Friday, March 13, 1987
Page 4
Daily Nebraskan
Editorial
Nsiiraskan
University ol Nebraska-Lincoln
Eonigln iroad aliead
Unite must now grapple reality
Congratulations are in order
for the Unite presidential
and first vice-presidential
candidates- now ASUN president-
and first vice president
elect. Andy Pollock and Shawn
Boldt were elected in a canv
paign that fielded several other
strong candidates. ;
Pollock emphasized that his
primary objective is to grapple
with the budget cuts that UNL
perennially faces.
it's cluoice sawy
Sage political move far-reaching
Gov. Kay Orr's choice of
Omaha businessman David
Karnes may have been sur
prising, but it certainly was not
impolitic.
When one considers several
factors entering the equation,
Orr's appointment can almost be
seen as politically masterful. The
odds-on favorites for the job were
Rep. Doug Bereuter, Rep. Hal
Daub and Kermit Brashear, for
mer head of the Nebraska Re
publican Party, and unsuccess
ful gubernatorial candidate in
1986.
- :: If Orr had appointed Bereuter
or Daub, a special election would
have been necessary to fill the
vacated congressional seat. Given
the strength of the Democratic
Party in the first and second dis
tricts, this would have meant
risking a GOP loss. Given that
the odds-on Democratic nomi
neefor Senate in 1988 is former
Gov. Bob Kerrey, even with Daub's
Letters
Arrests not the result of persecution
A few pertinent facts were left out of
Charles Lieurance's March 9 column
("Left needs hellhounds too") that
need to be disclosed. Lieurance claims
that "conservative hellhounds'' are out
to purge the country of left-wing crimi
nals turned peaceful, law-abiding citi
zens. Lieurance's main claim to this is
the FBI's relentless "hellhounding" of,
Silas BissellJackson, a former member
of the Weathermen who planted a
bomb in an ROTC building.
Lieurance may be interested to know
that BissellJackson was' not appre
hended as a result of the FBIconserva
tive hellhounds' 1 5-year relentless, purg-:.
ing pursuit. The real story is that a ,
citizen called the FBI and repoited see-
irirnah fitting the description of a
man on a wanted poster., The FBI rou
tinely investigated and found a fugitive
(BissellJackson) wanted for a federal
offense.
Lieurance also bases his claims on
Orr chooses party's
The unexpected death of Sen. Edward
Zorinsky has given Gov. Kay Orr the
opportunity to hand-select the person
who will be the voice of Nebraska in the
U.S. Senate during the next 22 months.
Orr said she would select the best
qualified person for the job; however, it
appears that she only seriously consi
dered Republicans. This was a tragic
mistake. Since a Republican was
selected, Nebraska will lose Zorinsky's
seat on the Senate Agriculture Com
mittee. Seats on the committee are
allocated in direct proportion to the
number of Democrats and Republicans
Jeff Korbelik, Editor, 472-1766
James Rogers, Editorial Paye Editor
Use Olsen, Associate News Editor
Mike Reilley, Niyht News Editor
Joan Rezac, Copy Desk Chief
While the pleasant scent of
victory is to be relished by Pol
lock and Boldt, their actions dis
charging their pledge must remain
foremost in their minds. The real
battle lies ahead, While recog
nizing the very limited
influence any ASUN president
will have in the halls of the uni
cameral, students deserve to be
heard and deserve a president
zealous for UNL advocacy. Best
wishes in the comingyear for the
two ASUN execs.
or Bereuter's appointment, Orr
risked losing both a House and a
Senate seat to the Democrats.
Keeping Daub and Bereuter in
the House at least guarantees
the retention of their seats
(assuming that they don't run for
Senate in '88).
Now, what about Kermit Bra
shear? Here, too, Orr may have
had the 1988 Senate race in
mind. Assuming Kerrey will run,
the prospect of pairing a young,
charismatic Kerrey against the
rather frumpy Brashear would have
been too much of a risk. The
most logical choice was to replace
Zorinsky with someone who could
meet Kerrey on his own turf and
at the same time keep the con
gressional seats.
One may not appreciate Orr's
appointment of Karnes to the
Senate, but one can't help but
respect the political wisdom of
the move.
the apprehension of former criminal
justice professor Paul Stewart, who was
connected to a number of criminal
offenses, including escape from prison.
What Lieurance failed to mention is
that Stewart's past record was found
only after he was apprehended and
charged by the Lincoln Police Depart
ment for breaking into a doctor's office
in summer 1 986 (the charges later were
dropped). The 'only FBI involvement in
Stewart's investigation and arrest was
to notify the Lincoln Police Depart
ment . that Stewart's fingerprints
matched those of an individual wanted
on a felony warrant in New York. Sure:
doesn't sound like "hellhounding"" to
me. . - - :. " '. . . ..
Lieurance reli es on these two exam
ples to prove his argument and both
are incorrect premises.
