daily nebraskan
monday, january 14, 1980
World turmoil marks beginning of decade
r
page 4
Not only does a new semester
await returning UNL students this
spring, but a whole new decade full
of problems, uncertainty and
promise.
The 1980s came in with a bang
and will require understanding and
communication on the part of
peoph? throughout the world.
For the first time in history, the
Soviet Union has invaded a country
outside the Warsaw Pact-Afghanistan.
It is the third time Soviet
aggression has gained worldwide
attention and will most likely
seriously jeopardize the SALT II
treaty. .
American hostages are still being
held in Iran and a grain embargo
threatens Nebraska's economy.
American athletes, who have
trained so hard for the summer
games ' in Moscow, may have to
sacrifice their opportunities to
perform with talk of a possible boy
cott of the 1980 Olympics.
Of a more immediate concern to
UNL students is the 1980-81
"financial crossroads' budget
request for a 15 percent increase in
university appropriations.
Faculty unrest continues over the
central administration and there have
been hints at collective bargaining at
tempts for 1980.
The abortion issue continues after
an incident in September at the NU
Medical Center and the regents are
now considering safety guidelines for
possible test-tube baby research in
the 1980s.
State Sen. Dave Newell may
approach the Legislature with find
ings from an interim study to realigr
the NU Board of Regents into a sutv
erboard. responsible for statewide
coordination of higher education.
And Sen. Ralph Kelly of Grand
Island will continue his third attempt
at raising the legal drinking age in
Nebraska from 19 to 21. Kelly says
the bill has an excellent chance of
passing in 1980 after failing to pass
first reading in 1979 by two votes.
Add a national election this year,
and 1980 looks to be an action
packed year leading off a new-i!ecade-a
complex and exciting
decade which will require intelligent
attention from all of us.
Harry Allen Strunk
New Years vow: grin and bear it days out, hassling in
, BOSTON -Normally, I begin my New Year by sharing
a few weighty thoughts. But since I grazed through the
past weeks, as if the holiday season were all-you-can-eat
night at the Galloping Gourmand, 1 would prefer shedding
weight to sharing it.
In fact, my entire fantasy life this morning revolves
around figuring out a way to come down with about three
weeks worth of anorexia nervosa.
At the top of my New Year's resolutions list is the
determination not to go through the future bearing my
own personal roast beef.
However, since it takes two items to make a list, I will
go to the second resolution: I hereby promise that I shall
not go gently into the 1980s. I am about to become a
cranky consumer.
Let me explain, For the past several years I have had a
creeping case of consumer crumpout. I have fallen victim
to despair, what-good-will-it-do-to-complain-itis.
, The everyday hassles that have tracked mc these past
Off ice is available to air complaints
By Liz Austin
My first task in this position apparently will be to get
the title changed from ombudsman to ombudsperson.
After all the Daily Nebraskan wouldn't want to be
accused of being sexist..
Whatever the title, the main function of this office will
be to listen to reader s criticisms.
o
Actually it is a rare privilege for Daily Nebraskan
readers to have an ombudsperson, but then it is rare for
any newspaper to have one.
At last report, only two college newspapers have such
an office, the Daily Nebraskan and the Daily Texan. As
far as professional newspapers go, out of 1,765 daily
newspapers only 20 have ombudspersons.
The office of newspaper ombudsperson is fairly new
and growing slowly but surely. The first newspaper om
budsperson was appointed in 1967,, at the Louisville
Courier-Journal.
Me was appointed' because newspapers realized readers
need a mouthpiece for their opinions. The press is respon
sible for criticizing the government, business and other
public affairs, but without reader criticism the press itself
remains uncensored and unwatched.
Newspapers aren't perfect, the Daily Nebraskan includ
ed, and that is why readers are encouraged to bring their
criticisms to the ombudsperson. The office is here to
promote better understanding between readers and the
Daily Nebraskan. Without its readers a newspaper would
be nothing.
The ombudsperson can be found at the Daily "Nebras
kan office., 34 Nebraska Union, or tentatively in the Daily
Nebraskan Ombudsperson office, 335-B Nebraska Union.
The Daily Nebraskan will request use of the room at Wed
nesday's Union Board meeting.
The office has been added this semester so the om
budsperson may speak privately with those who have
criticisms and wish to discuss them out of hearing range of
reporters and editors.
If the. ombudsperson Is not in the office, calls will be
returned and any messages will be answered. The tele
phone number for the Daily Nebraskan office is 472-2588
and a telephone in the ombudsperson office will be con
nected next week.
The office is here for the reader, so make use of it.
12 months are not that unusual, or even that crucial:
-The pilot light in my gas stove has developed the
constancy of a one-meal stand.
The bank where I have done business for several vears
sent me long intimate letters rototyped personally to me,
suggesting that I come to them for estate planning for my
wife and children t
-I had to replace an entire one-year-old shower attach
ment because a small plastic joint broke and they do not
sell the joints separately. ,
rThe handle has fallen off my new front storm door;
the blouse that I sent to be cleaned isn't; the buttonhole
in my new jeans has'shredded ; the newsboy has missed my
doormat 17 days in a row; and by actual count, six people
who were going to fix three things have yet to show up.
One person who did show up, I now wish hadn't.
My first reaction to all of these routine events has been
predictable, I cpmposed brilliant letters and had wonder
ful ..telephone conversations.;, in which I;; was totally,
vindicated. Bank vice ' presidents ' were 1 ;! abject i?
Manufacturers sent me new ovens, shower-makers revised
their entire policy about parts and the plasterer re-did the
bathroom.
Continued on page 5
mm?
Referring to the article on page 4 of the Dec. 11th
paper.
Ask the writer of this article on gun control to
compare the gun to our automobile. A person gets shot
and it's a tragedy, but a person gets killed in a car and it's
just an accident. The car or the gun is only doing what the
nut in control makes it do.
, We have drivers ed in our schools but very little about
gun education, .
OK, so all guns are registered. Any criminal that needs
a gun surely won't use his own registered weapon. Me will
get hold of some innocent person's gun and be sure to
leave it where the law will find it after the crime.
The writer of this article probably isn't old enough to
remember World War II, but this is what happened to the
German people, They had to register guns, Hitler then
knew where the guns could be confiscated. If the suspect
didn't give him the weapon they were done away with.
Then he had full cbntrol. Follow me?
I am a sportsman in every way I know how and it
would be a shame to have our guns registered or taken
away.
I have two sons, one a graduate of UNL. The other, a
junior in the same college. These two were raised to
respect guns and get enjoyment from them. There is
nothing like an afternoon of quail hunting, blue rock
shooting or just target shooting.
The trouble with most people is they only look at the
bad side of guns, not all the pleasure one can find with
one.
Compare it to a car. It only does what it is made to do.
We do not know how many persons were killed when a
car went over a bank, we never think that the driver might
have wanted to do away with someone. Same as if that
person were shot, he is Still dead.
Just think a little before you condemn guns, maybe
you should condemn the auto the same way.
Think about it! You might write a different article if
you try to see the other side of it.
Cars are used in most crimes also!!!
Lloyd Wolgamott
n Curtis, Nebr.
69025