The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, January 18, 1989, Page 4, Image 4

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    Pa8e FrltffkrJai Nebraskan
4 i 1 XX X X XX X X CX X Wednesday, January 18,1989
Curt Wagner, Editor. 4.2-1766
Amv Hdwards, Editorial Page Editor
Jane Hirt, Managing Editor
Lee Rood, Associate News Editor
Diana Johnson, W ire Page Editor
Chuck Green, Copy Desk Chief
Lisa Donovan, Columnist
Bill would benefit all
Free classes for seniors an opportunity
If LB 180 continues to advance through the Nebraska
Legislature,Nebraska ‘oldsters’ who never had the op
portunity to attend college will get their chance free of
charge.
The bill, passed unanimously by the Legislature's Edu
cation Committee Tuesday, will allow residents who are
60 years old or older to attend classes tuition-free at any
state college or university.
The bill is a generous and inexpensive way of giving a
little back to Nebraska’s life-long citizens (uh ... taxpay
ers).
Tuition-free service would be provided only witn tne
instructor's permission and in classes where space is
available. Any fees other than tuition would be paid by
the elder student
These students would participate in all activities in the
class but would not receive college credit. If they did
I want credit, they would pay regular tuition.
And seniors would not be the only beneficiaries. Imag
ine sitting in class with your grandfather — wise with
years and eager to share.
These elder statesmen could bring a new perspective to
many classes because of their experiences. Creating a se
- mester project in Korean War history with a Korean War
veteran would add a perspective not found in texts or
1 from instructors.
ine Dm came up aunng me iasi legislative sessiuu, um
did not become a law.
Let’s hope it makes it through this year. As many a
grandparent has said, “You’re never too old to learn.’’
•• Curt Warner
for the Daily Nebraska*
DN owes apology to students
In response to Jim Hanna s humor
column (Daily Nebraskan, Jan. 17), I
must lake umbrage w ith a comment
he made.
“There’s no excuse for anybody
over 23 to still be in school,” is, even
in humor, a slam at all older students
attending this university. These older
students are over 23, they’ve in many
cases gotten on with their lives, and
now have an opportunity to accom
plish something they desire, whether
it’s a new career, completing an un
fulfilled dream or simply a desire to
learn.
They have every right to be here,
in many cases more rights than the
under 23-ycar-old student. These
older students have been paying taxes
to support this institution while the
younger students were still in diapers.
The older student has a right to attend
this university and I feel an apology is
necessary.
Andy Gucck
senior, pre-med
president, Adult Student Network
Editor’s Note: Webster’s New
World Dictionary defines satire as
a literary device “in which . . .
stupidities ... are held up to ridi
cule and contempt.” Ilanna sati
rized sometimes-obnoxious advice
columnists. Of course all people
have a right to higher education.
Senator sickened bv AaUiN
When 1 was re-elecled to serve on
AS UN Iasi spring, I was thrilled. The
prospect of serving my university
excited me, and I looked forward to
representing fellow-students’
thoughts and ideas.
Recently, however, several sena
tors have brought to my attention
some things that arc, covertly, going
on behind the AS UN scenes that
sicken me. I don't care lo go into
specific details, but am sure it will all
surface soon enough.
Now, I have stood by and watched
this senate write unwanted apology
letters, delay votes on important is
sues because they hadn't bothered to
do their homework and make a gen
eral mockery of student government.
Senators who have worked hard, such
m A .. A m
«r
as Sian Mommacris and Derrick
Brown, have been treated rudely and
slandered continuously, rather than
applauded for their diligence and
knowledge of the political process.
When this administration ran foi
office, it promised a great change
That things would be different. Well
yes, they definitely arc different... il
you’re looking for all lime low stu
dent support and respect for AS UN
and an incredible arrogance whief
runs rampant through this govern
mcnl. For these reasons, and many
more, I do not feel I can continue my
participation in ASUN, and there
fore, resign.
Libby York
Journalism
--
Signed staff editorials represent
the official policy of the fall 1988
Daily Nebraskan. Policy is set by the
Daily Nebraskan Editorial Board. Its
members are Curt Wagner, editor;
Amy Edwards, editorial page editor;
Jane Hirt, managing editor; Lee
Rood, associate news editor; Lisa
-—1
wire page editor; and Chuck Green,
copy desk chief.
Editorial columns represent the
opinion of the author.
The Daily Nebraskan’s publishers
are the regents, who established the
UNL Publications Board to supervise
the daily production of the paper.