Paul Krause
junior
criminal justice
needs over state's
in the Senate. Since it is a Democratic
vacancy, it can be filled only by a
Democrat.
Nebraska needs a voice on the Agri
culture Committee, which is crucial in
setting policies that have a major
impact on Nebraska's economy. By
selecting a Republican, Orr has placed
her ambitions for the Republican Party
ahead of the needs of the Nebraskans
who voted her into office.
Joe W. Waller
senior'
biological science
Oil
Working in AIDS shelters teacfies 'what
Spring is coming to the row of New York counterpart, which opened
Estones in Greenwich Village, on Christmas Eve 1985. There are eight
Usoon.it will warm the small parlor
where wheelchairs and armchairs are
watched over by an artist's conception
of Christ. When spring comes, some of
the 14 men who live upstairs will leave
th. hn.,Qo anri wik m.tsMft with less
will never see another spring, although
the nuns in the house might say a dif-
ferent kind of beginning awaits them.
Everyone dies, but for these 14, the
end will come quickly. There is no cure
for AIDS.
The 25-year-old Nebraskan, Matt Mat
tern, lived on 11th and Washington in
IJnrnln. Now he lives here, in this four-
story, remodeled rectory on Washing-
' ... ...... ii
ton Street in New York City. The she!
ter, run by Mother Teresa's order, is
called "Gift of Love." Matt, a live-in
volunteer, scrubs floors, changes diap
ers, cooks, and drives the sisters and
the men around the city.
Before he came to New York, Matt,
like most Nebraskans, had only heard
about AIDS. He had never seen anyone
with AIDS. He didn't know any drug
abusers or gay men well (members of
high-risk groups for the disease, but
anyone can get AIDS). No one close to
him had ever died.
In the three months Matt's lived
here, six shelter residents have died,
One spent the last three days of his life
helping Matt learn Spanish, a language
that here is nearly as common as Eng-
lish.
The day he died, Matt remembers,
the man was praying with one of the
Sisters. His body trembled, yet he
smiled. "I don't feel any pain," he said.
Matt believed him.
Matt woke up at 3 a.m. to check on
the residents. The man's body was cold.
The pain was gone.
Tom Dierks, 24, graduated from UNL
in 1986. Tom works at the other shelter
for AIDS patients run by Mother Tere
sa's order in Washington, D.C., "Gift of
Peace."
A man died here in the first days
after Tom arrived. Joseph was 65, he'd
gotten the disease from a blood trans
fusion, and he, like others here, found
himself with nowhere else to go.
The shelter, on a hill in a middle
class, black neighborhood in Washing
ton and surrounded by 12 acres of
country in the city, opened in November.
It hasn't yet filled to capacity like its
Foxy Fawn adds missing pieces,
solving the nation's scandal puzzle
Before her 15 minutes of fame
are used up, a few words about
Fawn Hall. .
First of all, let us be honest about it,
there had to be a Fawn. This is a story
that cried out for a Fawn. Oh, maybe a
Bambi, but that would have been too
tacky. . .
My colleagues laboring in the dol
drums of Swiss bank accounts needed
Fawn. The public deciphering the fine
print of the Tower Commission needed
Fawn. They all greeted the unveiling of
this women, especially in her bathing
suit shots, with a mass snicker of relief.
At last, something familiar. Something
we can all give a heh-heh about. Foxy
Fawn. Iranscam Beauty.
If she had only been beautiful, it
would have been enough. Or if she had
only been a beautiful secretary
enough. And if she had only been a
beautiful secretary and part-time model
enough. But a beautiful secretary
and a part-time model who won the love
of Arturo Cruz Jr. Bingo! Or should I say
"Bimbo!" By the weekend, there were
any number of side bets on precisely
how long it would take for Fawn to go
from her debriefing to decladding in
Playboy.
I agree that at least one startled
Fawn was predestined to enter the
scene of this foreign-policy farce but
not for exactly the same salacious rea
sons. This baggy-pants troop of men,
thrown together for a single show, was
patients now. One, named Lisa, has six
children. But her tamiiy aoesn i nave
time for her, Tom said. Tom considers
her a friend and a good pool player. Lisa
also is lainy ciose 10 anuwiw vumn.
who works mostly at night. The night
vninntppp Jpff for five davs and wasn't
sure he would ever see her again. She s
gotten thin ana weaK
"You know its happening, lorn
says.
Death is in these shelters, but hope
is here too.
The whole thing about being here is
they die knowing that they're loved,"
Tom says. "You don t really Knowwnat
they were like Detore toutj tney come
i a ry i i r a.., Al
Close 10 uou ueiure uiey uic.
Lise
Olsen
4
79
Most are alone, although some are
visited by their families. Every one is
here because there is no place else for
them to go. The shelters serve "the
poorest of the poor."
