eoioiQ
nion
Editorial staff
backs story
The Daily Nebraskan believes it has been
unfairly criticized for its coverage of a story
concerning the Campus Security division and
the office of the ombudsman. It has been said
thjt the Daily Nebraskan acted irresponsibly
and misled its readers with the story which
appeared in the Wednesday edition.
Specifically, our critics have said the timing
on the release of the story and the headline
written for it were an excercise of bad
judgment. They say we have impeded the
solving of problems between members of the
Campus Security force and have led persons
to believe that Ombudsman James Suter came
running to us with the facts.
It is untrue that the Ombudsman came to
the Daily Nebraskan with the story. The Daily
Nebraskan learned of it through informants.
The reporter who wrote the story later
confronted Suter, who agreed to discuss it. He
iskfd that the story not be printed and has
since labeled the Daily Nebraskan as
irresponsible for doing so.
We disagree with that charge. It is true we
were asked to hold the story until some sort
of solution could be found to problems at
Campus Security. But we believed it unwise
to do so.
We believed that if a Campus Security
official asked, suggested or ordered a
subordinate to return to Suter's office and
copy confidential information, then
s
something was amiss. It seemed to us that
there was a violation of ethics in seeking such
information. Because of that, we felt it
necessary to publish the story. We were aware
that current problems at Campus Security
might be entagled further if the story was
printed; however, we believed the public's
right to know more important than a possible
flare-up of already existing problems.
The headline is another bone of
contention. We have been charged with
misleading the public through it. Our purpose
in that headline was not to mislead. We are
sorry some persons believed themselves
tricked by it.
We also have been charged with printing
inaccurate statements. The reporter who
wrote the story said the facts and quotes
presented in it were those given him. We
believe our reporter and will stand behind his
story.
It is interesting to note that the same
persons who have criticized tthe Daily
Nebraskan also have said they agree with the
bulk of the story. Both have said the basic
facts in the case were presented fairly.
If the facts are true, then why would these
men so severely criticize the Daily Nebraskan?
Could it be that they are attempting to
discredit the story and thus attract attention
from the impropriety involved in seeking
confidential information? It is possible,
although it is to be hoped such is not the case.
One thing is certain: officials at Campus
Security should act quickly to stop any
possible future attempts at violation of
confidence. There also should be disciplinary
action taken immediately against those
persons responsible for the "suggestion" that
the confidential information be copied. Such
actions by police should not go unpunished.
Michael (O.J.) Nelson
Mary Voboril
Tim Anderson
Johnnie dazzles contest, rejected by women
Johnnie Joe Dazzle, 1984's
"','tien America," has been
com (nittf.'d to the Sunny Dale Happy
fan i. He is suffering from delusions
of persecution, according to friends.
Johnnie Joe created a sensation in
Atlantic City two months ago by
lj .'coming the first male to win what
focineily was known as the Miss
A m M ica contest.
Promoters of the beloved annual
pageant only recently had bowed to
pressure from liberation groups and
opened the entry lists to all
contestants "regardless of race, creed
or sex."
'They stipulated, however, that all
competitors would be judged by
exactly the same criteria as had always
tx'en employed in the past to assess
tlieit physiques, talent and
'nlt'lligence.
hi tins way," they said in their
hi.iutic announcement, "we will be
sun,1 to pif k the ideal American citizen
ju',t as we have- always picked the ideal
AfiM't lean gii I. "
lohnnie Joe was an odds on
fa. Jiitc from the start. Wearing white
V. ti ;i'.l- s, he
v
walked off with the bathing
suit competition after the judges took
one look at his magnificent Ixjdy
(58-18 32).
The talent competition proved a
cinch. Johnnie Joe received a standing
ovation from the audience and
brought tears to the eyes of the
amazed judges when he managed to
perform 16 verses of The
StarSpanylad Bonner on a triangle
without missing a single beat - a feat
never before accomplished in the
history of the pageant.
But it was in answering the probing
questions of the judges that Johnnie
Joe thoroughly outclassed the
competition. Who will ever fotget his
ringing responses?
'Tell us, Johnnie Joe," he was
asked, "what are your thoughts on
politics?"
"Golly, I don't think much about
politics," he replied. "They're so
darned political. But I sure do think
every American should sure vote
wh'-never he or she can, because, I
mean, that sure is our inalienable right
and I think we sure ought to do it."
When the applause finally had 'fieri
down, he was asked if he had any
hobbies.
"Gee, Yes," he said. "In addition to
arm wrestling and collecting soda pop
bottle caps from all over the world,
I've sure been awfully busy lately
needlepointing a two story cover for
Mom's and Dad's house to keep them
warm at night. The pattern's an
American flag. I mean if you love
r
orthur
hoppe
innocent;
bustonde
America, you sure ought to say so.
And Mom and Dad and I sure do."
What about his ambitions? "Well,
gosh," he said, "most of all I just want
to make some girl a wunnerful,
wunnerful husband. I mean I think
that's what the good Lord, who I sure
do believe mi, jut us on earth for- to
make some girl a wunnetful,
wunnerful husband."
So it was that Johnnie Joe was
picked unanimously as "The Ideal
Citizen." And he manfully held back
his tears of pride as be sttode down
the runway while Bert Parks sang,
' ' H e r e h e c o m e s , 0 i t i e n
A rnurr ic ca." It seemed that, as he
said chokingly, "all my dreams have
sure come true."
The first telegram to come in,
however, was from his employer.
"Yoire fired," it read, "you insipid
clod." But what bothered him most,
friends said, was that unlike previous
pageant winners, his mail contained
not a single proposal of marriage.
It became an obsession with him.
As no one would hire him, he spent
night and day calling up young women
to ask their bands in marriage. All he
received in return was dr y laughter.
Doctors at the Happy ("aim say he
now sits in bis padded cell, muttering
over and over, "When it come", to
ideals, I guess what's good enough foi
American girls isn't good enough for
American citizens." Cm-muM
i.nromcie i'ujli',tntK Co
JVK.' 4
rffily nebraskan
friday, wplemhcr 14, 193