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daily nebraskan
thursday, december 1 1, 1980
ODD
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ASUN encouraged to continue efforts
UNL's student government this semester has
dealt with a wide range of issues, including state
and city government concerns, in its effort to
serve students responsibly.
When the actions of the current ASUN Senate
are compared to previous years, an effort is seen
to deal with relevant campus topics, with a
healthy mix of outside concerns. This effort is
appreciated.
ASUN's effectiveness is another matter, but
student representatives cannot be blamed for the
fact that administrators and regents often follow
their own course of action despite student input.
Partly, because of the concerns expressed by
ASUN President Renee Wessels and the Senate,
Interim Chancellor Robert Rutford pledged that
money would be found for affirmative action on
campus, even though that line of the proposed
budget was eliminated.
That effort illustrates the kinds of issues ASUN
has tried to deal with. The success in getting a ver
bal commitment must, of course, be followed up
to make sure the money is allocated to affirma
tive action. We believe that ASUN, under Wessels,
is well-enough organized that such follow-ups are
automatic.
In other specific actions, ASUN passed a reso
lution urging that women's and ethnic studies be
made a graduation requirement. We think that
action was wise and innovative, and that such a
requirement would do much to eliminate insen
sitivity and prejudice.
The greatest accomplishment of this semester's
student government is the move toward forma
tion of a state student association. We believe
such an organization would be very helpful to
all Nebraska college and university students, and
we have been very impressed with the efforts
made so far.
We sincerely hope that momentum is not lost
or that those involved do not lose their enthusi
asm .
Overall, ASUN has tried very hard to open new
lines of input for students within university poli
tics and retain those lines that exist. One such
effort is to keep the Publications Board appoint
ment process public and accountable. We hope
that the student body is concerned with a pro
posal before the regents that would give the chan
cellor, rather than the senate, power to approve
student pub board members.
ASUN has made a good effort on this topic,
but it can only be made effective in its appeal to
the regents if students mobilize behind their re
presentatives. A major achievement by student government
this semester is that it has decided on a student
government election system that allows students
to make only one choice, rather than expressing
their top two or three or four preferences.
The last two elections have been marred by un
necessary controversy. We believe that the new
system will enhance ASUN's credibility to stu
dents and to the regents.
Our biggest disappointment was in a push for
students to call U.S. Sen. J.J. I'xon and urge him
to vote for a House version of a higher education
bill. The problem was that he didn't have a vote.
We consider this a major error, even though we
applaud the attempt to lobby federal legislators.
ASUN certainly damaged its credibility with both
students who made the calls and with Exon's
office. An attempt to gather correct information
for such future efforts is absolutely necessary.
That major error, however, does not over
shadow sincere efforts so far this year that ASUN
is encouraged to continue.
Liberal quits cold turkey
I hadn't seen my old liberal friend Mart
in Allhart since he tried to sell me 10
raffle tickets on a Volvo filled with Perrier
water to benefit the Anderson-for Presid
ent Campaign.
At the sight of him, three questions
popped into mind. What was he doing at
a patio party drinking beer? Why had he
shaved off his beard? And where had he
purchased that leisure suit, golf shirt and
white leather shoes?
"Hi Martin." I said.
"Condominiums."' lie said, shaking my
hand.
"Beg your pardon?"
"Condominiums." he said determinedly.
"I know a fellow who bought a condo lor
$100,000 only two years ago. Guess what
he sold it for last week?"
"Martin!" I said, shocked to the core.
"What kind of talk is that for a lifelong
liberal?"
"Not so loud." he said. "Anyway,
who's a liberal? I quit cold turkey. I
haven't blocked a nuclear plant or saed a
whale in two weeks, three days and two
hours."
"After all the sit-ins, protests, and
vigils you've been through, Martin,"
I said indecredulously. "What came over
you?"
"My wife, Midge," he said. "She told
me that she wasn't about to stay married
to the last liberal in America. And she
was right. Nobody was inviting us to part
ies anymore and they were beginning
to whisper behind my back at the of
fice. Who wants to talk about boat people
these days?"
"Well, I have to admire your willpower,
Martin," I said. "It must lie hard for you
not to criticize President-elect Reagan."
Martin swallowed hard. "Speaking of
Reagan," he said quickly, "have you seen
the Woody Allen retrospective. Banana
Memories, down at the Cinema Verite?"
"Especially the way he wants to cut
back on welfare in order to increase de
fense spending."
"Miduc and I thousjht it was better
than Antonini I'elliiii's new movie I
mean film 12-1! "
"And it looks as though the Moral Maj
ority will be able to kill LRA and push
through their anti-abortion amendment."
