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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 8, 1992)
—-fr— CHRIS HALLIGAN True lessons not taught in class Never will I forget my gradu ation from high school. I was thinking, not about my awesome achievement in graduating, but how quickly I could make the summer pass before I was off to glo rious Nebraska to attend school and learn a bountiful plethora of informa tion from the cornucopia of educators who grace this university with their presence. I was ready to be stimulated by wise John Houseman-like professors. I was ready to be swept off my feet by thfe whirlwind of historical facts that would mold me into an informed citi zen who, by graduation, would be ready to make a mark on society as an educated symbol of the great Ameri can college student. Now, as I approach the finish line, completing four years of an educa tion that only could be described as colorful, I find the knowledge that has truly made a mark on my persona was not taught to me in a classroom by a bearded professor. At the same time, while thesecrash courses weren’t billed to me on my tuition statement and weren’t avail able for registration during one of my many scrap-scrambling general-reg istration sessions, these lessons did cost me a lot, and they were worth every penny. Because my English, history, cal culus and physics (liberal arts physics that is) classes haven’t offered me anything more than nap lime, I have come to the conclusion that if 1 am ever in a position to create new courses at this fine university, the following are what I would offer and why. More important than that intro ductory sociology course, more bene ficial than French 101, these courses would provide to students, primarily freshmen, the true lessons of life that only a college education can provide. Perhaps one of the most naive things 1 thought after arriving here was that the school was on my side. Not so. 1 can’t even fathom how much money this school has robbed from me for various lame reasons. Because this is the reality, I would create “How To Avoid Being Screwed By The Sys tem 101.” This course would approach dif ferent areas of the university that stay in business by taking advantage of various students’ naivetd. It will in form students of how many hours they have after the free drop-add deadline before they lose 100 percent of their tuition. It will tell where stu dents can purchase textbooks at some thing lower than the University Book store’s 300-perccnt-abovc-rctaiI prices. It also will tell how to avoid the Mafia-like manipulations in the uni versity’s policies for debt collection, including their token threat of kick More important than that introductory so ciology course, more beneficial than French 101. these courses would pro vide to students, primarily freshmen, the true lessons of life that only a col lege education can provide. ing one out of school if a S5 Health Center bill isn’t paid within the week. I figure the university should just lay it on the line in the first semester of school on its helpful policies for students. This course could be in cluded in the university’s underground freshmen wccd-outcourse listing that all New Student Enrollment advisers get in the summer. Certainly, we would have a substantial drop in freshmen p.nrnllmf'nl aftrr ctarlirur thic rnur^ The student financial situation always has been a hard lesson for incoming freshmen. These students couldn’t have dreamed that college would be such a financial disaster when they were carrying their heavy metal posters and stuffed animals up to their dorm roomsr as if these memories of high school would sus tain them through college. Because Mom and Dad think that S50 will be enough to carry a student through a month, the next course I would offer would be entitled “How To Stretch Dollars You Do Not Have 150.” Thiscoursc will be essential for all incoming freshmen, helping them keep their heads above the collegiate-fash ion and materialistic sea. First, we will address the benefits of credit cards. Never mind the 21-percent interest rates, this is free money to blindly purchase clothing attached to price tags you used to gag at in high school. It will pay for that Padre trip, that new Cannondale bike you can’t live without and those compact discs you need for your new compact disc player. We will also address the wondrous benefits of an occasional game of check tag. Yes, it is a federal offense, but when you’re getting charged $17.50 for each bad check you write, a bout of check tag with your best buddy can save.you literally hundreds of dollars in bounced-check fees. In check tag, two people write each other rubber checks to be depos ited into their respective accounts. This fake money will cover all of those checks you bounced the week preceding the bouncing itself. Even tually, of course, you will need to cover the amount, but the time and money you buy is essential. Of course, how to lie on your stu dent short-term loan application also will be addressed. A student learns very quickly that college and chemical dependency are one and the same. However, students may not know how to balance the two successfully. Therefore, I would of fer a course entitled “How To Be Chemically Dependent And Still Remain In School 181.” This could very well be the most important lesson to be learned in college, because many college stu dents are inherently alcoholic, or they indulge in frequent drug use. This is quite fine, perhaps even healthy, but can be a detriment to school work. This class will be dedicated solely to the secrets of surviving success fully while under the influence. We will study various hangover remedies and how to study successfully while stoned. We will talk candidly aboifc the lapse times of an acid trip. We will discuss the benefits of excessive caf icine ana an occasional cigarette. w e will teach the important lessons that these innocent freshmen will need to know to keep them from experienc ing that bothersome freshmen crash and burn that often occurs during the spring semester. Of course, these three courses simply would be a start. 