Matt remembers watching and lis-
tening to the 7- and 1 1-year-old Puerto
Rican children who came to visit their
jdad, a resident at the Greenwich shel
ter. They hadn't seen him for a while
because he had been in prison and they
were excited. The 11-year-old bragged
that in two years he'd be old enough to
take the train by himself to come and
see his dad. Matt knew his dad wouldn't
be alive that long, but he didn't say
anything.
. Many of the patients come here from
prisons and hospitals. They are told
about the quiet lifestyle no TV,
lights out at 10 p.m. and only those
who want to come here do. Catholic
prayers and masses are offered, but not
forced on anyone.
Neither Matt nor Tom thinks of him
self as especially religious. Both had
come to crossroads in their lives and
took a detour.v
"I wanted to get out and get away
and do something really different,"
Tom says.
Matt has a degree in biology; Tom
not an Affirmative Action Employer.
Since the departure of Jeane Kirkpa
trick, all the visible foreign policymak
ers of this administration have been
members of the Neo Boys Network.
Even George Shultz, who emerges as
relatively sane, has a tiger tatooed on
his tail.
. Therefore, in the towel-snapping
subset that produced this disaster,
there were only two conceivable roles
for women: wife or secretary. The wife
.. more about her another time was
already taken. Cherchez La Secretary.
Ellen
Goodman
Enter Fawn Hall, with this introduc
tion from the ever-chiv; Jrous Ollie North:
"I have the prettiest secretary at the
NSC. Everybody thinks I'm having an
affair with her, but I'm not."
The vital statistics on Fawn sta
tistics, not measurements show her
to be a 27-year-old GS-9 with nearly 10
years experience who earned between
$22,000 and $26,000 a year. She was
described as hardworking to the edge
of workaholicism. Not a very sexy
profile.
(;-'
:
if
.1
life comes down to '
studied industrial engineering at UNL.
Now they learn abou the non-scientific
aspectso fn eain
;"8'"ownio
- dying, Matt says.
They see the AIDS victims many of
v.,u.., .v , owning
to accept the disease and preparing for
death.
"I can't seem to get rid of this cold,"
one says.
"You've got AIDS, man," a friend
chides.
Others are listless and seemingly
lack energy to do anything at all.
In some ways, they are no different
from any other terminally-ill people.
But their disease is publicized and
feared.
According to the Center for Disease
Control figures (based on diagnosed
cases of AIDS that meet CDC's guide
lines) more than 8,763 cases of AIDS
have been diagnosed in New York City
alone since Figures first started being
kept in about 1981. Nebraska had had
25 confirmed AIDS cases since 1983.
AIDS makes the newspapers every day
in New York, Matt says.
"The AIDS in the newspapers are
different from here," Matt says. "These
are real living people friends."
Matt, who's originally from O'Neil,
and Tom, who's originally from Ewing,
learned about the shelters through
friends and from the Newman Center at
UNL. In addition to the two new AIDS
shelters, Mother Teresa's order also runs
soup kitchen and homes "Missionaries
of Charity" for the poor on the East
Coast and in other parts of the world.
Matt and Tom are the only Nebraskans
now volunteering at the AIDS shelters,
but other UNL students have worked at
other shelters. More volunteers always
are needed, Catholic or non-Catholic.
"They take you for as long as you can
stay," Matt said.
Tom plans to return to the Midwest
in June for a friend's wedding. Matt's
not sure how long he'll stay.
"People say, 'It's such a good thing
you're doing'," he said. "But it's a gift
for me to be here ..."
"I don't know if I could do this any
where but here, where death is given so
much meaning."
Olsen is a senior news-editorial major
and Daily Nebraskan associate news
editor.
She is also a second-generation
government secretary. Her mother Wilma
(what turn would this tale have taken if
she had named her daughter Wilma?)
worked for some other members of this
troop: McFarlane and Poindexter. There
is a certain charm to imagining mom-and-daughter
secretaries typing the
memos that flew between their bosses.
When North started to cover his
tracks, he automatically turned to his
personal secretary of four years. He told
her to start deleting and altering the
texts she had originally typed. ;
At no time, I imagine, did this mil
itary man doubt Fawn's loyalty or obe
dience. Indeed he, like any number of
men, may have been devastated when
finally deserted by his office wife. But
Fawn wasn't ultimately married to her
job. When the chips started to fall,
there was a moment when she realized
thtre was something more important
than loyalty, maybe even honesty.
With all due respect for the sex
angle of this saga, some respect is due
the honestly angle. Ultimately, it
doesn't matter whom Fawn kissed. It
matters that she told. She's filling in
some of the pieces of this bizarre polit
ical puzzle. She deserves more than a
snicker.
1987, The Boston Globe Newspaper
CompanyWashington Post Writers
Group
Goodman is a Pulitzer Prize-winning
columnist for the Boston Globe.