Several beads of sweat appeared on
Martin's upper lip. "Speaking of restaur
ants.'" he said, "Midge and I have found a
wonderful new place. Le Petit Gourmand."
"It's just around the corner from
Aubergc a Trois." said Martin, his hand
trembling slightly. "We had a great dinner
with a carafe of Rouge et Noir and got
out for 520."
laoomiLiiON?
H
"I'm amazed at how you can talk about
restaurants. Martin, when the Senate is
going to put prayers in the schools, unleash
the CIA and probably try to retake the
Panama Canal. Did you see where Jesse
Helms, who will probably head the Senate
Agricultural Committee, is promising to
cut the food stamp program for the poor
to the hone?"
"Food?" said Martin, his eyes glazing.
"I hear brunches arc out ami so are quich
es. We're into lighter foods now sushi,
spinach salads. . ."
"Good for you, Martin," I said. "You've
got it licked. You probably don't even care
that Strom Thurmond plans to repeal
the 1965 Voting Rights Act that enfranch
ised the blacks in the South."
"Arrrggghhh!" said Martin.
When I left, he was huddled alone in a
corner, dazedly sipping white wine and
singing "We Shall Overcome."
Midge says she's going to get him into
a Liberals Anonymous program. With luck,
in several years he may be able to attend
parties again and perhaps even have an
occassional social conversation about the
sues of the day such as condominiums,
films, restaurants and food.
(Copyright Chronicle Publishing Co. 1980)
Rhino boots put cruel and inhumane bite on cars
In Saudi Arabia, police routinely lop off the hands of
pickpockets. In Russia, criminals get a one-way ticket
to Siberia. But here in Lincoln, the campus cops have a
punishment that would make a KGB agent drool.
Using a special device, the police can confiscate a large
piece of property without ever moving it from where they
found it. The device will drive a person insane without the
person ever coming in contact with an officer.
waO srjfrrtofi
The device is called a Rhino Boot.
For those of you who have never seen one, it looks like
a pair of cheap earphones attached to the front wheels
of a car. Police just slap it on and the car is rooted there
until the owner pays his overdue parking tickets.
I've never found one on my car, but I understand they
are very frustrating. A student, in a hurry to get to work,
dashes from class only to discover a boot putting the bite
on his or her auto. The student has two choices: let the
car sit there and rust, or walk to the cop shop and make
good on the overdue tickets.
What these sadistic misfits fail to realize is that to
most students lucky enough to own one. a car represents
all that is important in life to them. Their "wheels" mean
mobility, getting them from one bar to another.
Their cars are status symbols. The pampered few whose
parents gave them a really nice car-not a rust bucket
that has trouble against a mild headwind- never have
problems attracting a crowd. Everyone wants to be his or
her friend.
Then there's the deeper physical aspects of owning
a car. Where would those who live at home be without a
backseat? Do the cops really carefully consider the rami
fications of depriving a normal, healthy student of a
backseat?
It's obvious that there are few punishments worse than
a Rhino Boot. How would the police like it if a student
put a boot on one of those cute little white cars the cops
patrol in?
Obviously, failure to pay parking tickets is a serious '
crime, and those who commit such a crime must be dealt
with harshly. But there are more humane punishments.
horce the officers to attend a 7:30 class every morning.
Wire their jaws shut and make ihem drink theii beers
through a straw. Take away the television sets in the Ne
braska Union. There are many punishments worthy of
such a serious crime.
But gluing their cars to the pavement is going too
far. After all. students are people too most of them any
way and they deserve a little more respect from those in
positions of authority.
MitiW nebrasEiait
UPSP 144-080
Editor in chief: Randy Essex; Managing editor: Bob Lanmn;
News editor: Barb Ri-hardson; Associate news editor Kathy
Chenault; Assistant news editors Tom Prentiss and Shelley Smith,
Nighty news editors: Sue Brown. Nancy Ellis. Bill Graf; East Cam
pus uureau Chief: Jim Garrett; Assistant night news editor Ifejika
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Copy editors: Sue Brown, Nancy Ellis. Maureen Hutfless. Lori
McGinnis. Tom McNeil, Jeanne Mohatt, Lisa Paulson Kathy
Sjulm, Kent Warneke. Patricia Waters.
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Pohcky; Advertising manager Art Small. Assistant advertising
manager: Jeff Pike.
Publications Board chairman Mark Bowen, 475 1081 Pro
fessionai adviser: Don Walton, 473-7301 .
The Daily Nebraskan is published by the UNL .'ubheations
Board Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semes
ters, except during vacations.
Address Daily Nebraskan, 34 Nebraska Union 14th and R
streets. Lincoln, Neb . 68588 Telephone 472 2588
Material may be reprinted without permission if attributed to
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