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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 5, 1973)
edicoriQ Sunday closing Students traditionally have not been too concerned about the politics of the Lincoln City Council. But a proposal has been made to the council which merits student support. The proposal is a 'call for Sunday and earlier weekday closing of retail stores. Introduced by Councilman Max Denney, the proposal urges businesses to close their doors on Sunday and by 7 p.m. on weekdays. A Lincoln Evening Journal story quoted some merchants as saying they are favorable to the plan so long as the ban would apply to all merchants-particularly discount houses. Denney's plan has one flaw: it is voluntary rather than mandatory. While many Lincoln businessmen probably would support a voluntary closing proposal, there would be those who probably would refuse to comply with any but a mandatory ban. But Denney apparently has thought of that already. He also has asked the council to consider an ordinance. Denney's reasons, like his proposal, make sense. He says limiting store hours would save heating fuel, electricity and gasoline used by the employes and customers. It would be difficult if not impossible to estimate what the resulting energy savings would be, but they certainly would be considerable in a community the size of Lincoln. While students usually don't involve themselves in city matters, this proposal deserves their support and the support of all citizens concerned with energy conservation. Highly laudable Some strange things have been happening lately in Florida. In Gainesville a $10,000 donation to a muscular distrophy drive was made by "the Gainesville Marijuana Dealers Assoc." In Davie a six-year old boy needed a heart operation. A $2,000 donation by the Broward County Marijuana Dealers Assoc. put the fund drive over the top. Down in Davie they're probably still scratching their heads, trying to figure out who these philanthropists must be. Meanwhile, in Gainesville, one. local bank executive said: "It could be local marijuana dealers who just wanted to do something nice. From what I hear, giving $10,000 certainly wouldn't hurt them financially." Maybe not. No one really knows how many millions of dollars are spent each year by Americans who enjoy smoking the illegal weed. The joint efforts by the dealers, if that is who actually made the contributions, are highly praiseworthy. The incidents also raised some interesting observations in Time magazine: "...as pot smoking becomes increasingly accepted, a new breed of long-haired millionaire philanthropists may be appearing on the horizon. What next? A pot dealers' hospital wing? Operas commissioned for the counter-culture? University fellowships in psychedelic studies?" Michael (O.J.) Nelson Letters appear in the Daily Nebraskan at the editor's discretion. A letter's appeaiance is based on its timeliness, originality, coherence and interest. All letters most be accompanied by the writer's true name, but may be submitted for publication under a pen name or initials. Use of 6uch letters will be determined by the editor. Brevity is encouraged. All letters are subject to condensation and editing. COSE AAARV DID 11"....' ii Tongue lashing Dear editor, We feel that clarification needs to be made in reference to our comments made to the Student Advisory Board of the College of Arts and Sciences (Daily Nebraskan, Nov. 16). Our work has stemmed from the studyinc m have done this semester on different systems of Ian age education as a project in the Centennial Education Pre m. To more fully understand the co. lications involved in these innovative programs, we have f-. i to relate them to an actual situation, the one here at Uf .. There has been no drastic attempt to uproot the foundations of the present Modern Language Department as might be indicated by statistics; they only act as an indicator of future problems and possible remedies. For example, from the comptroller's office we learned that, until recently, the colleges at UNL had been submitting more credit hours than estimated by individuals in the administration who work with the budgets. Simply, this means that the departments were operating more efficiently than expected as indicated by administrative budget estimates. Now this situation is beginning to reverse itself. The departments are accommodating fewer students and are submitting fewer credit hours. Theoretically, they will need less money than in previous years. Considering that the biggest annual controversy at UNL is the foreign language requirement, it seems the Modern Language Department easily could be the first to feel this pressure. Another point concerns a person's capacity to learn a foreign language. When one begins the study of a foreign language, the problems which may have occurred when one is learning to read and speak once again can appear. While learning one's native tongue, these problems are taken care of by total immersion or are alleviated by remedial programs. But what is done for the student when he begins a foreign language? The research on this subject came from Harvard University's university health service which has a system (Including the MorJoM Language Aptitude Trit) developed to .mrilye a person's capacity to learn a second language. Before the end of the semester, we will have prepared a resume containing recommendations based on the findings of our investigations. We hope that the combined conclusions of faculty and student studies will initiate more new possibilities than in previous years. Sherry Cole David Ware Hot stuff Dpar editor, I think it is about time the persons in control got off their duffs and did something about the temperature of the buildings. Invariably, people complain of how hot the UNL Libraries are. Love Library had to open its doors to cool the main lobby because it was so warm the other night. I think this is one of the university's biggest ironies. Are bungling fools and procrastinators in control of this heat problem? It's about time some action was taken and less talk. I suppose, though, I probably will have to sweatit out. But if we have to go to school this summer to make up lost days because of a fuel shortage it only will show that the university staff is full of stuff. Larry McManis 'Squirrel' says nuts Dear editor, While watching Thursday's Dick Cavett shov the energy crisis, I couldn't understand why Rogers Morton, employed by U.S. taxpayers, rose to the defense of the oil companies during the course of several arguments raised by Ralph Nader and environmentalist Barry Commoner, both of whom represent the interests of the taxpayers and their environment. Could it be coincidence that the head of Peabody Coal Co., happens to be Morton's brother-in-law? And is it really necessary to "fill in all the mountainous valleys" of Colorado with the debris of a destroyed environment? Can we afford to continue paying this man's salary as long as he represents the interests of oil businesses rather than the ultimate well-begin of American people, whom he characterized as "squirrels?" Any civil employe is liable for impeachment if he does not or cannot fulfill the responsibilities for which he was appointed. I say nuts to the "secretary of deterioration," Rogers Morton. D.M. Cromer rT BECAME NEOSSARY It) DWTWO THfi Wl(?0JMEfifl6 SksS if. , , (ir';i!y :ic y v !',': Wednesday, december 5, 1973
