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Daily Nebraskan
Tuesday, November 1986
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Mr
Nebrayskan
University ol Nebraska-Lincoln
Grist for fie
Colleges need recommitment
Apparently, Secretary of Edu
cation William Bennett
wasn't so far off the mark
last month when he criticized
higher education for failing to
produce the kind of students
that academic leaders claim they
do.
A new report by the Carnegie
Foundation for the Advancement
of Teaching blasts academic
shortcomings of U.S. colleges
and universities in much the
same way Bennett did. The report,
based on a three-year study of
2,000 four-year colleges, notes
that "many of the nation's col
leges and universities are more
successful in credentialing (pro
viding degrees) than in provid
ing a quality education for their
students." Faculty expectations
of student performance, the re
port says, far outstrip the prepa
ration incoming students have
received to meet them.
Compare those statements
with Bennett's Cct. 10 speech at
Harvard, in which he said there
was "an extraordinary gap be
tween the rhetoric and reality of
American higher education" and
suggested colleges and universi
ties should "make better men
end women the way you say you
do in your catalogs." When Ben
nett said that, he was roasted
roundly by academic leaders. On
the other hand, many of those
same people applauded the Car
negie report.
Since Bennett, an appointee
of the Reagan administration,
also has accused higher educa
tion of revealing in liberal bias,
Kenieinlber to vote
Apathetic citizens shouldn't complain
Every year at election time
network televison runs a
commercial that's very fa
miliar to the populace. It shows
an "average Joe" sitting in an
easy chair watching the returns
and seeing his candidate lose by
a narrow margin. The 30-second
spot ends with him saying, "I
should've voted, but I didn't
think I needed to. I thought he
would win."
Election day is here and along
with TV, the print media is
encouraging the masses to vote,
and this editorial is no different.
Nebraska has 849,762 registered
voters and only weather or voter
apathy will stop people from
casting their ballots.
Let's hope not.
Voters may be turned away by
the negative campaigning of the
gubernatorial election in which
each candidate seemed to spend
more time stressing her oppo
nent's weaknesses than expos
ing her own strengths. As for the
weather, either good or bad
weather could play a factor: bad
weather keeping people inside
and good weather keeping peo
ple in the fields. It is harvest
time.
Both reason are relatively weak
Jeff Korbelik, Editor, 4 72,1 766
James Rogers, Editorial Page Editor
Gene Gentrup, Managing Editor
Tammy Kaup, Associate News Editor
Todd von Kampen, Editorial Page Assistant
mill
it seems the criticism of his Har
vard speech had political over
tones. Now that a group more
highly regarded in academic
leaders' eyes has said the same
things, it's time to drop the
politics and take a close look at
the problems.
The Carnegie report cites sev
eral remedies for improving a
school's educational product. It
recommends scaling down the
number of part-time faculty
members, beefing up general
education requirements, requir
ing that students' major programs
include study of the history and
ethics of thefrTield and reward
ing good teacfirp.
Some of the report's other
recommendations" reining in
corrupt athletic programs and
supervising residence-hall life
more closely;jften't likely to
escape severe' controversy. But
the four remedies, listed above
are solid measures on which eve
ryone should, be, able to agree.
UNL has been, moving toward
implementing;many of those
measures, Chancellor Martin
Massengale says.
Obviously, something is wrong
with higher education as a whole.
Colleges and universities often
are given the derisive title of
"degree mills" a charge which
apparently has some substance.
Academic leaders concerned
about their schools' educational
quality should take this report
and make it the foundation for a
renewed commitment to excel-
lence.
excuses.
Secretary of State Allen Beer
man said in a news release that
he expects a large voter turnout
this year for a number of reasons.
He said he believes the guberna
torial race has a "unique national
flavor" because two women are
running for the office, the first
time ever in the United States.
Beerman also noted that the
two referendums will draw voters'
attention. Referendum 400 or
LB662 concerns school consoli
dation and a sales tax increase.
Referendum 401 focuses on the
mandatory seatbelt law.
As for the university, only one
member of the Board of Regents
is being challenged. Regent
Robert Simmons Jr. of Scottsb
luff if trying to regain his seat
but is facing stiff competition
from McCook dentist Dr. Don
Blank.
People have heard time and
time again that it is their "right"
to vote, and it is. So many times
the people complaining about
how state and federal govern
ment is run are the same people
who did not vote.
Let your voice be heard. Cast
your vote.
