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Today finals. Tomorrow graduation for
some, temporary relief for others.
From the summer edition staff of the Daily
Nebraskan, good luck to the summer graduates,
who for the first time will have a full-fledged
graduation ceremony.
To the students who sweated through their
condensed classes only to have to return to
campus in a few days for the fall semester, keep
your eyes peeled. This fall promises to be exciting.
First comes the Republican National Conven
tion, which may not seem exciting in itself. But it
will help set up something that will be. Although
no one would have guessed it before, Walter
Mondale may give old President Ronald Reagan a
run for his money, in the November election,
according to several recent Gallup polls. And
probably thanks to Geraldine Ferraro.
In Nebraska, we will possibly see amendments
to the state constitution on property taxes from
the Legislature's special session, which began
Thursday. Nebraskans should support Gov. Bob
Kerrey's efforts to bail out the state's farmers
from their financial crisis, a crisis that stems from
high interest rates on farm debts. If property
taxes on farm land are brought up to market
value, the increase would be a staggering 71
percent for the farmers to shoulder. If farmers
cant make a profit now, as the Lincoln Star
reports, how will they be able to cope with the
added 71 percent tax?
Although they will not be discussed at the
special session, property taxes will increase all
over Nebraska. Kerrey has proposed a 4.2 percent
hike, which poses a special problem for students.
If taxes increase, how wiU land owners cover that
increase? Most possibly by charging more rent
money from their tennants. Although freshmen
live on campus because of university rules, many
upperclassmen do not and would be affected by
property tax increases.
And of course, the Daily Nebraskan will be on
campus with the rest of the students this fall to
report these and other campus happenings. But
here is a thanks to the staff who helped make it
work for the first summer Daily Nebraskan. To my
news editor, Jim Fussell; associate news editor,
Jann Nylfeler; sports and entertainment editor,
Chris Burbach; wire editor, Teri Sperry; copy
editor, Dianna Sleigh; night news editors Julie
Jordan and Geoff Goodwin; artist, Lou Anne
Zacek; and photographers Craig Andresen, David
Trouba and Mark Davis, thank you. And of
course, thank you to the Daily Nebraskan re
porters, management, production and advertising
staffs.
Lauri Hopple
Jesse Owen
sid
etrac
ked
I'm sure that there are many of us who are happy
as hell that the Olympics are over. But ! think that
my reason might be just a little bit different. I'm glad
that the Olympics and all the media attention that
followed them is over because I am sick and tired of
hew
Matt.
Stelly
hearing about Jesse Owens.
At first I just figured that it was all being done in
the name of the Olympic spirit and nostalgia. That
is, the discourse and discussion about his four gold
medals and how he out performed Hitler's so-called
"Aryan supermen." But then came the television
movie starring Dorian Harewood, then came inter
views with his family, exid theiLthekxessant replays
of those age-old film clipsr r- - : . .
My curiosity was piqued wny so much about
Jesse Owens who was merely a gladiator for a short
period time? What was so special about his life
that he merited a docu-drama, and near deification
at the hand of the white media? Research and study
unveiled the answer for me: Jesse Owens is another
in a long line of "bootlicking Uncle Toms" that our
children are supposed to watch, admire and emulate.
HCKETOF OURS rTlsR MM
mm . P4w-
- '
track star?
I read Jesse Owens' book, "Blackthink." This is the
term that the politically conservative Owens use J to
define the up-and-coming black militants who were
beginning to vice their displeasure regarding Amer
ican hypocrisy, particularly racism. But not Owens.
According to the sidetracked track star, "if the
Negro doesn't succeed in today's America, it is
because he has chosen to fail." During 1970, when
his book was first published, he wrote: "in excess of
95 percent of all negroes are no more militant than I
am."
It is philosophies such as these that actually
slowed down the Black Power and civil rights
movements. Owens continually was used as some
kind of "black spokesman" or "buffer Negro." He
wrote: "My first purpose in writing 'Blackthink is to
help the Negro to know himself." Let's take a look see
what kind of insight Owens has to share with his
progeny.
- First of all, the full title of the book (not revealed ,
until you open up the cover) is "Blackthink My Life
as a Black man and White Man." From this point on,
the chapter headings provide an indication of
where the book and Owens' philosophy are
headed. Referring to the young black radicals: "I
Know the Trouble They've Seen." Sure, he knew it,
but the fact that he didn't act upon what he knew is
why black radicals existed in the first place. Then
there's "Negroes Have Human Hangups." One of
those hangups, I might add, is trying to act and
think like white folks.
Then from his critical sections on "Anatomy of a
Militant" and "Blackthink Won't Win" to hjs pontifi
cations in the chapters "I Know Because I've Been
There" and "Black Man, Heal Thyself," Owens proves
that he is the prototype of the white concept of the
ideal black man all brawn and not a lick of brains.
This book is an atrocity because it is packed with
philosophies on how to sellout, ignore important
issues and how to be as white as possible
obviously Owens' concept of the American Dream.
Now I know why Owens has received so much
airtime. After all, "an educated black man is a good
field hand spoiled..."
Editoria
Policy
Unsigned editorials represent official policy of
the summer 1984 Daily Nebraskan. They are writ
ten by this summer's. editor in chief Lauri Hopple.
Other staff members will write editorials through
out the summer. They will carry the author 's name
after the final sentence.
Editorials do not necessarily reflect the views of
the university rits employees, the students or theNU
Board of Regents.
The Daily Nebraskan 'spublishers are the regents,
wfio established the UNL Publications Board to
supervise the daily production of the newspaper.
According to the policy set by the regents', respon
sibility for the content of the newspaper lies solely
in the hands of its student editors.
" . '
EDITOR
GENERAL MANAGER
PRODUCTION MANAGER
ADVERTISING MANAGER
ASSISTANT
ADVERTISING MANAGER
CIRCULATION MANAGER
NEWS EDITOR
ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR
SPORTS
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
WIRE EDITOR
COPY EDITORS
NIGHT NEWS EDITOR
ASSISTANT
NIGHT NEWS EDITOR
PHOTOGRAPHERS
ARTIST
PUBLICATIONS BOARD
CHAIRPERSONS
Lauri Hoppre, 472-1763
Daniel Shattil
Kiity Policky
Tom Byrns
Kelly KSangsrt
Steve Meyer
Jim Fusself
Jann Nyffeler
Christopher Burlach
Ter! Sperry
Dlanna Sielgh
Jeff Goodwin
Julie Jordan
CrsSg Andresen
Dave Trouba
Lou Anne Zacek
Nick Foley, 476-4281
Angela Nietfeld,
475-4531
Don Walton, 473-7301
The Daily Nebraskan (USPS 144-080) is published by
the UNL Publications Board Monday through Friday. in
the fall and spring semesters and Tuesdays and Fridays
in the summer sessions, except during vacations.
Readers are encouraged to submit story ideas and
comments to the Daily Nebraskan by phoning 472-2588
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday The
public also has access to the Publications Board For
information, cali Nick Foley, 47S-4931 or Angela Nietfeld
475-4531.
Postmaster: Send address changes to the Daily Nebra-
f o?o' 1 braska Union. 1400 R St.. Lincoln. Neb.
oo5S3-0443.
ALLR!ATEHIALCC?YniQHT1S34DA!LY NESRACKAN
PROFESSIONAL ADVISER
Pago 4
Daily Nebraskan
Friday, August 17, 1984