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AACS protest
Last Friday's confrontation between
several blacks and ASUN President Bruce
Becker appears to have been motivated by
something other than a sense of true pro
test. The ASUN booklet in which the disputed
drawing appeared was basically satiric in
content. It is true, however, that the
caricature could be construed as offensive to
black students, especially the Afro-American
Collegiate Society. It is also true that this
stereotypical configuration is exactly what
blacks have been trying for centuries to erase.
However, most segments of the University
community have advanced far beyond the
ultrasensitivity to stereotypes which would be
required if this were to be the sole reason for
this incident.
Indeed, the way in which the whole protest
was conducted leads one to believe its
organizers were somewhat less than serious
about their cause. An almost
c o m i c a 1 1 y - c h o r e o g r a p hed and
melodramatically-presented production, the
incident seemed much more like an incredible
farce than a reasoned protest.
The laughing, jostling but senselessly
menacing attitude displayed by the actors in
the situation could only be interpreted as
being a solid indication of something less than
a sense of purpose.
Detail from ASUN bccklst by Rainbow Studio
It is a good guess that at least a few of
those participating in the show had no idea at
what or whom their protest was aimed, letting
themselves be used as political pawns in a
splendid display of menace-without-meaning.
Being a pawn can have its merits in group
identity, but such a role is of questionable
value in intellectual protest.
The most questionable part of the entire
affair is that it happened to come just two
days after UNL hired a new Vice Chancellor
for Student Affairs, Ken Bader, who will in
many ways determine minority programs.
It has been speculated, and not without
cause, that the blowup was initiated by some
black leaders to sound-out the new dean, and
not for any real protest purpose. While it will
be interesting to see Bader's reactions to the
situation, it is a sad commentary of the
political pragmatism of the individuals
involved in this protest.
After an unjustified altercation over such
an insignificant issue, any further protest
against more important and overriding issues,
such as equal employment, equal justice,
equal pay and equal opportunity can only be
met with a disrespectful sneer and possible
overreaction from the other side.
While it is important to sound-out the new
dean and find out his beliefs and reactions to
overbearing problems, it is most important
that just this type of drastic overemphasis of
relatively unimportant events be avoided. If
not, when the time for more vital decisions
comes, sensitive action from the other side
cannot be expected.
For now, confrontation politics is
nonsensical. The other side has read
Mau-Mauing the Flak-catchers, too. And
they're not afraid anymore.
Jim Gray
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Daily Nebraskan editorial policy is the
product of an editorial board consisting of
Editor-in-chief Jim Gray, Managing Editor
Tom Lansworth and News Editor Randy
Beam. Individual editorials represent the
views of the writer but not necessarily those
of all editorial board members.
It was a long, complex summer.
And probably the longest, and most
complex parts of the summer were the
political conventions. As drawn-out and
boring as the conventions and their
accompanying festivities were, few will deny
that the two political events provided as sharp
a contrast as is possible within the current
system.
The Democratic National Convention,
while plagued by infighting, indecision and
poor planning was easily the most
representative political convention ever held.
Meeting under reform plans based on the
party's McGovern Commission plan, the party
made definitive strides toward a balanced
representation of the populace.
At the convention. 38 Der cent of the
delegates were women, 15 per cent were
DiacKs, ana over 16 per cent were younger
than 30 years old. accordina to U.S. News and
World Report.
The Nebraska Democratic deleaation was
45 per cent female, 5 per cent black and 32
per cent under age 30.
Most importantly, however, the convention
provided a true forum where strongly
divergent opinions were aired by all involved
and no minority was kept from participating.
Change was evident everywhere-change for
the better.
On the other hand, the GOP convention,
otherwise known as the Second Coming of
miracles brought forth bv the Dresent
administration.
At the GOP hop only 30 per cent of the
delegates were women, 3 per cent were blacks
and less than 1 5 per cent were younger than
30 years old-a good deal less representative
of the total population than the Democratic
gathering.
The Nebraska GOP Delegation was 13 per
cent female, 6 per cent under age 30 and had
no blacks.
Nor is any guaranteed relief in
representation pending as a result of the GOP
show. Arguing against "quotas" in
representation-a false issue if there ever was
one-the Republicans passed rules urging
states to "endeavor" to achieve 50-50
male-female representation in 1976 and
asking them to consider helping young and
minority delegates. This rhetoric without
action is totally ineffectual.
Even with all this to contend with, the
saddest part about the Republican convention
was that absolutely no place was given for
dissent within the party. Rep. Paul McCloskey
only barely received his one legal dissenting
vote in opposition to Nixon. He was not
allowed to speak before the convention.
It was a clean, uneventful convention. But
it wasn't democratic process.
With all this brought into view, one thing
becomes exceedingly clear: the Democratic
Party is the only party which currently has as
its goal total representation through
democratic process.
Jim Gray
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page 4
daily nebraskan
tuesday, September 5, 1972