Thursday, October 3, 1985
Pago 4
Daily Nebraskan
4
,C
realises value
IT
a Q
moo bad Nebraskans aren't as interested in NU as the
Soviets are.
The university was one of 60 targeted for surveil
lance by the Soviet Union, according to a Pentagon
document released last week. The report, titled
"Soviet Acquisition of Militarily Significant Western Technol
ogy: An Update," said the Soviets are monitoring the universi
ties in a campaign to steal U.S. military secrets.
Besides UNL, the Soviets are monitoring research at four
otl er Big Eight schools, as well as Harvard and the Massachu
setts Institute of Technology. At UNL, the Soviets could be
interested in any of the five Defense Department research
contracts, but the specific area of interest is unknown.
Unlike the Soviets, most Nebraskans have little knowledge
of the research and worthwhile work being done at UNL.
Instead of focusing on contributions to the state or budget
dilemma, state and local newspapers have reported incidents
such as:
A UNL fraternity's panty raid at a Nebraskan Wesleyan
sorority.
o A lawsuit filed against the Daily Nebraskan by two Lin
coln, homosexuals over the refusal to print advertisements
including a person's sexual preference.
o NU President Ronald Roskens' visit to the college news
paper to point out errors in a story.
If Nebraskans base their perceptions of UNL on events
reported in the media, they must wonder why the Soviets are
wasting their time on this university.
Maybe the Soviets are looking at projects such as:
o Research into the basic understanding of the laws of
engineering, chemistry, physics and related sciences.
o Research to improve civilian and military communication.
o Research in biotechnology and other fields and agricultu
ral research.
Perhaps Nebraskans should look to the Soviets to find out
about their university's contributions to the state and nation.
Editorial policy
Unsigned editorials represent official policy of the fall 1985 Daily
Nebraskan. Policy is set by the Daily Nebraskan Editorial Board. Its
members are Vicki Ruhga, editor in chief; Jonathan Taylor, editorial page
editor, Ad Hudler, news editor, Suzanne Teten, campus editor and Lauri
Hopple, copy desk chief.
Editorials do not necessarily reflect the views of the university, its
employees, the students or the NU Board of Regents.
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34 Nebraska Union
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ii t i a
2 wV .
Dirty lyric labeling
Help defend sleaze? No way!
Iwas asked by some sincere civil
libertarians if I would help them
defend the right of record companies
to produce rock records with raunchy
lyrics.
When I declined the invitation, one
of them said: "But you're against
censorship, aren't you?"
Mike
Royko
Most of the time, yes. But it's always
been my policy that if some creep is
determined to make a buck by produc
ing or selling something that is obscene,
disgusting, offensive and of no social or
artistic value, they should have to fight
for the right to do so. And without my
help.
That's what's been happening to
some elements of the recording industry.
They are being hounded and harassed
by a Senate committee, wives of
congressmen, the PTA and other in
fluential groups.
These groups want to bully the
record companies into putting labels
on jackets that would warn purchasers
that they are buying sleaze.
The idea is to protect children from
hearing songs that hail the joys of
incest, sadism, masochism, suicide,
rape and other subjects that inspire
some of today's lyricists.
I doubt if such labeling would help.
More likely, it would make it easier for
youthful record-buyers to do their
shopping. They wouldn't have to worry
about inadvertently buying a record
that sounds good and has something
worthwhile to say.
Nor do I believe that members of
Congress or any other politicians should
start deciding what people should read
or hear.
So far, nobody has proposed any laws
that would prevent record companies
from producing junk. They just want
the junk labeled as junk.
But that's been enough to cause
great anguish at some of the record
companies and bring cries of outrage
from some of their better-known stars.
Which is fine. Nobody ever guaranteed
that the path of the creative artist
would be smooth and easy.
Mozart had to deal with royal patrons
who were demanding and restrictive.
Beethoven started losing his hearing
while still a young man.
So, it isn't unreasonable to expect a
few recording executives and musicians
to face some adversity while they strive
for the artistic fulfillment that comes
with producing songs that describe the
joys of getting it on with one's sister or
schoolteacher.
Actually, nothing is going to come
out of all of this. Any new laws trying to
censor musical lyrics would probably
be shot down by the courts.
But 1 see nothing wrong with some
body putting the heat on the record
companies and musical groups that
can't find anything more interesting
to yowl about than the joys of rape.
That's one of the useful, informal
systems of checks and balances in our
society.
Somebody writes a creepy song, hop
ing to make enough money to buy a
California house with a swimming pool
and hot-and-cold running groupies. Some
record executive punches his desk
calculator and sees the song increasing
his bottom line.
Then along comes the blue-nosed
ladies, forcing the songwriter and the
record executive to hire lawyers to
defend their right to be public
nuisances.
Eventually, the creeps will win their
battle. But they have to sweat a little
and spend some money on lawyers.
Well, as so many businessmen have
said: You have to spend money to make
money.
That's been the history of all dedi
cated porno dealers. When they first
opened stores, they knew they'd be
busted and have to go to court. They
didn't whine about their rights. They
just called their lawyers.
Flashers get arrested. So do peepers.
And hookers, B-girls and pimps. It's
part of the business.
So, the peddlers of creep-rock should
just accept this as part of the price of
success, the struggle of the creative
artist, the pain of the pioneer.
But, please, do it on your own like
any self-respecting creep.
When I explained my position to the
civil libertarians who asked me to
defend their cause, they said: "Today it
is rock. Tomorrow it could be your
column."
That's what they always say, but I
don't believe it.
But if it does happen, I won't wait
around for some dope-sniffing guitar
banger to help me.-
1SS5 By tie' Chicago Tribune
Distributed by Tribune Media
Services, Inc.
Royko is a Pulltzar Prlzt-wlnnlng
columnist for tht Chicago Tribune
Letters
Brief letters are preferred, and longer letters may be edited. Writer's
address and phone number are needed for verification.
If you have proof Bill, please share it
This letter is in regard to Bill Allen's
column (Daily Nebraskan, Sept. 30) on
the panty raid at the Nebraska Wes
leyan campus.
We have not seen any basis for
Allen's total condemnation of the Greek
system.
First, the Greek system does not
strive to create a foundation of mach
oism vs. feminism. We recently took a
test over the 22 objectives of our frater
nity and this principle was not men
tioned. We strive to be polite to sorority
women and little sisters. We have been
taught this from the beginning and
even have a section in our handbook
dedicated to good manners.
We are not sure why Allen thinks
fraternity men like to "parade around
the chapter house" in women's under
garments. We have never had such an
urge nor have known any fraternity men
who have.
t As for wearing leather or denim
jackets and listening to Barry Manilow
and Air Supply, we have never had an
urge to do these things either. We do
not, however, condemn those who do
n?uUH erstand what this has to do
with Allen's accusations against Greeks.
We do not think his information has
a proper founding. We cannot speak for
o her fraternities, but we can for ours.
Allen s accusations are not at all cor
rect and can be classified as slander. If
fnfnh8t?tistics'facts "Ann
information, please share it with us.
Gray Dobbins
freshman
electrical engineering
Jim Hilyard
freshman
business
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, orig
inality, timeliness and space avail
able. The Daily Nebraskan retains
the right, to edit all material sub
mitted. ., v.
Submit material to the IW ne
braskan, 34 Nebraska Union, 1400 k
St., Lincoln, Neb. 68588-044a
