thursday, aprll 10, 1980
daily nebraskan
n
7T
Political party emphasis
wisely reduced by court
Musical phone call lightens
random dialer's lonely night
". ... it's a God-awful small affair ..
-David Bowie
At last report Jason and Marie were
still idylling in the wilds of eastern Nebra
ska, even though Jason's exploits had long
since put him on romantic probation. I was
entertaining myself playing hits of the big
band era on my touch -tone telephone,
secure in the knowledge that the affair's
newness would soon wear down and we'd
all be on the circuit again playing favorites.
I lowered the lights and played a bluesy
version of "Melancholy Baby" segued with
"Sentimental Journey" and then made a
half-bow to the geranium in the window.
Not much of an audience, but the best I'd
had in weeks.
Cat meandered in periodically to get
more suntan " oil and to borrow my sun
glasses; otherwise things were quieter than
they had been in months.
I picked up around the house and gen
erally filled time as best I could, then it
was back to the phone and another tune. I
tried doing "Johnny BtGoode" as a tango,
but failed to catch the esoteric nature of its
structural tonality. Besides, after the
seventh note, the phone began to ring.
I let it.
"Hello?"
A quiet and warm voice on the other
end of the line.
"Hi. A . ! . I'm sorry, I must have played
the wrong number ."Johnny B. Goode" as a
tango?"
"Well yes, as a matter of fact. How did
you know?"
"It's my number, dummy."
"Oh."
"So why did you call?"
"Oh, I don't know, lonely I guess."
"Well I'm as here as I'm going to get.
What do you need?"
I paused. "I think that last question just
about fills the need. Nobody has asked me
that in years."
"It certainly makes more sense than ask
ing you what you want."
"Well, what I want and what I need
haveJhsen cohabitating for years."
"Living in sin?"
"That, too."
"How do they get along."
"They fight like cats and dogs."
A warm lush laugh filled the receiver,
and it made me smile. First light of day.
"Thank you," I said.
"You're entirely welcome."
"I suppose I should let you go now."
"Actually , you never held me."
"That's very true."
"I know."
"Good night."
"Good night."
The U.S. Supreme Court's ruling
last week weakening the political
patronage system makes a lot of
sense, considering the era of political
party crossover voters seems to be
prevalent during this presidential
election year.
By a 6-3 vote, the Court stated
that government employees cannot
be fired solely because of .their politi
cal party affiliation. This ruling, of
course, does not pertain to govern
ment positions in which party affilia
tion is an appropriate requirement
for job performance.
Justice John Paul Stevens wrote
for the court that without proof that
party affiliation would affect perfor
mance, a political firing would deny
an individual his constitutional rights
of freedom of association.
Throughout the presidential
primaries conducted thus far, it is
apparent that many voters have
crossed and will continue to cross
their party lines to support candi
dates they consider most qualified.
Gone are the days of Republicans
solely and strictly in support of
Republicans, and Democrats solely
and strictly for Democrats. Instead
what is emerging is an increasing con
cern for campaign stands, specific
issue stands, and candidate responsi
bility. No longer is it sensible for govern
ment employers to hire employees
strictly by party affiliation, or fire
them because of it. Party .affiliation
means virtually nothing to many
concerned and conscious voters.
Justice Lewis F. Powell Jr., in
writing for the dissenters, said the
ruling will "decrease the account
ability and denigrate the rule of our
national political parties.' Yet, he
contends that many people question
the continuance and effectiveness of
those political parties.
The Supreme Court's decision will
force government officials to consid
er the person for the position, by his
qualifications, rather than consider
ing him for the position by his politi
cal preference.
The decision will allow voters to
cross their party lines without con
cern that the crossover might work
against them in the end.
Shelley Smith
ASUN is viewed as cause, not victim, of apathy
The fury over the ASUN election has subsided, but I
hope concern over it has not, which is why I am persisting
in keeping the issue up before the students. I deeply re
sent the attempts of some to make the student body the
scapegoat for problems caused by certain individuals in
student government.
I was In the Health Center when I read the editorial
age of March 26. It was a good thing I was, for I nearly
ost my cookies. Hopefully Mr. Yapp (and others) read
Mr. Belt's letter to find a description of how "smoothly"
the election was run. As for Mr. Strunk,he is correct that
a small number of students monopolize student govern
ment posts, but we cannot blame it entirely on student
apathy. -
It is not that easy for a student to get involved in
ASUN. Simply overcoming one's apathy and applying for
a position doesn't do it. One must be prepared for the
threats and hassles that come with it, as I and several
acquaintances have found out. The elite already In power
have certain ideas about who should be let in and where,
and they become quite perturbed if you crawl In their
sandbox uninvited, and quite ferocious if you threaten to
knock over their sandcastles. Anyone upsetting the status
quo risks their wrath.
Let's take a closer look at these dedicated people striv
ing for excellence despite the apathetic student body.
They are the same ones who harassed me when I filed suit
in Court to fight for students rights, the same ones who
socially ostracized me until I withdrew my case, the one
who threatened blackmail unless I amended my petition,
the ones who used the election reform issue as a front for
their own personal goals. And our dedicated leader, who
now claims they knew all along that reform was needed,
has vowed to make election reform a top priority, yet
they were one of those who opposed it and harassed me
when the election results were hanging in the balance.
We also have our wonderful Student Court, which has
all the confidence and initiative of a virgin couple on its
wedding night; a court which forces the average nonJaw
student to deal with'its complex legalities, yet can't
decide whether its own members are legally appointed or
not. While the average student has to hassle with legalistic
jargon and maneuvers, the Court itself relies on "tradi
tion" and "expedience" rather than the "letter of the
law" or Robert's Rules.
What a fool I was to think that since the student is
bound by legalities, the Court would b; also! It appears
that student government follows whatever rules suit its
purposes - making it difficult, if not impossible, to con-
front them successfully because the rules of the game con
stantly shift.
We are furthered honored with an incredible Electoral
Commission which slaves away the hours', carefully dis
obeying its own rules, to pull off an election any comedy
team would be proud of and then gets miffed because
hardly anyone thanked them. Gee whiz, thanks guys ... I
needed the heartburn.
, Yes, tell me about how it's all the student body's fault.
Convince me that ASUN really wants to get anyone and
everyone involved, ihat it wants to make things easier for
the student in dealing with issues, that the majority of stu
dents are letting down a hardworking minority who hold
government posts. Balderdash! It's the people in govern
ment who are letting the students down!
We also have an intelligent student body who sees
ASUN for what it is - petty, insignificant, inconsistent,
frustrating, and sadly laughable. Mr. Strunk was correct
that there is student apathy, but does the apathy cause
the problems for the minority in ASUN or do the
minority's problems cause the apathy? Right now, I
amStI b,ame a iln&t student for being apathetic.
ASUN, despite its staunch supporters, is not the hihliRht
ot the student majority's lives. There are a few things a bit
more important, like exams, finances, and clipping your
toenails.
Diane Walkowiak
Senior, Teacher's College