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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 19, 1975)
ff- friday, September 19, 1975 page daily neorasKan editoriQ I s i - 'Real World bottle victim discovered Dear editor, The NU Board of Regents many times has opposed student moves for more freedom and individual decision, most notably 24-hour visitation and alcohol in dorms. The regents base their decisions on the fact that we are young, inexperienced, and have not been out in "The Real World." . We would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude on behalf of 11th Floor Abel to Campus Police Chief Gail Gade, the Campus Police Dept. and UNL Parking Coordinator John Duve for doing an outstanding job of controlling people who would endanger our lives by park ing in fire lanes and who ignore common sense by parking on sidewalks and grass during football games. These are the very people whom the regents hold in such high esteem as "The Real World." John Warns Clay Statmore Joe Eisenberg Able 1 1 floor officers Bottle receipt Dear editor, Thanks to RVW for being concerned about the girl who was the recipient of the whiskey bottle at Saturday's game. The bottle did smash on the back of her head, leaving a considerable lump. It's hard to believe anyone could be so stupid as to dispose of their bottle in this way, expedally when alcohol is illegal on campus. As the lump on my head decreases in size, I hope a few people stop and think about what's going on at the games eachSaturday. jp Ralph reactions Dear editor, Your over-reacting readership as expressed in to tne editor" concerning "Marvelous Fabulous" was ridiculous and further convinced me that too many blacks interpret any mention of this kind as racial slur. ... In truth, I found Wheeler's caricature quite realistic, in that so many outstanding football players happen to be black. In cartooning, physical characteristics are often exaggerated and there should be no special waiver to one Afroid character simply because that character represents a large number of Afro-Americans who cannot laugh at themselves. Minority groups would do well to ease racial and ethnic relations by foregoing their extreme sensitivity and hyper paranoia about such matters. Beiieve it or not, not all whites espouse bigotry upon every mentioning of a minority person. It's time now for blacks to stop being so up-tight about their self-isolating "black awareness" and to move toward a positive goal of becoming a part of the majority. As long as they uphold their own persecution, there will be more to follow, for it is that very element they request. One more thing: the "Open Letter" from the editor in the Sept. 12 issue of the Daily Nebraskan is as flagrant an illustration of cowardice, fear and self-contempt as I've ever seen. Rebecca Bine, in your overanxious desire to back up from the vociferous minority faction, be sure not to step on the toes of us, the majority, who shall always enjoy keen humor. Jim Fisher P.S. How about a special plea for forgiveness from extra thick-lipped campus Negroes who walk around in sun glasses and white T shirts? Discrimination Sexist puzzle Dear editor, During the three years I have attended UNL, I have read the Daily Nebraskan with open and somewhat passive interest. After reading Thursday's edition, I can no longer stand back, an innocent bystander, and ignore the social damage that the staff of the supposed "student" newspaper is doing. Until now, I have realized that the Daily Nebraskan staff has been trying to create a satirical reflection of the UNL through their cartoons, columns and editorials, but the crossword puzzle has gone beyond satire and is the ultimate in the paper's continued put-down of minorities on this campus. The across and down clues are in no way funny. They come across as crude aid unfeeling. Although the cross word "pokes fun" at many minorities, Thursday's definite ly concentrated on women's stereotyped role in society. For instance: Across-20-(self-explanatory) 35-Miss instead of Ms. 59-Boy before Girl 6 1 -(self-explanatory) Down - Son? Why never daughter? 34-Prince? Why not princess' 44-Double minority 5 1 -(self-explanatory) and many, many more! I implore you to discontinue the injustice you are bring ing upon the students of this campus through your cross word puzzles. I am sure the Daily Nebraskan, with increas ed sensitivity to the feelings of others, can improve its standing on campus and regain the respect cf the student. Robin J. Miller Sterotypes Dear editor, . I think the whole issue of last Thursday's "Ralph" is pathetic. Someone asked why all the fuss over a cartoon. As a black student, I get tired of seeing us stereotyped. I think we have every right to oppose these kinds of stereo types. For some people, "Ralph" is the only way in which they see blacks or any other minority group portrayed. I have never seen anything funny in ridiculing people. America is in the process , of celebrating its 200th anniversary and we are still struggling to be understood. I hope Ron Wheeler has learned something from this whole distressing issue. Jacquie Brown Dear editor. As a person, I personally find "Ralph's" "people" cartoons in poor taste. The stereotypes protrayed for all groups in the cartoons only serve to reinforce and per petuate ignorance and discriminatory attitudes. Most probably, ihis was . not the intent of the author; however, an awareness of the sensitivity of certain issues is essential if barriers between people are to be broken down. , ' ,. "Ralph's" "people" cartoons are a type of passive pre judice which encourages active prejudice and discrimina tion. It is easy to shrug off a "harmless joke" when you do not have to contend with its implications