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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (March 7, 1989)
Editorial I Nebraskan University of Nebraska-Lincoin Curt Wagner, Editor, 472 1766 Amy Kdwards, Editorial Page Editor Jane Hirt, Managing Editor Lee Rood, Associate News Editor Diana Johnson, Wire Page Editor Chuck Green, Copy Desk Chief Lisa Donovan, Columnist Scholarships needed Legislature should pass minority fund The Daily Nebraskan urges state legislators to ad vance from the education committee and pass a bill that would establish a $1 million endowment for undergraduate minority student scholarships at the Uni versity of Nebraska. The bill, LB453, is needed to increase the scholarship base at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and other colleges so recruiters can attract and retain minority students. The bill would appropriate $800,000 in state funds. Private donations would cover the other $200,000. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha, said he originally wrote the bill to include only black students at UNL. But Chambers said Monday that he would be willing to include black, Hispanic and American Indian students at both UNL and the University of Ne braska at Omaha. This is a good move, considering the small numbers of all min/vrin/ irmimv at invtiturifYne « As James Griesen, UNL vice chancellor for student affairs, said Monday, universities have been “moving in the wrong direction” in terms of minority enrollment. A need exists to reverse the trend of decreasing minor ity enrollment in higher education. For example, Griesen said black students made up 5.5 percent of the college population nationwide in 1976-1977. This dropped to 4.9 percent in 1986-1987. Enrollment of blacks at UNL in 1988-89 is 1.6 percent, while the total enrollment of the targeted minority groups is only 2.7 percent. This is dismal, and the Nebraska Legislature needs to address the problem. Legislators must follow the lead of other concerned citizens, who have donated nearly $90,000 to the cause. Former UNO football player Rick Davis and his family, NU football coach Tom Osborne and athletic director Bob Devaney all realize the problem exists and are fighting for it to end. Financial restrictions often rob minority students-of an education. The Legislature can turn it around. - Curl Wagn«r for the Daily \ebraskan Native American students say remains bill a campus concern, should be considered The attention given LB340 and ASUN Senate Bill 65 have certainly aroused controversy and revealed the ignorance that is still prevalent in this society. As we were informed; the respon sibility of the Association of Students of the University of Nebraska is to represent the student body - their first and foremost concern. In which case every student on campus should be assured of proper representation. Although this should be the case, it seems that some ASUN senators are not aware that Native American stu dents also exist on this campus and are a part of the student body. Does ASUN only represent one group of chiH/>ntc anrt ih#»ir rr»nr<»m«9 With this realization LB340 would defi nitely qualify as a student issue and does have an effect on this university. Most anthropologists and arche ologists are employed by universities because the profession itself is not economically able to sustain them otherwise. This being the case, we must ask the question, “Who subsi dizes their research, who pays their salary? Who provides the forum by which their research is acknowl edged?” Primarily the university. How is the university ably to do these things? Partially through funds from student tuition as well as taxes paid as residents of this stale. Therefore, this is even more evi dence that LB340 is a student issue, since all students must pay tuition and some pay state taxes. Furthermore, Indian people do nol and never have considered anthro pologists as being advocates for oui rights or our issues. In fact the cxacl opposite has more often been true Anthropologists have done more tc exploit our culture and beliefs foi purposes of their own tenure than tc help indigenous peoples. This university by its very nature is based on European philosophy and thought, which ignores Native American philosophy, so by indicat ing a biased representation of the is sue, they have totally ignored this fact. We agree that “ASUN’s eye should be turned toward the better ment of the University of Nebraska 1 UCICIUIC, wc suggest 11131 ASUN work for a university that in cludes Native American knowledge history and philosophy. This would contribute to excellence at this uni versity. Incidentally, if ASUN has no impact on the Nebraska Legislature, as ASUN Sen. Jill Durbin suggested, then: 1) Why have a Government Liaison Committee? 2) Why has Durbin taken a position on other government issues? Gail Spotted Tail “Sicangu” Lakota Renee Saunsoci “Umonha” Tribe Marcy Gilbert “Minni Kwo O Jou” Lakota People make excuses not to vote Royko proposes combination of election day, national lottery When the votes were counted after Chicago’s primary for mayor this week, about one third of the registered voters were elated. Another one-third were disap pointed. And the final third didn’t give a hoot. Those who didn’t give a hoot are the half a million or so who didn’t vote. That’s about the pattern you’ll find in most city, state and national elections. Atleastathirdof the voters sit it out. Now don’t worry, this is not going to be a civics lecture on why people should exercise their precious right to vote. I’ve never written such a column and I never will. Actually, it has always been a dream of mine that on election day, everybody decides to stay home — except me. Tbnn