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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (May 19, 1971)
n fi H fl iff r 1 1 8 1 to :3 : i . J r i - V'V if if a What a. . tradition Traditionally this space on the final day of Daily Nebraskan publication was reserved for the editor to make his sentimental parting comments. And it was a space to say how great everything has been. Also, it was a space used to chastise the student body for their apathy, the faculty for their arrogance, the Administration for their obstinance and yes, the Regents for their humorous repugnance. You might say "what a tradition!" but actually it is no different in nature than any other. People do things one way, they get used to doing things that way, and pretty soon the word "change" loses its meaning. So too do the notions of ideals, aspirations and goals. All those words lose their meaning when unquestioned tradition becomes a substitute for perfection and excellence. For example, look at the fraternity system on this campus. Several years ago the fraternity system was under severe attack and all of the traditions were being questioned. They were being questioned because the fraternities were boasting of their noble ideals for one week ot of the year. During the res of the year words like -justice" and "scholarship" would become increasingly insignificant. When such hypocrisy persists, sooner or later has got to hit the fan. For the fraternities that was a Sous fan. In fact, only this year did the fraternity system as a whole recover from those wounds. In the future it should be hoped that the fraternities are given the respect, not that they monopolize, but the respect they deserve. The same applies to all of the other groups in this university, including the Daily Nebraskan. The last day of publication should not be a day of universal lambasting or a day of sweeping praise. That's not journalism. And for what it's worth, that's not me. A UN replies We would like to clarify some misconceptions that seem to have arisen regarding the function and structure of the ASUN Educational Reform Coordinating Committee. In evaluating this past year, the primary problem with the educational reform movement on this campus has been lack of organization. A number of committees, boards, and groups have been working on educational change but their efforts have been ineffective due largely to a lack of co-ordination. It was felt that the creation of an umbrella group composed of students directing various educational reform efforts on campus would alleviate many of last year's problems. Having all these groups working together under one structure would prevent duplication of efforts and dissipation of energies. Membership in the coordinating committee is flexible and open to change. The committee will be drawing its direction from the student body. Students with suggestions or individual projects are strongly encouraged to bring them to the Coordinating Committee. It is obvious that this committee cannot succeed without the participation and involvement of all concerned students. A small group of students working by themselves cannot hope to achieve meaningful change without that support. It is our sincere hope that all students can become involved in setting the tone for their own education. We hope that all students interested in attaining this goal will work together in the coming year. Steve Fowler ASUN President Michele Coyle ASUN Vice-president Rod Hernandez 2nd vice-president Mike Berns Speaker pro-temp 'I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night' EDITORIAL OPINION by BILL SMITHERMAN The night before Industrial Workers of the World leader Joe Hill went before the firing squad he sent a message g, his followers, "Don't mourn me, organize! Hill's advice to a fledgling labor movement seems to have been accepted by the young tenant's movement in the U.S. Militancy seems to be the watchword in the new movement. Tenants have been downtrodden for years in many cases. They see their problems and are indignant about them. In most cases they should be. But, landlords also recite a litany of reasons why they cannot keep up their property as they would like. They claim to be beset with problems of rising taxes and labor costs which make it impossible for them to adhere to even a minimum housing code. So, the solution is not a simple one. Organized tenants standing up for long-denied rights is surely one part of it. Finding a way for the landlord to keep his property livable is another. In many cases militancy among tenants is necessary to achieve their goals. But, it is not a catch-all answer as it may have been in the days of Joe Hill. That's all, folks All good things must end. This is the last Daily Nebraskan for the semester. Applications for staff positions for next semester's Daily Nebraskan should be turned into the office by Friday. Staff positions include staff writers, copy editors, ad salesmen and business assistants. Dear editor, Two months ago we wrote a letter to the Daily Nebraskan which was critical of the advertising of the local franchise of Evelyn Wood Reading Dynamics. As your readers know, the local franchise of Reading Dynamics is a major advertiser in the Daily Nebraskan. In an extraordinary departure from custom, a staff member of the Nebraskan showed the letter prior to publication, to Mr. William R. Jones, manager of the local franchise. Jones indicated that he felt that we had no right to say what we had said about Reading Dynamics and its advertising. In a later conversation which he had with one of us he explicitly questioned whether we had the right to reveal the cost of the Reading Dynamics course, and he claimed that he had evidence which bore upon the truth of some of the assertions which we had made in the letter. He offered to provide us with that evidence. Mr. Diehl expressed an interest in seeing the evidence, and Jones said that he would send it by mail. Diehl suggested that a controlled experiment, designed by impartial investigators, might be conducted on this campus, with the aim of testing the relative effectiveness of different reading programs. The results, it was suggested, might be published in the Nebraskan, giving prospective enrollees a chance to make a better informed decision than they can now make. Mr. Jones said that he. ll . Lamm 1 . (Hear Al Lowenstein speak today at 3:30 in the Union.) a test; but that he would need to seek permission from the home office of the franchise, in Denver. It was agreed that he would write Diehl, giving the answer of the home office. We have never received any communication from Jones. In the meantime the Publications Board of the Daily Nebraskan, fearful of a libel suit, withheld publication of the letter until they could be advised as to whether the letter was libelous. Our own attorney believed that the letter was not libelous. After a delay of several weeks, however a member of the law firm employed by the Regents said that he believed it should not be published. Since hearing of his opinion we have tried to discover the particular reasons for his belief. We have not succeeded. We have no desire to write a letter which even arguably would libel Reading Dynamics. We would like to see the original letter published with whatever revisions are deemed necessary. Since that has not been possible, we have provided this narrative of events. We cannot claim to know whether our right to free speech was unduly infringed by an over-cautious legal opinion or whether we were merely imprudent in our remarks although we cannot in conscience retract any of them). We do know that there ought to be swifter decisions, with reasons given, if the taint of illicit censorship is to be avoided. As for the advertising of Reading Dynamics, we wish we could state our specific complaints, but failing that opportunity, we can only conclude by suggesting that in all commercial enterprises, even of an educational nature, the buyer must beware. Donald Jensen, associate professor of psychology John Diehl, instructor in philosophy PAGE 2 THE DAILY NEBRASKAN WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 1971