Cleaning it up
Protection of the environment has been an issue actively
adopted by University students in the past two years. However,
the students' efforts were largely directed toward national and
state environmental problems with little attention being paid to
problems on the Lincoln campuses.
Now the Environmental Task force, a committee of students
and faculty formed by ASUN last May, is busy preparing
environmental projects for the University. The committee was
formed simply because little was being done to develop any
environmental policies for UNL.
One of the most promising projects being investigaged by the
committee is the recycling of paper waste collectecd on campus.
Dennis Confer, a member of the committee, notes that much of
the estimated 50 tons of garbage collected at the University is
paper waste.
The committee also plans to work on the campus
environmental problems of open burning the UNL power plant,
spraying, waste chemicals, the East Campus poultry farm, parking
and visual pollution.
But for the committee to be effective it needs outside input
from students, faculty and administrators. The Task Force is
holding its first open rgeeting of the falJ Sept. 21 in the Nebraska
Union.
A university the size of UNL needs such a committee as the
Task Force to protect the campus environment. The committee is
right in concentrating its efforts on environmental problems in
the University's own back yard.
Prokop vs. CSL
For the past two years the Council on Student Life has been
investigating alleged discrimination in fraternities and sororities.
But the Council has concentrated its efforts on studying the
problem and has taken no formal disciplinary action against any
Greek house.
Now Regent Robert J. Prokop has introduced an ill-conceived
proposal to remove the fraternity system (but not the sorority
system) from the jurisdiction of the Council, which is composed
of students, faculty, and administrators. Prokop, an alumnus of
the University's Kappa Sigma Fraternity, has introduced the
proposal because of what he calls "definite harrassment" of the
fraternities by CSL.
Supporting Prokop's stand is Corwin Moore, chairman of the
Alumni Interfraternity Board, who has said, "the internal
working of the fraternity system has nothing to do with CSL or
their supervision."
CSL has served a useful purpose by bringing to light certain
discriminatory practices of the Greek system. The result has been
that the Greeks have been finally forced to re-examine their
membership practices and attitudes toward minority groups.
It would be a bad precedent to start removing specific groups
from CSL's jurisdiction. If the fraternities are given special status,
does that mean that other campus groups under fire from CSL
should also be permitted to bail out?
In addition, there is little reason to take the fraternities away
from CSL since all actions of the Council are subject to review by
the Regents.
Prokop appears to be involved in a conflict of interest
regarding his proposal. John W. Robinson, former CSL chairman,
recommended in a special report to the Regents last year that
Prokop's fraternity, Kappa Sigma, be reprimanded for racial
discrimination. Robinson in his report was acting as President
Varner's personal representative and not as chairman of CSL.
Probably the main reason for the Regents' lack of action on
the Robinson report is that six of the eight members of the Board
are alumni of University fraternites. It will be interesting to see
how these members vote on the resolution to remove the
fraternities from CSL's jurisdiction.
CSL would be definitely weaken if it has no authority over the
fraternity system. The Regents should defeat Prokop's proposal
and let the Council retain its present powers.
Gary Seacrest
SfflSmMSm
Editor: Gary Seacrest. Managing Editor: Laura Wilier. Newt Editor:
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Staff writers: Bill Smifharman, Carol Stressor, Marsha Kehm, Bart
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Johnston. Photographers: Bill Ganzel, Gail Folda. Entertainment
editor: Larry Hubert. Literary editors: Alan Boye, Lucy Kerchberger.
East campus writer: Terri Bedient. Artist: Al Chan. Copy editors: Tom
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Coordinator: Jerri Haussler. Ad staff: Greg Scott, Beth Maleshock,
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government.
Address: The Deity Nebreskan, 34 Nebraska Union, University of
Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska 68008.
doug voegler
Big red business
unMP fiAMFl Those two little words spark
a lot of excitement and enthusiasm around here
in the fall. Pep Rallies and endless speculation
lead to Saturday when the eyes of the state and
the nation converge on Lincoln, Nebraska. It's
football Saturday and the campus is alive!
Seventy thousand fans are flowing bloodlike
along the arteries of campus toward I its
heart-the Stadium. Dorms are crowded with
friends and parents. Greek houses likewise are
out in full dress with music and refreshments.
At night, parties, keggers, and woodsies top off
the day.
This is probably a good time to deal with an
issue that traditionally becomes more
prominent as the year goes along.
There are some people on this campus and
elsewhere who believe that the "University"
gets screwed somehow, every time the athletic
department makes gains (especially financial).
The most obvious example of this myth in
recent times was this spring, when Coach
Devaney went before the State Legislature and
shortly thereafter a five cent increase on the
state cigarette tax was enacted to raise money
for several facilities, most notably a new
fieldhouse at NU.
Immediately howls were raised. The plight
of our deficient library was brought up again.