Gooclwiii9 guide ffor voters
'88 made easy; who's who and what and why we should care
Today is Election Day, a fad which is being married to Bob Dole. She can elected he'd be the first guy named
you're probably aware of if you meet all his political pals and, if his Mario ever to be president,
haven't been living in a cave. campaign falters, she can step in and BillBradley, senator from New
After todav the press will begin its pick up the pieces. If she wins she Jersey. He's smart and smooth, just
laborous task'of figuring out the winners would be the first Secretary of Trans- like he was on the basketball court. If
and losers. Did Mario Cuomo win by
enough percentage points? What do
the election results mean for George
Bush's candidacy? Blah, blah, blah.
Of course, that's the job of the press,
figuring things out like that specu
lating on what the '88 race will look
like.
And it is fun to speculate. And since
I'm supposed to write this column and
couldn't think of anything else to grab
my interest, here's a look at some of the
candidates for president who is,
after all, the quarterback of the Free
World.
First, the Republicans.
Jack Kemp, congressman from
New York. His biggest drawback is
men, c a ncj;uu..vui. hss wou a
former jock, having once been a quar-
terback for the Buffalo Bills. Ordinarily,
this probably would be an asset, but if
you think that yoii never saw Jack
Kemp play. The Republicans biggest
worry if Kemp gets the nomination is
that the Democrats will trot out Jack's
old game films. On the plus side, Kemp
is a good speaker. He could sell snow to
an Eskimo. And he does wear a nice big
ring, no doubt his AFL championship
n,n& i n-n ' h? T!i , SJS?
Buffalo Bill ever elected to the White
House.
Robert Dole, senator from
Kansas. Dole's biggest asset is his
wife, Elizabeth, who's the Secretary of
Transportation. She's also his biggest
liability in that she makes him the
second-best candidate in his own
household. That must be a bit demoral
izing for Bob.
Actually, of all the Republican can
didates, I like Dole the best. I saw him
at a breakfast (a political breakfast, it
wasn't Denny's) a couple of years ago,
and he made a very good speech. The
Republicans could do a lot worse, and
I'm sure they will. If he's elected he'd
be the first native of Russell, Kansas,
ever to have his finger on the button.
Elizabeth Dole, Secretary of
Transportation. Her biggest asset
European attitudes towards summit
show shocking anti-Americ anism
A friend (unnamed) working in a
federal agency (unnamed) does
not, in my judgement, jeopardize
the national interest by writing to me
as he has done and enclosing the clas
sified matter he did. The covering let
ter reads, "If you think it was galling in
the days when you were here, have a
look at this."
"This" is a survey of three European
countries, a survey conducted right
after the collapse of the mini-summit
at Reykjavik. The idea was to inquire
into what typical Europeans thought of
what had happened in Iceland, whose
"fault" was it, if "fault" is the right
word to describe what happened. A
technician would call the operation an
"opinion-canvass" of what Europeans
think of the way Ronald Reagan is han
dling questions of war and peace. Brace
yourself.
"How much do you think this meet
ing accomplished in helping to resolve
the various issues between the United
States and the Soviet Union a great
deal, a fair amount, not very much, or
nothing at all?" Well, that is a pretty
harmless question, but it is worth quot
ing because it probes the political
acuity of the persons questioned. The
British, French and Germans questi
oned agreed that nothing much was
accomplished. It being obvious that
this is the case, we are dealing with
informed people informed at one
level, as we will now see.
"Who do you think is mainly to
blame for not accomplishing more at
the Reykjavik meeting Mr. Reagan
or Mr. Gorbachev? Or do you think they
are both equally to blame?"
Reagan is to blame: Britain (35 per
portation elected president. Also, me
first woman.
Geoff
Goodwin V
X 4
3
, i I, -
Howard Baker, former sena
tor from Tennessee. His biggest
drawback is that the Watergate hear-
ings ended 12 years ago, 14 by the time
the election rolls around. Baker's cam-
paign will have to release a video of the
waiergaienesnngs.il ne snuuiu win ne
wouid be the first man named Baker
ever elected to the White House.
George Bush president
of the United States. George's big
Wem is that he can,t hold a job In
thelast i2 years or so he's been head of
the CIA, ambassador to China, candi-
date for president candidate for vice
president and vice president. Who's to
say he won't be elected president and
then dedde he doesnt Ufce the job and
quit to sell burial plots? If George wins
he d be the only first baseman to ever
sit m the Oval Office.
Paul Laxalt, senator from
Nevada. His biggest asset is that he's
a big pal of Ronald Reagan. His biggest
liability is that he's from Nevada If
elected he'd be the first Basque ever
elected president.
Pat Robertson, evangelist. His
biggest asset is that he's a religious
fanatic. That's also his biggest liabil
ity. He'd be the first religious fanatic
ever elected president.
