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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 8, 1987)
Editorial Nebraskan University of Nebraska-Lincoln Mike Reilley, Editor, 472-1766 i Jeanne Bourne, Editorial Page Editor Jann Nyffeier, Associate News Editor Scott ilarrah, Night News Editor Joan Rezac, Copy Desk Chief Linda Hartmann, Wire Editor ( harles Lieurance, Asst. A & E Editor I Ad a distortion Exon refuses to cave in to lobby In a society where cor porations carry a lot of clout in political deci sion-making, U.S. Sen. J.J. Exon’s recent reaction to pres sure from a pharmaceutical i manufacturer has been a wel come exception. An advertisement in the Omaha World-Herald urged senior citizens to “call Senator Exon today or get stuck with the bill tomorrow.” A similar ad ran in Lincoln’s Journal and Star saying to “call Senator Karnes.” The ad went on to explain the prescription drug amendment in the cata strophic health care bill now before the Senate. It said senior citizens in Nebraska will “be forced to pay for a program (they) may never get to use.” And again, in three different places, the ad said constituents should “call today.” The ad, sponsored by the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association, aroused 500 people to call Exon's office. It also aroused Exon's ire, and he didn't keep it secret. Exon said a few letters from concerned Nebraskans carry more weight than calls brought on by “the false scare tactics” of the drug industry. Exon’s response to the ad is right on target. The pharmaceu tical organization’s lobbying attempts misled the public with bold subtitles saying the amend ment was “not voluntary,” had a “high deductible” and would incur “sky-high costs.” Those are strong and scary words to direct at people who have to watch where every dollar goes. However, the organization forgot to mention that the amendment would encourage the use of less expensive generic drugs for patients covered under the bill. This means the drug manufacturers would be making less money from Medicare beneficiaries. Greed is unattractive. How ever, corporate money grubbing gets even uglier when it’s cov ered by a thin veil of concern for the very people the group wants to milk for extra money. Exon wrote to concerned people — as he should — and said he would keep a close eye on the catastrophic health insur ance bill. It’s already passed the House of Representatives. Let’s hope that when the bill comes before the Senate, the senators will vote in the best interests of theirconstituents and not bow to corporate pressure. Orr needs to invest in ag school’s future Gov. Kay Orr had an impor tant announcement at her Wednesday press conference. Unfortunately, it wasn’t about her decision on what to do with the future of the Nebraska Col lege of Technical Agriculture at Curtis. Orr carried a pair of baby booties to the conference and announced that she will become a grandmother next spring. In her other hand, she cradles the future of an educational institu tion. She said she’ll announce the fate of the agricultural college in about 10 days. The NU Board of Regents dropped the college last spring, and Orr vetoed a legisla tive bill that would have given the Curtis school enough money to keep it open for the next two years. Orr needs to keep something in mind during the next 10 days —future generations. She needs to think of her unborn grand child. If the state continues to cut educational alternatives like it has, what kind of options will that child have in 18 years? Probably not much. Orr also should consider two of Nebraska’s main resources — agriculture and its people. It ’ s the state’s obligation to keep its university’s programs alive. She needs to decide — and soon. Gerald Huntwork, associate director of the Curtis school, said administrators and students need a decision from Orr as soon as possible. “There’s a tremendous amount of frustration out there,” he said. The problem with the de layed announcement is simple. The longer the fate of the school is up in the air, the less time administrators have to inform high school students interested in attending there. Curtis’ attendance dropped from nearly 300 students to 158 during the 1986-87 school year. Only 58 students currently at tend the college. Even with money from the state, the college won’t turn around overnight. Attendance probably won’t jump into the thousands within the next year. Editorial Policy Unsigned editorials represent official policy of the fall 1987 Daily Nebraskan. Policy is set by the Daily Nebraskan Editorial Board. Editorials do not necessarily re fleet the views of the university, its employees, the students or the NU Board of Regents. The Daily Nebraskan’s publishers are the regents, who established the UNL Publications Board to super vise the daily production of the paper. “SHE THINKS X CHEATED ON THE CURRENT EVENTS TEST... SHE ASKED /ME WHAT X KNEW AND \WtEN OlD I KNOW IT " Hotline tells Bakkers’ ‘truth’ Mistreated should get chance to tell their side of the story Jim and Tammy Faye Bakkcr have started a “what really happened” hotline. By dial ing a 900 telephone number, you can hear a prerecorded message from the deposed duo revealing the truth about Jim’s fall from grace and Jerry Fal well’s demonic manipulation of these trusting souls. The call will cost you 50 cents, but after seven months void of Tammy tears, it’s worth it. Besides, the Bakkers get 25 cents from every phone call, and their legal expenses are mounting. It struck me that this is an idea that could really catch on. The Bakkers