edibrio
Potential power
Judging from the most recent letters and
the lack of student interest in the ASUN
election, it appears that even the concept of
student government is held in low regard by a
large portion of the UNL student body. Some
observers have already begun to criticize
ASUN President Ann Henry and her
newly-elected administration. Such criticism
is unjustifiable at this point in time.
The Daily Nebraskan has not been one of
ASUN's most devoted admirers this semester.
The performance of student government
under the past administration was frequently
criticized editorially. But it is unfair to blame
Ann Henry for mistakes committed previous
to her election. Each ASUN administration
deserves to be evaluated on its own merits.
The current administration has hardly had
time enough to solve all of student
government's problems or to create a heaven
on earth for its constituents.
In addition to misdirected personal
criticism of Henry, many students have
written that ASUN is beyond redemption and
have suggested that the whole idea of student
government at UN L should be cast into the
eternal fires. These statements also jre not
entirely justified.
One student wrote that ASUN is the place
where "adolescents play at governing
nothing" and that "for ASUN to merit
concern, it would have to have some potential
beyond infinite impotence." This sort of
comment has been a very common student
reaction to ASUN. Yet if one aqrees with this
statement, he must also agree that student
interests and concerns amount to "nothing."
UNL student government has been closely
involved in nearly every major policy change
concerning student life issues that has been
made in recent years. ASUN historically has
aided educational reform through the Free
University, Center for Educational Change,
freshmen seminar program, faculty
evaluation, and other less conspicuous
involvements. Through the Legislative Liaison
Committee, ASUN has worked to voice
student concerns at the Unicameral and other
government forums.
Obviously, a commitment to ASUN is not
the primary way to "get involved in your
lives," as one writer recently implied. Just as
apparent is the fact that ASUN has not always
fulfilled its potential for leadership and
performance.
But it is also a fact that such potential
does exist. And it is the responsibility of the
student body as well as senators and
executives to see that it is fulfilled.
Tom Lansworth
Close Up
This week the Daily Nebraskan news staff
is initiating a semi-regular feature called
Close Up. Close Up has been planned as a
medium for the examination of special topics
which may be of interest to UNL students
and othe;m embers of the University
community. We hope you will find the Close
Up reports to be an informative addition to
your newspaper.
Correction. . .
In Monday's editorial (Daily Nebraskan,
April 9), it was incorrectly stated that Ken
Bader, vice chancellor for student affairs,
would act to place the Student Fees
Administration Task Force Report on the
agenda of the regents meeting this Saturday,
April 14. It was learned Monday that Bader
has decided not to present the report to the
Board of Regents until next month, at the
earliest. Representatives from the vice
chancellor's office, speaking for Bader who
has been out of town on business, said that
the vice chancellor does not believe that there
has been enough time for student reactions to
the task force report.
Tile Psychic Cartoonist Cogliiion Presents-
TinsUeert-
THE
WATER
g It seernr 35 though ?17 -fhe Q
"hewsTnediB is cav$hh vp in
reporting 3)1 the trivialities
oi lsys iriil results. This is
BUurd when the "mysteries"
of wsler$9le arc so obvoics.
kes qei jWn reality:
Vhen every person in the
white Iiouse is elrmngWMl
dnc- tna-t iinal verdict 35
Guil? y, whai wj tte Senlence be?
1
mwwtm ii 1 . rjirti i a vva m m i
!
Obscure
answers
for simple
questions
russe
horse
sense
, it
be
can
to
f'l"-,; "" heq.mn,nr of time, man has mistakenly t I h.-vm J
that l.H'JUO'J: .V.J', , II veil ted SO that people co u k I CO IT 1 1 mm 1 f.,l1 .
'f.l' oth.-r. Only whn I d iscoveref I Ru'.wil's Inverse
Oompreh.-nvon Cfv ollur y was this old wives' tale pioven
.''I Or.fj.
