Wednesday, September 14, 1977
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The campus parkins situation seems to be a
wonderful example of the economy at work
permit prices were raised so fewer permits have
been sold.
John Duve, UNL parking and traffic coordin
ator, reports that parking permit sales are down
from last year.
The sales drop suspiciously follows a price hike
from $25 a year to S35 a year. And, if you'll
recall, there was talk of an even bigger price hike
at one point last spring, until student reaction .
prompted reconsideration.
Duve says it is too early to tell if the price in
crease affected sales, . .
It's sort of heartwarming to see the economy
chugging along the supply and demand curve.
There's no question the price increase and last
spring's controversy had som affect on sales.
In this case, it is hard to complain about the
sales decrease. For years parking lots have been
oversold and Duve did not complain that costs
n h,.inT met with fewer sales.
The point isr isn't it nice to see direct (for the
economists, an elastic) student response to a
policy change.
Last Friday, Lincoln Regent bd Schwartzkopf
questioned student credibility because the NU
Board of Regents failure to approve alcohol on
campus and 24-hour visitation for residence alls
did not decrease occupancy.
Well Regent Schwartzkopf, there were exten
uating circumstances. Apartment prices and the
costs of living off campus have risen.
And let's be honest, you can find a drink on
campus and it does not take much creativity to
arrange an all-night visit.
But, with parking, the price went up and the
sales went down. The same thing could happen
with other things-like football tickets. t
Maybe there is student power to be tapped-a
pocketbook sort of power-but power, nonethe
less. ' . '
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Capital punishment would be an empty solution
New York-It is different when everything becomes
real.
A few days ago in a New York City courtroom, Judge
nrna A nryrnry fx tex ctanri lirt
and be sentenced for murder.
Adorno, a finger hooked into his mouth, remained -seated
for a few moments. Then he stood, clasped his
hands in front of him and carefully inspected the ceiling
as Roberts spoke.
"I've been in this business a long time," Roberts said,
"Nothing I've ever had hits me as hard as this."
In the second row were Dr. Ruselle Robinson and his
wife, parents of Steven Robinson, 26, whom Adomo
killed Feb. 23. Robinson, driving a cab to pay for his
education, had two credits left for a college degree and
intentions to study law when he was killed behind the
wheel of his cab.
Roberts leaned forward and his voice . rose. Thi$
individual before me can't pass a first-grade reading test
and the young man he shot and killed had a book with
him in his taxicab. The book was Wind, Sand and Stan
by Antoine de Saint-Exupery.
I haven't heard that author's name since I was in high
school and I was compelled to read him. But Steven
Robinson read that book because he had the soul of a
poet. He wanted to contribute. He never will because
George Adorno said, 'Let's go get a couple of bucks from
a cabby."
jimmu broslinr
us Lit
Adorno's record
Roberts recited Adorno's record. At 4, Adorno set
fire to his sister. Before he was 16, he was arrested 16
times.
"First thefts, thefts and then we come to the big
ones. Murder. Arrested four times far rnur Jer. He confess
ed to one of the murders in Family Court. He was let go
because his mother, who can't speak a word of Fnglish,
wasn't present.
"The psychiatrist states that he's a monstrous human
being.' " Adorno's head tilted and he smiled. "Nothing
ever happened to him. He plays the courts like a concert
player plays the piano. Is there ever a time when a red
light goes on and you say, 'We have to control this
person?' So at age 16, he finally gets a three-) ear sentence
and he is out in 18 months.
'This record indicates to me that, rather than people
getting together and saying, 'Let's restore capital punish
merit, let's put powder and rouge on crime, kt's put a
CanJ-AiJ on cancer, rather than all this, the public has
to think about strengthening a criminal justice system to
prevent somebody like this from slipping through it for
'Ultimate goal
T.t u';L:ut -? of a juvenile court is to mike sure
that those in their charge don't get the chance to hurt
anybody. The juvenile courts don't have the funds for
this. The public should be told that it has to face this.
