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i In 4 i p. M'
E JUL 4-.nl LtftrM JltfttlUit 4,4 .
"Yes, Mr. President, everybody here on Wall Street is wearing a button...."
Dear Editor,
It is quite important for the student body to
evaluate the education that this University
provides. Such an evaluation, however,
cannot fully realize the academic quality of
our education because it does not consider
the attitude, aptitude and initiative of the
students themselves.
The "Superpoll" (Daily Nebraskan, Dec.
10) seems to indicate a general acceptance by
the students of the University's educational -performance.
This is an example of the
malaise which seems to have swept this
campus, as well as most of the nation.
Most students are neither ecstatic abotitm
the- quality of; UNLr.nor disillusioned by its
failures. They simply accept the education
that is offered and call it a day.
The primary motive for attending UNL is
not the academic excellence or programs
here, but that the price is right and it is close
to home. Those happen to be my motives as
well.
This is to be expected at a large land-grant
university, which is primarily interested In
providing the populace ample opportunity to
obtain higher education and in providing
services to the state which supports it.
Admission requirements are low, and
students are not scrutinized for scholastic
ability.
With such a shying away from scholarly
pursuits, it seems almost natural that the
initiative of students toward academic
excellence is inconsistent and often absent.
The prevalent attitude is one of merely
getting by and getting through.
I am concerned with this atmosphere on
campus and many student's apparent
disregard for the purposes of seeking a
college education. It is not to have a good
time, to qet away from home or to find a
partner in matrimony. These needs can be
provided elsewhere.
A college education should not be looked at
with the obsessive lust for money,' which
gleams in the greedy eyes of some students.
A university is a resource center of
knowledge. If it is used with ay other
intention than to learn, the time is wasted.
Our stay at this university is relatively
short and is a transitory stop to educate and
prepare us for the future. This is an
opportunity not to be squandered. I urge
each student to re-evaluate and analyze his
academic goals during the Christmas break.
Consider: What was learned this semester or
any semester? Can my education be
improved? Am I doing my pari to make it a
success.
Students may not attend UNL for its
academic excellence, but that is no reason to
deny ourselves a quality education.
Don Wesely
Dear Editor, ',.,
On the front page of the Dec. 5 edition of
the Daily Nebraskan, Randy Gordon's story
was headlined "Private cleaners save UNL
money, ease labor shortage. ' '
The story concerned UNL's use of private
contract cleaners to do the custodial work in
Nebraska Hall. According to Gordon the
part-time custodians hired by the contractor
at Nebraska Hall start at $1.60 to $1.80 an
hour and earn up to $2.50 an hour.
Gordon's story also quotes Asst. Director
of Business and Finance Ron Wright as
saying the contractors were hired because
UNL couldn't fill all the custodial openings
that it had.
Wright is quoted as saying "we (the
University) went out and bought labor that
we couldn't otherwise obtain."
Wright did not mention the unjustly low
wages and inadequate benefits that don't
attract lots of applicants for UNL custodial
positions. Rather than honestly looking at the
exploitation of UNL workers, Ron Wright
prefers to go out and "buy" even cheaper
laborers. How dare Ron Wright and UNL
"buy" laborpeople for sale, people
bought, and bought cheaply, too? What gall,
what greed!
A more truthful, more courageous headline
would have, been, "Private cleaners exploit
laborers, undercut already exploited UNL
custodians."
When's the Daily Nebraskan going to stop
doing P.R. for.ithe. UNL. administration ,aBdD
begin to help-organize, forn ine democratic,
control of the University (and elsewhere, for
tnat matter).
I must say that some of the reporting and
editorials in the Daily Nebraskan are
admirable, but, more often than not, I'm
deeply disappointed in the sterile (so-called
"objective") journalism of the Daily Nebras
kan, It overlooks people crying for help. It's
terribly being also.
Ron Kurtenbach
UNL Custodian
Dear Editor,
I don't wish to garner the ire of my fellow
inmates or any civilian who may choose to
read this. My only wish is to clear my mind
during this holiday season and possibly, to
cause someone, somewhere, to ponder the
human race.
