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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 13, 1971)
Hope for the hitherlands For a long time Nebraska, like many other American states, has sought ways of improving the ecomonic, social and cultural life of rural areas. Now new efforts in this direction are being made and it appears the University might play an important role in future schemes of rural development. Appearing before a hearing of a U.S. Senate subcommittee concerned with problems of rural America Friday, NU President 0. 6. Varner offered an innovative approach involving state universities to help revitalize America's hitherlands. Varner suggested to the subcommittee that Congress establish and fund a "system of Institutes for Rural Development in the land-grant universities and charge these institutes with the responsibility for marshaling the resources of the entire institution in an effort to bring to realify the concept of rural development." The institutes, he added, should employ a corps of business and industrial specialists to help rural communities "improve their economic lot" just as agricultural agents help farmers. Sen. Hubert H. Humphrey, sjbcommittee chairman, called Varner's idea the "finest testimony I've ever heard any place on the subject of rural development," and asked Varner to detail the plan and forward it to the committee. Varner's proposal of federally funded institutes would not only benefit rural areas but would permit state universities the opportunity to make a major contribution to one of the nation's major problems at a time of increased public disenchantment with the schools. One of the most vital rural needs is a new financial system to accomplish for non-farm borrowers in ruial areas what the farm credit system has done for farm borrowers. The establishment and maintenance of a reasonable level of economic prosperity for farmers is also a must in any rural developrem scheme. As Senator Humphrey notid the rural problems are so important since "there are no answers to urban problems without answers for rural America." There are many hopeful signs that a real effort is being made to tackle the many problems of rural America. Besides the Senate subcommittee hearings which are being held across the country. President Nixon has set up a special task force on the subject and the Coalition for Rural America (a citizens' lobbying iorce for rural areas) has been recently established. The University of Nebraska appears eager to become a partner in this enterprise and both the Federal end state governments should make use of its resources. Gary Seacrest Student input needed Only a few years ago student representation on faculty committees was sparse and coutd have been ignored easily by both faculty and students. Upon the introduction and subsequent adoption of the Student in the Academic Community document in 1958 this situation began changing. Now each fall there are a large number of appointments to be made to facultystudent committees by ASUN. Although these committees are important, they seem to be overlooked regularlv by students, faculty and administrators. A large number of these committees have as their sole purpose the role of advising a University department or administrative office. But two problems arise in the interpretation of these roles. First the icsues dealt with by the Committees are usually brought forward by the faculty or staff person whose office or department is being advised. However, more often than not, it is the subjective decision of the staff person that decides which issues are brought before the committee for its scrutiny and action. A large number of major and minor issues do not pass through the hands of the advisory committees but instead just proceed through the administrative channels just as they would have before the adyisory committees were created. Second, the students serving on these committees are often not the types of persons willing to put an administrator or faculty member on the line about lack of information on the proceedings in their offices. A number of administrative decisions have swept down on the affected students without input from students. The issues couid have been controversial and therefore greatly deserved student input One very valid case in point is the fact that last year's decision to increase residence hall room and hoard rates was not brought to the Housing Policy Committee (a standing committee of the Council on Student Life) for approval, denial, or even comment. What is needed to solve this unnecessary dilemma is an open administration not reluctant to bring all budgetary policy, staff reorganization, and proposed changes to their advisory committees for sanction or denial. The administrator is almost solely responsible for these actions but it must be accepted that the students serving on