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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 5, 1987)
_ Editorial - - --——^ NetJraskan University of Nebraska-Lincoln ___2 Mike Reilley, Editor, 472-1766 Jeanne Bourne, Editorial Page Editor Jann Nyffeler, Associate News Editor Scott Harrah, Night News Editor Joan Rezac, Copy Desk Chu’f Linda Hartmann, Wire Editor Class abuse probed Athletes must excel in classes, too The Intercollegiate Ath letic Committee has completed an investi I gation into possible abuses of summer classes by student-ath : letes — and the review process apparently didn’t go down like clockwork. The committee will report its findings to the Faculty Senate Dec. 8. The committee is looking at two classes in particular: Healthy Lifestyles, a three credit-hour sophomore-level course; and a senior-level, inde pendent-study course dealing with sports psychology, also worth three credit hours. Legendary stories have circu lated around campus for years about athletes taking classes that require no work. But in this case, the classes appear to be worthwhile. As football coach Tom Osborne pointed out, both classes could benefit athletes uecause uicy ueai wiui sucn topics as nutrition and stress management. One of the disturbing things uncovered in the investigation was the way in which the classes were publicized. More than 90 percent of the students in both courses were athletes, so it is clear that other students were not informed of the availability of the classes. But there also was a lack of communication within the in vestigation itselt. The investigation began in the summer, but Osborne said that neither he nor other Ne braska athletic department offi cials were aware of the investi gation until recently. It seems unlikely that a thor ough investigation could be completed without the assis tance of Osborne and other ath- ; lctic officials. If the committee wishes to do a complete investi gation it should meet with ath- j letic officials, determine the problem and then suggest pos sible solutions. Athletes dcserve_the chance to succeed also as students. There are too many stories of athletes like Kevin Ross, a bas ketball player who graduated from Creighton University and could barely read. Two years ago, the NCAA devised Proposition 48, a rule that required incoming athletes to attain certain scores on their ACT or SAT to be eligible to play collegiate sports. Schools that allow athletes to take “cream-puff’ courses to keep theireligibility would be defeat ing the purpose of the rule; that is, to make sure that athletes receive a strong education. The Lincoln Journal-Star quoted Roger Grooters, the di rector of academic programs for the athletic department, as say ing that a “significant number” of football players had academic problems last season. To correct this problem, the athletic de partment should increase the number of academic advisers for athletes, which it already has begun to do, and restrict players who arc having academic trouble from both practicing and competing in their sport until their academic troubles have been resolved. Taking “easy” classes is not the answer. There is no evidence to sug gest that the courses in question were set up to help athletes remain eligible, but if any evi dence is uncovered by the com mittee, strong action should be taken. FLIGHT FLIGHTY I Conservatives need unity ‘Born again’ support for Robertson could weaken Republicans / obertson needs devoted • • followers.” Thus reads the AVlead headline on the October edition of the “UNL Good News: A Conservative Christian Newsletter.” The accompanying story addresses the fact that Pat Robertson could make quite a decent showing in his bid for the Republican presidential nomina tion if everyone in America who iden tifies with “bom again” Christianity will get behind his campaign. I have no doubt that this is true. I also have no doubt that, for a variety of reasons, millions of voters who so identify have little interest in supporting Robertson for president. I know of at least two in my house. James Sennett m Robertson represents the latest and most ambitious effort of the so-called “New Religious Right.” Not content with backing borderline devotees like Ronald Reagan, these crusaders have decided that it is time to put one who is wholly and unswervingly their own in power. The dream is an admirable one, fully in keeping with the spirit of democracy, even if it is unrealistic and even a bit quixotic. However, there is good reason to believe that the Robertson campaign will actually be detrimental to the goals of the reli gious right, even while purporting to represent its finest hour. This political alliance defies defi nite description. However, certain facts are apparent, and they make postulating a nigh and a low goal of the movement defensible. It is safe to say that the new religious right has the high goal of establishing a govern ment strongly grounded in a distinc tive moral outlook, one that is dedi cated to the traditional values of the Judeo-Christian heritage. This high goal also includes a full slate of poli cies that reflect moderate to extreme political conservatism. But there is a low goal, which is to not lose any of the ground gained during the Reagan administration. The alleged “softening” of Sur geon General C. Everett Koop and a pending arms control agreement not withstanding, America is a lot more the way these people want it to be than it was before the Reagan years. If the religious right can’t accomplish its high goal of putting its own candidate on Pennsylvania Avenue, they will at least want to