I ■ 1 r\ kn I k a rvnln am/1 • • »» VUIM vv HIV VIIIJ » V/iVI UIIU that would make me what politicians call “a king-maker.” If that happened, I’d have candi dates flocking to me with offers of big jobs and consulting contracts. Candidates would tell me: ‘‘If you gel me elected, you will always have my car.” Not that I’d want a candidates ear. Even if the ear was sealed in plastic or dropped in ajar of embalming fluid, what would I do with such an object? As a knicknack or paperweight, it would be unsightly. So I never urge people to get out there and exercise their right to vole. After all, not voting is also a citi zen’s right, although I’ve never heard anyone talk about the many brave men who gave their lives for the right not to vote. Actually, I don’t believe many soldiers have laid down their lives for the right of others to vote. If you took a survey of combat troops and asked them about it, I’m sure I know what their answer would be. ‘‘Hi, there, soldier. In about one minute, you will catch a bullet. That will be the end of you. But because of your sacrifice, future generations will have die right to vote. How do you feel about it?” Most would respond, ‘‘If it’s all the same to you, pal, I prefer avoiding that bullet. Can’t we skip the voting and just pick our leaders’ names out of a hat?” But to get back to those who don’t vote and why. Some won’t vote because they arc finicky and don’t like any of the can didates. They are waiting for Mr. Perfect to come along. Which means they can live to be 125 and they’ll still Others don’t bother because they have become disillusioned. Many of them arc poor and live from hand to mouth, rent day to rent day. Some voted in the past, believing that a candidate would make their lives fuller and richer. Instead they arc still poor and miserable. So they figure it’s a waste of precious shoe leather to get conned again. Still another group that sits out elections in great numbers is the young. Most studies show that those between the ages of 18 and 25 arc most likely to be indifferent to poli tics. That’s because they aren’t mar ried, don’t own homes, pay no prop erty tax and don’t have children of school age. So the candidates seldom address issues that are vital to young voters. Think about it — when was the last lime you heard a candidate say: “If I am elected, I promise all you young voters that I will do everything in my power to introduce new pro grams that will help you get it on.” And there arc always some who have the misfortune to be incapaci tated on election day. I’m not refer ring to those who have permanent disabilities, since they can get absen tee ballots. I mean those who were hit the night before by a flying grape. If a person has a hangover so severe he can’t go to work, it is inhuman to ask him to go to a polling place, when there is probably a bar even closer. Finally, there is a group, probably the biggest, that doesn’t bother to vote because . . . how can I put it diplomatically? Well, I suppose you can say they’re just dumb. Chances arc, they can’t tell you who the candi dates are because they don’t read anything and watch only soap operas, wrestling and Gcraldo. If anything, we’re better off if they don’t vote. Every voter doesn’t have to be a po lineal science graduate, but tne least they should know is who they hate and why. There are those who will disagree with me — do-gooders who believe it is disgraceful that Americans don’t exercise this (they always call it “precious”) right. Maybe they’re correct. It’s pos sible that if more people voted, we might have fewer inebriated con gressmen and cliche-spouting presi dential candidates. But if they want a big turnout, they won’t get it by preaching and yam mering about “your responsibilities as a good citizen.” Not if they want 98 percent of the eligible voters to go to the polls, I’ll tell them how to do it. Combine election day with a na tional lottery. Give every voter a chance to make a few million dollars if his lucky number comes up. It would not only bring out the voters, it would be fair. After all, why should the candi dates be the only ones with a chance to hit the big jackpot? © 1989 by the Chicago Tribune. Student says term ‘radical’ inappropriately applied by Howell I would like to know why M ichelle Howell, secretary of the Model United Nations, finds it necessary to refer to those of us who protest against the wall of prejudice here at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as “radicals.” I would think that given her position within the Model United Nations, she would applaud student aspirations to eradicate fear, ignorance and prejudices which are rampant on this campus and through out the world. It is a sad reflection on our student body and our society at large that those who strive to facilitate peaceful acceptance and equality for all arc given labels such as radicals. This is supposed to be a university, not an exclusive club! The very word university implies that folks from all walks of life, of all cultures, creeds, philosophies and lifestyles arc con verging in one place with a common goal of higher learning and broader range of thought. Lorrilyn R. Herd junior secondary education student blasts writing service Hard working, ambitious, intelli gent --alio! these words describe Mr. James Cannon, president of Inde pendent Writing Service (Daily Ne braskan, March 3). Congratulations on not becoming a drug dealer or a pandcrer. Most folks who arc social outcasts turn to crime, but you have cleverly circumvented the written law and are now creating another avenue for your fellow Americans to take on our way to lethargy, igno rance and moral decay. You’re a great guy. Thanks! Paul Knopp ^ senior English