these committees should keep on top of information regarding proposed changes so that they are there to provide 'iput for or against the nature of the change, Barry Pilger PAGE 6 Brevity in letters is requested and the Daily Nebraskan reserves the right to condense letters. AH letters most be accompanied by writer's true name but may be submitted for publication under a pen name or initials. However, letters wal be printed under a pen name or initials at the editor's discretion. Dear Editor, Freedom can begin "'th the whiskers on your upper lip. Does a clerk in a grocery store have the right to have a mustache? Does he also have the right to have a clean shaven face? The district manager of S Jeway says "no" to the first question and enforces his decision. An employee at the Safeway store at 23rd and "O" was recently required to shave off his mustache , The manager of the Hinky Dinky store at 26th and "0" says that neat mustaches are permissable for his employees. Where are you going to buy your groceries if you are choosing between the Safeway store at 23rd and "0" or the Hinky Dinky store at 26th and "0" walk three blocks for a person's right to wear a mustache? Which store would you enter to buy some fruit and not to buy shaving materials because you don't use them? Are you interested in the rightful personal freedoms of your fellow human beings? How about we human beings actively vocalizing ourselves on this problem? Someone might picket and leaflet the Safeway store. A boycott might be organized. This problem may seem to be trivial, but for some its solution may be substantial beginning of an understanding of freedom. Today, freedom to wear or not wear a mustache; tomorrow, an end to the draft and the war! Sincerely with a beard, Ron Kurtenhach Vv tic f michelle coyle Plea for participation Quite bluntly this is an open plea. Since May of 1970 students on this campus have become publicly involved in critical questioning of the values, priorities and commitments of the University. More than one year has passed; little has changed. A great many of these questions remain unanswered, and very few would argue it's time a few new ones were asked. I'd like to add some personal concerns to this situation. This University, as an "institution of high learning" and because it defines itself as a learning center, must recognize and deal with the problems and needs of the entire University community. It seems students usually find themselves in the position of ittempting to hold the University to these commitments. ASUN can be xe way of doing this. Especially now at the beginning of the school year, it's important that students concerned with racism, the University's responsibility to the Lincoln low income community, tenants' rights, sexism, educational reform, human rights, to name just a few issues, get organized and start doing something about University priorities and responsibilities. A SUN simply cannot be effective without the support and involvement of concerned and committed individuals. If you are interested in organizing or learning about issues of thr type, ASUN needs your participation and leadership. ASUN appointments to the following committees must be made in the next two weeks: Campus Surveillance Parking Parking Appeals Student Academic Services (chairman) Environmental Task Force Student Health Board Student Tribunal Teaching Council (graduate student) Honors Convocation CSL Standing Committee on Organizations Educational Reform Grading (graduate student) Library (graduate student) Publications Board Intramurals Advisory Board Intercollegiate Athletics Curriculum Legal Rights (chairman) Help Line Advisory Board In addition, there is a vacant ASUN Senate seat from the Teachers College and one from she Graduate and Professional Colleqes. Interested students should contact the ASUN office. Room 334 Nebraska Union, ems Editor: Gary Seaercct. Maruoma Editor: Laura Witters. Editor: Stcv St ratter. Advartistn Manager: Barry Prtoar. Publication Commit use Chairman: Jamas Homer. Suit rtr Bill Sm.itiimi, Carol Siimmh, Mrna Kehm, Bart Setter, Denn Snyder, Vicki Polo, Roenn Robert, Sieve Kedel, M J. Cuwrnm, Ranoy Scam, Lucy Lmn, Duene LeMtert. Sport editor Jn Jonnen Photographer Sill Genel, G4 Fold Entertainment tw Larry Kutxert Literary editor. Alan Soya, Lucy Kerchberoer. e umnvi wttttt Terri ed( M Cv Copy cd'torr Tom Lentworth, Jim Clem on, Sara Tretfc, itm Gray, Wioht dtor Lao Schleicher. BUSINESS STAFF Coordinator Jerri Hautler, Add ilf ; Gre Scott, Beth Maiethocfc, iim ICdwwHI, Sua Phillip, Mick M or arty. JeM Aden, Stave Vat, fay Phillip, O, J, NeHon, Suri Goebet, Phil, Merrywvather, Larry Swanton, Laurel Marsh, Chris CoHin, Don Naddenreip, Secretary: Kalhy Cot A,, Telephone editor 472 7688, new 472 edwerfemf 4 72 Second cl pottaoa rate paid at UrtctMn, Nebretfca. Subscription rate are SS per femecter