editoriQ
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"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
