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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (May 4, 1972)
daily tsh v thursday, may 4, 1972 lincoln, nebraska vol. 95, no. 107 'I Mackey calls for involved Indian youth Indians are slowly but surely learning they do have a voice, Bob Mackey, state Indian commissioner said Wednesday in the Nebraska Union. "We need total commitment of our young people" in order to bring about things that are only available through the use of pressure, he said. "We no longer can ride the fence." Mackey was speaking on 'The American Indian in Nebraska " as part of American Indian Culture Week at UNL. "We have to be Indian or non-Indian," he told a small group of students. It is ..I,.IIIU 1111,11 I. III. IIH ll.limll.Ml,l,l l.li.ni lll,,llllLUI..I... 11 ,,U IU,, if'. possible to enter the white man's world but keep what is good of the Indian culture, Mackey said. "For too many years we've been pushed around, dominated . . . right here in the state of Nebraska." There is a "redneck attitude" throughout the state that oppresses all minority groups, according to Mackey. "You are probably being part of history in the making," Mackey told the group. Indians are becoming involved in their own affairs whereas in the past much has been done by non-Indians, he said. Mackey cited the past lack of opportunity for Indians to gain meaningful education. "Indians are now getting educated," he said. But still the biggest problem is getting Indian students into high school. 'The curriculum in schools is geared to middle class whites," Mackey said. For this reason Indians either drop out or are entered in slow learning classes, according to Mackey. 'This is just another stigma added to all others," he added. Machey said 50-55 Indians would be graduating from high school in Nebraska this year and he hopes to get at least one-half of these students enrolled at the University. Some posit'"; things have been happening since the Indian Commission opened, Mackey said. There have been changes in curriculum, -teacher and counseling availability to students, he said. "Educational opportunities are improving," he said. "We are pushing or a requirement at the University that teachers must have some background in minorities if they will be teaching minorities." The State Library Commission is bringing a mobile library to the Sioux City area and is trying to bring one to Knox County, Mackey said. Although Nebraska has been low on the list to receive money for federal programs, the situation is improving according to Mackey. "Industry and housing are coming about," he said. "We have too; communication with congressional delegation from Nebraska," Mackey said. "We are not politically-minded. Neither party has been good for us but we do select people we feel will be most effective." "Nebraska is the only state, to my knowledge, that has a land-grant college that doesn't offer free tuition to Indians," Mackey said. About 7,000 Indians are now living on 50,000 acres of land, according to Mackey. He said one rancher in Valentine has 55,000 acres by himself. Mackey said he believes there is hope for the Indian. Only a handful have been able to escape the reservation and get an education, ha said, but there are some capable Indian people. "We are looking forward soon to seeing Indians here showing other students that there are opportunities." Report shows growing CSL role by Carol Strasser After three years, the Council on Student Life (CSL) is growing up, according to student CSL member Dennis Confer. CSL was created by the Board of Regents in 1969 and given policy-making power over students' outof -classroom activities. Last week the Council issued its annual report. "We discussed and acted on each issue we were able to identify," said chairman Franklin Eldridge, but "we're not through yet." Some of the unfinished topics facing next year's CSL are a report from its ad hoc Student Health Committee, drafts of new student disciplinary code and disciplinary procedures and results of its resolution on low-income housing. The resolution was the result of a meeting between CSL and members of the Poorhouse Coalition. It requests the University to provide sufficient housing for its married students, to educate students as to their impact on the low-cost housing market and to urge the city and other groups to cooperate in solving the low-income housing problem. Interviews are being held for student members of next year's Council, said Confer, and students can sign up outside the ASUN office in the Nebraska Union. CSL member Harry Canon, interim assistant dean of student development services, said he is pleased that CSL dealt with "the basic issues having to do with academic freedom." He referred to CSL's actions on the World in Revolution and Time-Out Conferences and on the distribution of birth control handbooks. During the controversy over the Time-Out Conference on Human Sexuality, CSL held a special meeting and passed a resolution supporting the intent of the conference and right of the speakers to present divergent opinions. When the World in Revolution Conference was under fire, CSL decided its statement on the Time-Out Conference applied to this conference and made no other statement. The Council also held a special meeting when birth control handbooks purchased by ASUN were distributed in dormitories by the Association for Birth Control. In a split vote, the Council passed a resolution stating that "to disseminate birth control information is both valid and necessary for the students on this campus" and ASUN may legitimately disseminate that information. "It seemed to me that on the most vital issues, CSL was ready to discuss, get reports and take a stand," said Eldridge, associate dean of the College of Agriculture. Canon termed CSL a "force for reconciliation" in the coed visitation issue. After a meeting between CSL and the regents, the regents decided to survey parents on a new, liberalized coed visitation policy. When the result of the survey was unacceptable to students and they threatened mass violation of existing rules, CSL worked with the chancellor, students and Student Affairs staff to reach a compromise. "We've clarified a little bit our relationship with ASUN and faculty senate and have established a better relationship with the regents," E Idr idge added. After complaints by former ASUN president Steve Fowler, CSL agreed to seek input from ASUN when selecting students for CSL subcommittees. At the request of the Faculty Senate, responsibility for appointment of faculty members to CSL was transferred to the chancellor although the senate's Committee on Committees would still submit nominations. In other action, the Council sent a comprehensive report on student fees to the chancellor, prepared a statement on drug abuse to replace current University policy (yet to be acted on by the regents) and dropped the 12-hour requirement for participation in extra-curricular activities. A committee on Drug Education, Rehabilitation and Treatment was appointed at CSL's request and six persons have received a grant for training in drug education at the University of Minnesota. CSL's sub-committee on Student Organizations set up a procedure for the distribution of publications by officially recognized student organizations following complaints by the defunct Courier II staff that there was no such procedure. The procedure was approved by CSL. "For the most part, CSL dealt with things effectively," Confer said, although he said there should be a standard procedure established so CSL could deal with issues more efficiently. Eldridge's only complaint was that CSL's open half hour hadn't been publicized enough, and students hadn't taken advantage of the half hour to present issues to the Council.