Wednesday, dxc-mbcr 15, 1376
pr2 4
dally ncbraskan
letters
Roskens, parity likely here to stay
On his appointment as NUs interim president,
UNO Chancellor Ronald Roskens was called "an
excellent choice" for the job and one which per
sons from all three campuses can work with. We
sincerely hope this is true. If there's one thing
this university doesn't need, it's another internal
rift.V
But the facts that the regents still had not
chosen Roskens on the morning of the day they
named him president and that Roskens did cot
know of his selection until it was announced
to the public makes us suspicious that some of
those concerned were not easily convinced the
choice was excellent.
There also is some question whether Roskens is
a choice all can cooperate with. Surely he wont
have much sympathy for those who are reluc
tant to recognize UNO's position as a financial
underdog. Some cpponentyf parity, in fact, v"
counting on Rosken's appointment being "only . Jt' '"
temporary.' These types should be prepared to
resign themselves to the likelihood that both
Roskens and parity are here to stay.
If Roskens is indeed an excellent choice, why
ask the search committee to submit a second-string-candidates
list? '
Roskens said dealing with the Legislature at
budget-setting time will not be new for him.
Experience will be welcome because the warnings
are that the university has gotten all the 20 per
cent budget increases it will get for awhile. So
well need someone adept not only at pleading a
very worthy cause but someone ready to scrutin
ize the budget for cuts if those pleas fail.
The bright spot in President D.B: Valuer's
resignation last June is that he still will be in the
business of obtaining funds for the university- If
he is as successful at the foundation as he was in
obtaining state funds, he can do a lot to lighten
the effects of the Legislature's threatened belt
tightening session
Difficulty in finding a replacement has made
the university appreciate Vamer even more
though it has become almost a cliche to sing the
praises of our soon-to-be-past president.
StI3, the Dally ldaxaa owes Vamer a spec
ial thanks for being accessible, for being quick
with praise when he saw a job well done and for
not interfering when he was less than satisfied
with our actions. We wish both he and Roskens
much success in their new jobs. '
T7 T i r u
"n
r. swans"
I"""""" ' I -MB
Steelworkers may have to give lives
n battle for U.S. economic stability
By Arthur Hoppe
The government is now trying to figure out uhzt each
of our lives is worth. And this is certainly a sensible thing
todoifyouareigoverruuent.
The problem came up when the Labor Dept. said the
steel mills should spend $241 million on anti-pollution
devices as this would save the lives of 240 steelworkers.
But that cans to more than a $1 million a life and the
White House's Council on Wage and Price Stability said
this would he ""inflationary- So it looks as though 240
innocent
bystander
1
steelworkers may have to give their lives in the battle for
fiscal stability, which is surely as good a governmental
cause to die for as any.
The council admits, however, that it isn't sure exactly
how much a life is worth to the government. 11 says the
government should come up rith Whs stndardizEtion
in order to increase governments! efilcicncy. That makes
sense. .
If 1 were the government, I'd set up a simple means
test. Take a welfare mother with five children. It's goirg
to cost the government a good S1Q.D0D to feed, clothe,
house and educate each of those children until they're eld
enough to support themsdsrs snatching purses.
flat worth a r.;.L:l
Under cvzn the most rudimentary means test, the life
cf that welfare mother isn't worth a plyg cickeL
The trr.e holds true, obviously, for hardened criminals,
bir?ks drawing food stamps and American Indians. (The
Indian Osims Commission alone costs the government
21i mHUKi a year txii '-hzt have American inikns ever
daie far the government?) '
TL:s t'loulin't be Ukcn as a slam at American Indians.
.', it hclis true for most mirjority.proups such .as
rterto IUcsns, whal-have-you. L:irz the last
the fj-rt fired and tl.e bast culture :y eimilated,
dcs-ers cf minority groups tend to be poor. -
It isn't that the lives of the poor are worthless lo the
government It's worse than that. The poor are definite
liabilities. So are the very rich. -
Now you'd think a rich man spending SlODjDCO a year
cm this and that and thereby stimulating the economy
would be an asset to the government. You're forgetting,
inlieritance taxes. There isn't a millionaire in the country
who isn't worth more to the government dead than alive.
Foragscicssse --" '
So if the government can ask 240 stedworkers to lay
down thek lives for fiscal stability, there is srdy no
zeason why millions of other Ameikans wouldn't adly
sacrifice theirs in the even higher cause cf making this a
better, more efficient government all the way around.
Think of it! we'd have nothing but hard-working,
gainfully-employed, tax-paying, law-sbiding, govemment
loiing citizens. Oh, how proud the government would be
cf itself! If there is a government.
Sometimes I have to remind myself the government
exists only in cur minds, a fiction we made up to protect
ourselves from others. Then it, in turn, created further
fictions for us to believe in. For example, it assigned
arbitrary values to pieces of paper and called them
And now it wants to assign arbitrary islues to our lifts
based on those arbitrary pieces of paper. It win want us
to believe this fiction, too.
This time 1 think TO pass. I don't know about you,
but Tm pricdes.
