friday, September 8, 1978
daily nebraskan
page 17
Iranian students do not celebrate silver anniversary
By Alice Hrnicek
This year marks the 25th anniversary of
the U.S.-aided reinstatement of Iran's
political ruler, Shah Mohammed Reza
Pahlavi.
But members of the Iranian Student
Association found little to celebrate about.
According to an informed member of
the UNL chapter who wishes to remain
anonymous, living conditions have become
critical enough that Iranians are willing to
risk death rather than remain repressed.
Unemployment is high, farming is being
deserted and the few people who can ob
tain factory jobs work 10-12 hours for less
than $10 a day. Yet the cost of living is
nearly the same as here, the member said.
Iranians are even resorting to building
houses out of garbage cans, he added.
Me reports that only a few years ago
SAVAK, the Iranian secret police, would
"arrest, kill or torture, anyone who spoke
out against the government"
In more recent times, respect for the
absolute ruler has plummeted, he said.
"People are demonstrating and destroy
ing anything with a trace of the govern
ment. They are not afraid of anything be
cause they know the worst that can happen
is they'll get killed."
ISA main function
The ISA is an international organization
whose main function is to inform others
of what is going on in Iran and to involve
native Iranians "more deeply in it," the
source said. Members are students who are
Iranian natives.
Lincoln's group organized In the fall of
1977. The member said that he lived in
Iran until five years ago but plans to go
back.
All members who are concerned about
their country will go back, he noted, be
cause the "real battlefield is in Iran."
We feel we have the responsibility to
discuss problems of our own country."
He said he believes the problem has not
been discussed enough in the American
press because of the U.S. government's
direct involvement in supporting the shaw.
Vested interests of American business
are what has kept the shaw -U.S. relation
ship alive, he said. Oil, shipping, cheap
labor and an excellent market are key
factors in the arrangement.
"Everything is imported from the U.S.
You can tell by walking into a grocery
store."
Movie theater burns
The American government hurts more
than it helps, he added, by selling arms and
planes to the shah.
One of the most shocking incidents of
recent months has been the burning down
of a movie theater in Abadan, resulting in
the death of 600 Iranians, he said. The
doors were locked and chained, allowing
no escape .
Although Islamic extremists were accus
ed of setting the blaze, he believes the shah
was responsible because of the political
theme of the film. Three members of the
ISA were killed in the fire.
Also of major concern are riots wliich
have broken out recently, he said. Scatter
ed incidents of small revolts, usually with
the rioters being arrested or slaughtered,
are becoming more frequent, he said.
The people's attitudes are changing for
tolerance to rebellion, he added.
He said he believes riots which have
broken out and have been suppressed in
dicate that it won't be long before the
people overthrow the present dictatorship.
"What lacks now is good leadership. Be
fore, the people tried to revolt with sticks
and stones but now they realize that they
need arms," he said.
'Revolt depends on shah'
"The most important thing is that the
people are fighting back," he emphasized.
Now soon a revolt will happen depends
on the shah, he said. "Hither the shah will
commit a mass murder or the people will
get organized and get arms and eventually
free the whole country."
Since American interests would be cut
off he believes the American government
might send in troops to help the shah.
"This is why it is important for the Ameri
can people to know. It will be the Ameri
can people who fight and the American
taxpayer who support it."
The possibility of another involvement
such as the one in Vietnam has not been
totally eliminated. The group's motto,
"Iran the next Vietnam," has become one
of the strongest appeals to the American
people. In this instance, he believes the
"American government doesn't represent
the American people."
In Lincoln, the ISA has tried to show
this with demonstrations and mock
executions.
Californians dreamin. . .
Californians for Nebraska, an alumni
booster group, will make its 15th straight
migration to cheer the Big Red against the
University of California Golden Bears.
The group was formally established as
"The Southern California Alumni Assoc
iation of the University of Nebraska"
in 1914.
The Californians do more than cheer
from the stands, they provide scholarships
and loans for UNL students from Califor
nia. The scholarship loan fund began with
$2,000 in 1966 and has grown to $62,701
today.
For the 1978-79 school year, the group
awarded eight scholarships at $1,000 each
according to Edward Hirsch, vice president
of Public Relations and Development at
the NU Foundation. Scholarship recipients
are chosen scholastically. Hirsch said the
club also provided $50,000 for astro turf
on the baseball field last year.
The association's annual activities also
include a summer picnic, charter day
dinner and dance, football broadcasts of
the Big Red games in Southern California
and the special charter flight program.
Hirsch said the money allotted for
scholarships and loans comes from club
dues and the charter flight trips.
miwAWi Sliillet
110
LOUNGE
201 Sunvalley
Boulevard
OPEN
CALIFORNIA
Eat dinner before the big game
and have a couple of drinks before
the excitement begins,
then leave your car at Grandma's
and ride to the game in Granny's bus!
til i a.m.
Urn HOUR 4-t WEEED&TS DOUBLE SHOTS IK RI6JUR DRINKS
is
JOIN US EVERY FRIDAY
BEFORE HOME GAMES!
SEPTEMBER 8, 15
OCTOBER 13, 27
NOVEMBER 10, 17
FREE BAR DRINKS FOR ALL!
DOORS OPEN AT 8:00
25th & cO' St.
DONT FORGET SATURDAY NIGHT AFTER THE GAME