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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 30, 1989)
Editorial *| Curt W'agner, Editor, 472-J766 ^UailV ^ Amy Edwards, Editorial Page Editor Ink. 1 >>lab ,-ol i , ^ _ Jane Hitt, Managing Editor I \ r* 11^ mT T| Lee Rood, Associate News Editor X ^ ^ J5 ft. Diana johnsoni Wire Page Editor University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chuck Green, Copy Desk Chief Lisa Donovan, Columnist Prop. 42 supported Academic standards must apply to athletes Earlier this month, the NCAA voted to tighten en trance requirements for student-athjetes into univer sities, stirring debate among coaches, administrators and black educators across the nation. Proposal 42, passed by the NCAA in a narrow 163-154 vote, prohibits students who are academically ineligible from receiving scholarship aid. The new proposal stiffens rules under Proposition 48, which sets academic guide lines for incoming freshmen student-athletes. When 42 becomes effective in 1990, student-athletes who do not achieve scores of 700 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test or 15 on the American College Test and a 2.0 grade point average in 11 high school core courses will be denied athletic scholarships. Proposition 48 asks for the same academic standards, but partial qualifiers can still receive athletic scholarships. Partial qualifiers must sit out their freshmen season, and are eligible for only three years of play. The problem with 42, opponents say, is that it is unfair for minority and underprivileged youth because the ACT and SAT are conceded to be biased against those students. Statistics done by the College Board, an independent group that writes tests, show that whites have consistently outperformed minority students on the test. But the statistics also show that the new standard for student athletes is within reach of the average black student. In 1988, black students scored 37 points above the Proposal 42 limit of 700 on the SAT. I Proposal 42 is not racially-based, it's based on the way student-athletes and student non-athletes are treated by universities. It’s based on coaches’ current abilities - under 42 ina bilities — to exploit these youngsters in the name of victory. Student-athletes should not be allowed to waste four years of their lives playing for the glory of their univer sity, with little or no hope of earning a degree or skill they can use in the workforce. , As sad as it sounds, this currently happens. Universities are doing a disservice to the athlete and the public when a student-athlete leaves the institution only to play professional sports. According to USA Today, only 2 percent of all college athletes do become professionals, and 60 percent of those end their careers within three years. I A university s mission is to educate those attending it, and to award those who work at gaining that education. Under 42, those deserving student-athletes will be awarded scholarships. Why should a university award scholarships to an in dividual who has not worked in high school to reach the university level? Why should that athlete’s friend, who wants to continue learning and excels at a non-athletic skill, not have the same chance? Talentrbased scholarships do exist, but they are not as readily available as athletic scholarships. ^ The student athlete, like any other student, would be entitled to grants and loans on a need basis during the freshman year. The student-athlete, like any ocher stu dent, could get a job as a freshman, or attend a commu nity college until grades had improved. Then, as a sophomore, the student-athlete could receive a scholarship, play and continue to work on grades. [All 42 proposes to do is start the student-athlete’s good study habits in high school, and eventually provide the student-athlete with an education that, in the long run, will result in a job lasting longer than athletic abilities do. And for that, many individuals will benefit from Proposal 42. •* Curt Wagner for ike Daily Nebraskan ( HO PEALS ] \ UNLESS I / I GET A FALL I Vjsuv se£ Civ,,-,. © *8* tl OHBjjlQ PM.V NtEftA$KA»J Student chatter amuses columnist Conversationist make daily pilgrimage to Love Library Love Library is a great place to gel studying done if you can find a nice, quiet little comer to do your homework. Unfortunately for me, I didn’t look too hard for that “quiet little comer” last Saturday, when I studied for 6 1/2 hours for an exam I have today. But while looking over my notes in that southern most lounge on the 2nd floor of Love, those 6 1/2 hours seemed to fly by. Why? Because students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln are so entertaining. Anyone who has ever tried to study there knows exactly what I mean. That particular area of Love is far from quiet. It’s more like a confer ence room, a Mecca for students who don’t want to talk outside, where it’s cold and rainy. People walking through the corri dor on their way to the stacks or the periodicals section are usually en gaged in some last-minute, full-vol ume conversation before they gel down to some serious whispering or, maybe, some studying. Luckily, I had only two weeks of notes to study, so I allowed the full amusement of some of the comments I heard to sink in. I decided to write down a few of the choice monologues as the day progressed. They were just too good to keep to myself, so 1 thought I’d share some of the better ones with Daily Nebraskan readers. Several things that I heard were just loo offensive to put in this col umn. But I did included a few that might offend some people. Just lake it with a grain of salt. I did. These are just a few things 1 heard spill forth from the mouths of several students. Honest... “My English professor embar rassed me in front of the whole class Friday. He asked me where I was Wednesday and made me answer in front of everybody. I don’t see where it’s any of his business if I sleep through his class.’’ “My girlfriend says I’m insensi tive and uncaring, but I think the bitch is wrong.’’ “God, can you smell that? Whoo, that was a bad one. Glad we weren’t in the car. Hch heh heh!’’ “I hate this weather, but I guess I won’t be mowing the lawn tomor row.” “I’m gelling preuy sick of my boyfriend, but I guess I’ll keep him until after Valentine’s Day.” "I’m not too worried about it. When all else fails, there’s always plagiarism.” “I haven’t been in this place fora long time. My grades show it, too.” “Why is it that every time I come in here, people arc always talking? I thought this was a library.” ‘‘All night long. That parly went on all night long. I should have gone toil.” “I got a personal last week. It was great, except my name was spelled wrong.” “Something in this library really smells...” ‘ Geeez! What died in here?” “That movie really sucked last night. I’m glad I didn ’t have to pay for it. “That guy won’t leave me alone. He’s such an (expletive).” “I forgot what it was like to puke my eyeballs out.” “I’m starvin.’ Hey, let’s go do a little donut action!” “The basketball game . . . what was the final score? ... Damn it!” “Norm Stewart’s a bigger clown than Danny Nee.” “My sunglasses! Where the hell did I leave my damn sunglasses?!” “This girl I know’s havin’ a party. That should be good for a few laughs.” “My job sucks. I’m gonna tell my boss that I can’t work as many hours. I’m not his slave.” “It would suck to die.” “I can’t wait for Spring Break. I’m gonna get laid so-o-o much.” “That party had too many cretins at it.” Nodoubl! (I his was hearil lour limes Saturday -- three of which came from the same guy in a span of 15 seconds). “Is it supposed to snow tonight? Glad I don’t have to shovel it. I shovel enough (expletive) at that house of mine.” There were several slurs directed at UNL professors, other students and various other people making news these days, and there were a few ac tual names mentioned as well. If stu dents knew how funny they arc some times, they’d never get out of bed (myself included). Who says higher education is tix) serious? Greco Is a senior news-editorial and criminal justice m^ior, the Daily Nebras kan’s copy de* chief, and a sports and edito rial columnist. Campus Notes I by Brian Shellito -± — --- VAK DO \ 5CQATCW TVC PLAN'Ts H€ FEEUNG TfcM CR l IMvES" SOMETHING >5 IK A MALE'S • WPOKG ? _„
