Pago 4 ' bally Nebraskan Monday. December u, 1934
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T t's a tale of pathos and pleasure,
I hubris and humility. It all began in the
A steaming days of August, when a
band of intrepid scribes gathered near
the banks of the fragant Creek.
They were a diverse group you might
even call them a rag-tag band but they
had a mission: To inform and enlighten
(sic) the campus community.
That group was this semester's Daily
Nebraskan staff, and, as tradition dic
tates, this is the time for their tale to be
told and their praises to be sung to the
high winds.
After meeting at the fragrant Salt
Creek, the band set out in search of a
home. They found it in the uneasy climate
of the basement of the Nebraska Union.
Michiela Thuman served as news edi
tor. She fought late copy and argumenti
tive coworkers while hanging off many a
participle. The quality that issued from
her very pores will someday become legend
ary. Vicki Ruhga led the copy desk through
an angry field of bad puns, liberal editorials
and suspicious persons in police reports.
Ruhga never lost her dignity under some
extreme circumstances; she had grace
under pressure. She could often be heard
mumbling, "Isn't it pretty to think so?"
Ward W. Triplett III, known as
"the General," ruled the sports desk with
an iron fist, but he was fair, conscientious
and innovative. He also wrote more than
James Michener every day.
Chris "Maniac" Burbach known wide
and near for his unique style on the rugby
pitch rounded up the paper with a
witty entertainment section and The Mag.
His way with turns of phrase brightened
the editorial page as well as his own sec
tion. A little known fact: Burbach was
leader of the exodus from Salt Creek to
the Nebraska Union no one ever
thanked him for that.
Joel "Partayer" Sartore, his surname in
Italian means "party," gave a consistent
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The DN newsroom in tuSl swing.
and professional performance, and even
sang "Stairway to Heaven" when the staff
got bored. David "Assistant Partayer"
Creamer, which in English means man
who milks cows, performed well and
often recited Portugese poetry when Joel
wasnt singing.
LouAnne "Goodwill" Zacek's sharpened
pencil and Captain's Log kept everyone
on their toes and kept the DN looking
sharp.
Kema "Monkey-shiner" Soderberg
was the grease that got put on the squeaky
wheels at the DN. She grew and matured
as a layout editor and her talent will be
put to good use again next semester...weH
be using her to grease chairs and typewri
ters, too.
Stacie Thomas and Kevin Warneke were
the jackette and jack, respectively, of all
trades. They did everything from editing
copy to writing stories. Both were con
scientious and devoted.
Julie Jordan Hendricks, night news
editor, caught more mistakes than any
night news editor in memory. That's some
thing. Her eagle eyes saved us embarrass
ment many times and her engaging insider
references were enticing.
Judi Nygren also was a night news edi
tor. She also saved us many mistakes. We
called her "Hawk Eyes," though.
Lauri Hopple edited the wire column,
night newsed and, on occasion, quacked
like a duck. Her meticulous editing and
quick wit were well-appreciated. It was a
good thing her wings were clipped.
Tcri Speny was probably the quie- '
test and least visible of our band but
what she lacked in appearance she made
up for in not being around the office. Her
wire columns were always timely, care
fully edited and a pleasure to read. She
will be even less visible next semester
because she will be in Costa Rica.
Dan Shattil was and is the group's "pro
fessional" adviser. His wise words and
immaculate skill as a bowler led the DN
team to its second consecutive UNL
recreation league last-place finish.
Kitty Policky, the production manager, '
is probably the most sane person on the
staff, by her own definition. Kitty has
untold devotion, unlimited talent and
long, sharp nails.
Last, but not least, are the DTs own
great romantics, Jeff Browne and Mona
Koppelman, who are soon to be joined in
holy matrimony. Mona and Jeff put out
quality supplements and columns all
semester and they put out themselves
whenever possible. We really love 'em.
There'o dso the wonderful readers
who supported us (sic) through thick
and thin.
And who could forget those crazy ad
vertising people who brought us revenue.
Tom Byrns, ad manager, was always quick
to be late to a meeting and has been a true
DN patriot. Kelly Mangan as assistant ad
manager, also has been quick at meetings
and a great help in general
I'd also like to thank the. reporters and
copy editors. Some didnt make the trek
from Salt Creek, but they put just as
much blood and guts into this paper. We
could not have done it without them.
The tale has not ended. Many of this
semester's intrepid staffers, and I, will be
back to bring you the low down on the
campus scene again next semester. Until
then, have a happy vacation.
