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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 6, 1974)
editoriQ nV'.Fr ryy wi ..yjL y yif "Nothing can ruin me." Wilbur D. Mills (D-Ark), December 1974 Lack of forethought, knowledge criticized Editor's note: Sue Warren is a former UNL student. In Wednesday's Daily Nebraskan, Ray Walden ("Walden.Three") expressed some views On what specific subject, I am unsure. Walden begins by demonstrating how he (the single, college student) and his former friends (married, town residents) have parted ways. , ,, iL "He questions his society; they do not. He describes an intricate pattern of behavior these people exhibit a pattern with which he couldn't possibly be personally acquaint ed, as he is unmarried. Their marriages are not unions, he says, but markets where the parents sell their children. (I find it particularly revolting that such an "educated" person as Walden can refer to common members of the human race as "pieces of meat," be they man or woman.) He sums up traditional societal life as "nine to five, . . . marriage license in hand and ring on nose." After this intense movie-version summary of middle class life, he changes track and concludes the article with a semi-coherent section, on dating, companionship and sexual needs. V Pitcher talkers are to blame onion y ,The advertisement called for celebrajjxig IQCrpersons complied. 'Ran ha Rra" nau and ahnut In Wednesday's Daily Nebraskan, ; the Water Hole advertised it would give free pitchers of beer for every bra brought into the bar that night. It also offered women the same reward for proving they were braless. The proof involved jumping up and down in front of the bartender. The advertisement was sexist and taste less. The actual celebration was even more so. Yet one cannot place the major blame on the Water Hole for degrading women. The persons who collected their free pitchers are the ones who deserve the strongest censure. If the advertisement had been ignored, the bar would have learned that sexist tech niques no longer buy business on this campus. Instead, more than, 60 bras were brought in; and some 40 women inanely jumped up fid-down in order to collect their pitchers of beer. Businesses will use most any gimmick they can to attract customers. Up to now, one of the favorites has been exploiting women. In advertisements, women regularly have been portrayed as sexual playthings and as "dumb broads," concerned only with keeping hubby happy. But tnat can be changed. The Women's Movement has made many Americans aware of the problem and has called for fair treatment of women. What now must be done is to boycott those businesses which use such advertising ploys. Sometimes the tactic of ignoring speaks louder than the most vocal of protests. Jane Owens Needless to say, the intent of the article is unclear. Is he indicating social relationships, marriage or people who don't attend college?, Or is he statina that none of the" former canf mix? This is Obviously untrue. ' " f': In my own case, I do question society, I did go to college, I am married (I was not sold), and I don't go to Ladies Club or the beauty parlor on Friday. Neither do any of my married friends. My husband does not bowl, sell real estate or sit around developing a pot belly. I do not mean to criticize someone who has a particular view on a subject that I don't necessarily agree with. My argument is with Walden's lack of forethought and logical and reasonable proof for the statements he supports. I would suggest to Walden that in the future he specify his subject, criticize a subject he has some firsthand knowledge of and make a sincere effort to use some degree of good taste. , 'Bra Day' squelched integrity amy strutters Just when you think things are looking up, you get hit with a brick. Lincoln women were hit Wednesday. The Water Hole-not-so-graciously announced to us that in their eyes, women are good for selling beer and not for much else. An ad in "Wednesday's Daily Nebraskan invited "all the girls" to help celebrate "Ban the Bra" Day. It promised a free pitcher of beer to everyone who carried in a bra, or to every girl who could prove to the "satisfaction of the bartenders" that she was braless. Ernployes reported the joint was packed. The advertisement was Drought to my attention by a friend who demanded, "Can't we do something about this?" Yes, we can. I was unable io be at ."Bra Day" (Besides, all my underwear was in the laundry), so I made an honest effort to get ahold of the owner. His line was busy all afternoon. So I talked to a less-than-charming, and barely coherent, bartender who happened to answer the phone when I called. He was convinced I was a Federal Investigator and could not understand why anyone would want to write , about a harmless promotional gimmick. And through out the conversation he kept asking what my name was. "I'm bored," he moaned. Although this bartender, who said his name was Skip ("As'in skip a rope, skip a class, ya know," he .mumbled), was not working that infamous night, he had gone down to watch the action. And according to him, it was worth the trip. His report of over one hundred free pitchers having been claimed seemed a little optimistic to me, but he made it clear that, although the crowd was composed mainly of males, the recipients of the pitchers largely were females. ("Because most guys don't have easy access to old brassieres," he said confidentially.) He justified the promotion by claiming that "bars In Denver do it all the time." Meanwhile, the jukebox blared in my ear, and he asked me my name again. Skip it, Skip, I said. I talked with students in the Women's Resource Center to get their reaction. They had been successful in an early-morning attempt to reach the Hole's manager. He already had received many phone calls and seemed quite angry, I was told. He maintained that the idea was "cute" and that it worked and he would be willing to do it again. He went on to say that only one woman had complained last night. A representative from the Resource Center told me a letter had been written to the Daiiy Nebraskan, urging a policy statement on running such sexist ads. Tsn years ago, a bar might have gotten away with such a scheme. Today, the Water Hole will have to contend with organized groups of well-educated outspoken women, who are not afraid to take a very strong stand against businesses which demean women for a profit. I am appalled by the attitude of the Water Hole and join with other women across the city in calling a boycott of the establishment. I am disgusted not only by the bar, but by the women who went last night and allowed bartenders and customers alike to destroy their integrity. And I view the women who will frequent the bar in the future as deserving of the dehumanizing tag of "chick". I further ask that the Water Hole make a public apology to the women of Lincoln; no, not just to the women, but to everyone, for such money-making schemes are geared only to trick people out of their money while telling them it's all in fun. If this suggestion doesn't appeal to the gang down at The Hole, I have a second. Why not sponsor a Jock Strap Day? A free pitcher to everyone who drags in a jock and to every guy who can prove to the satisfaction of a female bartender that he is strapless. As for Bra Day, Skip, you can stick it up your Water Hole. page 4 daily nebraskan frlday, december 6, 1974