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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (March 23, 1990)
Editorial (Daily Nebraskan Editorial Board University of Nebraska-Lincoln Aifly Edwards, Editor, 472-1766 Bob Nelson, Editorial rage Editor Ryan Steeves, Managing Editor Brie Planner, Associate News Editor Lisa Donovan, Associate News Editor Brandon Loomis, Wire Editor Jana Pedersen, Night News Editor What Others Think Slave sale, music ratings disturb students Kansas University rugby needs a lesson in sensitivity. The team sponsored a “slave sale” March 1 at Johnny’s Up and Under. Apparently the “slaves’’ that were “sold” at the “sale” were not sold into a lifetime of hardship and | abuse. They were only slaves for a day. During this day of servitude, were the “masters” of I these slave allowed to beat, maim or kill their slaves on a whim? Probably not. No harm done? Wrong. A slave sale is typical of the ignorance and insensitivity I that plagues the University of Kansas campus. Paying someone for a day of services is a popular fund raising idea. But the name “slave sale” has connotations that deeply disturb many African-American students and should disturb everyone. If this type of thing is acceptable, then why not have a Holocaust fundraiser? Send someone you don’t like to the gas chamber. It’s just a joke — but not a funny one. Education is the key to ending this type of insensitivity, j Someone educated about the atrocities of slavery would think twice about naming a fund-raiser a slave sale. •• University Daily Kansan University of Kansas • The Arizona Senate Judiciary Committee approved a measure this week that requires warning labels on risque musical recordings. This is disturbing. ... While a rating system for movies now exists and while parents have the right to know what their children are listening to, requiring labels on musical recordings is not the way to accomplish this, especially in light of the fact that if the Arizona measure is challenged in this country’s highest court, it will, most likely, be struck down. Parents should take an active part in deciding what music their children select instead of watching the state of Arizona pass legislation that is well-intentioned, but un constitutional. •• Iowa State Daily Iowa Slate University opinion, —f^Mreader I Column lacks logical reason I opened the March 20 Daily Nebraskan and was very disappointed with the column that I saw by Jana Pedersen, a feminist. She started out the column saying that, “I call my self a feminist, despite all the nega tive connotations some people give the title.” She is the reason why so many people give feminists a bad name. 1 thought when I started this column it was going to be about a feminist that thought that condoms were right or wrong to use, and possi bly that this would be a well-written article. I was sorely mistaken. Ms. Pedersen starts her column out with some well researched infor mation supporting her feminist view, but then totally skips to a story about her buying condoms so that she can play an April Fools’ joke on her friend. I had to read the article again just to make sure that I hadn’t maybe fallen asleep in the middle and missed something. What does her being a feminist have to do with buying con doms? I asked myself that question several times and never came up with an answer because she, the writer, never provided me, the reader, with a logical reason. The answer she did give had something to do with her being surprised that she was embar rassed about that. Who cares? There was absolutely no reason why she had lo include her being a feminist in this column. I completely agree with Ms. Pedersen’s reasons why she is a femi nist. I think that women should have the same rights as men; however, I am constantly having the word femi nist shoved in my face by too many people and I’m sick of it, and I did not feel that the case of feminism needed to be brough' up in this article. Why does Ms. Pedersen feel that she has to announce that she is a feminist to the whole world? Should we roll out the red carpet for her? It’s the constant abuse of this word that makes it and the beliefs behind it lose all credibility. A style of clothing is good to wear until everyone uses it, then it has lost its impact, and nobody wants to wear it anymore. Figure out your priorities when it comes to writing. Are you going to write a well-researched column on why you arc a feminist, or are you going to write an entertaining per sonal story? For a story to be a col umn, it needs to have a fixed point that it’s working towards, a reason to have been written. This story lacks that certain reason. An entertaining story this is; a column this is not. Pat Piper freshman English ®#» Day-to-day living spawns apathy AS UN results prove how a few people can make a difference Life is full of it. Full of uncon cern, that is. Upon waking to an annoy ing 7 a.m. alarm yesterday, and grop ing under the bed for my half-inch thick spectacles, my mind immedi ately started tabulating self-impor tant thoughts of the day. First: What should l