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American studies
Just by reading today's Daily Nebraskan front
page story about the Arts and Sciences faculty one
could easily make some nasty inferences about
educational reform at UNL. Despite the stultifying
actions of the majority of that college's faculty, there
are some new programs that choose to treat today's
student like an undergraduate of the seventies.
A new interdisciplinary studies program has been
proposed for next fall. The new program is known as
the American Studies Program.
Although there are relatively few right now,
interdepartmental courses have been around UNL for
a while. The African-American Studies, comparative
literature, ecology and a group major in social welfare
programs are among those now offered. Also, the
integrated studies program is another significant step
in enabling an undergraduate to pursue an academic
path that leads the student through more than one
major department.
Two courses that may be offered next fall are
American studies 100 and 190. The first course is
designed to familiarize students with integrative work
through the examination of some major theme, time
period, issue or movement. It appears to transcend
the type of undergraduate education that requires the
digestion of facts, names, dates and places. One
advantage is that the introductory course plans a
maximum enrollment of 45 students.
As now outlined, the studies program plans to
attract 30 majors by the end of the next academic
year. Growth in that figure beyond June 1973 will
be accommodated with course options involving
independent studies, work experience and off-campus
opportunities, ad hoc courses and interdisciplinary
courses. The object of this variety is an admirable
one-a more flexible curriclulum.
The proposal for the American Studies Program
was formally adopted by the Arts and Sciences
Curriculum Committee on April 12, 1972. The
document outlining the structure is most
comprehensive. It includes information gained from
surveying 66 schools that now offer similar programs.
The entire outline was prepared with the
University and state of Nebraska in mind. It hopes to
meet a set of objectives unique to this part of the
country.
Educational reform and the development of
creative curriculums can happen on this campus. It
takes time and effort, and it requires the cooperation
of the community.
Before formal implementation can be completed,
the proposal needs approval by the University
Curriculum Committee and the Arts and Sciences
faculty. It would be most desirable for these groups
to approve the program expeditiously. American
Studies is the type of program UNL could be proud
ot.
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The Senate judiciary hearings get euriouser and curioiuer.
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Now that the GOP seems likely to move its convention
from San Diego to Miami Beach, the true story behind The
Great International Peanuts &. Popcorn Case can be revealed.
The story begins last June in the somewhat run-down
offices if IPP, a deadbeat conglomerate. IPP President Gullery
McFagin, nervously fingering his zircon stick pin, has called an
emergency meeting of his staff, all of whom wear blue suede
shoes.
"Gang," he says, "unless the Justice Department approves
our merger with the Sure-Fire Fire Insurance Co., we're going
to have to find honest work."
"Good news, chief," says IPP Counsel, Mawworm
Pecksniff. "I just heard that if we airmail $400,000 in a plain
wrapper to the White House, we'll get 16 mergers, an
autographed golf ball and the popcorn concession on Air
Force One. Of course, that isn't peanuts."
"Peanuts we got," says McFagin gloomily. "An 11 -cent
stamp we don't."
"Wait, chief," says Pecksniff. "I got an idea. What we do is
guarantee S 400,000 to San Diego to hold the convention there.
We say it's for 'good community relations' on account we still
got two motels and a hot dog stand there."
"You out of your skull? The town's jammed in August. The
last thing that good community wants is a convention in San
Diego."
"They don't, but the President does," says Pecksniff with a
smile. "It's handy to San Clemente. Now if we handle our
cards right "
So it was that IPP hired a broken down character actress
named Dotty Whiskers to play the role of their crazy, old,
drunken Washington lobbyist.
With great fanfair, McFagin announced the S 400 ,000
guarantee and the merger was quietly approved.
Then Whiskers went to work and wrote the now famous
memo: "The crooked administration has accepted our
dishonest bribe. Shred this and serve with mayonnaise. (Blind
copy to Andy Jackerson, the known columnist.) Yours for
bigger and better graft. Dotty."
Once Jackerson had published the memo. Whiskers called
Pecksniff: "Okay, the fat's in the fire. Do I deny now I wrote
the thing?"
"You want to cool it, you idiot?" says Pecksniff in horror.
"KindSy go have a heart attack some place."
Well, the rest of the story is well-known. Whiskers, after
admitting she wrote the memo, vanished on a long-planned
vacation to Denver where she had a recently planned heart
attack.
After three long weeks of newspaper headlines and, finally,
a call from a hippy PeclwiuT, Whiskers suddenly remembered
something. She suddenly remembered she hadn't written the
memo at all.
But by now it was too late, of course. Senators were
investigating, the Alt. Gen. Designate confirmation was in
doubt and the GOP began talking about moving the
convention to Miami Beach-a prospect that made San Diego
and IPP equally happy.
With IPP one merger and $400,000 ahead, McFagin called
Pecksniff in to congratulate him and ask him to fix a S 10
parking ticket.
"No problem," said Pecksniff, rubbing his hands. "First
you offer to contribute $50 to this judge's campaign. Then
you write this memo, see? And. .
Copyright Chronicle Publfching Co. 1972.
PAGE 4
THE DAILY NEBRASKAN
MONDAY, MAY 1, 1972