Chris Welsch
Dally Nebraskan Editor
USA
etters
Christmas called
nmi-Christian event
Jeff Browne's editorial last week
on the injustice of the Christmas
hype to non -Christians was to my
mind a good example of convo
luted logic.
First, Christmas is not, to the
majority of Americans, a "Chris
tian" event. It is a cultural holi
day. I am convinced that some
people do not even know whether
the celebration's origin is Christ's
birth or His death. How many
Christmas shoppers do you think
would say they believe Christ is
the Son of God let alone that
they are sinners and dependent
upon Him for salvation and yet
these are the basic premises of
Christianity.
Santa Claus, Christmas trees,
candy canes, colored Lights, lav
ish gift-giving and reindeer are
not Christian traditions. Most of
these can be traced back to either
pagan or secular origins. But,
whatever the origin, they have
become American traditions
which trigger "the spirit of the
holidays," a vague but somehow
positive atmosphere.
Second, the commercialisation
of Christmas is, in fact, resented
by many fundamentalist Chris
tians. Santa Clause and the excite
ment of presents detract from
the importance of the birth of
Christ, just as Browne suggest
they overpower Hanukkah.
Third, assuming Christmas was
a Christian event, is the threat to
religious freedom any less a threat
when it is against the majority
than when it is against the minor-1
ity? In Lincoln the public schools
are prohibited from having Christ
mas celebrations, singing Christ
mas carols, making Christmas
oriented crafts or in fact mention
ing the existence of the holiday.
Christmas, totally separated
from Christianity, is an American
holiday.
Frank Comito
junior
business
Student fs holiday
tarnished by ads
Where has the meaning of
Christmas gone? The daily emis
sion of advertising tells us that it
buying, buying, buying and giv
ing, giving, giving. Capitalistic
ideals from the television, news
paper and radio are shaping our
Christmas-like feelings.
For me, Christmas is a season
of sharing, whether it be sharing
of ideals, gifts o love. It is a time
of reunification of families, peo
ple and our nation,
Modern commercialism tends
to take away the spirit of Christ
mas. The spirit that once led us to
share and unite, now leads us to
follow the examples displayed in
our media
We do have a choice for Christ
mas. We can buy gifts to show our
affection or we can express how
we feel in words and actions. It
can be a celebration of our love
for each other. So I ask you, what
do you choose the commercial
way of showing feeling3 or the
one that costs the least and means
the most?
Rodney A. Bell II
senior
political science
psychology
Reader questions
sculpture 'critic'
Thank goodness Rob Wetowick
has appointed himself and the
recent East Campus sculpture
vandals as guardians of good taste
when it comes to sculpture around
the campus. Were it not for these
unselfish servants of the public
good, we might have to judtfe the
merits of campus sculpture for
ourselves.
We can only hope that Weto
wick doesnt restrict his interests
to the world of art, after all there
are three large libraries at UNL,
just brimming with potentially
offensive ideas.
Fred Holbert
associate professor
criminal justice
Former fighter pilot
remembers loneliness
This Christmas time again sees
many American boys and girls
away from their home and family
and friends. Far away from home,
in places like Beruit, Frankfurt,
Subic Bay and Diego Garcia. Those
young Americans can feel lonely
at Christmas. So important is a
letter from home! Is there a way
to motivate some of us Ameri
cans who are safe and warm in
the United States to drop a line to
those who are not so lucky? Write
a letter to an American service
man or woman overseas. Here's a
poem I wrote a few years ago
while in the same position:
From the green mountain tops
of Europe
to the deep blue China Sea,
I have traveled the world over,
and I thank God,
America is home to me!
Snow falling soft and white
brightens the Black Forest of
Germany,
and brings back beautiful
memories
of a Christmas in America,
the only home for me!
From the Vienna Boys' Choir,
a Christmas song for all the
world to admire,
but my ears listen for America,
the only home for me!
Trouble now in foreign lands,
where the god3 of war make
slaves
of people who want only to be
free,
Makes me believe again in
America,
the only home for me!
As Christ was born in Bethlehem
on this holy Christmas night,
Th Ve thsrte Oh God, to
and I say a prayer for America,
the only home for me!
Dick Schaffert
former fighter pilot
graduate student
Letter
Policy
The Daily Nebraskan welcomes
brief letters to the editor from all
readers and interested others.
Letters will be selected for pub
lication on the basis of clarity,
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available. The Daily Nebraskan
retains the right to edit all mate
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Readers also are welcome to
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Nebrssk&n, 34 Nebraska Union,
1400 R St, Lincoln, Neb.
044a