Thursday, September 19, 1935
Page 4
Daily Nebraskan
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mhe showdown between the record industry and a group
of parents begins today at a U.S. Senate Commerce
Committee hearing.
j The. group, Washington-based Parents' Music Re
source Center, wants standardized ratings, similar to
movie ratings, for records, tapes and videos.
But recording representatives, who have banded together
under the name Musical Majority, say ratings would censor
creativity and interfere with the free marketplace.
Danny Goldberg, president of Gold Mountain Records, said
the ratings would erode the First Amendment and endanger
freedom of expression and music.
Nineteen major record companies have agreed to use a
warning sticker on records and tapes with sexually explicit or
violent lyrics, but the parents want more. They are demanding
a single rating, such as X or R, for each album, rather than a
simple "Parental Guidance: Explicit lyrics."
Parents have the right to know what is influencing their
children. But the record rating system would infringe on the
rights of artists and consumers.
Pop artists rely almost entirely on the lucrative teen-age
market. And with a ratings system, artists would try to reach
that market by censoring themselves. In the end, the music
consumer is offered only a watered-down version of the artists'
creativity.
The First Amendment prohibits government interference
and censoring of published materials. Even if the ratings
system was adopted, it would probably be found unconstitu
tional in the courts.
Albums, like books, are considered art forms, and they are
protected by the First Amendment.
In addition, if a ratings system was instituted, it could
backfire on parents. Instead of keeping mature-content
albums away from children, the ratings could serve as a guide
for young listeners who want explicit lyrics.
Instead of demanding ratings, parents should take a more
direct role in checking the musical influences on their
children.
For example, parents could ask sales clerks to play a few
songs on albums before buying them or listen to the radio with
their children to find out what topics an artist usually chooses
for songs.
The general "parental guidance" warning offered by record
companies would be sufficient. "Parental guidance" would put
the decision back into the hands of parents, who know whether
their children are mature enough to listen to explicit lyrics.
The Daily Nebraskan
34 Nebraska Union
1400 R St., Lincoln, Neb. 68588-0448
EDITOR
NEWS EDITOR
CAMPUS EDITOR
ASSOCIATE NEWS
EDITOR
EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR
WIRE EDITOR
COPY DESK CHIEFS
SPORTS EDITOR
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
EDITOR
PHOTO CHIEF
ASSISTANT PHOTO CHIEF
NIGHT NEWS EDITOR
ASSOCIATE NIGHT
NEWS EDITORS
ART DIRECTOR
ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR
GENERAL MANAGER
PRODUCTION MANAGER
ASSISTANT
PRODUCTION MANAGER
ADVERTISING MANAGER
ASSISTANT
ADVERTISING MANAGER
CIRCULATION MANAGER
PUBLICATIONS BOARD
CHAIRPERSON
PROFESSIONAL ADVISER
VicklRuhga, 472-1766
Ad Hudler
Suzanne Teten
Kathleen Green
Jonathan Taylor
Mlchlela Thuman
Laurl Hopple
Chris Welsch
Bob Asmussen
Bill Allen
David Creamer
Mark Davis
Gene Gentrup
Richard Wright
Michelle Kubik
Kurt Eberhardt
Phil Tsai
Daniel Shattil
Katherine Policky
BarbBranda
Sandi Stuewe
Mary Hupf
Brian Hoglund
Joe Thomsen
Don Walton, 473-7301
The Daily Nebraskan (USPS 144-080) is published by the UNL Publica
tions 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 472-1763 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday
through Friday. The public also has access to the Publications Board. For
information, contact Joe Thomsen.
Postmaster: Send address changes to the Daily Nebraskan, 34 Nebraska
Union, 1400 R St., Lincoln, Neb. 68588-0448. Second-class postage paid at
Lincoln, NE 68510.
ALL MATERIAL COPYRIGHT 1985 DAILY NEBRASKAN
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Finally, after four years, Allen
has something nice to say
During the past four years I've
written columns on budget prob
lems, politics, values, religion,
racism, sexism and book prices. I've
written somewhat critical columns on
sororities, fraternities, student govern
ment, the administration, President
Reagan, the UNL police and even this
paper.
I swear, I always thought the reason
I wrote about these things was to spur
some thought and give people a chance
to reach their own conclusions. And
sure, I wrote a few things just to
entertain.
I really thought people would want
to read about all these things, and
would actually think about them.
But judging from the letters I've
received during the years, I've finally
realized that I was wrong.