wear? Second: How much lime should I spend on my hair? Third: Should I eat breakfast? Fourth: What will we cat for sup per tonight? The pettiness list goes on and on. All the measly, self-absorbing types of thoughts every person ponders in a day-to-day existence. Once 1 headed into Lincoln, cruis ing down 1-80, I irritatingly noticed that the hood of my rusted red Subaru was spotted with early morning sprinkles. Just enough to make it dirty again, after I had spent $5 washing and waxing it only the day before. It kind of ticked me off. This is how we function in our self-revolving little worlds. After parking my car and plodding across campus, other more worldly thoughts began to intrude on my pri vate terrain. Then, I remembered: “Hey, the ASUN election results! I wonder who won.” As I reached for the paper, my jaw hit the floor when I read the results: “Five votes win ASUN election for VISION.” Frankly, I wasn’t surprised that VISION had won. What really threw me into a whirl was the fact that Deb Fiddelke and Brad Vasa had lost by only “five votes.” Later in the day I found out a recount had upped the winning total by one more vote, but that still makes only six votes. Only six votes! In the last couple of days, I had overheard several of my classmates say they had voted for TODAY in the first election ... but they didn’t plan on voting in the runoff. Some of them admitted they were bored with all the dirty politics. Most really weren’t interested. Tuesday night, in my Mass Media and Society class - a class full of broadcasting and news-editorial stu dents — ^ve were discussing current c. J. Schepers news events when someone asked: “Is anyone interested in ASUN elections?” A wave of grunts and groans filled the room. “What’s the difference?” some shrugged in response. Well, today boys and girls, we know what the difference is. The difference is six. Six students who had their chance to make a difference. And I'm sure — right now — many of them arc kicking themselves for not taking the time to vote. While 3,596 students turned out for the first election, 2,694 voted in the runoff. That’s 902 fewer students. Quite a difference, whichever side you voted for. I think that this election should serve as one helluva lesson to all of us, no matter who you supported or didn’t support. The lesson? Apathy sucks. Please excuse me if I sound like I’m silting here on my journalistic throne preaching about a global lack of concern over political issues. I admit: I’ve been apathetic, loo. Many times. I’ve often ho-hummed and shrugged at both politicians and environmen talists. People scream and shout, hang from trees, picket and protest. We squint at them and ask: “Arc you making some kind of point?” Look what a difference hanging in a tree at Cooper Park really made. But the ASUN election results make me wonder if we aren’t underestimat ing our power to make a difference. Our ability to make a difference in all kinds of social problems. Like alcoholism, racism, sexism, Langfor dism, stupidism (oops, sorry, got carried away there), or any other “ism.” Evidently, the generation behind us thinks that we do make some kind of difference. The other day, my kids firmly told me: “No more tuna.” They both confronted me with the facts of what these tuna nets are doing to the dolphins. “Nope, mom. You can’t make us eat hot lunch on Friday. It’s tuna casserole. “We want to take cold lunch.” They were serious. They really felt that they could make a difference. Maybe they’re just young and naive. I’m sure someday they’ll tians form into wise and unconcerned adults. Probably change their attitudes and grow more self-absorbed. Full of self-important daily thoughts. Kind of like the rest of us who are full of it. Full of unconcern. Schepcrs is a senior news-editorial major and a Daily NebrasAan columnist. editorial Signed staff editorials represent the official policy of the spring 1990 Daily Nebraskan. Policy is set by the Daily Nebraskan Editorial Board. Its members arc Amy Edwards, editor; Bob Nelson, editorial page editor; Ryan Steeves, managing editor;Eric Pfanner, associate news cditor;Lisa Donovan, associate news editor; Brandon Loomis, wire editor; Jana Pedersen, night news editor. Editorials do not necessarily re fled ihc views of the university, its employees, the students or the NU Board of Regents. Editorial columns represent the opinion of the author. letter—i The Daily Nebraskan welcomes brief letters to the editor from all readers and interested others. Letters will be selected for publi cation on the basis of clarity, original ity, timeliness and space available. The Daily Nebraskan retains the right lo edit all material submitted. Readers also are welcome to sub mit material as guest opinions. Whether material should run as a let ter or guest opinion, or not to run, is left to the editor’s discretion. Letters and guest opinions sent to Submit material to the Daily Ne braskan, 34 Nebraska Union, 14(X) R St., Lincoln, Neb. 68588-0448. the newspaper become the properly oi the Daily Nebraskan and cannot be returned. Letters should be typewrit ten.
