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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (March 14, 1990)
Senator, Nee, Cooper Park protesters upset readers Ecology students say park protest was misdirected Amidst all the media hoopla over the Cooper Park escapades, the ob jectives of the environmcntalists/tree sitters/fence scalers have been ob scured. If the groups and individuals involved were attempting toconvince us to be more aware of the long-term impacts of human activity on the environment, we laud them and en courage them; if, as it appeared, their goals were to save a handful of trees, we feel the activities of the last couple of weeks were quite misguided. We, as students of ecology (as defined by Krebs, a well-known con temporary ecologist, to be “the sci entific study of the interactions that determine the distribution and abun dance of organisms”) earn our keep investigating the impact of various factors on native organisms of the Great Plains. Although not usually the focus of our studies, we acknowl edge the impact of humans on native systems, and, as such, we arc also environmentalists. Habitat reduction following human activities has had severe impacts on many native spe cies. One such activity involves the introduction and cultivation of exotic species by naive (albeit well inten tioned) individuals and groups. The trees of Cooper Park are one example. The 28 elm, 21 locust, 17 hackberry, nine cedar, four pine, four ash and two crabapplc trees that were removed arc not indigenous to prairie environ ments and their presence in this re gion is emblematic of the very “prog ress,1 1 as decried by Bob Nelson, which humans have wrought on the tallgrass prairies of this region. i iiruugn momuzing to rescue the Cooper Park trees, these environ mentalists imply, by their action, that it is acceptable to destroy native vegetation to plant exotics such as these trees, but it is unacceptable to remove these very same weeds in order to expand a school. Yes, James Zank, we applaud the efforts of the Lincoln Public Schools to improve our school system and improve the educational opportunities of our chil dren; we also applaud the citizens of Lincoln who participated in the demo cratic process of public hearings and voting for the bond issue for improve ments of Lincoln’s public schools in 1988. We submit that most conserva tionists (conservation as defined by Teddy Roosevelt to mean “the wise use of natural resources’ ’) would agree that the clearing of less than 20 per cent of the trees (from a stand of 500) in order to improve the educational opportunities of a large number of students is indeed a wise use of our natural resources. We agree that many development projects of past and present have been implemented without taking into account their long-term impacts on the environment. We arc quite ex cited,however,by the large number of people who feel that this is no longer acceptable behavior. Nonetheless, we feel there arc much more worthy causes for individuals and groups to cham pion: the preservation of local tracts of native prairie, actively opposing the Two Forks Dam project, support ing conservation of the Platte River system, and recycling, just to name a few. The importance of realizing our mistakes and taking steps to clean up the environment need to be applauded, and Ecology Now (perhaps they would be more appropriately referred to as Environment Now) has taken great steps to make people aware of impor tant environmental issues. However, in the final analysis, we feel that no matter how noble these group’s in tentions might have been, concerning this issue, their efforts have been misdirected. Spence Behmer Rich Alward John Rowe graduate students ecology Longsine shocked, questions wisdom behind comments This is an open letter to State Sen. Lorraine Langford of Kearney. The occasion of my 23rd birthday a few weeks ago brought to mind the question, “Will I ever feel like an adult?’’ Now, having been exposed to your wisdom, I can answer un ashamedly. No. I will never feel like an adult. Formally, the distinction between child and adult was one between those who are developing physically, and those who have developed. But it is also used to distinguish between those who have grown beyond concrete operational thinking abilities into abstract thinking modes. Unfortunately some people, hav ing developed physically, never grow to think abstractly. Even more people, who possess some basic abstract think ing ability, never use it. They cease growing and become mature. Ma ture, I trust, you will recognize as your self-inflicted euphemism for reactionary, unthinking and inflex ible. I’m intrigued by your idea that young people make some of the worst decisions in the world. I have long been convinced that the worst deci sions in the history of the world have been made by white men over 30. However, most of the truly cataclys mic world happenings have been due to the failure of while men over 30 to think about things in such a way as to make defensible ihe proposition that they had actually made decisions. Only in the modern age of expanding civil rights and liberation is it possible to make a similar generalization about white women over 30. Soon anyone over 30 will be equally responsible. I am shocked by your accusation that young people are disinterested in policy issues. From my experience, young people are highly interested in even such mundane policy issues as arise in the Nebraska Legislature. Many of us arc distraught that our senators waste time with efforts to limit the rights of expression and at tempts to inflict flag worship on un suspecting youth in primary grades. Many students are also stupefied by our senators’ perceived need for con voluted taxation of illegal activities in Nebraska. Transparent legislation, laws clearly written for clearly de fined purposes and well crafted to provide clear effects are nearly al ways superior tools from the stand point of concerned citizens. I don’t have time to follow dozens of con fused rambling proposals from the Unicameral. 