVs (multiple in dependently targetable re-entry vehicles) on many of its missiles. When the job is completed by the mid 708, it will give us more than 7,000 warheads without any new missiles. Russia has not begun to deploy MIRV and, so far as our intelligence knows, has not yet perfected it, if indeed it Intends to do so. But the argument of a paper organiza tion, even one with White House support, is not nearly so important as the fact that Pentagon and White House strategists, while admitting that the public relations front is exaggerating, are making much the same case, if in a more sophisticated way. Their argument Is based upon what they call "a scenario," and it runs about Center for educational change by ROBIN WEST The University now has a Center for Educational Change (CEC). It is located in room 344 in live Union, open Monday through Friday from 8:30 to 4:30. The CEC hopefully will initiate a new direction for student an active interest In their university education. It has been set up to provide for several different needs: coordination of educational reform activity, and com munication of ideas and In formation are most needed. Last spring, the faculty and administration were Impressed with the number of students who came to the open Academic Planning Committee meeting with constructive ideas. The CEC hopes to pro vide a continuing forum for ideas. It provides a central locatioii for student discussion of education, a place to go with the complaints and ideas about classrooms, courses, and re quirements. The CEC intends to encourage and stimulate student Input for educational change. There is a large need for coordination of all educational reform activities. This includes Free University, ASUN educa tion committee, and students appointed to Faculty Semite committees. CEC will be a communication channel to prevent duplication of projects or proposals, and to Increase Innovative efforts by all groups. The CEC will collect the minutes of meetings of all urdversity committees dealing with education: Teaching Council, Academic Planning Committee, College Advisory Boards. It will also have for your Information, copies of proposals currently being con sidered by these groups. Stu dent representatives on these committees need your ideas. In FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1970 this way, the Center can be a. clearinghouse for information on educational Innovation at the University. Many of the students' pro posals last May were for change;! that are already available to students in many parts of the University. A fre quent comment of the faculty is that students don't really take advantage of the opportunities they now have. To solve this, the CEC intends to disseminate Information on education to the various committees and to the students at large. This includes information on present NU operation and structure as well as books and magazines about current educational changes across the country. The CEC has a chance to be a viable new service. A weekly column will bring information to you. The office will be open daily. CEC can best serve those who make use of it. So drop up . . . as follows: One day, they imagine, Henry Kissinger, the White House national security adviser, runs up the stairs to the Oval Office to tell the President that Russian missiles have been fired at our missile sites. The President, they say, will then have to make a dreadful decision. Confronted with a certainty of millions of American casualties, he will have to decide whether or not to fire back at Russian cities, in the certain knowledge that if he does the .Russians will retaliate with a second strike against our cities. To avoid having to make this dreadful decision, so the argument goes, it is essential not only to build more ABM's, but also to have an even larger superiority in number of warheads. The scenario is, of course, a possibility, but only if one considers that anything Is possible. To imagine that the Soviet Union would take the chance of having all its cities destroyed is to Imagine that Russia will have leaders who have gone mad. Meantime, no one denies that the two major nuclear powers have now assembled enough weaponry to kill each other many times over. It Is, In fact, just this balance or power which the more weapons advocates fear. An acknowledgment at the strategic arms limitation talks (SALT) that there is a power balance and that there is no point in continuing to pile up a more massive power balance would bring about a major decrease in Pentagon spending and Pentagon power. That Is why the present camalgn was timed to coincide with the reconvening of SALT and the new Pentagon budget hearings. White House assistance for that cutn palgn bodes ill for the former and well for the latter. It is a fair guess that newly elected congressmen will be disinclined to argue with generals retired or ac tive who tell them that their vote may make the difference between In dependence and surrender. But unless they do, we appear to be headed for another round In the arms race, a higher defense budget and less money for the things which matter. John's only wife by ARTHUR IIOPPE Good morning, housewives and other shut-ins. It's time for another tee-vee chapter of "John's Only Wife" the heartwarming story which asks the question: "Can a kindly, old, pipe-puffing At torney General allow unlimited free speech and still preserve law and order? And his marriage?" As we join John and Martha, John is puffing his kindly old pipe and reading his unkindly old newspaper. Martha is pacing the floor, trying to conceal her growing agitation. It is late at night. Martha (with false nonchalance): Well, dear, I think I'll go upstairs and dial a nice shower ... I mean, have a nice shower. John (without looking up from his paper): You needn't bother, Martha. I found it. Martha (Innocently): Found what, dear? John: The telephone you hid under the lid of the commode. Martha: Oh, John you're horrid! You dont trust me. John: Now, now, Martha, you know you promised to quit. Martha: But not cold turkey, John. I'm having withdrawal symptoms. Look at my dialing finger tremble. John (sternly): Martha, if you won't do it for me, you must do it for our President. He's so happy. He hasn't soon your name in the paper for 48 hours. Martha: I will, John, I will! But I think I ought to taper off gradually. My system cant stand the shock. Please, John, just one little call? As a nightcap? John (frowning): This Administration stands four square against permissiveness. You are ruining our image. Martha (falling to her knees): Just one Itty-bitty local call? I know! I could dtol the time and talk to the recording. THE NEBRASKAN John: Now, Martha, you know how that first little call leads to another. First thing you know, you'll be off on an all-night hinge calling newspapers across the country. For the good of the Nation and the ' Party, you must renounce calling forever. Martha (pulling herself together): You're right, John. Never again, I swear it. (She resumes her pacing, wringing her hands. After a long silence, she says cheerily:) Well, I think I'll go out on the balcony and ring up , . . look at the view. John: I found that one, too. And the one you hid in your mattress. And the one you hid In the aspidistra. And the one . . . Martha (desperately): John, if you don't let me have one little call, I'm going to talk! John (smiling confidently): What could you say about me? Martha (cleverly): I won't talk about you, 111 talk to you. You know how I can go on for hours about Senator Halfbright and those dingy professors and those liberal Communists and those. John (blanching): Doesn't our mar riage mean anything? Martha (grimly): It's one or the other, John. I mean it! (John, a defeated man, rises slowly, removes a Walter Keone painting, opens a wall safe and hands Martha a telephone. Tremblingly, she dials and with a satisfied sigh, lifts the receiver to her lips.) Martha: Hello, Is this that nice UPI reporter? Now here are my views on Pablo Casals, Golda Meir and the Washington Senators, all 100 of them. John (contentedly lighting his pipe): Better him than me. Well., tune in to "John's Only Wife" again next time, folks. And meantime, be happy that John has but one wife to give to his country. PAGE 6 THE NEBRASKAN FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1970 PAGE 7