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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (March 4, 1981)
page 2 daily nebraskan Wednesday, march 4, 19 Students break social norms to study responses By Ward W. Triplett III If a stranger starts a strange conversat ion with you in a strange place this semest er, lie might be bidding for an A in sociology. Most Sociology 153 professors are requiring their students to break a norm, a norm being anything that society has grown so accustomed to that its dis regard will tend to cause some interesting responses from the average person. "A lot of them are merely violations of private space, or things you don't pick up easily,'" professor Jay Corzine said. Students must submit a written report of their actions and the consequent re sponses. The assignment has been a part of the sociology course for 15 years. - , - 1 - 1 1 1 1 1 1 j1uJLuij iijlii 1 -'-' IT .j. fSC tf2 322 S. 9th ST. Ladies. 69fe rx-rdKr-,m.mi m .- -.n rvrT i. rmmm V2Q m W NSSSSflK Free Flomers for tbe liadies G ':o:-8-o-:o:-f :o:c::o:-:Q:: &-:&9-:o:-w-:g Get huge discounts on Levi's when you buy two at ng dean jtJIp'(?D(S(s Today through Saturday only. Buy any jeans or pants, and get a second pair of equal or less value for only n n n r o I W r ft In -1 true uu For example, buy two pairs of Levi's straight-leg jeans, the first at $18.99, the second at $9.99! Or, buy a pair of Calvin Klein jeans at $42 and get a pair of Levi's recycled jeans (reg. $13) for $6.50! This special sale includes sale jeans as well. So come in and pick a pair of jeans at 14th & 0 Open to 9:00 on Thursdays "There is a principle that says most norms are fairly obvious, but there is another level that most ot us don t think about, but follow in everyday life. Cor zine said. "An example is private space. It there are people on a bus when you get on, most of us will go for an empty seat. Or if going through a park in warm weather, and one person is sitting on a certain bench. Suppose a second person were to walk up and sit with that person, or it you sat with someone on a bus rather than by yourself. Because of the norms that person has learned from our society, you put him in a very unsure position, and that reaction of it is what we want to study." Corine said. Half a sandwich Students are told to systematical!) break a norm they ihemselves have come to recognie. Some ot the tilings that have been done or suggested in the past include: Starting a conversation with a total stranger in an environment not usually reserved for talk, like in a rest room or during a church service. Getting on an elevator and opening an umbrella. -Having one person eat half a sand wich at a fast food restaurant at lunch time, and having another come in and fin ish it after the first has left. - Going into the rest room of the op posite sex. Picking up items in a grocer store out of someone else's cart, or dropping items into someone else's cart . Picking up an item in a store, then offering the sales clerk a lower price. and beginning to barter for it. Norms in action "Instead of talking about norms in an abstract sense, we have them go (HI, anj do it." Corine said. "It lets the students gain a personal understanding of norms in action. "We have them first watch the other's reaction, then examine his own feelings A lot of students have problems with this assignment, because of shyness mostly but a lot can be learned and changed from it." Some of the norm-breaking actions have become norms with some students. ( urmc said. "I had a couple in St. Louis surprisingly to them, were actually able m get a reduction in price simply In .ukiii" for a lower one. They were both women and said it worked better on women's clothes, probably because those aie so overpriced anyway. "I believe those two started makim- it a common practice and saved a consideiahle amount of money. "I had another couple in Missouri who did a major paper from anakses made just by sitting down in places like restaurants where there were already people, so it isn't all so sensational" There are not many "off-limits" marks placed on the students, Corine said, but he emphasized one restriction. "It is strongly suggested to students that the v do not break any laws or rules of I'M ." "Nor can they pose any threat to any--one while they're doing this. There's a lot you can do. you don't have to yet ob noxious about it ." FREE Decais or NIKE Buttons East Park Plaza Mall 220 N. 66th Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10-9 Sat. 10 6 Sun. 12-5 AMY Wl&CE SHOES Special prices on selected styles. PLUS FREE T-SHIRT With purchase of any Nikes. a great place to... (All items good while supply last!) Sun- afternoons Glass Menagerie 1213 "Q" St. Hours: Mon. & Thurs. evenings Sat. 10-6