Ohhh! that bad, bad, bad Bill Allen!
Reader questions
bigotry dilemmas
The American Heritage Dictionary
defines a bigot as “a person who is
rigidly devoted to his own group, reli
gion, race or politics, and is intolerant
of those who differ.” In that sense Bill
Allen’s now infamous article on the
Greek little-sister program is close to
being bigoted, though it’s not clear
which group he is “devoted" to.
What is surprising, though, is that
for all the name-calling in letters by
Bruce McFarland and Kathleen Oenb
ring, they have not answered the ques
tion: “Is the Greek system an institu
tion of bigotry?” Let’s dispense with
the dogma here and concentrate on
facts. As an objective bystander, I want
the following questions answered:
• How many blacks, Hispanics,
Latvians, etc., has the Greek system
inducted in proportion to whites? And
how does this relate to how many minor
ity members tried to join?
Letters
• What is the average income of a
Greek system member, including wages,
scholarships, gifts from parents, etc?
How does this compare to the rest of
UNL?
• Is there a correlation between
hair/eye color and height and whether
one gets into a fraternity or sorority?
Give me numbers here. (Note: This is
affected by the statistics in question
one.)
• What amount of money is spent
on parties and entertainment each year
in a Greek house? How much is taken
in and distributed as "philanthropy”?
What was the nature of these "practi
cal and emotional problems among the
members” which caused the demise of
the little-sister program? Were they
related to outward appearance, income,
etc.? And what programs do Chi Phi
and other Greek houses want to replace
the little-sister program with?
As an American citizen, 1 DEMAND
honest and complete answers to these
questions and will reserve judgement
until then. Bigotry, whether in news
papers or instit utions, has no place in a
country where people are. in Mr. McFar
land’s words, "just the same as anyone.”’
Craig Riecke
graduate student
computer science/English
Allen did it again,
‘he are so great’
Bill Allen — columnist, graduate
student and Daily Nebraskan arts and
entertainment editor — penned the
following paragraph in Wednesday’s
edition:
“Sad to say, none of these letters to
the editor are as well written as my
columns."
When used in this sense, “none”
takes a singular verb. Bill should have
written:
“Sad to say, none of these letters to
the editor is as well written as my
columns."
Billy and his pen has did it again. He
are a great writer and our hats is off to
him.
Steven M. Thomas
senior
journalism
He’ll write those
Allen hate letters
This is a voice from behind the
democratic facade, Bill Allen. I thought
that your column about the little-sister
program in the Greek system was very
funny. I believe those that know call
this comic device “exaggeration.”
The situations you related in your
column were so ludicrous, off the mark
and, well, exaggerated, that 1 had to
laugh. The fact that some people found
something extra in their DNs the day
after is even funnier. Whoever wrote
that is more amusing than you are.
I suggest that the DN find the people
who slandered Mr. Weepy by putting
his quote on the same paper as a caric
ature of Bill Allen and hire them to
write editorial columns. Surely the foul
things (read; humorous items) those
people could come up with would far
outdistance anything of Allen’s and
thus boost readership of the editorial
page.
ny wic way, mr. Alien, 11 yuu warn, i
could write those lettrs criticizing you
for 35 cents a piece. That would give
you more time to think about what you
write.
Chuck Rogers
sophomore
biology
Stifle ‘superiority’
on editorial page
I am aware that the editorial page of
the Daily Nebraskan is used as a pro
vocative stimulus for change. I respect
everyone’s right to express his opinion.
Once again, this is the corn'd con
ceptual use of the editorial page as we
know it in the “facade of a democratic
system’’ — the expression of ideas and
opinion. However, it is not a tool to
prove one’s views are superior, nor can
one change the minds of everyone on
this campus by using an editorial.
Every time I read this page of the DN I
am amazed by Hill Allen's attempts at
the aforementioned, and I don’t ignuce
the lack of finesse and skill he displays
with his columns. There are many,
many individuals at this school who are
as versed in the English language as
you are. I er\joy editorials full of sar
casm and wit, ones that discuss essen
tial issues with knowledge and insight.
I have yet to read such an editorial
column from Bill Allen.
As a patron of the arts, 1 hope I will
be able to better identify with your arti
cles in that area of your inestimable
expertise. As a member of the Greek
system, I hope that your next scathing
editorial will be as thought-provoking
(provoking the thought that I hope I
stop laughing before my sides burst) as
the last ones have been. This, sir, is my
opinion, which I wrote myself to save
money.
KJ. Cronn
freshman
I
Allen’s psychic insight
tells it like it is, sorta
ALLEN from Page 4
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) A Dear
Abby column will be about you, though
you had no idea your warts were so
offensive to co-workers. Moon positions
suggest a religious cult will steal a
loved one. You will turn in your home
work assignment on time, but to the
wrong professor. ASUN will do nothing
for you today.
Pisces (Feb. 10 March 20) You will
find $100 on the sidewalk, try to spend
it and get arrested for passing counter
feit money. Put emphasis on self
awareness, relaxation and discount
stores. A letter you wrote to Shaun Cas
sidy as a 12-year old will find its way
into your hometown newspaper’s edi
torial page.
Aries (March 21 April 19) You will
be caught necking in the mud under
the construction of the football team's
new indoor playing field. No one is with
you. ASUN will do nothing for you
today. You will walk under the neon
lights at Burger King and accidentally be
beamed up to the Starship Enterprise.
You still won’t find what you’re looking
for.
Taurus (April 20-May 20) A st ranger
will say hello to your girlfriend. . .or
so she says. A letter home will be
returned with ‘ Not At This Address”
marked on it. ASUN will do nothing for
you today.
Gemini (May 21June 20) You will
wake up with a stranger. No, a real
stranger. You don’t remember going to
bed with this person, or anyone else.
You will respond to a late-night televi
sion offer to buy part of John F.
Kennedy’s brain for $19.95. You will not
be allowed to enter a beauty contest.
Cancer (June 21 July 22) ASUN
will do nothing for you today. You will
go to an “artsy” film at Sheldon, but be
disappointed when there is no nudity
in it. Buy her the Bon Jovi album; you
won’t regret it. A small child will point
at you and laugh.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) For health
reasons, you probably shouldn’t eat
meat today, and you shouldn’t stick
with that silly vegetarian diet. An old
friend will show up drunk and blame
you for an accident that happened a
long time ago that he always said
wasn’t your fault even though you
always thought it was. You will be
elected to ASUN. Christ will accept you
as his personal savior, entitling you to
half of the television profits.
Letter Policy
The Daily Nebraskan welcomes
brief letters to the editor from all
readers and interested others.
Letters will be selected for
publication on the basis of clarity,
originality, timeliness and space
available. The Daily Nebraskan re
tains the right to edit all material
submitted.
Readers also are welcome to sub
mit material as guest opinions.
Whether material should run as a
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left to the editor’s discretion.
Letters and guest opinions sent
to the newspaper become property
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be returned.
Anonymous submissions will not
be considered for publication. Letters
should include the author’s name,
year in school, mqjor and group affi
liation, if any. Requests to withhold
names from publication will not be
granted.
Submit material to the Daily Ne
braskan, 34 Nebraska Union, 1400 R
St., Lincoln, Neb. 68588-0448.
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