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noon scucieiaii avyareafcss
People 'like to feel secure In their
cwn homes. They Lka to know that
they sre free from Intrusions, that
their privacy b prelected end thai
they ere safe from theft cr physical
attack.
For nine months cf the year, the
University of Nebraska campuses are
home for thousands of students. Those
students bring with them the same
need for security and safety they have
while they live away from school.
But, as isolated and protected as
Lincoln is from the mainstream of vio
lent crime that pervades larger cities,
students must realize that the poten
tial for crime on campus and in the city
does exist
Thi3 semester, a number of mea
sures aimed at improving campus
security seem to indicate that prob
lems do exist at the university and that
students should make themselves
aware that the possibilities of becom
ing a crime victim are real
Women are especially vulnerable.
Last year, eight caees cf sexual assault
five cf them flrst-de.Tce assaults
were reported to Ulih Police. His
compared to the number cf sexual
Swwh3 tli occur in tlis "1 CX-3
But if only one person is Involved and
harmed in such an incident, the total is
too high.
The university is trying to ccps with
the problem, . ' .
New security measures in Love
Library, including surveillance came
ras, better lighting in the "stacks," and
increased security patrcl3 should make
a difference in an area that has been
infamous for assaults, indecent expo
sure and an overall risk cf dangerous
encounters for women using the librar
ies, especially late hours.
A student watch group, scheduled
to begin patrols in October, also will
help discourage criminal activity and
give campus police an extra set of
"eyes" for campus surveillance.
The Center for Healthy Lifestyles is
presenting self-defense classes to teach
women the basis techniques cf thwart
ing a physical attack.
And the UNL Police Department has
added another shift to its campus
Eatrcls to boost police presence dur
tg hours cf greatest campus activity,
from 0 psx to midnight
. These measures are to be commend
ed. The increased awareness cf cam-
. pus groups, Eke Women Against Vio
lence Ac ainst Women, that helped push
for the Love Library improvements, is
a step in the right direction.
But more can be done. These plans
have begun as a reaction to crimes
that already have been committed. A
prevention network is needed that will
involve a consolidated effort from stu
dents, campus police and the univer
sity administration.
The UNL administration should initi
ate an overall assessment cf the cam
pus, to discover problem areas and
security shortcomings. Prevention
steps, such as more frequent patrols or
improved lighting, could then be direct
ed to those areas to discourage crimi
nal activity.
ness should become a part cf every
suspicious activity shsuld be reported
and simple press durcs such as bekir.g
residence hall room cr house doors,
and locking cars and bikes- chould
fceccme automatic. Ar.d women stu
dents should be twars thai the pcten-
matter how much protection h offered
on campus and should take steps to
ensure their own se-ety.
It is unfortunate tk't we live in a
society where we must glance over our
shoulder every once in awhile to check
on the person walking behind us cr go
out cf cur way to avoid a dxk alley.
But since not everyone we meet is as
friendly and as well-meaning as we
would like, we must adopt to the situa
tion using awareness and common
sense to protect ourselves and ethers.
Terry L.Ejktzd
n,. -, .
,JS USA :
"si?6 Letters
Cut hours, not staff
Regarding the editorial written by Larry Sparks
about library hours (Daily Nebraskan, Sept 12):
He cannot be seriously suggesting that a reduc
tion of library staff is preferable to closing the
library on football Saturdays. Sure, people will be ,
inconvenienced by closing the library on these days.
It is unfortunate but unavoidable. Let's got serious.
We are, after all, only talking about six Saturdays cf
the semester, of which only five remain. To put peo
ple in the unemployment line for this is ludicrous.
. Also, would you rather have a library open foot
ball Saturdays with poor service, due to staff reduc
tions, or better service (not great, due to other
budget problems, but better than the previous
alternative) at a library which is closed for six
Saturdays in one year? We remind you the poor
service would extend to all days the library is open,
not just Saturdays.
We have an idea! The Daily Nebraskan could
reduce their staff by eliminating the editor and
donating his salary to the library to stay open on
football Saturdays. How do you like that, Mr. Sparks?
' Larry Mozer,
Scott Stickney'
: - library employees
Column lacJcs facts
Mike Frost's column (Daily Nebraskan, Sept 13)
which appeared as a response to Monday's Paul
Harvey column showed an incredible lack of knowl
. edge of the facts.:,.; :.. ''.-
First, he criticized Paul Harvey for his labeling cf
the Soviets "different" International Relations, a
course in poiicital science offered at this university,
spends considerable time showing how, due to past
experience of being overrun in wars, the Soviets
have developed a near-obsession with having defen
sible borders. This is indeed different than the Uni
ted States' experience of having relatively friendly
neightbors in Canada and Mexico.
. ..Second, he labels the United States, different for
' not shoctirg' dr.vn airplanes cf ether countries. I.
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off the coaet cfLllva in i: waters, sr.crt-
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my, I believe VZ:h lYcetilces forget too much. ... . '
- .Tldrd, labollr g Paul Harvey cn the same love! with '
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