frlday, eprll 20, 1979
daily nebraskan
Student interests
take i
in more
than
university issues
A letter to the editor published in Wednesday's Daily
Nebraskan disturbs and frightens us a little. We agree com
pletely with the author's statement that Friday's story on
Regent Prokop's charges of cover-up was a good story,
and was pertinent of students.
However, we take strong exception to the statement
that the state law relating to the treatment of sexual
sociopaths, or the state's policy on the food sales tax does .
not interested students, and therefore should not be print
ed in the Daily Nebraskan.
We deny the allegation that legislative coverage this
semester has been insensitive to the Daily Nebraskan's
audience, and, as readers may have guessed, are somewhat
offended by that charge.
We have not covered tax law debates, although they
may well be the most important issue in the Legislature.
We have not covered debate on water law, although that
debate may have significant impact on the future of agri
culture in the state.
University issues
We have limited coverage of budget bills to university
budget issues, despite the fact that the state's budget is of
concern to every citizen of this state.
We ran one story on the sexual sociopath law, and one
story on the food sales tax bills, despite extensive media
coverage of both of those issues. We have also run one
story on the death penalty, corporate farming, paper re
cycling, insurance for legal services and other "non-student
issues.'
These are people issues. Students, despite what many
think, are people. Somewhere down the line, we will need
legal services, we will pay property taxes, we will be con
cerned with corporate farming and the state's criminal
code.
Why should the Daily Nebraskan cover the drinking age
issue? We don't take classes to learn to be better drinkers,
and drinking certainly is not part of our educational
experience. In fact, drinking is not allowed on campus, so
this is not strictly a student issue - it is a people issue.
Marijuana use
So. is the theraputic use of marijuana. So is abortion.
So are speed limits.
On the other hand, the story on Regent. Prokop is only
one in a continuing series of stories about the university.
Construction of buildings on this and other NU campuses
is a university issue. '
So is the overall university budget. So is collective
bargaining among faculty members. So is the bill that
allowed students to get financial aid money for book pur
chases. The idea that this newspaper should be parochial in its
coverage is frightening. "Don't leave the campus; there is a
whole big, scary world out there, and we don't want any
thing to do with it."
Students are only one of many special interest groups.
Legislative coverage has not failed in its obligation to that
interest group, it has gone beyond it. But then, no one can
please everyone.
Perhaps a remedy to this problem would be a change in
the rules of the Legislature. To accomodate Daily Nebra
ska readers and reporters who have a fear of the real
world or no interest in it the Legislature should be re
quired to discuss at least one university bill every day it
Decision puts hold on presses
If the reaction of national press leaders is
any indication, Wednesday was a black day for
the news gatherers of America.
The Supreme Court's 6-3 decision to allow
those suing for libel to probe the "editorial
process" by asking such questions as "Why
did you use this quote instead of another?'
and "Didn't you and your editors suspect that
your source was lying?" is being universally
decried as a major defeat for the First Amend
ment. Jack Landau, director of the Reporter's
Committee for Freedom of the Press calls the
decision a "major defeat. . . because it allows
the courts to intrude into the most private
thoughts and - editorial discussions of
journalists and news organizations."
And Allen Neuharth, chairman of the
Gannett Co. and president of the American
Newspaper Publishers Association said the de
cision "is one more step by the current court
to weaken, erode and diminish freedom of the
press, and by extension all First Amendment
freedoms "
Neuharth also referred to last year's Stan
ford Daily decision in saying "Last spring, the
Supreme Court ruled that police can rummage
through newsrooms; today it has ruled lawyers
can rummage through reporters' and editors
minds."
While we agree that the judgment in the
I fprhfrr case Wednesday was another Dotential-
ly damaging precedent, the decision itself may
not be as gravely damaging as some are pre
dicting. t t
For as C.L. Dancey, editor of the Peoria (111)
Journal Star said, "normally a defendant opens
that question (state of mind) himself, saying
that he had good motives and no spiteful
intent."
The decision will undoubtedly cause news
organizations to prepare defenses for possible
similar cases, just as the Stanford Daily deci
sion has caused them to establish procedures
for dealing with police searches of the
newsroom.
However, it remains to be seert whether the
Herbert decision will substantially change libel
law and its prosecution.
More dangerous for the press is the tendency
of the high court to rule against the press with
increasing regularity, gradually stifling it.
For each time the press goes to the Supreme
Court and loses it loses some of its aggressive
ness and independence.
And if enough Stanford Daily and Herbert
decisions come out of that beautiful white
building across the street from the U.S. Capi
tol, cries of the death of the nation's free press
will be obituaries rather than the warnings of
today.
L Rent Wolgamott
That way, reporters wont hare to work, or exercise
editorial judgment as to what miit interest students the
' rnc3 out of the tjvea "con -student issues discussed on a
r-'r-n f jv &d leaders wont be able to use their student
- r.- rmA eVrait Mnn! imiM The Omaha WnrLIJJprzLI
rjoa Jazmd and the Star cover an of those people
; kz-zzz, but students coat get tuose papers tor tree.