So today, I'm writing the column
that everyone seems to want me to
write. I'm calling it "A Nice Column."
Gee, I woke up this morning and the
sun was shining. I like the sun. It
makes me glad to be alive and in
Nebraska during the football season,
when those glorious Cornhuskers take
the field and represent the home state.
It just gives me goose pimples all down
the backs of my legs.
You know, the Greek system is so
great. Really. Most of our most out
standing campus leaders are Greek.
Many of them are in ASUN, our great
student government. I like ASUN. I
always feel they have the student wel
fare as their top priority. Sometimes I
wish I were in ASUN.
I think the best things about this
campus and state is the fact that there
is no racism here. Blacks are treated as
equals by everyone, and not just foot
ball players either. For instance, in the
bookstores here, blacks and whites
alike pay the same prices for books.
And the prices for textbooks are fairly
reasonable, I think. After all, what
price is too high for a good education?
Bill
Allen
UNL offers a fine opportunity for a
good education. Well paid, and ade
quately staffed faculty, combined with
top-dollar facilities makes UNL one of
the finest state institutions of higher
education in Nebraska.
Wow, sometimes I'm just so bubbly
about life that I just can't stand it. And
there's so much culture in Nebraska.
Pretty soon we will have a new Lied
Center for Performing Arts. That's nice.
And it was a real bargain, too. I think
we should have built two, but that's
just me. I'm sure the place will have a
big parking lot and I can park there
J A
Editor's Note: UNL international tions, I realize that claim is well
students will write a semimonth- founded. International students are
ly column expressing their view- the largest single minority group on
points on international and local campus, yet they lack a medium for
issues. expressing their sentiments.
when I go to the ballet. I love the ballet.
I love parking, too. Sometimes the UNL
policepeople give me tickets when I
park in the wrong place. And some
times I'm towed to Lincolnland. And I
always say, silly me, how could I be so
stupid as to forget to plug that meter.
I'm sure glad those busy UNL police
people took the time to give me a ticket
as a reminder to plug that meter. I love
meters. I wonder who invented them?
Gee, it feels so good to say so many
nice things about everyone. Really.
Now everyone is going to like me and
I'll be all popular and everything, just
like a high school cheerleader. I think
I'll quit writing and go talk to some
nice people now.
Oh, by the way, if I didn't have room
to say anything nice about something
that's important to you, I'm leaving a
blank here so you can write it in. Please
make sure it s nice. Thank you.
Colemn gi
Maybe I'll go up to the Union Square
and have a tasty cheeseburger and
some hot fries. Then I can sit. in a
comfortable chair and read the Daily
Nebraskan. Those kids do a great job
down there, don't they? Have you seen
the nice personals today?
xial views
E ducation is often defined as what
you retain long after all that is
taught is forgotten.
College is a place where one learns
to think independently, to challenge
age-old ideologies and to coexist in a
variegated world despite differences in
philosophies.
In this idealized "university upbring
ing," an essential ingredient is the
freedom of expression. Not only does
every side reserve the right to speak
out, but this blend of viewpoints forms
the basis of the university environ
ment. Although this basic philosophy gen
erally is adhered to, many minority
groups are quick to point out that in
the minds of the "powers-that-be,"
some groups are considered "more
equal than others."
As an international student who has
worked closely with many organiza-
Guest opinion
I am not trying to exaggerate the
nature of our predicament. Interna
tional students enjoy the distinctive
ability to think laterally. Most interna
tional students are capable of viewing
any situation from two distinct view
points: one, American, which is the
result of assimilation of local culture,
and the other, which is bestowed upon
them by their native societies. Unequiv
ocally this flair often enables them to
evaluate most situations evenmindedly.
But many international students
think the U.S. news media is biased by
an editorial policy that results in one
sided opinions.
Such members would hail this column
as a golden opportunity to express "the
other side of the coin" on international
issues. Others more sensitive to cam
pus events would want to occasionally
state their grievances against univer
sity organizations. We welcome and
encourage the involvement of all for
eign students. This column will allow
international students to state views
that are not well represented.
We would like to make this colunn
as broad-based as possible.
Without the enthusiasm of foreign
students it would be an exercise in
futility.
Let us use this opportunity to pres
ent something readable, something that
we can all ruminate on, something that
will help us enhance our understand
ing of the environment that we live in
and of ourselves.
For more information and to submit
articles, contact: Pod Merta, coordina
tor, International Education Services,
Nebraska Union 345 or call 472-3264, or
VyayTatkar, 477-9857.
VyayTatkar
graduate
India