Cemffa CtotanicU ft&limg Co. 127)
Ti-e Cil'y fcbr2aa wrlccmes letters to the tZl3t
and guect cpiriosx. Choices cf materid p-.tlied w3
be bi ca timrlbea 2nd crlpnl'y. Letn cjst te
acccmd fry the iir'i came, fc;t may be
pulfJi Ksdrr a ptji crre if req-ted.
- Guest crrJsss thot!d fce typed. triple-epaceJ. ca
t&zzzz p2ptr.Thry It accompanied by the
z-: ::'i csms, dm ztzr azd mrjor, cr txajpsuai.
A3 ci'iid t:rlz& to i&se f&$ is subject to edit-t-z
asd ccsiision, xnd cass'ct be seia-asd to the
Bf 8 should fund bund trip
As a former member of the University of Nebraska
Cornhusker Marching Band I would like to support the
efforts of funding bands for trips to bowl games. I feel the
band works and practices as much and as hard in then
own desires and interests as any football team and contri
butes as much entertainment, enthusiasm, and enjoyment
of the game of football as do the players. With this I feel
that bands should not be left out of any bowl festivities,
realizing if it was not for the success of rat lomoaS team,
the band would have have a chance to participate.
It is my understanding that the Big 8 Conference funds
any Big 8 team who participates in any bowl game. Thus,
I feel that as the band adds to the game, a fund be set up
by the Big 8 Conference to supply funds to bands who
participate in bowl games. As representatives cf the Big
8 Conference the band will utilize these funds to promote
the game of football as well as the cultural representatives
of the Big 8, nationally. The Cig 8 then could establish
rules and regulations regarding the liumber of band
participants allowed to travel to bowl games.
Each B 8 school benefits from the revenue generated
from bowl games. Surely they would fee wSlirg to extend
one-eighth of the cost to send bands to bowls along with
the part icpa ting team. It is and would be good for the
conference. Shouldn't the Big 8 be first to sponsor such a
program? "
:.;..' ' Sincerely,
" ChuckClanton
Former band member
tJystcry minod
Carla Engstrom's review actually did a fine job of
telling our future audience that The Rimers of Ddritch
is a murder mystery, by then she blew it by going on to
reveal every factor in the show that creates the suspense
and surprise! How can an'audience enjoy a mystery after
they innocenth open the paper and find the total plot
and every secret spelled out for them? A reviewer is not a
factual reporter, he . ismust be a qualified and know
: ledgable critic of the arts. ' VIT:
The beginning of her article was totally unrelated and
confusing in itself- Why did she begin a veview of Rimers
with a retort? Tm sure anyone who hadn't seen them
didn't know what she was talking about or figured it was
an error in typesetting. To quote one of her favorite
criticisms: "It doesn't make much sense.
Also, another problem she has is her tendency to give
irrelevant and needless detailed descriptions cf elements
like sets and costumes. They should not be described just
to show that she really did see the show, but as a review
er's comment on their contribution, quality, and effec
tiveness in the production.
. Don't gel me wrong, though. We. at university theatre
do want reviews of our productions. 1 am not complaining
if she doesn't like a show, all are entitled to their own
opinions, but to call yourself a reviewer and write in the
press, you must be knowledgable of the subject and qua
lified to write aiticisrn on it.
., BethRiedmaruj
Dcclda cn reviow pcUcy
The D&Hy Ndsrazkan has done it again -printed anoth
er loser renew. This time Miss Engstrom has decided to
enlighten her readers with her EJeslba for blocking
improvements in The Rimers of EUritsh. Wonderful,
Thriving, I dont think 1 can stand much more of her
unbelievable suggestions for improvement ia our produc
tions. Who gave her a degree in blocking know-how?
Carla's suggestions for blocking moves are corny, un
ongkial and rbdramatic-esptciy her suggestion of
"warcrg her fists towards heaven in desperation."
Maybe the staff of the Dally Nebmztm should decide
what your review policy is: do youVanl to print a blow-by-blow
description of what hzppens in cssh production,
or do you want something a bit more professional? If
you need to look at a professional review read the one ia
llondays Lirxoli Stsr by ilr. Wis.
We are not against criticism here, as lor as it is valid.
To me it is important that there be some semblance of
pr cfessionalisra ia a review.
I also am upset by the way that Carla tried to respond
to the letters sent about her review clAlke in Wonder
Lmd. It is sly and petty and (z$ is her custom) incorrect.
I quote: The preparation and the hours cf work that go
into a play are irrelevant at this point. The end result is"
a3 that matters.- Bunk! A play could not go up k iih cdy
one cay cf rehearsal. It is the hours cf work fcrthnd
that have a direct bearing oa the prod.icliaa.arJ he
that is not within the reviewers duties, it cannot be
separated from the actual production.
I would like to see the DsHy Jctrmksn get a lot more
prosaooal ia the reviews it publishes. We are proud
of our theatre productions and we wcrk hsrd to maintain
tiat pride I think that you also are proud of your pper
and that you work hard to ksrp it's q-Lly hX You are
failing as far as your reviews are concerned.
S.:r.cer!y yours
Indie Drsua