"I'm not running for office. I can take an unpopular
position and say to the public that if you want to put an
end to this crime, then it is going to cost you more
money. I don't have to call for capital punishment. That's
the phoniest of phony solutions. You won't have one
execution in years even if there is a law,
- "Society has the right to determine an extreme
penalty. Therefore the legislature should put in a life
sentence that means life. No parole. In this case before me
now, a plea of guilty was taken so that there would be no .
possibility that he might escape with a trial. Under the
plea, he is to serve a minimum tf 15 years to life.
"But at the end of 15 years, the parole board does not
have to release him. It is not mandated that he be let out.
The court states that the parole board should seriously
reflect whether he should be allowed out at the end of 15
years."
Roberts hunched forward and stared at Adorno, "As !
look at you now, certainly, if ever we have had a fit
subject for capital punishment, it's you. But we in our
society never will sink to your level. It is not necessary to
sink to the level of the George Adornos and wring their
necks and soil society's hands with their blood.
'Encourage violence
"The public is going to realize the fact that capital
punishment only encourages further violence. In the
meantime, you are going to be in jail. I do hope you
spend many sleepless nights, I hope what you have done
bothers you and causes you anguish."
. A guard tapped Adorno on the shoulder, Adorno,
wearing a green T-shhi and red sneakers, shook hands
with his lawyers, looked around the room with a half
smile on his face, and walked out with his guards.
He giew up in this city without going to school, and no
truant officers grabbed him. He robbed and the juvenile
courts let him go. He murdered and they let him go. So
he murdered again.
And now, as he goes to prison, he suggests the need for
an alternative to capital punishment -life sentence
without parole-that will not reduce society to the level of
a murderer.
Out on the streets, during the recent New Yoik City
mayoral campaign, the call for capital punishment has
gone through the streets like a devil's moan.
Deterrent
People who live in nights that drip with fear have
listened as politicians tell them the death penalty is a
deterrent and, if not a deterrent, then it is a proper
instrument of vengeance. And then the politicians go else
where and the people are left with their anger,
expectations and untruths told them by the candidates!
For fchere justic becomes real, not a way of pander
ing for votes, the idea of capital punishment becomes
empty,
George Adorno, a murderer, walked in and out c,f
juvenile courts that cannot handle the ciuih of cases. The
idea should be o catch a George Adorno at 13, and not to
waste time arguing capital punishment.
When it was over yesterday morning, Dr. Ruselle
Robinson and his. wife walked slowly down the dim
corridor to the elevator banks. They stood in silence and
then rode downstairs and walked through the crowded,
shabby lobby.
Outside, Robinson took a deep breath.
"What did you think?" he was asked.
. "Oh, I guess capital punishment wouldn't do any
good," he said.
"He's gone," his wife said.
"He's gone," Robinson said.
Copyright 1377. JIMMY BRESUN.'
Distributed by th Chicago Tribune
Nw York NewsSyncircat. Inc.
letter
In response to your editorial of Sept. 12, the executives-
and senators of ASUN report that we are not
smiling at Big Red's defeat last Saturday. Our opposi
tion to the expansion of Memorial Stadium should not
be confused with opposition to a strong, vital athletic
department and winning football team.
In fact, it is our intention to strengthen the position of
the athletic department by helping it avoid the $3.2 mil
lion to $3.4 million debt that stadium expansion would
entail.
It is also our intention to help the morale of the foot
ball team by insuring an attractive, full stadium at every
game, not an unattractive stadium that will be partially
empty during some games.
Finally, it is our intention to help the fans of Neb
raska football by keeping ticket prices as low as possible,
expecially for students.
Fleeted representatives of ASUN feel that the more
than 2,100 students who joined in last week's petition
drive to halt the expansion of Memorial Stadium share
these sentiments and will join with us in wishing the
Huskcrs the best of luck this Saturday.
BURY THE BEAU! BEAT 'BAM A!
Ken Christofferson,
ASUN second vice president,
for the executives and senators
t-drior's note: h'e a;x)hsi;e for any misunderstanding.
The intcntkm was to inJkate that opponents of st&laim
cxpanshn might smile at the possible end of the contro
versy, not the 1 lusher h ns. -
The Daily Xebraskan welcomes lelicii to tht edi
tors, guest opinions and opcd pieces. Material sub
mitted must include the author's name, address and
major or occupation. A pen name can be used if re
quested,