tuesday, novcmbcr 6, 1979
daily nebraskan
Report on firing shouldanswer interesting questions
The investigation by the state
ombudsman into the firing of
Girlean Woods, a black woman who
was a custodian at UNL, continues
this week.
Ombudsman Murrell McNeil says
although he expects to complete the
investigation today, his report on the
matter may take much longer to pre
pare. The report will be released to
the public after it is shown to univer
sity officials as state law dictates.
We hope that report will address
several as yet unasnwered questions.
Results of the investigation by the
Journalists9
produce
lives
cynicism
UNL Affirmative Action Liaison
Committee which conducted its own
investigation only began to touch on
the matter.
Their report, which was not made
public, indicated that several univer
sity employees were guilty of infract
ions similar to those for which
Woods was fired-over-extending her
coffeebreak and allowing unauthoriz
ed personnel to stay in Old father;
Hall past closing time.
The Committee recommended
that Woods be rehired because the
infractions were not serious enough
to warrant firing. But UNL Chancel-
lor Roy Young and other admini
strators decided that she should also
be placed on a three-month pro
bation. Because other workers are not
being , subjected to the probation,
Woods had refused the offer and she
and others contend that she is being
the initial actions which brought
about her firing.
Why were Woods and her co-workers
under surveillance for two hours
on Sept. 6 by her supervisors? Is this
normal university procedure?
Before the firing, why was Woods
work load adjusted, as she claims,
giving her the workload normally
given to two people with less time?
discriminated against, again. A Com- Wh if Woods was performing poo ;
This week in 1879, Hugo Rosinski, editor of the
long-defunct Omaha Post, was horse whipped in the
streets by an angry reader. Now, those were the
Those were the . days when a journalist didn't
have to worry himself into early cynicism by rout
ing out every hint of personal opinion from the
news he wrote. One has to attribute, get sources, get
it down on tape, get it down in writing, all of which
really messes up a good story. The only way to print
anything juicy is claim you heard it from 4a reliable
source.
Give me the old days of strong words and direct
action. Let me start out a story, "Congress, here,
after known as those greedy political hacks, today
voted . . ." When that sort of stuff is on the editorial
page, it just doesn't have the same impact. -
Editorials rarely change anyone's mind. Their
true purpose is to make readers feel good by reading
something in the paper that agrees with their views.
I personally, don't care to tickle anyone's pre
judices. The only thing saving me from getting horse
whipped in the streets is my editor. If not for her,
I'd write stuff like, "You're all fools, your heros are
frauds and your sacred cows have hoof and mouth
disease!
But outrage doesn't comprise much of a paper's
output. Partly because people are funny. For ex
ample I could write, "Publishing photos of nude
persons falls under a paper's First Amendment free
speech rights" and there would be some irate letters
from a few hyper-religious and feminist types, but
that's all. ,
But if the Nebraskan ever did publish someone,
man or woman, in the altogether, I'm rather sure
the office would be firebombed. There would be an
overwhelming demand for that copy for months
afterwards, but someone would become a self
appointed righteous fist. People are funny like that.
I guess there aren't enough papers around. In the
old days if someone read something disagreeable in
one paper, they stormed into the editor's office, did
some fist pounding on the nearest desk, then read
another paper .With only one paper per city, it be
comes harder not to read things that upset one's
hobbyhorse.-
It's to the point where the only way one can
have the great fun of writing something rude, nasty,
cruel, vicious, underhanded, outrageous, appalling
and generally without redeeming social value is to
buy a mimeograph machine.
mittee representative, however, says
Woods deserves more punitive action
because she "was a team leader.
That point can be debated. But
the most serious problem concerns
ly, was she not given a warning be
fore she was tired.'
There are important questions,
and, if addressed, the report should
make interesting reading.
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Sir
1
State Senator Ernest Chambers is a classic example of a.
racist. Jn a day and age when we should be striving for a
sense of global unity. Senator Chambers is still trying to
build walls between blacks and whites.
Sen. Chambers statements in the Nov. 1 Daily Nebra
skan were clearly indicative of the true racist he is: What
other conclusions can one draw when we read about Sen.
Chambers being decent when whites are decent. Or how
he would rather not have to bother with whites at all.
Apparently, when there is a problem between a white per
son and Sen. Chambers, we won't have to worry about
Sen. Chambers ever taking the first step to solve it.
Sen. Chambers states that his purpose is to be a black
person and to be an inspiration to young black people.
Would it be so wrong if he could view his purpose as just a
person and an inspiration to all young people?
Since when are blacks the only people who get picked
on? Are university officials racist when a black agri
culture major charges he was cheated out of a grade he de
served? I don't think I've ever met a person who hasn't, at
one time or another, felt that he didn't get the grade he
deserved. That's just a fact of life that everybody, no
matter what race, has to put up with.
Sen. Chambers wild stab at sports was completely ill
founded. Research, again and again, has demonstrated
that participation in sports does not hurt, but in fact,
. helps people intellectually, physically and psychologically.
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The reference by Sen. Chambers to "white women grab
black men who are making a lot of money," was also in
appropriate. Women who marry for money, known as
'KJolddiggers have always been with us. Of course, there
are just as many men who marry for the same reasons,
Race, religion or ethnic group have nothing to do with
this practice.
Repeatedly, I see Sen. Chambers classifying all whites
together as black haters. I resent the implication that I,
because of my skin color, am racist, I am sure that a lot of
other people on this campus feel the same way.
Sen , Chambers talked of blacks who had no confidence
in themselves and who are searching for values. These are
not black problems. These are problems that all people,
myself included , have ,
Sen, Chambers was also down on interracial marriage,
Marriages of this type are indicative of racial walls tumbl
ing down. I'm beginning to wonder if Sen, Chambers is
afraid he won't have anything to do once racism does dis
appear. It would be naive to assume that racial barriers are all
knocked down. Certainly, there are still vestiges of dis
crimination of one kind or another, in nearly every facet
of life. If a person really is discriminated against, for any
reason, they should complain. In the case of Girlean
Woods, I don't have the facts, but it would appear that
with seven subpoenaes issued by the State Ombudsman
that things will be taken care of justly, without Sen.
Chambers ranting and raving.
Sen. Chambers does make worthwhile contributions to
our legislature. He does ask questions that should be
asked. But for every good thing he does he also slings a lot
of garbage around. He reminds me of the boy who cried
wolf until nobody would listen to him, even when they
should have.
If he would just knock the chip off his shoulder and
realize that most white people aren't on this planet to
hate blacks he would be a lot happier and accomplish a lot
more. As he is right now,.his biggest limitation is his own
bad attitude, not oppression. If he is really concerned
about changing something he doesn't like he should quit
antagonizing people and try setting an example instead.
Lyle George
AgEcon.Pre-Law
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