on a personal level. One man'swoman's "laugh" may be another's burden. Shela Shanks. Dear editor, 'The main thrust of my opinion on Nigeria (Daily Nebraskan, Sept. 5) was an appeal for a strong and united Nigeria, free of tribalism, corruption and nepotism. The posture was not meant to open up old wounds or to inflict new ones. When I used the word Biafra, I meant it to embody both the Ibos and other minorities that fought in Biafra. There was never any intention to exclude them. But the thrust of the coup was directed primarily against the Ibos. From the day of the third coup to August 3, 1975, several newspapers and magazines commented on Nigeria and her oil supply to the United States. Some of these media placed her as the number one, some as number three and others as the number two supplier in the world. I drew my conclusion from the Oil and Gas Journal and other more reliable sources of information on this matter than magazines and newspapers. John Ojie Ukandu The Daily Nebraskan welcomes letters to the editor, tnd guest opinions. Choices of material Eublished will be based on timeliness and originality, etters must be accompanied by the writers name, but may be published under a pen name if requested. Guest opinions should be typed, triple-spaced, on nonerasable paper. They should be accompanied by the authort name, class standing and major, or occupation. All material submitted to these pages is subject to editing and condensation, end cannot be returned to the writer. Service questioned Dear editor, The immediate controversy over another of Ron Wheeler's racial slurs has blown over, and it's a sad comment on the role of journalism in our society-and, more particularly, at UN L that our most lively discussions of yesterday's paper concern the comics. It is equally sad that student examination and criticism of the Daily Nebraskan can only come on those (increasing ly frequent) occasions when the Nebraskan positively dis graces us by association. The real, and larger, issue behind the Ralph controversy is that of the role and responsibilities of the Daily Nebraskan itself. Our "student newspaper" is a publicly-. supported institution ($32,000 of our fees this year) charged with serving the- UNL campus by pub'icizing university, faculty and student affairs. It has, in fact, become the property of a self-considered elite, which has drifted into the practice of sacrificing the advance news coverage that many student organizations are crying for in order to print reams of more glamorous opinion-glamorous, yes, but also, as a rule, childishly cynical and contemptuous of the student population which the Nebraskan is mandated to serve. I'm proud to be a member of the first student fee supported group, Union Program Council, to vote its dis satisfaction with the comic strip "Ralph." We support our black activities chairperson, Earl Everett, in his search for a permanent solution to racism in the Daily Nebraskan. I hope, however, that all student organizations will go further in examining the deficiency of real service in student publications and in calling for a reorganization and redirec tion of the Daily Nebraskan. Dean Kirby the word unh 'Absurd' fees offend 'free-minded student' By Del Gustafson A catchy little yellow pamphlet is circulating across campus, loudly singing the praises of student fees. In physical sppesrance, it is similar to a typical pamph let, but this one is different-it is funded by all of us. Yes, impoverished student, a small portion of the $61.50 you pay in student fees this semester will go toward justifying the payment of those fees. It is like fighting a war in order to justify a nation's right to fight wars. Manifestly it is an absurdity, but an absurdity which characterizes the entire fee structure. When a student's Income is confiscated by the admin istration and redistributed to some "deserving" campus organization, newspaper or health center, our omniscient administrators must assume that this redistribution docs not infringe upon the student's First Amendment freedoms. Tliis assumption is erroneous. . Almost everyone may concede that the allocation of student fees to Campus Crusade for Christ would be an invasion of the individual's freedom of religion. Is it any less of an abridgement to freedom of speech and freedom of the press to compel students to support an opinion dispensing campus newspaper? Both actions are infringements of elemental rights and ho who condemns the first as tyrannical must also condemn the second. But alas, most administrators and pro-fee students do not fret over such logical niceties as consistency. Instead they couch their arguments in terms cf the necessity of fees.. One slightly disingenuous (I am too kind) administrator stated it would be impossible to end fees on campus implying that upon the demise of student fees the skies would turn black, the temple veil 'would be rent and Oldfather would erupt. He, like most administrators, does not face reality. The University of Southern California (USC) abolished fees in a student referendum (what a splendid Idea) in 1973. It is rumored that USC continues to function. irte problem is that we have tost sight of the purpose of a university. A university is not a parent obligated to pro S his chSdrenCnter' newspaPer or !u(2cnt organizations As Cardinal Newman, a brilliant Catholic academician, ledge " UniJersity fa " Place of Caching universal know- A university is a place where the rights of the individual should zealously guarded because the individual is the iinal repository of Truth; it is a place where the compulsion inherent in a mandatory fee system should be alien. student fees are not needed; they are not just. Let all tree-minded studctni strive to end them.