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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 6, 1973)
edicoriQ Kooperation The story of the establishment of the Associated Student Ko op has been told in headlines. "Co-op to begin operation soon" said the first one in September, 1972. That was followed in early October by one which said: "Student co-op status still uncertain." So it went until the Jan. 31 headline screamed: "Ten join Ko op on first day." Two months later, this: "Ko-op stumbles, head quits." But lately things have been looking up for this, the most recent continuous ASUN project. Until this autumn, it seemed a good description of the discount buying organization was "pay your money and take your chances." Now, however, about 40 Lincoln businesses have joined in to give students between five and 50 per cent discounts on goods or services purchased. This change of fortune, due much to the hard work of this year's Ko-op leadership, stili can't seem to spark the student interest necessary to make the organization an economic muscleman. Only about 600 students have been willing to slap down their $5 membership fee. This is far short of the thousands projected by the group's originators. the Ko-op has amassed debts of more than $2,400. About S700 of this has been repaid; add the value of its assets and the group is in the black by about $200. These things point toward a mix of success and failure. Some students and merchants are benefiting by the group's existence, but is it worth the hundreds of hours which student government leaders are pouring into it? The answer is a qualified yes. If the Ko-op can raise its membership to the 2,000 mark wanted by its leadership, the group could become worthwhile. With a lengthy membership list it would be more enticing to the "O Street Gang" which has been reluctant to join other businesses in the venture. The ingredients for this success, however, are difficult to figure out. About 25 percent of the group's budget is devoted to advertising. Memberships are sold every weekday. The leadership has the organization moving smoothly. Still it isn't growing at the rate necessary. It appears that what is necessary is student support. If you have $5, you might find the Ko-op a good investment. Michael (O.J.) Nelson Dear editor, After coming in contact once again with one of Lincoln's monopolies, I feel enough frustration to write this letter. Each time I have had to deal with Lincoln Telephone and Telegraph has been an unbelievable itm-aiound, but this exx;nence is a prime example uf then blundering meff iciency to provide comparable service apart from the Bell Telephone system. Not lonq ago I called to tepoit that I was moving and wanted to have my ..ervice transferred. I was told that I would have to wait two weeks for a serviceman to call. 1 his frustiated me because I was used to Northwestern Jell's service time of about two to three days. But I decided to wait the two weeks without telephone service and not bug the company. FmJIy the day rolled around, and I stayed home all day waiting for the seiviceman to show. He nevei did Upon calling the telephone company fmni a neighbor's nouse, I was told they had fallen behind and wouldn't be able' to get it until the next day. Talking to people made no difference; it had to be tomor row. Then a friend who works at a large discount store told me the store once ordeied 25 phones and got them installed the same day. What avenue of satisfaction, besides violence directed towaids large companies, dot's the aveiage consumer have? We aie forced to accept LT&T's inefficiencies with a smile and without a chance of evei being able to change their i idiculous practices. Tony Gevo 8$) II IM k,J-X - '1 'Stoned' pet best co ipanion for 'heatless' days One of the most popular things to do in winter is to sit uround and watch pets. But the question lingers: what is the best pet and why? My roommate and I have two cats, Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., and Chuck Johnson. Kurt is black, long haired, courageous and stupid. Chuck is grey with white tennis shoes, short haired, smart and Scared. Kurt jntl Chuck aren't most people's idea of the perfect pets, but tneir personalities seem to mesh well. For instance, Kurt is brave enough to go out on the fire escape but too stupid to find his way in again. Chuck could find his way back, but he's afraid leave the apartment, Kurt is brave enough to fight Ruthie, the neighbor's cat, but too stupid to wait until he's big enough to win the fight. Together Chuck and Kurt equal one cat. Neither of them will ever amount to anything. Dogs have advantages cats lack, for no one I know of has ever taught a cat o do anything useful. Dogs, on the other ha.d, can be taught Xj tear newspapers to shreds, to nrjke puddles on floors and to howl. Hut dogs r. ri be every bit as stupid as cur cat Kuit. Years ago, w! e i I iid on 14th Street, wo had a dog, Named - rather cleverly we ill thought--after one of our friends Rookie was a maivelous example of canine clumsiness and naivete. Rookie' , problem was that he never really learned rffiythmo except 'us name. When his rvme was called, p.'i'l" 4 he'd go rushing io the caller with such enthuaasr lie often ran past him. The i Rookie would turn anrl run back, straight into the caller's leg;,. For reasons ol his own, Rookie never learned the difference between a newspape. and -u car et. So after six months o stepping ov.-r, aiound .md into the results of his learning disability, we taught a child his name. Rookie did his ruii.nng into lf:(,s tuck (Ins only I I Keen onoc jrer desperate remedies trick), the child was charmed, and our problem was solved. Pity the child's mother but -well, one does what one must, Dogs and cats are by no means the only pets around. Don Sutton, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher, insists there is a lot to be said for snakes. Not all of daily nebr.'irknri what is to be said is complimentary, however, for snakes lack warmth and aren't very cuddly. Fish ate a sort of combination of snakes and cat . They won't learn their names, don't do tricks and aren't very comforting at night. But they don't howl oi make threatening gestures and are easy to entertain: just give them a bowl of watoi and they'ie happy. Birds ate fir.e for some people and if they don't work out they can be give n to cats as Christmas gif is, Cats love biros and will play with thorn for about 20 minutes. But my experience has convinced me no animal is a perfect pet. Dogs, cats, fish, birds and snakes have various imperfections. Iguanas are overly proud. Rabbits are promiscuous. Lions, tigers, and cheetahs are ostentatious. Cows and horses are difficult in dorms, Greek houses and apartments. Actually, the only perfect pet is a rock. Any pet stoie can steer you towaid someone who raises rocks and they're usually reasonably pi iced. Rocks are comfortable in closets if you don't have a back yard. Unlike most pets, they can be painted to go with the furniture. They don't chase cars. Rocks won't do tricks ot come when they're called, but then no one expects them to. They don't eat much, or bark or go into heat. And they don't have m be housebroken. It's surprising more people don't keep rocks as pets. iliur-id.iy, docjmber 6, 1973 1