The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, October 25, 1972, Page PAGE 4, Image 4
- v -K editorial Fifties folly In recent weeks, many national news magazines have heralded the coming of a new or, in fact, old-movement. According to these magazines, the 1950s are making a comeback in a big way. Cataloged as part of the movement are new trends in fashion, art, music and entertainment. Apparently the new style has transcended the saturation of former manias. One truth is becoming increasingly clear-America of the 1970s rapidly is becoming America of the 1950s-mind, body and soul. Surprisingly enough, the movement seems to have hit Nebraska simultaneously with the rest of the nation. Most of today's adults think of the 1950s in what are unreal and supremely romantic terms. Those in their early 30s remember that era as a period of extreme calm. A time when good-old-1 ke-who-won-the-war was president and Negroes were all right if you didn't have to live next door to them. Old What's His Name was vice president then. And the most important thing anyone had to worry about was his date to the weekly sock hop. Having grown up in a time when no one can remember when things were simple isn't always easy. Longing for a less-complicated life, people (especially young adults) seek a return to the simplicity and in its own way decadence of the 1950 world. All this would be extremely good if it weren't for that stormy decade that interceded. If the horizon-expanding and revealing events that spanned the 1960s were somehow to be blipped into extinction, the new movement would be perfectly reasonable. But they haven't been, and it isn't reasonable. Nonetheless, the return of the 50s marches on. The 1972 political campaign is the most apathetic in a decade. And the only news coming out of the University is "Who switched the cards in the card section?" Within a year Joe College will be back on campus. But the problems will still go on. Pollution, discrimination, poverty and war won't go away, they'll just be ignored. And won't that be swell. Hey-bop-a-re-bop. Jim Gray vjp its-- liiOTfii'iii "How can anybody vote for a man like McGovern who's always changing his position?" 'Lights! Camera! Obfuscation!" Keeping Senator Curtis Senator Curtis . . . While the opposition candidate can only carp and criticize, the incumbent office-holder seeking an election-year referendum on his service must defend his positions, his record, and be able to point to concrete accomplishments during his term of office, And as his 72 year-old opponent slings the mud, Sen. Carl T. Curtis is doing just that; justifying his stands and reminding voters of the wealth of things he has achieved for Nebraska and its people. On matters of special concern to young people, Sen, Curtis has demonstrated a career of constructive accomplishment, A look at his record shows his unqualified support for education. He has said yes to the school lunch program, federal aid to impacted areas, the Equal Education Opportunity Act (April 19711, the Health Professions Educational Assistance Act (July, 19711, and the Indian Educational Act (October, 1971). Relating specifically to the University of Nebraska and other colleges, Curtis has supported tax credits for tuition payments and the comprehensive Student Loan Program. Jack Ritchie, assistant director for financial aids at the University, related to Different Drummer Sen. Curtis' unceasing efforts to get increased funding for the National Defense Education Act (NDEA) loans, representing a total of more than $1 miNon in financial aid to more than 1,700 students annually. When funds for the current fiscal year got cut in Washington, the senator's protests resulted in a 10 per cent supplemental increase for NDEA funds. Thanks to Sen, Curtis, the astronauts on their December moonshot will dine on Nebraska Space Bread and Nebraska Space Ham, both products developed on the NU agi iculture campus by Nebraska faculty and students led by Drs, T.E. Hartung and R. Burt Maxey. As ranking minority member of the Senate Aeronautical and Space Sciences Committee, Curtis was instrumental in getting NASA to designate Nebraska for the food research project. As a member of the Senate Agriculture and Forestry Committee, Sen. Curtis participated in the writing of the landmark Rural Development Bill, signed into law by the President last August. On the initial recommendation of NU President D.B. Vomer, when the Rural Development Subcommittee (of which Sen. Curtis is the top-ranking GOP member) was conducting hearings in Lincoln (and McCookj last September, Curtis attached an amendment to the john vihstadt bill providing faculty and students of land arant colleges, including NU, with a leadership role in the assistance of rural communities in their development programs. Faculty and students, especially those in agriculture, economics, engineering, and architecture, now have an opportunity to assist in the planning and execution of developmental projects financed in whole or in part by the federal government. The institute, a center for educational and vocational research, development, demonstration and information, is soon to begin a major project for the reorganization and preparation of new vocational materials for institutions which need to update and expand their facilities to provide career preparation and information, especially for the mentally and physically handicapped. Always on the lookout for activities and projects of benefit to Nebraska citizens, Sen. Curtis and his staff have been involved with EDUTEK from the start in providing "advice, consultation and assistance," according to Anne Campbell, Director of Public Affairs for the University and a prime mover in EDUTEK. A budget of $488,000 has been requested by EDUTEK for fiscal 1973, an increase of about $200,000 over this year's budget, and the senator is doing everything within his power to see that this sorely needed additional federal money is made available. Carl Curtis carries one of the biggest committee workloads in Congress, In addition to being on the Agriculture and Forestry Committee and serving as ranking minority member of the Aeronautical and Space Sciences Committee, he also is second ranking minority member of the Joint (House and Senate) Committee on Internal Revenue Taxation and second on the powerful Senate Finance Committee. These slots give our junior senator immense authority and influence within the Senate, d it is testimony to his strenuous effort and exhaustive preparation that he exercises his responsibilities with such skill and technical expertise. A popular Washington-based newsweekly described him as "a virtual dynamo of energy as he goes enthusiastically about the real work of being a U.S. senator" without grabbing for headlines and publicity. It also should be rioted that Sen. Curtis has voted for every civil rights act enacted during his time in Congress, favored all sound and reasonable anti-pollution measures, voted for the constitutional amendment to lower the voting age and is credited with being the senator responsible for the creation of the Special Committee on Veterans Affairs in the Senate. Don't swap a great record for a poor promise. Let's keep Sen. Curtis Sen. Curtis. daily nebraskan Wednesday, October 25, 1972 0 . ,f . 4 page 4