Machine > ‘ Couldn’t6ET To deal WITH /
‘SSSfAJS'SE A hwlAN M'NM
machine. AND fJ§5/ MY 1
M«neycaRd won’t work"
Anesthesia uplifts Nelson’s optimism
Loaded columnist reveals six truths in life from dentist chair
My dentist’s voice faded into
the wail of his power saw. I
was spinning. I sucked
harder at the mask. The gas was
working. My life passed before my
eyes.
I thought about my 4th-gradc
teacher’s cver-visiblc bra strap. I
thought other profound thoughts.
Then I thought about college. My
three years of higher education
passed through my clouded mind in
seconds.
Why was I in school? What had'I
learned?
I took a deep breath and spiraled
deeper into self-analysis. From the
dissonance of drills, suction and
small-talk came a calm.
I had multiple revelations.
Parking meter readers are not evil.
I had always thought that parking
meter readers were vicious gargoyles
roaming the streets near campus,
plundering the pockctbooks of starv
ing students. That they were heartless
and greedy and ate children anti
sucked blood.
I was wrong. They smile and they
love. They marry, have offspring and
lead perfectly normal lives like all the
rest of us in spite of the heartless jeers
from lardy parkers.
A banquet in honor of our campus
(ickcters is certainly in order.
Money is important.
1 used to think solely of others. My
checkbook was your checkbook, my
beer was your beer. Scholarships
were for weenies and hot dogs were
luxury.
My dentist changed all that. Fri
volities like toilet paper arc impor
tant.
Ultimate truth and love are cheap.
I want a Porsche.
Chancellor Martin Massengale is
not charismatic.
1 had watched UNL promotional
spots during football games and mar
velled at Masscngale’s performance.
His booming oratory, the lire and
animation in his face, the Faulkner
esque hounding of his promo syntax.
Esnrti
As I lay dying in the denlisl chair,
l realized lhat although the chancel
lor has battled valiantly to maintain
the university’s scholastic integrity
on a measly SI.98 a year, he still
should be banned from television.
Freshmen ha\ e feelings too.
Around my sophomore year, I
believed freshmen deserved the con
stant ridicule they received. I consid
ered freshmen to be confused, imma
ture, boorish simpletons who helped
overcrowd easy classes.
I realized this was not true. I was
once a freshmen. I remember the tor
ture of wandering through life aim
lessly, tripping over the most trivial
of problems. I, too, got lost on the
way toclasses in the same building. It
was painful and I now wish to help.
For them, wc snouiu also nave a
banquet.
The people of Nebraska love foot
ball.
I had this vision. The NU Board of
Regents cut the football program
because of a lack of funds.
Slate-wide riots followed. Repub
licans and Democrats joined hands.
Savings accounts were drained; fur
niture sold. Tens of millions of dol
lars rolled into Lincoln to save the
Maskers.
Then the English Department \sas
cut for lack of funds.
Students changed their majors,
professors lost their tickets.
(•reeks and dormies are the same.
I use to think dormies and greeks
were innately different -- chemicals
in the womb, or something.
The gas changed all that. I saw
dormies shopping at Post and Nickel,
greeks playing video games I saw a
dormic named Biff wearing a Ski
Aspen cap. I saw a grcck listening to
Megadeth.
I fell like Mr. Lovc-and-unity.
Anyone can be a dork.
My dentist slapped me. I woke u n
the stench of blood and drool. He had!
finished stealing my wisdom teeth■
and wanted me out of his chair. !j
I grinned at him. 1 had gone to him!
expecting pain and came away with!
ultimate truth.
Of course, the gas had yet to weurn
Bob Nelson is a junior news-editorial
niiyor and is a Daily Nebraskan asstniateH
news editor and columnist.
letter—i__... - \
The Daily Nebraskan welcomes brief
letters to the editor from all readers.
Letters will be selected for publication
on the basis of clarity, originality, timeli
ness and space available. The Daily Nc
braskan retains the right to edit all mate
rial submitted.
Readers also are welcome to submit
mulcrial as guest opinions. Whether ma
terial should run as a letter or guest opin
ion, or not to run, is left to the editor s ■
discretion.
Submit material to the Daily Nebras-B
kan, 34 Nebraska Union, 1400 R St.fl
Lincoln, Neb. 68588-0448.
Campus Notes by Brian Shellito
NO, tT'£ NOT SOtOdU’
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