1 could use this entire newspaper to list all of the other lessons I have learned at col lege, however hard and unguided they might have been. Everything from “How To Avoid An ASUN Election Successfully” to “How To Anger Students Through Opinion-Page Manipulation.” I truly can say the education that benefled me the most was the educa tion never offered in a classroom, so why not bring it to the classroom? These classes definitely could save an innocent freshman the money, hassle and jail time people such as myself have had to experience to learn the important lesson of life. Halligan is a junior political science ma jor and a Daily Nebraskan columnist. Writer should seek facts before judging judge The topics most columnists for the DN choose arc usually ones they have knowledge about. Although the col umn may read humorously, there is often an underlying moral to be had. The column “Judge won’t digest punishment” (DN, April 6) was obvi ously written without knowing all the facts. Unless Mr. Green knows the judge or was present in the court room, how can he “judge” the man’s character or intention? If Green had gathered all the information (as jour nalists should), he would know that the judge’s intention was to motivate the individual to take advantage of his opportunities to improve himself. The individual, who had already had a prison sentence for the same prob lem, quit his job because he didn’t like his boss. What the judge should have said (and what he meant to imply) is, “Look at how far the blacks have come. They have had to suffer a lot, but because they believe in them selves and their heritage, they fought for ihcir respect. You can’t quit every time you have an obstacle.” After having this man before him numer ous limes over the years and failing to motivate him while his debts increased, the judge became outraged. As a dramatic individual, the judge wanted to use an example of a movement worthy of recognition. Because he supports the equal rights movement, he attempted to show the significance of staying with what you feel strongly about in hopes to motivate this man to fulfill his responsibility as a parent. 1 am not saying Green is a. bad writer. I make an effort to compli ment him on his creative ability. It is one thing to write about Beatrice (his hometown, I assume). Condemning a man who was trying to do the oppo site of what he is accused of is not a good choice. Perhaps he should have told the readers how the judge said that he was sorry he would never have the opportunity to help those he had supported his entire life (black Amcri cans). Or, even the fact that he said the worst thing that could happen to him would be to lose the friendship of his friend and hunting companion, David, a black teen living next door who was treated as a son. Maybe Green could have been in the court room when the commission met to review the incident and the judge wept — not for himself, but for the African-Americans he had offended and the reputation his family would have. This man, who wanted to work without pay, has indeed suffered. I realize that I oppose Green’s topic choice because I know the events and the people involved. He should know this information before writing a column on it. Remember, these arc people, not just creative ideas. How ever, this column has helped me be come more aware of my responsibil ity as part of the media. Janelle Hergotl junior broadcasting -LETTER POLICY-:-— The Daily Nebraskan clcomes brief letters to the edito from all readers and interested oth s. Letters will be selectee or publi cation on the basis of clarity, origi nality, timeliness and space avail able. The Daily Nebraskan retains the right to edit or reject all material submitted. Submit material to the Daily Ne braskan, 34 Nebraska Union, 1400 R St., Lincoln, Neb. 68588-0448. Pro-choice headline inaccurate — - I don’t know who writes your headlines, that person either doesn’t really understand the “pro-choice” movement or doesn’t worry about accuracy. The “Crowd hopes to show support for abortion” sub head on page 2 Monday, April 6 is wrong. Members of the pro-choice movement do not “support abor tion” — they oppose legislation eliminating it as a choice. You don’t need to talk with very many pro-choice people before you find a significant number who feel that abortions are immoral and many more who feel certain that they personally could not choose an abortion, however unwanted their pregnancy. I would be astonished if you found any thoughtful propo nent of abortion rights who feels that abortions are a good thing. I would also like to comment about a statement included in Sean Green’s column (“Judge won’t digest punishment,” DN, April 6). I am troubled by the statement . . African-Americans with second class citizens, which is how most blacks are treated by this country’s legal system (along with those who forget to pay child support, of course).” I quite agree that blacks are frequently treated as second class citizens, and not just by the courts. But the column leaves me with the impression that Mr. Green feels that failing to pay child sup port is no more reprehensible than being born with dark skin. May I point out that people who “forget” to pay child support are breaking the law? They are committing a form of child abuse; it is not mere prejudice that says they should be treated differently from law-abid ing citizens. Alice Teter editorial associate Department of Chemistry Mouth Off If you have something to say, here is your chance to espouse your view, become a campus celebrity and get paid for it. The Fall Daily Nebraskan is accepting applications for columnists. (JNL does not discriminate in its academic admissions or employment programs and abides by all Federal regulations pertaining to the same ‘ t ^ _ _ _ ^ _ _ , y-,., . — . 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