Answers
for handicapped
Being blind or confined to a wheelchair isn't easy,
but it is especially difficult on a busy and confusing
college campus.
Today's Daily Nebraskan has three stories on the
problems of the handicapped at the University. The
stories show the problems are many, but the solutions
have been slow in coming.
There aren't many students with severe handicaps at
UNL. So often they aren't noticed or their problems
have little priority and go unsolved.
The University is attempting to remove the physical
barriers that restrict the movement of the handicapped
as both the opportunity and money become available.
However, far too many barriers remain for the
handicapped to cope with.
But physical barriers are not the biggest problems
faced by handicapped students. More ot a concern to
them are the social barriers they face. They want to be
treated as social equals in a University that often ignores
them.
The physical and social barriers on campus
undoubtedly discourage many handicapped people from
attending the University. Former UNL graduate student
Nancy Erickson, who wheeled around campus the last
two years said, 'The main thing is to be as independent
as possible, but on this campus it's about impossible."
An organization called the League of Human Dignity
has been organized recently to identify, determine and
document the needs of handicapped persons in Lincoln
and Lancaster County. UNL would be a good place for
the organization to begin its work.
Passing the football
Football is not usually considered a game of
sentimentality. However, Bob Devaney and every Big
Red booster in the state will probably become
sentimental by Saturday afternoon.
The reason for the emotion is that 19 seniors will be
playing their final game before a Memorial Stadium
crowd this Saturday. Seniors graduate from the team
every year, but this year's group of seniors have not
been an ordinary bunch of football players.
They haven't lost a game in over two years, going
undefeated in 27 straight games. They have won or tied
for two Big Eight titles and one national title; and have
an excellent chance to add one more championship to
each category. They have won two straight bowl games
and are headed for another bowl appearance this year.
And they have set or will set numerous individual
performance records.
The seniors have helped build a college sports
dynasty that rivals the ones of the Green Bay Packers,
the New York Yankees and the Boston Celtics. Of
course, they had lots of help from other classes. But a
large part of Nebraska's success in the past three years
can be attributed to this year's class of seniors.
College football has come under a lot of criticism
because of its professionalism and its emphasis on
winning. And rightfully so. However, one has to be
amazed at the Cornhuskers' record of accomplishments
during the past three seasons
Gary Seacrest
Telephones: editor: 472-2588, newt: 472-2589. advertising:
472-2590. Second class postage rates paid at Lincoln. Nebraska.
The Daily Nebraskan is a student publication, independent of the
University of Nebraska's administration, faculty and student
government.
Address: The Daily Nebraskan, 34 Nebraska Union. University of
Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska 68508.
, -.. , -
Dear editor,
In response to Gary Seacrest's editorial on
Bob Hope in the Daily Nebraskan: Yes Mr.
Seacrest is liberal to a degree, but I feel ha has
overlooked some facts surrounding the
situation.
Granted, demonstrating against the war is
not the chic thing to be involved in anymore.
However, I still feel protesting this war is a
most important duty of all responsible
advocates of peace.
The editorial stated that Bob Hope was only
a businessman and comedian. Mr. Seacrest's
stupidity bothers me, though it does not surprise
me.
Mr. Hope is a very powerful person, he has
constantly vowed support for administration
policies. When Mr. Hope speaks, millions of
people listen. He utilizes this fact: he sells cars,
frozen foods and American foreign policy.
Hope recently did a series of promotions for
NATO, hardly a non-political statement
Bob Hope donates large amounts of money
to the Republican party, Mr. Nixon's campaign
fund and Mr. Agnew's fund, including
assistance and time in sponsoring a
$1,000 a plate dinner for Mr. Agnew. Hope is as
much a part of the put-on in Vietnam as Mr.
McNamara, Mr. Kissinger or any PR man for
the government.
Mr. Hope has been duped into being a good
public relations man for Mr. Nixon. Whether he
recognizes his role or not, he accepts it gladly
and does a fine job.
Mr. Hope is a legitimate target for protest.
Mr. Seacrest, wake up. The war goes on.
Tim Hartin
Editor's note-Gary Seacrest is well aware the
Vietnam war is still going on. In a September
editorial he called for the immediate
withdrawal of all American troops from
Vietnam in hopes of obtaining the release of
American prisoners of war. He is also aware
that the solution to the Vietnam conflict will
require more than the withdrawal of American
troops.
Seacrest in his editorial on Bob Hope noted
that the anti-war movement needs increased
public support to bring about its objectives. He
doubted if protests like the ones planned
against Hope (who is not a policy maker for the
war) would aid the cause of the peace
movement
Dear editor.
Yesterday as I entered the Nebraska Union
by the north door, I was shocked by the booth
and signs set up in protest against the Bob Hope
show. The signs said such things as "Bob Hope
is about as funny as a dead Vietnamese child".
Such ugly signs are completely unfair to Mr.
Hope.
It does not matter that perhaps he has
spoken some unpopular views about the war in
the past. His selfless giving each Christmas for
the past years has been something that he
THE DAILY NEBRASKAN
Brevity in letters is requested and the
Daily 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
wHI be printed under a pen name or
initials at the editor's discretion.
should always be praised for. If he brought a
slight smile to the face of an amputee in a
stinking jungle hospital only once, he has done
an infinite amount of good. The moments of
laughter that Bob Hope has given to countless
servicemen makes him worthy of everyone's
praise and respect.
I feel sorry for those people who are so
narrow minded that because -a man is a friend
of the nation's leaders, and speaks in favor of
his country's policy they think him unworthy
of a little praise or a good word. To those of
you who cry against Bob Hope, I say what have
you done to help a person in mental and
physical pain, in the hell that is a war?
David E. Gardels
Dear editor.
The basic human right to have a
conscientious opinion and to have the freedom
to express it is the autonomous right of every
individual. But along with this right to
autonomy comes the responsibility to gain
knowledge, reflect on motives and criticize the
principles of yourself and others.
After all, the arguments for and against the
boycotting of the Bob Hope Show, must come
in honest and sincere questioning of what issues
really were behind the polarization of opinion.
I only hope that people will empathize and
listen respectfully to people who are
promulgating something they believe is unjust
and try to see some truth and sense in what
they are saying.
I am sorry to say that their thoughts will
probably be discarded because they do not
coincide with the consensus that has already
been established and acted upon as being right.
I ask you not to pass off the efforts at
boycotting the Bob Hope Show as an irrational
act of a bunch of off-beat radicals but instead
to lower some defenses and see what is
happening in the minds of other people.
Mark Schuette
Dear editor.
Recently, I received in my dormitory
mailbox a paper on voter registration, which
was not sent through the mails. This is fine with
me. But on the back there was a full-page
announcement about McGovern, on the front
there was a list of the coordinators of
"Nebraska Students for McGcvern" and on the
inside there was a sheet asking me if I would
like to work for McGovern.
I object to this act most strenuously. Does
this imply that the University has taken a stand
for McGovern? Are they in favor of letting this
political information be put in our mailboxes?
Gordon Musch
Editor's note-See page 12 of today's Daily
Nebraskan for a story on the McGovern
pamphlet that was placed in the mailboxes of
residence halls.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1971
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