We were reminded of the need for a new Law
College, Home Ec Building, Zoology Building,
etc.
One would have gotten the impression, by
listening to these people, that the Legislature
had a choice between the fieldhouse and the
others and then callously, coldheartedly chose
the "circus" over the rest. This is ridiculous.
There was, first of all, no choice as such
between the two. What happened was that
Devaney had the intelligence and the insight to
see an opportunity and follow through with it.
Devaney is the head of the athletic department
as well as the football coach. He can not be
blamed logically, morally, or any other way
for looking out for and pushing for his area,
just as other department heads are expected to.
Other people are willing to put up with the
athletic department and the football team,
provided that they "contribute their share to
the University." Consequently when
low-income scholarship funding was discussed
last year, one idea raised was to add $1.00 to
the price of football tickets to raise low-income
scholarship money. This idea at first glance
seems fair and practical, but when one looks
beneath it and sees the underlining philosophy
it becomes less appealing.
Fortunately, most Nebraskans and students
do recognize that the athletic department and
football team have been contributing more
than adequately to the University community
over the past years. Despite advances in social
programs, athletics still are a major factor in
recruiting minority students to campus. What
other aspect of this University has brought
national attention and prestige on a wide scale
to Lincoln. Why is NBC filming a segment here
for television this fall? Why did the President of
the United States choose Lincoln to deliver a
major address on youth last January?
The administrators of the campus have
stated that they hope to make this the best
University in the region. Naturally everyone
wants to see this become an outstanding
University. However an outstanding University
includes, as far as I am concerned, a good
athletic department, facilities, and teams. We
have those now or are on our way to them.
The University will get a new Law College,
Library, Zoology Building and all the rest
someday. It will take time however, just as it
took time to build the athletic department. To
intimate that every gain of the athletic
department is at the expense of the others is as
pathetic as lower class whites who feel every
advance of blacks is at their expense.
The University of Nebraska will never be
another Harvard, Yale, or Stanford. At best, it
will be an outstanding university that excel Is in
certain fields such as Agriculture, Engineering,
and football.
Brevity in letter is requested and the
Daily Nebraskan reserve the right to
condense letters. All letters must be
accompanied by writer's true name but
may be submitted for publication under
a pen name or initials. However, letters
will be printed under a pen name or
initials at the editor's discretion.
PEOPLE:
I was conceived over a
century ago but remained
dormant for a very long time.
But I became aroused eight or
nine years ago, steadily
growing in power and
determination until finally last
January, as through some
gigantic cataclysm, I emerged a
separate entity. I am the
spontaneous cries of seventy
thousand red-clad fans. I am
that extra scream of effort
bursting forth from a national
champion. I am the Scarlet
Phantom!
Now that you know who I
am and from whence I came, I
would guess you now question
my purpose. Okay sport fans
I'm going to put it to you
straight. Nebraska has an
outstanding football team,
fabulous crowd support, good
coaching, but is lacking in one
important aspect. This is, if
you haven't already guessed, a
colorful tradition, some driving
legend that revives a winner
year after year whether the
talent returns or not.
Where do we start? Let me
offer a few suggestions. First of
THE DAILY NEBRASKAN
all, it looks like we're going to
have a super defense again this
year, so we might as well start
with them. WHY DON'T WE
HAVE A NICKNAME FOR
OUR FRONT FOUR? Nobody
will argue that they aren't good
enough to deserve one.
But wait, why should I get
to name the front four? Quite
simple, because no one else
has, and besides, there are
certain privileges that go along
with being a phantom. After
pondering the problem of
name-seeking for the past eight
months, I believe I've come up
with something which I'll now
pass along for your approval. I
tried to think of something
which would exemplify sire,
ferocity, quickness, and
cunning, but yet was not quite
human-as is our defense. Now
there is an animal which
possesses all these different
characteristics and also remains
somewhat obscure in the minds
of most. This magnificient
beast is the BUSTARD.
Now that we have a
"noun", it is necessary to find
a adjective which best modifies
it. For this I recommend
"DIRTY", it's a natural. So
now sport fans, let me
introduce our new front four,
THE DIRTY BUSTARDS.
I can tell I've already
convinced some of you, but
others are still doubting the
appropriateness of the new
name. Think of the
psychological advantage to be
gained. When seventy thousand
fans start screamina. "Cmon
you DIRTY BUSTARDS,"
some opponents may even join
us.
Your first step should be to
form some type of
organization which pushes our
cause. Something like a
Support Our Bustards Society,
or in short, the SOBs.
All this may seem like
taking a very small step on a
very long journey, but never
fear, the Scarlet Phantom will
return to guide you on to even
greater and more glorious feats
as I fulfill my destiny. So until
then, all you SOBs get your
asses to the game and cheer
those DIRTY BUSTARDS on.
GO BIG RED1
The Scarlet Phantom
PAGE 2
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1971