make sure that someone is elected who will secure the low goal and continue to move the country — slowly but surely — toward the high goal. In short, the primary concern for these people should be that the Reagan agenda be maintained. Well, it’s wakc-up-and-smell-lhc coffee time. Pat Robertson will not be the next president of the United Stales. He will not even be the next Republi can nominee for president. His cam paign is more symbolic than serious. The support he gamers will be surpris ing (frightening?), but it will not be decisive. And here lies a subtle danger. Robertson’s campaign will be signifi cant in one very important way. It will split the Reagan coalition. The reli gious right was a very important ele ment of the unified effort that put Reagan in the White House twice. While this component is not strong enough to put a person in all by itself, it will play a vital role in who is finally nominated and elected. Arguably, the one Republican candidate who could most effectively carry on the Reagan agenda is Robert Dole. I think it is beyond doubt that he could do so better than George Bush. The “wimp factor” is more than cam- ; paign rhetoric. Bush does not have the chutzpah to go toe to toe with Con-1 gress the way Reagan does. Dole I alone has the political clout, ihe§/ steely-eyed glance and the very subtle I mean streak that will be required to f “stay the course.” In many ways Dole could be considered even more of a conservative than Reagan — and cer tainly more than Bush. OUI IICIC 15 UIC IUU. L/UIC Will IIUI win the Republican nomination with out the support of the religious right. The retreat of this element to its own special-interest candidate will give Bush just the edge he needs to secure the nomination. Barring any scandals, the wide Republican field will stead ily narrow to a battle between the two big boys. If Robertson holds out until the convention he will sacrifice the low goal on the altar of the high goal. He will not be nominated, but neither will Dole. Bush will be given the nod. But George Bush is more beatable in a national election than Dole, and even if he is elected, he will not be able to keep the tight reins that Reagan has established. The conservative tapes try. so carefully woven over eight years of charismatic leadership, will unravel quickly under this man, who has spent most of his political career in low-profile positions. Pat Robertson wants to be presi dent. Millions of Americans want Pat Robertson to be president. But the move is ill-timed and potentially dis astrous. To paraphrase Inspector Clouseau, “Patrick, now is not the time.” Scnnett la a graduate student In philoso phy and campus minister with College* a reer Christian Fellowship. Letters Writer missed the best song on the tape After reading Charles Lieurance’s review of the Broadside tape, I was upset that Who is the School?, an apparently improvisalional band that I consider more emotional and creative than some of the tape’s material, was not even listed as one of the 11 bands on the tape. Evan Eiscntrager’s per cussion piece was also unfortunately omitted from mention. Mark Krause freshman art Hamilton's defense of abortion selfish Nanciana Hamilton’s response (Daily Nebraskan, Oct. 30) to James Sennett’s column on Jessica McClure is not the first pro-abortion letter I have ever read. However, it may be the most offensively selfish defense of abortion ever to be printed. Hamilton’s argument totally ig nores the rights of the unborn child, which are also at issue. I fail to see by any stretch of morality, logic or simple common sense how one can place a person’s social or economic convenience over another’s pre-emi nent right to life. Furthermore, I cannot believe that by carrying a baby to term, it necessar ily follows that the mother’s “life is destroyed by any resulting stigma, ostracism and ridicule.” I would rather be stigmatized for not aborting an undesirable pregnancy than for committing legalized murder. Be sides, less than 3 percent of abortions in this country arc performed in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother. If you want a 100 percent effective form of birth control, Hamilton, I suggest you and/or your husband have yourselves fixed. That way all inter ests involved would be protected. You need not further fear having your life style disrupted and no future life would be threatened with extinction. It takes a different kind of strength and determination to keep a baby than the kind you speak of to destroy it. It is called unselfish motherly love. Your own mother evidently had it. Mark Ludwig junior law Editorial Policy Editorials do not necessarily re flect the views of the university, its employees, the students or the Nil 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. _ According to policy set by the regents, responsibility for the edi torial content of the newspaper lies solely in the hands of its student editors.__ Letter Policy The Daily Nebraskan welcomes brief letters to the editor from all readers and interested others. Letters will be selected for publica tion on the basis of clarity, originality, timeliness and space available. The Daily Nebraskan retains the right to edit ail material submitted. Letters and guest opinions sent to the newspaper become property of the Daily Nebraskan and cannot be returned. Anonymous submissions will not be considered for publication. Letters should Include the author’s name, year in school, imyor and group affiliation, if any. Requests to withhold names from publication will not be granted. 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