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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 23, 1973)
4' -4 4 ctailu friday, february 23, 1973 lincoln, nebraska vol. 96, no. 77 ' V n n Speakers divide on ERA by Steve Arvanette Opponents of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), which has been proposed as an addition to the U.S. Constitution, had their hearing before a committee of the Unicameral Thursday. At issue was whether Nebraska's state senators should attempt to remove the state's name from the list of states which have ratified the amendment. After hearing nearly four hours of testimony from 49 witnesses, the Government, Military and Veterans . Mil :? 1 4 1 f I ' 114 'i if ; . j 'It. r ' " photo by Dan La del y An advocate of ERA repeal. .one of many women who filled the legislative chamber and part of the Capitol rotunda. Affairs Committee decided to defer final action on the resolution. Sen. Richard Proud, introducer of the resolution to rescind ratification, termed the ERA a "lie." He said the amendment should be termed "equal obligation." The amendment was named equal rights, Proud told the committee, in an attempt to "fool" Congress and state legislators. Proud opened the hearing with an announcement that President Nixon had made a statement Thursday supporting the ERA. The Omaha senator went on to say that Nixon "is out of touch with the grassroots of America. "We aren't going to let Richard Nixon tell us what to do," he said. Spectators filled the legislative chamber galleries, forcing many more to listen in the capitol rotunda through a public address system. Those attending the hearing appeared equally divided on the issue and were repeatedly asked not to applaud speakers' comments. Many supporters of repeal wore tags in the shape of a woman wearing a bonnet The tags said "no ERA." Many others opposing repeal had tags with a mathematical sign for equality. Anne Patrick Trombly of Lincoln said the resolution (to repeal) was an insult to all women. She said it demonstrated Proud's "contempt for women." An attorney from Oklahoma City, Okla., said she initally supported the amendment but after further study changed her mind. "I am an advocate of equal rights," Lana Tyree said. She said the ERA at best was "redundant." Tyree said she was concerned with possible federal court interpretations concerning congressional intent if the amendment was passed. "Does equality require rigid sameness?" she asked. "We have no desire to descend to a sexless society." Lincoln Sen. Harold Simpson who opposed the resolution was asked if the issue shouldn't be sent to the floor of the Legislature for full discussion. He said the ERA controversy needed as much floor consideration as "green stamps and such," implying there were more serious topics to debate. Former Sen. Fern Orme of Lincoln agreed there were more important things for the Legislature to "spend its time on." She was one of the principle introducers of the resolution in last year's legislative (4 i! ft If " 1 n'r,v ii "-"iJHnrr-mTnr-""ri j photo by Dan Ladely Sen. Richard Proud. . .ERA should be called the equal obligation amendment session to ratify the amendment. Orme told the committee the amendment's ratification history. She said a vote on it came with "full knowledge and approval of the resolution." The former state senator acknowledged "our main concern was not a discussion of the amendment" but rather being the first state to ratify it formally. Much of Thursday's testimony from ERA opponents was that women had sufficient protection for their rights. Tom Walsh, an Omaha attorney, disagreed that the 14th Amendment protects women's rights. Trombly agreed , with Walsh that the ERA amendment would equalize rights and responsibilities for men and women. "You can't have equality of citizenry without equality of responsibility," she said r Student art show smaller, quieter this year by Adella Wacker "That's interesting.. .but, no, I wouldn't buy it." "Why not?" "Well, I couldn't cope with seeing it everyday." The student critic was talking about one of the paintings being shown in the 1973 student art exhibition at Sheldon Art V "pj " '"" ' ", Galatea by Deborah Wagner. . .a sculpture in the student art exhibition at Sheldon. Gallery. The annual spring showing of UNL undergraduate art work opened Monday, two and a half months earlier than last year's snowing. The opening night also was quieter and the collection of prints, paintings, sculpture, photographs, drawings and pottery was smaller. Last year's show opened May 5 with a rock band playing outside the gallery and a jazz quartet inside. This year there was no music. There also are about 25 fewer works in the show this year. Ninety-five undergraduate artists have a total of 172 works of art on display. The showing is early to make room for a 10trj anniversary celebration showing at the gallery in early May. Douglas Ross, associate professor of art, said that the overall reduction of the department's funds meant that there wasn't as much art money to spend on the student show. Ross chaired the committee that chose art submitted by class instructors for the show. Because the show is earlier, the art was selected mainly from first semester classwork. Opinions vary about whether or not a smaller show is better. The show is "less interesting," "better," "not so cluttered" or "interesting," depending on who you ask. And of course, artists and other students have something to say about the pieces, which are on display until March 19. "That's a good idea, but she did it wrong," one critic said. "I get really mad at just a piece of canvas with something slapped in the middle, something that only takes about five minutes to do. There doesn't seem to be very much of that here, though' another person added. "What does 'untitled' mean?" one person asked. "What's a gumprint?" another queried. Artists who stand in front of their displayed works run the risk of overhearing comments from other gallery visitors. Ross said that opening night he accused some students of standing too long in front of their own work. Graduate art student Carl Coniglio said about some critics: "They just don't know what's going on." Coniglio took his beginning drawing class to look at the student show on Tuesday. Coniglio said he thinks that individuals should try to do art before they can begin to see "what works" in a piece of art He also said the prices asked for the student art don't seem unreasonable. Prices ranged from $10 for a print to $250 for a three-canvas oil painting. Coniglio also said that most student artists are willing to barter over prices. V 4 4f 4-4 4 I-- 44 .. 4t 4t 4i. W