doug vooglor
Down with
Lee Terry-ism
V-T T-yV 434-7421
'54th 4 0 Street
Outstate Nebraska gets a wrong
impression of the University. I wish I could
say that it all happens accidentally, but
unfortunately some of it seems to be done
consciously.
Perhaps those who denounce the
University possess an honest
misunderstanding, but as people in the
public light they have a responsibility to
keep informed and seek all viewpoints.
Anyway, they should not be making
pronouncements and passing their ignorance
and lack of understanding to the rest of the
state.
It is time for students to combat the
purveyors of misunderstanding who seem
to have captured the attention and the minds
of the state. Students sho'ld not just sit
around and complain, but instead should go
out-state and fight these people in their own
backyard.
We must realize what people outstate see
and hear about the University. On television
they are shown the long-haired radical
denouncing everything they value. They are
shown the demonstrations and the protests.
The "controversial" speakers and events
receive an abnormal amount of news
coverage. They are shown the sensational
and not the sensible. The many fine aspects
of the University are little noticed.
Is it any wonder, that after listening to
Lee Terry's editorials and certain politicians
that the state's citizens are scared to death
of what is happening down here? A human
sexuality conference becomes a "review for
homosexuality," liberalized co-ed visitation
become a quest for unrestricted sex in the
privacy of their dorms, dispensing
birth-control information becomes a symbol
of the moral degeneration of campus
students, the 1970 Cambodian protest was a
"riot", a mild editorial on the legalization of
marijuana indicates that the campus is
hooked on dope and drugs.
This misrepresentation must be
counteracted with information of what the
real situation is. There are several ways to do
this.
First, there must be a constant stream of
constructive articles and responses to the
media. "Letters to the editor" and various
"viewers speak out" forums provide
excellent opportunities. While there has been
a tendency to concentrate on the media of
Ornaha and Lincoln, it is probably best to
write to the papers of your home town.
This tactic is very effective if you come
from a small town. It is easy for people to
characterize all students and make rash
generalizations about "them down there in
Lincoln."
However, when a student from a small
town confronts his or her hometown citizens
with facts and information, they will listen
and respond since they know the student.
These people realize the value of an
education and generally look up to students.
Another method is to talk to your
relatives and your parents. Students can also
make a point of talking periodically to the
important and influenzal leaders of the local
community.
Another excellent way of providing
accurate information to outstaters on a
regular basis is to provide them with a
subscription to The Daily Nebraskan. This
way they can read the paper every day, and
not merely hear second-hand interpretations
of selected editorials and articles. Also place
a subscription someplace in the community,
such as the local library, where many people
can read it.
Another tactic for students would be to
follow the various opponents of the
University around (they are usually running
for some political office) and when they tell
the Wednesday Ladies Lunch about the
University's debauchery and revolutions, get
up and contest them. However, be careful
that you are armed with plenty of facts and
information.
Students have the means to lobby
outstate. Perhaps if fear and ignorance about
the University were removed from the minds
of outstaters, those who thrive and cultivate
them would wither for lack of sustenance.
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
will be printed under a pen name or
initials at the editor's discretion.
There was an error in Roger L. Dinges'
letter that appeared the Thursday's issue of
The Daily Nebraskan. The last paragraph of
Dinges' letter should have read: "From my
personal experience, I would say that Bob
Hope was more interested in having his
insatiable ego propogated to the people back
home than entertaining Gl's in Vietnam. "
Dear editor.
The antics of the Regents as they attempt
to keep their constituents placated would be
humorous were it not for the detrimental
effects such actions have on the University.
The most recent incident has resulted
from the distribution of the birth control
handbooks to dormitory students. Mr. Paul
O'Hara, executive director of the Nebraska
Catholic Council, has seen fit to complain
about this, and the Regents (who, by the
way, were very magnanimous in their
suspension of the rules so that they might
hear Mr. O'Hara) have responded by
deciding to investigate the matter. It is fairly
obvious that it is not the question of student
fees, but rather the subject matter of these
booklets, which has precipitated this
investigation.
It seems to me highly ironic that the
Regents, who surely must have more
important things to do with their time, feel
obligated to decide whether or not it is
proper for students to receive factual
information which could very well have a
direct bearing on the quality of their lives.
It is an even greater sadness that there
are students on this campus who feel that
material placed in their mailboxes is being
"forced" upon them. One might even hope
that after attending a university for awhile,
they would be able to read and judge
material rationally, no matter what its
content, without feeling threatened.
Finally, the opposition from Mr. O'Hara
seems to represent the vestiges of a sexist
society in which ppregnancy is considered as
the just reward of those individuals who are
so morally bankrupt as to have sexual
relationships outside of the sacraments of
marriage. The handbooks contained factual
information. They were not designed to
promote sexual promiscuity, but rather to
educate people to the fact that it is not
necessary to bring unwanted children into
the world, or to live in fear of doing so.
Robert Koelling
Dear editor,
Sanjulu Michael C. Randall seems to say
that he despises America (Daily Nebraskan,
Nov. 4). If he believes what he says, why
doesn't he go to North Vietnam or Cuba?
I feel this would do him and the country
lots of good. No other people in the world
enjoy the freedom and standard of living
that we enjoy in the United States.
Michael Hilgert
Walter Matthau in a role
only he could make
so excitingly different.,
you'll start talking
about it from the
opening scene.
v
Infill
r en
a w
m T' I,
3g -g.
Jack Lemmon directs.
He takes his talent
"behind" the camera
for the first time
to add a new,
fresh dimension to
his brilliant career.
iTFdPKTT K07 SK30V7I
432-1465
13th &P Street
J1LGV
"one of the best
Films for
-Th Nw rorker
432-3126 SffOftffffG ;sx
12th 4 P Street
tM I'm Liiuiii lilni( imrHi v
FEDERICO
"Perpetual delight!" FELLINI
-Sttf$n Kantor, Tim
AMERICAN
MONTHS." Ill
3
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1971
THE DAILY NEBRASKAN
PAGE 5