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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 3, 1989)
Editorial ... Cun Wagner, Editor. 472-1766 L/3lly Amy Hdwards, Editorial Pax* Editor ^ Janc ,I,n- donating Editor | || |"P| C I^T Cl II Lee Rood, Associate Sews Edit >•' ^ WlJJAliU, n. Diana Johnson, Wire Paxe Editor University ot Nebraska Uncoin Chuck Green, Copy Desk Chief I.isa Donovan, Columned Segregation again Competition could ruin education system T^Jebraska’s Legislature is considering taking George I ^WRnch’c sn/i allou/ino chtHArOc frs nffpnd the elementary and secondary school of their choice. Why? Proponents of LB 183 have argued that the open enroll ment hill would force schools to compete for students, • thereby increasing the quality of education. In order to attract the most and the best students, schools would have to acquire the best teachers and maintain facilities and equipment. Students who have problems with particular teachers would be able to move to new schools and start over. Competition. That’s the American way, right? But competition, by nature, leads to a loser for every winner. LB 183 would probably be good for some schools and some students. But what about the rest? The schools that prosper, even if they grow, won’t be able to accommodate everyone. Students who were left behind would face degenerating facilities, decreasing state aid and the teachers that the other students are supposedly running away from. Schools viewed as inadequate would inevitably lose any competition for students. So students stuck at the worst schools would be worse off than before. The losing schools would be those that already are underbudgeted. Students leaving those schools would take with them $1,920 each in state aid. Also, some taxpayers would get stiffed while some would get off easy. If most parents in an area send their children to School District A, instead of School District B ~ where they live — taxpayers in District A would have to pay an increased tax to accommodate the larger enroll ment. Taxpayers in District B, if the school survived, would not have to pay as much but their children would still get the benefits District A taxpayers are paying for. And the open enrollment bill smells a bit like segrega tion. Whites could, and probably would, flock from schools in North Omaha or any other district where minorities aren’t so minor. High school and elementary students aren’t old enough to realize that cultural diversity is needed, healthy and important. That’s the American way, too. Separate but equal went out the door in 1954. Let’s not invite it back in. •• Brandon Loomis for the Daily Nebraskan 1 *PMW'W; Correct KRNU facts revealed Ev eryone has a right to express an opinion when that person has facts supporting his or her claim. But no one should have a right to sound off when they arc ignorant to the facts. Thai’s exactly what Mark Hoffman did when he criticized KRNU for not playing “alternative” music and trying to compete with area radio stations (Daily Nebraskan, March 21). First, KRNU gets its music do nated. Our budget is very fragile and we rely on record donations from 1/\aa1 rlArAC Tb a*-a f*/\rA iua a(*a ny\f ■ n IV/VUI UfcV/i VJ« I IIVI VIV/IV) »» V U* V • * a position to ask for hundreds of “alternative” music albums from stores to change format. We have to go with what we have. I’m surprised a broadcasting student wasn’t aware of this blatant fact. Second, KRNU is a learning facil ity first, and there is absolutely no competing with other area stations. KRNU is non-commercial; we don’t have to worry about scoring impres sively on the arbitron ratings to stay on air. Thai’s why KRNU can afford to put rookies on the air like Hoffman. Finally, KRNU docs offer alterna tive music. On Mondays, Wednes days and Fridays from 10 p.m. tc midnight and on Tuesdays from i p.m. to 10 p.m. students bring in the small samplings of music they own On these nights, they put logethe excellent shows. Also, we offer i sports talk show, news, sports broad casks of football, basketball and base ball home games. KRNU has th< most variety of any station in Lin coin. Rick Alloway is one of the mos dedicated and professional stalioi managers around. He is very mucl respected in the department, and if hi could change the format, he probabl would. However, what’s being pro posed is not feasible. If Hoffma would have been willing to ask a fev simples questions before writing t the Daily Nebraskan, he could hav saved himself much embarrassmem □ Tim Washbur junic broadcasts Ollie walks into gunfight alone _ . . . . /. . f • < I f \ T >1. Koyko says Keagan s The late Judge John King, a i tough South Side Chicago i Irishman, had a simple way of measuring a person’s loyalty and character. Of some people, he’d approvingly say: “If you have to walk down to the O.K. Corral, he’ll go with you.’’ Or with a sneer, he’d say of some one else: “If you have to go to the O.K. Corral, don't wait for that guy. He'll hide in the outhouse.’’ He w as referring, of course, to the legendary gunfight in Tombstone, Ariz., w hen Wyatt Harp, w ith his two brothers and Doc Holliday at his side, walked down to the O.K. Corral to lake on the bad guys. It was his way of saying w hether a person was, to use a Chicago phrase, “a stand-up guy.” I lk.u.nk> ..U,,... I.IS Imn'o ,,l.l fashioned standard while reading about the latest developments in the Oliver North trial. And I w as surprised and saddened to see that Ronald Reagan, the Old Cowboy, is still not inclined to walk down to the O.K. Corral with Ollie North. North’s lawyer has subpoenaed Reagan as a defense witness. That makes sense. They’d like to pul Reagan on the stand and gel him to concede that he knew a lot more about the Iran-Contra affair than he has admitted to. If North’s lawyer could do that, it would make North appear less of a loose cannon, breaking laws and thumbing his nose at Congress when he saw fit, and more of a loyal, obedi ent Marine, fulfilling the wishes of i his commander in chief. > Obviously, Reagan doesn’t want nouia testify to support ms ntru nunn o testify about what he knew or That w'ould probably make him didn’t know, since the justice depart- the first American fired and impris rieni has been fighting to keep him oned for acts ol heroism. It it hap jff the witness stand. pens, I can imagine other military This has to be a great disappoint- men saying: “What, you want to give ment to North. Although Reagan me a medal? Please, I beg you, don l. fired him when the scandal began I have a wife and kids to think ol. unfolding, Reagan made a point of So if there was ever a time when describing North as a “hero.” North needed a stand-up guy at his It has to be gratifying to be called side, it’s now. Alter all, it Reagan a “hero” by the president of the thought North was a “hero, that United Slates. must mean he approved of what North had been doing to further Rc _ agan’s goals. And if he considered North a hero, he must have been aware of what North was up to. Or else he wouldn’t have called him a hero, would he? Of course not. I can’t believe that - Ronald Reagan would tell the Ameri can people that someone was a hero il he didn't know’ for sure that he was. On the other hand, it must have Maybe he would have done that w hen been confusing to North to be fired he was a sports announcer, but surely and called a hero at the same time. It not as president, would be understandable if North This, then, would be the appropri said: “I thought they held parades for ate time for Reagan to say: I- _ . . ■■ I . ‘ I !• IWtll!- 1» m I it I vml IIUW kUIIK I 4.1 17111K MIJI V/llftW, I III Iiv/l w J' ~ instead of a ticker tape shower?” lake that long walk down to the O.K. By calling North a “hero,” Re- Corral all by yourself. I’m going to be agan persuaded a large segment of right there with you, partner.’ the population, who had never before That’s not too much to ask. Alter heard of the Marine colonel, that he all, Doc Holliday did it for Wyatt really was a hero. And that helped Earp, and Holliday was nothing but a North win most popularity polls dur- dentist w ho gave up pulling teeth for ing and after his testimony at the the life ofa card shark and gunlighter. congressional hearings. 1 think we have the right to expect But now the “hero” is up to his more from a president than a boo/ing cars in trouble, standing trial for ex-dentist, shredding government documents, Of course, there might be a,good providing illegal aid to the Contras reason why Reagan docsn l want to and other alleged mischief while walk down to the O.K. Corral with working in the White House. Ollie, the “hero.” If he’s convicted on even some of Maybe Reagan didn’t see the the charges, he could wind up in a movie, federal prison. ©The Chicago Tribune Student questions graffiti marker’s sentiments I On March 23,1 was walking along enough to even remember our last, drugs? 14th Street, I suffered a blast from the although undeclared war, Vietnam. I’m willing to bet you aren’t even past from the archaic anti-military In fact, out of all the active duty old enough to remember when the s sentiment that characterized the personnel in the building, there arc United States was involved in Vict 1960s and 1970s. On the garage cn- only a handful who were in the serv- nam. So, why don’t you forget about trance to the Military and Naval Sci- ice during Vietnam, and even fewer trying to reopen a wound in Amcr l cncc building, a rejuvenated anti- who actually experienced any com- ica’s past that is probably older than i military sentiment was expressed by bat there. Of course, the Tailed insult you are, and of which you understand i a lar|e, black, spray-painted “WAR couldn’t be addressing any of the very little? » PIGS. ... dedicated ROTC students since the Whatever your belief is, at least / Being a political science and his- combined combat experiences of believe in it enough to be able to - lory major, I think I would know if the these armed forces hopefuls only add profess it in public, not in the middle i u s- Armed Forces had actively par- up to a few fist fights. . of the night with spray paint on a / ticipatcd in any wars in the past 10 to To the person or persons respon- garage door. Even gay rights activ 3 . kul none come to mmd. sible for the graffiti, I say this: If you ists, who constantly receive negative z purely, the defunct flow/jrchild- must voice your opinion, at least be publicity, are man enough to an auinor of the graffiti must still be in brave enough to do it I’ c correct way. nouncc their beliefs in public! Grow touch with reality enough to realize How about an organized rally? Or up! You’re in college! Now, don t , t at the attempt of an insult to the perhaps a picket line or sit-in? In- you feel silly? ft dedicated armed forces personnel stead, why don’t you try coming back John Vela r inside is a total failure. Most of the to the present and support a real cause sophomore 8 people inside that building aren’told - like pro-life, pro-choice or anti- political scicncc/history