or $g per year. Published Monday, Wednetdey, Thurdy and Friday during the school year accept during vcatum and eam period. Member of the Intercollegiate Pre, National tttucmuonmt Advertrtine. Service. The Daily Netoretfcan a student publication, independent o the Univrity of Nebretfca administration, faculty and student owner nment, Addrosv: The Daily Nebretken, 34 Nebretfce Union, University of Nebretka, Lincoln, Meoretke 68MHL Jeffrey Hart Kingman Brewster: patriot An academic colleague who is a Yale graduate writes to me as follows: "Kingman Brewster has just escaped from his keepers again! Just got the Yale alumni publication for July, and can't believe my eyes. You have got to dash to your nearest library and get hold of this, with his commencement speech and Coffin's prayer. Don't walk, or even run. Steal the nearest car with a peace sticker. Brewster! He makes me feel like Henry Adams." Adams being, one understands, the chronicler of the decay of the Republic. A year ago Brewster attracted an eddy of attention with his pensee to the effect that a Negro could not get a fair trial in the United States-an observation which has turned out to have unexpected merit, it apparently being difficult at present to convict anyone of a major crime. I did not have to steal a car with a peace sticker, for a friend produced a copy of the Yale alumni magazine, and I turned eagerly to Brewster's baccalaureate discourse. No doubt savoring the initial sense of paradox, Brewster sets out to tell the Yale seniors what's right with America. He "accentuates the positive," as he puts it, and says no to all the hand-wringers. But what, in his ipinion, is it that's right about America, and whence this rush of patriotic feeling? There's the catch, heh heh-heh , for Brewster proceeded to produce the purest litany of chic liberal banalities I have ever come across, a genuine collector's item. Here is what is right about America: Senator P oxmire triumphed over the SST. Ralph Nader is crusading around. John Kerry has "hit the conscience of a nation with a true eloquence not recently heard in Senate committee rooms"-said eloquence making the point that young Kerry is willing to work within the system for the time being in the hope that the U.S. will adopt Kerry's foreign policy in place, of Nixon's. There are also some fine politicans around, said Brewster. Who? Why, "the McCarthys and the McCloskeys," he announced, with an even-handed disregard of party partisanship. And there was an accolade for Judge Mulvey,. who behaved with "patience" and "dignity" as Bobby Seale was acquitted. It is true, Brewster conceded, that we have not quite reached the promised land. We endure "the outrageous surveillance of private citizens by the military and F.B.I." Philip Berrigan and his friends are in jail and facing additional serious charges, but Brewster finds it possible to "hope for the vindication of the defendants," his heart being in the right place on that one. And though Nixon and Agnew are still in office, the "politics of hate" and the "politics of fear" which they practice "did not seem to work very well in the elections of 1970." To cap this ludicrous performance, the Rev. William Sloane Coffin, Yale's political chaplain, delivered an orotund prayer; "We have learned that there is a world of difference between small men who are very clever and great men who are wise..."- Brewster and Coffin himself obviously being put forward as prime examples of the latter category. I sometimes wonder what it must be like to have enjoyed a lifetime of total, unquestioned moral superiority. :4 that broad pieasawt potato 4c,tat ORDER BOOTHS CLOSED, BUT PRIVATE LINES STILL OPEN ! ...Sorry, our special Student Union order booths are now closed, but we can still fill orders for a private phone in your room, house, dorm or apartment. Just call or stop by our main business office at 14th and M.. The Lincoln TcIcpSicrso Companij c TTffll WW IT 0 Special otuaent Subscription Rate (On Campus) OMAHA WORLD-HERALD DAILY - SUNDAY Special Student Kate DaSy and Sunday 55c (JLegtOmx Bates Daily sad Stmdajr, 75c) HwOjOaSj SOe Sunday Ouij t&e (Befnlar Bate 40c) (Begolar Bate t5c) A Welcome companion to your Ont semester enrollment sad a living day-by-day textbook, delivered to your dorm dally. Rates below are afusted to exclude all vacations first semes ter. Clip and mall coupon with check or money order. Circle money amount for editions and subscription term desired. For further information call World-Herald Lincoln office, 489-8393, j MAIL TO: IWoiM-Berald Lincoia Distributor . 1740 So. 47tt Kt 1 LUoola, Ifeb. C8S0I Fkone: 429-8193 I I 7TAJCB i "iSrzzTt&xr 912 bw ! Dally ftsd Buadzj $15 $1.10 DaUy Only $L5 $L2Q &JM SaodaT Only 3.75 t5ZQ S3.25 THE DAILY NEBRASKA MONDAY, SEPTEfBER 13, 1971 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1971 THE DAILY NEBRASKAN PAGE 7