1 have, until now, been a disinter ested opponent of such things as a vote for the student-regent. However, I now believe that such minor prob lems as double representation can be easily eliminated and that some bene fit may result. Students are obviously not being adequately represented by senators such as you, and perhaps that IN CONCERT Alligator Recording Artist Charlie Musselwhite and his Blues Band "With unabashed excellence, Musselwhitc and his band set the standard lor blues bands everywhere." - Rolling Stone j Wed., Thurs., March 14-15 I he Zoo Bar, 136 No. 14th St. is right. After all, they make up only a small portion of your constituency. If it is only that you have lost touch with students, I would be more than happy to arrange a meeting between you and some students concerned about whatever list of policy issues that you provide. Take heed though, some students will be so immature as to seriously consider new solutions to old problems. Gary W. Longsine senior economics and international affairs Biased statement made by senator provokes reader It is remarkable how far ignorant, bigoted people can go in this state. While it’s been obvious that you can be the governor of Nebraska and still be an imbecile, I had hoped that the Legislature was composed of more culturally aware, intelligent people. State Sen. Lorraine Langford has proven that wrong. If students in the age range of 18 to 20 make the “worst decisions in the world,’’ how does that speak for the quality of our educational system? If students can’t be trusted to share their insight into our educational system, then damn it, Sen. Langford, why don’t we just stop the the whole edu cational process, sell off the univer sity properly and save the taxpayers’ dollars? Let’s just make the state into a wasteland of impoverished farmers and nuclear waste dumps. Why don’t we just disband the state of Nebraska as a whole') This is of course an extreme idea, but then it seems as though Sen. Langford is extremely prejudiced against a group of people of a certain age who want to learn. Never mind that there arc people in that group who defend in our armed services, work on politicians’ campaigns, strive to end the nuclear arms race, work for the preservation of the environment and usually hold down part-time jobs in addition to attending school and maintaining households. I want to assure the feeble little mind of this senator that no one I know has a lifestyle that would be appropriate as ihe screenplay for “Animal House IV.” Sen. Langford doesn’t trust stu dents to make good decisions, and we’re the ones that are going to do it in the future. I only hope that the young people of her district are lis tening so they can make a good deci sion when she comes up for re-elec tion. No one should have to put up with such an arrogant, biased, short sighted, out of touch individual, let alone allow foer to hold public office. James A. Zank junior arts and sciences Disappointed fans form club against basketball coach After sitting through an absolutely pitiful season of basketball hereatthe University of Nebraska-Lincoln we have decided to start our own club called the “NEE must flee” club. We cannot believe that with all of the money and tremendous facilities the athletes have available that Danny Nee cannot and has not produced a team that is at least competitive on a national level. It certainly says some thing that people, Dick Vitale for one, have called the Bob Devaney Sports Center “the best place for the worst basketball.’’ J With the exception of one player (who has no business on the court of a Division I basketball game) Ne braska has some real talent. Clifford Scales could play for many of the better programs around the country, and if Nee would quit treating Rich King like a child and let him build some real confidence, he could de velop into a very successful college player. Carl Hayes has shown some real talent and if Nee doesn’t ruin him, he should be awesome. We realize that the Big Eight Conference has really turned into a powerhouse, but what about our non conference schedule? Wyoming beats us by JO points' There is no way they have that much of an advantage on us in talent. Mi ami or Ohio beats us? Come on! Nee has had four years now to implement his own system with his own players and look at what it got us. As students, we feel like we arc being cheated out of at least some excitement. Look at what Tony Bar one has done at Creighton in the same amount of lime Nee has been here. Digger Phelps has been booed at Notre Dame this season and look at us. We cannot believe that there is not any more negative press for our basket ball program. If you compare the amount of heat being pul on the ath letic programs here at the university, you would think that the football team is the loser. And to lop it all off. Bob Dcvaney gives Nee an automatically rolling over contract for four more years! It makes you wonder if Dcva ncy really wants a winning basketball program that will take away some of the limelight from his pride and joy (ours, too): the football team. Another classic example of what a fine coach Nee is, is how he handled Eric Johnson last season. In the first two games of last season he scored something like 61 points, which prompted Nee to shut him down. Hindsight is always 20/20 granted, but look where he is now. Would anyone who watched the way Nee handled him have been able to see his real talent and leadership? The fact that he is playing for the Utah Jazz in the NBA should speak for itself. Our suggestion: Fire Danny Nee and buy out his contract. We doubt that this will ever happen here, but if it does, we should hire someone like Rick Barnes from Providence, R.I., who will be taking a team with much less talent to the NCAA’s. Or how about an assistant from a program like North Carolina, which is where Kansas got Roy Williams who will probably win the coach of the year award this season. Brian Staudenmaicr senior marketing Tyc Martin junior business administration Negative views of senator surprise student Dear Sen. Langford, It is attitudes like yours which help to perpetuate the negativism toward the youth of today. I was shocked by your comments concerning your opposition to the proposed student trustee vote on the basis of “imma turity” and apathy of college stu dents. I am surprised that you are not carrying your backward attitude and stereotypes one step further by sitting at home cooking and cleaning for a living. The day before your comments were made, an article (DN, March 9) showed the following; “About 500 students at Arizona State University in Tempe demon strated last month after regents voted to raise yearly tuition by SI 16 for in state students to $1,478, and $1000 for out-of-stalc students to $6484 at ASU.” “In Oklahoma, 10,000 students attending public colleges and univer sities presented regents a petition protesting proposed tuition increases ranging up to 12.5 percent.” These figures show that college students arc “worried about the courses taught and how much those course cost.” I am certain that, should tui tion increases of similar magnitude be proposed in Nebraska, students would not just stand by and let things happen. In addition, if students between the ages of 18 and 20 “make the worst decisions in the world,” why do 18-ycar-olds have the right to vote? When U.S. Senator Jennings Ran dolph was fighting to give 18-year olds this right in the early ’70s, he obviously felt that they were mature enough then, as they arc now. I would only question the maturity and ability to make political decisions of those 18- to-20-ycar olds in Kearney who voted to elect you to the stale Legis lature. Amy Lee senior meteorology Pickles’ low prices will shock you but not this bad! Nobody sells more music for less. 4 17th & P • 237 S. 70th 3814 Normal