Much remains before we shall have peace
on earth and good will towards all mankind.
Man's individual attitudes and goals must be
modified. In turn, our social and political
systems must advance along with the
developments of cultural and scientific
technology.
Man's brain and the consequences of its
use make him unique among all animals.
Although man's hands and intellect have
endowed In him an ability to conceive and
create, man also has become subject to
certain infirmities specifically, moral
weakness.
His guilt becomes tolerable if it is shared
with others, or if the blame for an event of
events Is distributed and leaves him
somewhat untouched.
I believe each and every one ot us, baick
and white, as fellow brothers, must study
ourselves and the reasons for our aggres
sions, then plan means of controlling our
excesses.
We must deflect our hostile desires into
more productive and creative channels.
Together we can, and must create a more
attractive world by giving up certain selfish
objectives for the good of mankind.
To know oneself, and one's fellow man, is a
great aid, yet more is needed.
We must learn each others ways and
eccentricities. We must put this knowledge
together in an orderly way toward a definite
goal.
If each of us, within ourselves, can
maintain an attitude of love and action based
upon a benevolent theme, we shall be
fulfilling our obligations to society. Peace on
earth, good will toward man.
Richard Christensen
23553 Waupun, Wise.
Committee urges halt
to non-UFW purchases
Editor's note: The Lincoln Boycott Com
mittee organized to support the United Farm
Worker boycott. This opinion was written by
three of its members Sam Zeleski, Harry
Richardson, and Mona Usasz.
Picket lines are back in place in the United
Farm Worker (UFW) struggle against
California growers; Cesar Chavez, head of
the UFW, contends that the nationwide
boycott in support of the UFW effort "is
stronger now than at any previous time".
The Lincoln ' Boycott Committee urges
Nebraskans to stop buying Gallo, Franzla and
" other wines bottled in" Rlppon and Modesto,
Calif. We also encourage boycotting table
grapes and iceberg head lettuce,
.w.. Dora. bq..confortable with your, grocer's
rtsaairrchentoppHes '.'union" lettuce. We want
ijP3 tobewfuewhich union we are supporung.
Remember-' Black Eagle" or United Farm
Workers - AFL-CIO, if you want to check on
your grocer's claim.
osihion
I he farmworker struggle began in May
1965 with a strike in California's Coachella
grape fields.
That confrontatim resulted in the growers
signing a contract with the UFW calling for a
minimum hourly wageof $1.75 and a union
hiring hail. The key point to hiring halls is to
protect workers' hard-won rights under the
CO n t T3C ts
Otherw'ce, .the labor contractors take a
large percentage of the workers' pay for
'finding" then) jobs, transportation and
various other "services."
This was the first farm labor contract
negotiated in the continental United States.
A few elections were held that year and the
UFW won. but the struggle continued until
1970. Then, with the aid of the boycott, the
United Farm Workers gained grape and wine
contracts with all the major growers.
Later the UFW lost the lettuce and grape
contracts to the Teamsters Union. Probably
the major disadvantage of the Teamsters
Union is the airnost complete lack of
representation of the workers themselves in
the decision making processes and the
signing of contracts.
Another fault is the Teamsters tendency
toward stormtrooper tactics in conjunction
with the Kern County Sheriff's Dept. and
other law enforcement personnel. Two UFW
strikers have been murdered in confronta
tions that Teamsters "goons" have turned
into violent outbursts. .
The boycott is succeeding, especially; on
Gallo wines. Their sales are down 16 to 19 per
cent, according to the May 16 Wall Street
Journal. The California Departmertt of
Agriculture also has said Gallo is being hurt
by the boycott. Meanwhile, the sale of UFW
wines, such as Italian Swiss Colony, Almaden
and Christian Brothers is growing.
In the future we hope that UN-L students
help the farmworkers by forming a support
committee to educate and involve Othei
students. Those interested In learning more
about the farmworker struggle are Invited tc
a workshop at 1:00 p.m. on Monday In the
basement of UfviHE Commonplaoe, 333 N.
14th St.
.page 5 ,
friday, december 13, 1974
daily nebraskan