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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 16, 1971)
Brevity in letters is requested and the Uaily Nebraskan reserves 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. Dear Editor, Today, Sept. 16, is Independence Day in Mexico. It is the day that Father Hidalgo started the final movement of the Mexican people to throw the Spanish out. In 1810 a mestizo Mexico priest named Father Hidalgo started a small rebellion in a village. In Delores, Guanojuato, Father Hidalgo called "Long live Our Lady of Gaudalupe!" His Indian and mestizo followers, however, answered with the same cry of the lepero rebellions. "Kill the Gachupines! Death to the Spanish!" Soon the cry spread through the whole of Mexico, Father Hidalgo's own Catholic Church condemned him and he was caught and killed. But he had lit the flame. He is the hero of Mexicans today, "the father of the Revolution." I'm sure that this must be new information to many of you since this and many other parts of American history have been overlooked in our history books: 1) The first university in North America was the University of Mexico in 1551 and the first books printed in North America were from that institution. 2) The people who taught the cowboys how to ride a horse and pan for gold were Mexican Indians. 3) Davy Crockett didn't die at the battle of the Alamo. He surrendered. Also he didn't defend it with 79 brave stouthearted men. It was more like 1500. 4) In 1932 in Los Angeles alone some 11,000 Mexicans were shoved into trains and trucks and dumped over the border. 5) Although Mexican Americans compose less than five pei cent of the U.S. population, it is estimated that 22 per cent of the Vietnam war dead are Chicano. 6) The U.S. is not a continent, it is a country. North America is a continent and it is a brown continent. Rod Hernandez Dear Editor, Another football game approahces, and soon the campus will rise up out of its weekday stupor and come alive again! In appreciation of this, may I congratulate Doug Voegler on his editorial in your September 10 issue, "Big Red Business." I had been wondering about this furor over football at the expense of academic endeavors, even doubting the existence of a justification for such devotion to Big Red, which seems to have reached proportions undreamed of even by God. Mr. Voegler's article opened my eyes to several pertinent facts, which I had overlooked for some reason. One is the "myth" that the University "somehow gets screwed every time the athletic department makes gains." Could anyone in an academic community be so blinded by ignorance to believe that improving the library, the law college, the zoology department, etc. is 'of any value when a new fieldhouse is at stake? Let Harvard and Yale concentrate on the pursuit of learning, if that's really what they want, and let us continue in--nay, increase our devotion to Big Red. If Nebraska's lawyers, teachers and scientists are not as well equipped as they might be upon leaving the University, so be it. Why rock the boat? It is a pity that the State has not seen fit to tax us more heavily for this cause. I suggest that more of our money be appropriated for Big Red. Perhaps the construction of small "victory" shrines throughout the state might be appropriate, as fans would then be able to gather together during the weeks to pray for weekend success. My only bone of contention with Mr. Voegler is his ill-formed analogy comparing the problems of the athletic department to those of black Americans. Surely he will realize on further contemplation that the black struggle and other battles for human rights now taking place in this nation cannot possibly hold as much sway in the hearts of Nebraskans as the weekly battle of the pigskin. At any rate, Mr. Voegler's article is highly informative. It stands as an excellent example of the level of thought which is being encouraged at this University, and thus leads great substance to the author's basic contention: that in this state, Big Red may be all we've GOT to believe in. Cynthia Henney chris harper ct NhUrmarKeTDiace i, iof ideas V Nebraska Free University classes will be commencing on Monday, September 20. I would like to express why NFU exists and what I believe it should be. I will begin my reflections with several thoughts concerning the University of Nebraska itself. The University of Nebraska administration no longer employs the antiquated simile comparing the university system to a factory producing a certain quantity of skilled students. They presently compare the structure with the nur turing of a plant or tree. Let me examine the ingredients with which the administration fertilizes the tree of education. An extensive amount of tests and term papers are added to ensure rapid growth and development. A foui point grading system is incorporated to enable the plant to strive for excellent quality and stature. The parental guidance of the administration provides vast amounts of prerequisites and requirements to create the correct horticultural environment. The administrators also include additional nutrients such as impersonal student-tpachpi relationships, the notion that the student is dependent and subservient to the omnipotent faculty membei and sufficient amounts of hureauciatic processes. Thus the stately tree of education is formed? NO the tree becomes gnarled and bent by the inadequate preparations of its gardener, the administration. The improper ingredients have been added to fertilize the soil. Testing, grading systems, impersonal student-teacher relationships, dependency upon professors as informational sources, prerequisites and requirements have created a barren and fruitless tree. Even if the factory simile were employed to explain the present educational system, Henry Ford would laugh and Ralph Nader would affirm the defectiveness of the product. The Nebraska Free University (NFU), sponsored by ASUN, attempts to nurture education by the proper methods. The essence of NFU is motivation. A person can only achieve a true educational experience if there is a positive desire to learn. Education will never be created by the coercion of tests or grading systems. NFU offers no university credit but credit may be arranged through independent study (199) courses. NFU needs your help to further its activities. It needs manpower and participation by the people of this area. The NFU office is located in room 331 of the Nebraska Union. The phone number is 472-2564 or 472-2581. NFU Co-Chairman Bill Lock may be contacted at 435-2961 and Chris Harper, the other co-chairman, may be reached at 828-4324 in Unadilla, Nebraska. Please come visit and help us. NFU is an alternative educational structure which recognizes that the University of Nebraska restricts and often negates student motivation and interest. Furthermore, it is not only the university of the students but it belongs to the people of Nebraska or whoever may benefit from its existence. Anyone, student or not, may engage in educational interests in NFU. It is your university, thus it is responsive to whatever the people desire its curriculum or interests to be. The University of Nebraska educational system is yet a "marketplace of ideas." However, it is a marketplace where ideas are bought and sold. NFU is a marketplace where ideas are still exchanged and shared. Consider NFU as a possible vehicle for your educational pursuits. These opinions reflect the ideas of the co-chairmen of NFU and need not be those of the instructors of NFU courses. Hopefully I have incited some basic questioning of the University of Nebraska and its educational adequacy. Alternative structures may be a possible answer for those people who disagree with the programs of the University of Nebraska. Another means of counteracting the inadequacies of the university is to intensify pressure for educational innovation. Nothing will ever be created if students don't initiate action with regard to their own education. THE DAILY NEBRASKAN ( 1 Bicycles Lincoln Schwinn Cyclery Visit Our Store At 4209 S 33rd We Service All Makes Tgijllikging c Now Playing the NAZARETH 2 Dance Floors ST UDENT "Y" Thursday Sept. 16 7pm-Union room will be posted--' all interested persons invited to attend HE 0 cv0 JLV Me sell cold beer 7 days a week We have a complete menu and your favorite beverage on sale every day except Tuesday. dancing & entertainment wed. fri. sat. AND sun. Ladies Night, Monday through Fridav The first drink is free. 5j Have you decided your summer growth could stand a little trim? We think the natural look is best and with our help yours can look even better. BOB'S BARBERSHOP 1315 P 435-2000 PAGE 5