g tr v k ' r r r r
I I o' i
GOICOflQ l(plflfl 'jpg)(B j
Nader turns foe
One of the consumer's best friends has plans that
would transform him into the electorate's enemy.
Consumer advocate Ralph Nader has proposed both
state and federal laws which would force United States
citizens to vote.
Nader contends that a mandatory voting system is
needed in this country because voting is a basic civic
obligation. Under his plan, a voter could either vote for
a candidate or vote to abstain. Regardless, he would
have to cast his ballot.
To punish those who did not vote, Nader suggests
fines, orders to work at the polls or a study of the
Constitution.
He says voters could be identified through Social
Security rosters and signed up at the age of 18. (Nader
fails to point out that, according to section 1106 of the
Social Security Act, all such data is confidential.)
Not only is the plan a poor public policy, it is
unconstitutional.
According to Yale Law Professor Alexander Bickel,
such a law would violate the First Amendment, which
"guarantees the right not only to express an opinion
but to withhold one as well."
Aryeh Neier, executive director of the American Civil
Liberties Union, says: "The right to vote is to be freely
exercised, not forced or compelled or pushed on
people."
Nader points out that Australia, Austria and Belgium
have mandatory voting systems that work well. These
countries, however, have very simple ballots on just
one national question: Who wili sit in parliament?
In the United States, a ballot with more than 200
candidates and some propositions with as many as
20,000 words may confront the voter.
Forced voting also would infringe on some people's
freedom of religion. Jehovoh's Witnesses refuse to
vote as a religious belief.
Good government does not necessarily come with the
expressions of the largest possible number of citizens.
The vi)te otJtnose. concerned enough to cast a ballot is
likely to, :b more intelligent' and meaningful than a
compelled vote by everyone. ;, :
Jane Owens
Drterdmuch deliberation about whether to take
time to write this letter,! decided .1 was essential
in nrripr to clar fy the ' facts in your article on
RiSay! Sept 13, about the Ombudsman's Office.
First, the "functions" of the Ombudsman s
Office are, in fact, fulfilled by me until an
ombudsman is appointed I would not object to
others being attributed with fulfilling this role if i
did not confuse the issue of availability and
viability of this office. . , .
ff four individuals frorri various areas are
fulfilling the ombudsman's role, then ' access
ibility, along with credibility and confidentiality,
becomes highly questionable.
Second, it is imperative that this office not
become associated with any particular segment of
the University community. The ombudsman
position was established to be independent and
impartial; he is not an advocate of, nor does he
report to, any specific group.
The office is available to any person affected bv
the University system, particularly students, staff,
faculty and administration. The primary goal, and
the only way in which the office can function
effectively, is to be at all times impartial and to
seek equity for all people involved in a situation.
In seeking equity, the Ombudsman has access
to information, which is where Dr. (Ken) Bader,
Dr. (Ned) Hedges and others come into the
picture through reassurances of providing what
ever assistance I may deem necessary until a new
ombudsman is appointed.
Finally, I do not know when the new
ombudsman will be appointed perhaps the
selection committee has a projected date.
Nominations and applications are being accepted
until Sept. 27. I do appreciate, however, your
establishing the point that this office is"alive and
functioning."
Dee Nicodemus
Assistant to the Ombudsman
'';-,; II 1 1 ii!.U'0 1 j VfJfl
j i
Resource Center hub of women's activities
Be to her virtues very kind;
Se o her faults a (ittio blind;
Let ail her ways be unconfined
And clap your padlock on her mind.
Maihew Prior, 1700
I really did it. After two years of walking by
and occasionally glancing in the window, I
crossed the threshold of the Women's
Resource Center. And the visit proved to be
neither shocking nor startling.
The little orange room, tucked in a first
floor corner of the Nebraska Union, was
stacked with bundles of the latest addition of
Women's Pages, and low bookcases against
one wall held a small library, as well as nine
various feminist publications. Plants lined
the window sill and the air conditioner
burbled like an aquarium as I talked with
several women in an attempt to find out just
what the center is try ing to do.
The center is sponsored by the University
Women's Action Group and is funded by
ASUN. It is a combination office-lounge-library
which is staffed by five work-study
students end 2 variable number of volun
;eers. Official hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but
rumor has it the place often siays open after
hours. The room can be used as a meeting
place for groups, upon request.
One of the Resource Center's main
projects is Women's Pages, published twice
each semester. It is written by anyone who is
interested and volunteers, and although up to
now the writing has been done by women,
men are more than welcome to contribute.
The first issue of this semester centered on
facts about and ways to prevent rape. Plans
for the second issue are for a study of women
as artists. ,
amy struthers
The center also acts as an information and
referral service. They are prepared to answer
legal and health questions, or to help find the
answer. Information about the local women's
groups is also available, and the center's
bulletin board keeps track of coming events.
Aside from the information-giving, the
Resource Center acisas a QSmGring place for
women from a wide variety of backgrounds
and interests. I was told that no one "type"
of woman visits the Center; they are young
and old, single, divorced, or happily married.
Their only common denominator is the fact
that they are largely students. For example,
this semester a group of middle-aged women
returning to school has chosen the center as a
meeting place.
Getting women to come in the first time is
an obstacle recognized by the staff. Many
women are afraid of being affiliated with
what they see as a ' 'radical ' ' group, said one
of the women. The center, however, tries to
take a "middle road" while still confronting
the issues. Another woman remarked that
women may hesitate to come in because they
fear someone will tell them "they're zeros",
that their lives arc "invalid" because they
haven't done certain things.
The organization of the staff is very loose
and I was told that Sue Aitcheson, present
coordinator of the center, just sort of "fell
into" the job. The lone male in the room went
on to say that I could have the job if ! decided
to "fall into it, because that's the way the
government works around here."
Well," I'M have ic keep that in mind. I've
been trying to figure out what becomes of
unemployed English majors...
kO Mil
DECLARES HIS NT
WORTH. blgLtOOOjOOD.9
S v'l, !
7"
LET rAE TELL. YOU
hohby isht everything
j have: nQA BOTH.
I HAVE HOMEY,
AND I HAVE plERmiHS
7
frfcn tbviii Fryc .
page 4
friday, September 20, VJA