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Partisan politics
"We've got a lot of work to do," Nebraska Secretary
of State Allen Beerman told the University's Young
Republicans earlier this week. Beerman was warning his
fellow Republicans that organizing the machinery for
registering college-age Republican voters would be no
easy task.
It will be especially difficult since the Republicans
are not only starting from scratch, but they are starting
late. They snubbed the nonpartisan League of Young
Voters drive in early November in favor of a partisan
drive now.
The Republican organization's boycott of the
League's drive may have helped account for the low
(4,404) registration figures compiled by the League at
UNL
The Republican drive will consist of a campaign to
persuade students to register as Republicans while home
on Christmas vacation. It is obvious such a campaign
could never equal a drive such as the League's in
effectiveness. The League arranged registration tables
which permitted students to actually register or request
absentee ballots right on the campus.
The Republicans aren't interested in an effective
campaign to register young voters, because nationally
the new voters are registering two-to-one as Democrats.
The Republicans are interested only in registering
Republicans.
Political parties should split over philosophies and
policies, not over basic mechanics of the democratic
process such as registering to vote. Yet the Young
Republicans have chosen to hamper registration rather
than to compete with Democrats for votes.
It is sad to see the future stalwarts of one of the
nation's two major political parties look at the
democratic process so narrowly and self-servingly.
Steve Strasser
The painful economy
Is President Nixon's New Economic Policy putting
the country on the road to economic recovery?
The question is being debated among economists and
politicians, many who are highly critical of Nixon's
economic policy. However, recent public opinion
surveys indicate that Nixon's controls are popular and
working.
A December Gallup Poll shows that only one
American in seven wants less strict controls. "These
findings," George Gallup says, "have shown the
American people-both union and non-union-to be in
favor of some form of controls, and sizable proportions
willing to accept more rather than less strict controls."
A recent Harris survey shows that by 49 per cent to
23 per cent, most Americans agree that Nixon is
putting the country on the road to economic recovery.
But the survey shows that by 56 per cent to 27 per cent,
a majority of the public also believes that the country is
still in a recession.
Nixon's New Economic Policy is currently holding
the line on prices and wages. But two questions have to
be asked. Are Nixon's controls dealing with the
symptoms or the basic causes of inflation? And what
happens after the controls are lifted? v '
Wallace Peterson; chairman of the UNL Economics
Department and a Democratic candidate for the U.S.
Senate, maintains that "inflation is the consequence of a
number of 'built-in' features of the economy and won't
be lessened or ended until fundamental changes are
made."
Meaningful changes, according to Peterson, means
less military spending combined with a real attack on ,
concentrated economic power and a return to a
competitive market economy. He also says real tax
reform is needed to close many loopholes, reduce the
importance of sales and payroll taxes and lessen the
existing maldistribution of income and wealth.
The prospects of such changes in the near future are
slim since it would be very painful for the country to
make them. However, the alternatives to fundamental
changes could be continued high inflation or permanent
governmental control of economy.
Gary Seacrest
PAGE 4
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jp Culture shock
At a university there should be art exchange
of ideas and of cultures. Incoming speakers,
conferences, etc., provide an exchange of ideas,
but what about an exchange of cultures?
There are 543 foreign students at the
University. Forty-three per cent are graduate
students and 57 per cent are undergraduates.
Students are represented from 64 nations. They
come from areas such as Europe, the Mid-East.
Asia, Africa, Latin America, and countries such
as France, Austria, Canada, Iraq, the (JAR,
India, Japan, Algeria, Uganda, Mexico and the
Phillipines.
Here exists an excellent source for cultural
exchange. The University is especially valuable
for Nebraskans in this respect. Being landlocked,
in the midst of America, many foreigners
normally do not pass through on business or
pleasure. We have no embassies, Chinatowns or
ports of entry. Further, many students will
reside in Nebraska, or the Midwest at least, and
their time at the University may be the only
chance they have to be in contact with people
of different cultures.
It is really an experience for foreign students
to be in America, in many cases thousands of
miles away from home. It is a strange and alien
land. Language, physical, and cultural
distinctions further this alienation. Guide
books, pictures, maps, bus tours, and University
offices help students to feel "at home" but
nothing would be as beneficial as an American
friendship.
Foreign students have been critical in the
past of the aloof, apathetic and unfriendly
attitude of American students toward people
"different" than themselves. Americans have
always been noticeably ethnocentric, but a
committed effort can overcome this attitude.
Friendships with foreign students can be
interesting, enjoyable and beneficial to both.
The university experience does not end
outside the classroom. It continues in our
THE DAILY NEBRASKAN
informal associations. This applies for foreign
students as well.
Out of necessity and out of natural desire,
foreign students' main social life is promoted
through organizations such as the Chinese
Students Association, India Association, Arab
Student Association and African Students
Organization. The fact that these provide a
social outlet in America for foreign students
does not mean that we should be contented and
continue to ignore the foreign student. The
existence of these organizations does not mean
that they have no desire to associate socially
with Americans.
Many foreign students are upset, and
rightfully so, with the University housing policy
over vacation. Twenty-six per cent of foreign
students reside in University Residence Halls.
When vacation roles around notices are put up,
the dorms are shut down and all students must
leave. American students have no problem
driving or flying home but many foreign
students, thousands of miles from home, can
not afford to fly home for so short a time.
They are hence forced to seek other housing,
which can present a serious problem. Many
times the transient residents they find can
hardly be described as fit places for anyone to
live.
Dormitory food has also been a problem for
many, especially when they first arrive and are
not used to the American food.
Concerned American students could
certainly increase efforts to solve these
problems.
Several activities on campus promote the
exchange of culture. The International House is
perhaps the best and the most notable of
several. The International Fair, put on by
YWCA, and International night where students
perform their native talents are others. Model
United Nations also draws many foreign
students and provides an excellent opportunity
to learn about a particular country.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1971