Tlzzs errors also covet university issues, but they
i-Vt rive these Isucs as bit a play as the Daly Nebra-
i!x L&ewi;?, the Ds2f Nebmkan covers Some non-,-T-tv
f -ijL but does not five them as bii t play as
; do Ixow who our readers are. They are students, NeSlle rCDlV
I'wt; w-
sio t
I -",'-v - , ttxsj Essex
.- ' " R&c&y Steak
. v- ..- v :: --' LEe2tiTcaaott
The time has come for students at the university to
speak out. Senator Ralph Kelly's bill to raise the drinking
age to 21 (LB221) has been brought out of committee
for debate by the entire Legislature. The passing of this
bill will have serious effects on the students and the life
style here at the university.
Think of some of the consequences:
1) Hundreds of future college students will not be able
to find jobs because of the bill. Positions such as barten
der, cocktail waitress, even waiter and waitress in some
places, will go to older people, at least 21 years old. These
jobs are perfect for students because of the mostly
evening hours and good pay.
2) Some form of alcohol is available to 19 and 20 year
olds in all of our neighboring states. The effect of raising
the drinking age will be an increase in the number of
people driving to other states to purcahse alcohol. Reduc-,
ing the number of teen-agers in alcohol related traffic
accidents is one of Senator Kelly s major concerns. Does
this seem like the solution?
3) 19 and 20 year bids are legally adults, they can
enter into legal contracts, marry, vote, and die in battle,
lust recently they were given the right to serve on a jury.
Raising the drinking age to 21 will in effect, be calling
these people "second-class" citizens;
Senator Kelly and most of the other proponents of his
bill agree that raising the drinking age to 21 will not solve
the problem of teen-age drinking. They why take a privi
lege away from responsible young adults? I see this as an
attempt to cover up the real reason for the problem.
When our adult population changes their attitudes to
wards drinking, and parents take the time to teach their
children the dangers and responsibilities taken on when
using alcohol, then we will begin to see a change in teen
age alcohol use. Merely raising the drinking age to 21 will
have little or no effect.
The last two times this bill was introduced to the
Legislature it failed. We were lucky: Student actions had
little to do with the outcome. This time around things
are different. LB221 is steadily gaining momentum. With
out input from Students, and all others opposed to the ar
bitrary restriction of liberties, this bill has a good chance
of being made into Iaw. -.
Write to your congressman, and encourage your friends
and family to do the same. With i tittle luck, and support
from the students, this bill can be defeated; but act now
before it is too late. .
Craig A. lohnson
Sophpmore
CBA
Dear JefT Hopping,
Your attack of Sue Eds resolution for the ASlftfs
support of i boycott of Kestle products is reflective of an
attitude cf those who are la a social coma.
You say you are concerned with the Nestle situation,
also. Sue has done something with her concern, have you?
You Would like for her to have heard the Nestle side of
the story before she introduced her resolution. Besides
saying that "you cant drink it slow, What could anyone
say that Would refute the decrease in infant mortality?
Nothing personal, Jeff, but With all your compassion,
you should consider being a regent sometime in the
future.
Brady Wiebeck
Sophomore
Journalism
Draft concerns
With proposals and discussion about the renewal of
military draft becoming increasingly frequent, it is import
ant for young adults (male and female) to invest some
time in consideration of how such a move in public policy
may relate to their life and values.
The one particular area of such consideration affects
thosd whose personal and corporate religious values would
preclude either direct military service activity or coopera
tion with any system of government conscription or regu
lation for military purposes.
As a clergyman and campus minister, I encourage all
young adults to give these issues careful thought, and do it
now, rather than waiting until after a crisis presented by a
new draft law develops. I encourage you to talk with the
pastor, priest, or rabbi of your own congregation if you
are so related, or to any clergy or campus minister friend.
Almost any cf these will welcome a chance to discuss
your thoughts and concerns with you, though not always
necessarily agreeing with you on issues.
The campus ministry at Commonplace-UMllE f333
N. 14th) is, as always, open to persons with these kinds of
concerns. We are open to sharing discussion of them with
you on a personal or group basis. Our campus ministry
board (consisting of students, faculty, clergy and other
persons from the community) has taken action on a
policy which opens us, as an organized church body, to
corporatery hearing and registering to cur minutes the
testimony of any person who wishes to establish his or her
credentials as conscientious objector to military service or
cooperation with any ldad cf military conscription.
Again, this does not involve our .agreeing or disssreeiag
with your personal position, but rather our supporting
your riht and responsibility to make conscious,
considered, ethical decisions. We invite and encourage la
qulries about this concern. We also encourage persons
who may be moving to the direction of a CO. position to
authenticate their values la actions as wet! as words, by
tctive participation to peace movement groups Dae Ke
fcra&ans for Peace, or such programs wtthia their own
church or denomination.
If and when new national service prcgrsni cense closer
: Ccaikuedca psseS