T,,:'' '""dljr . J'io known is the Beat Abound t he Bush
. lS ' 'oHo.'.-s the mote mtimat" 01 impor tanl the
the if.'. f)'M..(.tly one can express it. F or example
'as to ask someone to pass the butter, Put. it can
fl f' cud to talk to a professor about his crazy tests.
.Since I fully understand Russell's Cnrnllarw I
communicate with vou. but vou mav not h. '.ihln
communicate with me. The point of this exercise is to sharpen
your skills in not talking while at the same time talking. Only a
few of us will ever grasp the corollary, but those of us who
understand it can learn to speak obscurely and cryptically with
finesse. Below are some simple questions and answers to help
you apply the corollary to everyday life.
How can I talk to a professor?
IVdessors ate funny people. Obviously they aie them ,ind
.ii.ii. A 1,1 1 . u : 11 11
'" "wuy- m,'i.'; mi', m minti' it a ptoiessoi is be
uniM'(.1",'it iy ViMjue 01 obscure in his U'Cture, you may w.uit
.isK nun a question, Never ask him directly to deal up Ins
dofim.it ic muddle. Remember, they are them and we are us.
Ask him as obscurely and indirectly as possible' to "eliif.'id.ite
tinnier on a pomt that he previously made in his lecture. I'
fhi'ii.", vv 1 1 1 1 turn until he answers your question.
How can I find ,ut someone's name?
fhe, is a t..t.r;k I'Xdiiiple'. There .jlw,., VMI,
mil ifjuirifj person you an; flyiiK) , krifjw, but this p.-isfjn r
J !'.S'..'S n.im.'li",', .
11 Kj
to
lay
You can always find some pretext to talk to the person,
like sp.lhn.j u Coke on him or bumpine, into him in the hall.'
The next step is to check his shut for a monogram or to'see if
he has his name on Ins notebook 01 if his name is tattooed on
Ins .iirn If the-.e. ploys fail, you can address the person with
the wronr name Most people will correct you. Then tell the
per son how famous the bearer of tin,, wtour) name is.
Remembe,, ner directly ,r,k the- person what his name is
n,,! '",,VJ" ""'I'" ')"' wioik) il..a, like yo,j want to net to
know hirn 01 somethinrj hke that
How can I talk to a University administrator?
lalkinq with .1 University administrator ,s probably the
tou-jhest test for anyone apply, ni, t. f;o,(Jllly br-cau-c
arlmmistrators a.e p-obably the m,,st arli.'pt at usmr, ,t Aann'
you must rem(.,nte'i that they are them and we are us
fJuts.de of the fundamentals, tlnae are two thrnqsone m.et
,l" W,";" ,",k""' With ."ininestrat,,,; 1) use mea, unfjless
H")"". l-a.atnete.s, ,np(Jt, f;ouutr, p, oduct ive and
''md'C.itmi.s , , y) ., f.orn uwMpho, s anrl platitudes l.ke
l"",n"lf) ''' '"anmriful life ex per irnce" anfl "the wavi'S of
students to.lay will be (he placd learlers of tomorrow "
How can I talk to a sex partner about sex?
It is axiomatic that sex can neve, be f , ankly discuss.', wit h
a sex partner, except m the abstract. However, most people do
have messars to send. If wo, s- ,,ets to worse, one can always
''U1 'ltu.it, nr ao.l po,!llm(. (Jth,., ,ha t bat , , her e is not mud.
hope.
Remember, obscurity is on, country's life blood We spend
I'ill.ons of tax dollars ead, y,s on hndinq mrjre obscun; ways
to say the same tlnnrj, I he least any Ar., .,,., can do ,s f ,f,ht
d'l',in''' Warily and practice the liiui A.,,,,,,,1 ,r,
v -i ;i ii ii .ii y yi Hi vicjof .
Pci(jl.' 4
(iaily n(.'t)raskttn
wc-diiesday, april 11, 1973
r 1 I. . , ' ' tin; r u ,1 I