arc just one example among many this year who, according to their own accounts, have been sorely mistreated by friends, government, the press or the American public in general. Why not give them all a chance to tell their side of the story? If the phone com pany were on the ball, they’d get a brochure out about this right away. Here are some possible scenarios we can expect in the near future. The NASA Negligence Hotline. The number is 1-900-765-4321. By dialing this number you can hear de tailed descriptionsofjustexactly what has gone wrong with the last 400 or so NASA missions, as well as convinc ing evidence that none of it was their fault. From solid rocket boosters to chewing gum stuck to the control panels, everything can be blamed on the contractors. The message ends with a projected date for the next shuttle launch. This feature is revised daily. The Bidcn-My-Timc Withdrawal Line: 1-900-IMA-FAKE. Hear Joe Bidcn tell all about the moral struggles he went through while trying to decide ... no, wait. That was Win ston Churchill. Rather, the Delaware senator conveys his mixed emotions as he considered the options involved in ... no, that was Andrew Young. Oh, yeah. The former presidential candi date will express his deep disappoint ment at not being able to... sorry, that was Mickey Mouse. Well, dial the number and see what you think. Or, better yet, dial 1-900-DU K-AKIS and see what they think. Sennett 475-FRAT (local number). Hear the latest news concerning the fate of the little-sister program, laugh at the week’s most obscene Bill Allen jokes (including some authored by Allen himself) and learn 15 irrefutable rea sons why cup throwing never really hurt anybody. Sponsored by the Soci ety for the Prevention of Cruelty to Anachronisms. 1-800-CON-IRAN. This is a free call, but don’t ask where the money came from. Oliver North and John Poindexter appear on alternate days, but they never say anything. Every 30 seconds a dub-over voice informs you that you are witnessing the enacting of the great American right guaranteed under the Fifth Amendment. The si lence is broken only by the unmistak able noise of a paper shredder running in the background. 1-HUB-BAH-UBBA. You have to pay full toll for this one, but believe me, it is worth it. Jessica Hahn expli cates the ethical intricacies involved in born-again smut. In a new variation on the ends-justilying-means ploy, the Hallelujah Hussic reveals more than you ever wanted to know. Every message ends w ith the stirring words “I am not a bimbo.” Former cvangcli cal idol Larry Flynt offers an occa sional guest opinion. 1-900-PRO-BORK. They’ll have to hurry to get this one in. The message < is presented by none other than Presi dent Reagan himself. (They couldn’t get anyone else to do it.) The Chief Executive offers a long list of reasons why his nominee still has achance and should be appointed to the nation’s highest court. He then concludes w ith a few choice pieces of advice. Chief among these are: “A military haircut is far more effective than a New England beard” and “Never trust a Southern Democrat.” CEN-SORD (another local num ber). Th is one is sponsored by the local book stores and others interested in freedom of sleaze. Excerpts from “When The Sky Began to Roar” arc read in a husky female voice while John Philip Sousa tunes are played in the background. I was planning to print transcripts of some of the mes sages, but most of the text of this wholesome, uplifting contribution to contemporary American literature is unfit to appear on the pages of a newspaper. Boy, do 1 feel sufled. Sennett is a graduate student in philoso phy and campus minister with College-Ca reer Christian Fellowship. Letter Student says homeless need shelter and food I’m writing in response to your article on the homeless (Daily Nebras kan, Sept. 28). I’m in favor of places supporting the homeless, such as the People’s City Mission in Lincoln. Limited finances, personal crisis, mental disturbances and alcohol or drug dependency arc the reasons that more than 200,000 people lie home less in the streets. They invade down town areas of cities large and small, causing mixed emotions among the otncr citizens. People arc angry, frus trated or even frightened, yet they also want to help these people. Homelessness, an increasing prob lem , can be solved with the help of the community, not just the government. However, the lack of funds for com munity programs is frustrating. Many shelters arc either too small like Lincoln’s or too large and impersonal like those in New York City and Washington, D.C. Both funds and support arc desperately needed to help the homeless. They aren’t “bums’’ or “bags ladies;’’ they’re human beings. In lacl, college graduates represent between 1 and 3 percent of the home less population; so let’s stop this dis ease from spreading before we be come the victims. Help the homeless. Mary Pitts freshman finance With the recent controversy about AIDS, ''the DN has planned another open forum in conjunction with its Sower sup plement. On Tuesday, Oct. 13, the DN will run letters from readers responding to the fol lowing questions: • Should children with AIDS be allowed to attend pub lic schools? • Should health-care pro fessionals undergo mandatory testing for AIDS? If they test positive, what consequences should they face? Should the test results be made public? Please center your letter on only one of the questions. Drop off letters at the DN front desk, Nebraska Union 34. Show iden tification to secretary when you leave the letter. Deadline is Fri day, Oct. 9, at noon.