Now the Democrats.
Mario Cuomo, governor of New
York. His biggest asset is that he pro
jects an image of a leader, something
, the Democrats need desperately. On
the minus side he's a liberal in a party
that is moving towards the center. If
cent), France (12 percent), Germany
(43 percent). There were lots of Don't
knows and Who knows?, and there were
those who thought Gorbachev princ
pally to blame, to wit Britian (9 per
cent), France (15 percent), Germany (6
percent). In short, 3 12 times as many
William F.
Buckley Jr.
Brits thougiit the breakdown was Rea
gan's fault, and 7 times as many Ger
mans did.
Next question: "Which country do
you believe is making a greater effort to
bring about a nuclear arms control
agreement the United States or the
Soviet Union?"
Answer: Britain United States, 20
percent; Soviet Union, 46 percent.
France: United States, 35 percent; Soviet
Union, 20 percent. Germany: United
States, 18 percent; Soviet Union, 42
percent. The figures speak for them
selves. Only in France is it supposed
that we are making a greater effort
than the Soviet Union toward arms
control.
Two more. Begin with the shocker.
"Is trustworthy, does this statement
best describe President Reagan or
Soviet leader Gorbachev?"
Answer: Britain: Reagan, 29 percent;
Gorbachev, 21 percent. France: Rea
gan, 47 percent; Gorbachev, 10 percent.
Germany, Reagan, 26 percent; Gorba
chev, 33 percent. More Germans trust
v
nraaiey iaces Kemp the election could
be decided by a decathlon. Bradlev
would be favored. If elected he'd be the
first Rhodes ScholarNew York Knick
to become president.
Joseph Biden, senator from
Delaware. His greatest liability is
that he doesn't have much hair. His
biggest asset is that, unlike Alan Cran
ston, he won't be stupid enough to dye it
orange. He'd be the first Joe ever
elected to the White House.
Gary Hart, former senator from
Colorado. Hart chose not to run for
re-election, thus putting himself out of
a job. Perhaps this will put him closer
in touch with the unemoloved. If Hart.
wins he'd be the first spy novelist ever
eiecxeu presiaem.
., Jesse Jackson, minister I know
I'm going to get in trouble for calling
Robertson a "religious fanatic" and
Jackson a "minister." But trust me,
folks there is a difference Robertson
has (or had) a television show. That's
the difference between a minister and
a fanatic. Jackson's biggest problem is
that he likes to tell Jewish jokes to
reporters. He's sort of a Democratic
Earl But2 Jackson would be the
black ever elected president.
Sam Nunn, senator from
Georgia. Nunn's main strength
is
that he knows defense, not like Bill
Bradley, but rather defense issues. In
an era when most Democrats are looked
upon as wimps this gives him a big
advantage. His biggest drawback is
that he's from Georgia. The last presi
dent elected from there was Jimmy
Carter. It may be a long time before
people forget that. He'd be the first
Nunn ever elected president.
And on the fringe.
Lyndon LaRouche. His biggest
liability is that he's a nut. His biggest
advantage is that not everyone knows
that.
Goodwin is an undeclared graduate stu
dent and a Daily Nebraska night news
editor.
Gorbachev than Reagan.
And finally, in a perverse way the
most interesting: "Promotes human
rights. Does this statement best des
cribe President Reagan or Soviet leader
Gorbachev?"
Answer: Britian: Reagan, 75 percent;
Gorbachev, 6 percent. France: Reagan,
67 percent; Gorbachev, 5 percent.
Germany: Reagan, 67 percent; Gorba
chev, 3 percent.
These are data worth very hard
reflection. They would certainly appear
to tell us that whatever a summit con
ference means in American public
opinion, we do not profit from these
social blasts in European opinioa They
tell us, moreover, that although Europe
is profoundly aware that Gorbachev
and human rights cannot coexist where
he has authority, for some reason they
are prepared to believe that he is anx
ious to surrender the principal lever
age Russia exerts over the civilized
world. They tell us that they believe the
United States, which gladly walked out
of a couple of dozen countries we occu
pied in the course of two world wars,
suddenly has become interested in
aggressing against the whole world.
And it tells us more namely, that
deeply though we need Europe, and
deeply though Europe needs us, there
is probably ahead of us a bifurcation,
that grave historical fork in which we
find ourselves forced to go in one direc
tion, leaving Europe to go in another.
Let us pray that there is a massive
reversal of sentiment in Europe. But it
will need to be nothing less than that.
1S3S Universal Press Syndicate
Buckley is the fornder of the National
Review Magazine.
