The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, September 18, 1992, Page 4, Image 4
Opinion « Nebraskan * Editorial Board University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chris HopJ'ensperger..Editor, 472-1766 Dionne Searcey. . . ..Opinion Page Editor Kris Karnopp. Managing Editor Alan Phelps.Wire Editor Wendy Navralil.Writing Coach Stacey McKenzie ......Senior Reporter Jeremy Fitzpatrick.. ... .'••.. Columnist _ Acing the ACT Spanier's plan would put Nebraska at top ebraska’s high school students have made the state proud again for the third year in a row. They have managed to score above the mean on the American College Test. The ACT is based on a 36-point scale and tests students in the areas of English, math, reading and science reasoning. Nebraska’s average of 21.2 was above the national average of 20.6 on the ACT. But really, the students’ good showing is nothing to write home about. Nebraskans’.6 lead is hardly impressive for a state that brags about its strong emphasis on secondary education. The state’s low population ^nd smaller classroom size should allow high school students thebxtra attention they need to score far above the national average. And even these same students who score high on the ACT wind up dropping out of college. The average ACT score for UNL’s incoming freshmen during the 1991-92 school year was 22.4. UNL admission standards require students to obtain at least a 20 on the ACT, graduate in the lop half of their class or complete a set of core courses. Most prospective students requesting admission to UNL arc score a 20 on the test, Lisa Schmidt, UNL director of high school and college relations, said. Yet many students give up on school after their first year at UNL. UNL Chancellor Graham Spanicr’s plan to step up admission standards would save these students the trouble of coming to school only to find out they couldn’t cut it. No matter what they scored on the ACT. The plan would also require students to take more core courses before entering the university. These college-prep courses surely would help students improve their ACT scores as well. Better ACT scores would put Nebraska’s high school students where they should be — far above the rest. Stilling the gossip Campaign needs to focus on real issues During this election year, tales ol extramarital affairs, drug use and youthful transgressions dominate the news. Hardly the meat and potatoes of a political campaign, but with cynicism toward government growing steadily, we have gotten in the habit of scrutinizing every aspect of our presidential candi dates. At the forefront of political gossip this year have been service records — who’s got them, and who managed to get out of having them. As the story goes, Bill Clinton finagled his way out of the draft during the Vietnam War. But for that matter, so did Vice President Dan Quayle. And probably thousands of other young men who were afraid to die. So why all the flap? If Clinton ever wants to put this matter behind him, he should simply confront it head-on, like he did with rumors about an alleged affair with Gcnnifcr Rowers. But we need to be careful about being distracted from the bigger picture by characteristics that really don’t affect the president’s ability to do his job. The Daily Ulini -1 1 Staff editorials represent the official policy of the Fall 1992 Daily Nebraskan. Policy is set by the Daily Nebraskan Editorial Board. Editorials do not necessarily reflect the views of the university, its employees, the students orthc NU Board of Regents. Editorial columns represent the opinion of the author. I he regents publish the Dai{y Nebraskan. 'Ihcy establish the UNL Publications Board to supervise the daily production of the paper. According to policy set by the regents, responsibility for the editorial content of the newspaper lies solely in the hands of its students. Ihe Daily Nebraskan welcomes brief letters to the editor from all readers and interested others. Letters will he selected for publication on the basis of clarity, originality, timeliness and space available. The Daily Nebraskan retains the right to editor reject all material submitted. Readers also are welcome to submit material as guest opinions. The editor decides whether material should run as a guest opinion. Letters and guest.opinions sent to the newspaper become the property of the Daily Nebraskan and cannot be relumed. Anonymous submissions will not be published. Ixllers should included the author's name, year in school^ major and group affiliation, if any Rottucsls to wuhhuld names will notbegranted. Submit material+othe Daily Nebraskan, 34 Nebraska Union; MOOR St , Lincoln, Neb. 68588-0448. He* bupp^, m ok^. i h veRe soo. Security This letter is in reference to the actions of the students and lack of action of security at the Middle Ten nessee State game on Saturday. I am embarrassed of the destructive and abusive behavior of the students at the game. By being at the game, I thought the students were showing their pride and support of their school and team. Silly me. Little did I know it was an excuse to be drunk and abusive to other stu dents and school properly, which was paid for by their tuition and fees. To stand there and watch as the marching band was harassed, cursed at, injured, uniform parts stolen, and puke in acup was thrown on them, and to see the students of the fraternity behind them brag and cheer of how they were able to steal something or sec how happy they were that they hit a horn player and drew blood made me sick! But the most maddening and stom - ach-chuming came when the security refused to intervene. The damage done was obvious, butbccausc the security's haeje was turned from the crowd to watch the game and did not see the act of aggression for themselves, they rmilH (In nnthirm -c I understand not trusting the word of a drunken, smart-mouthed student, bdt when the director of bands, a professor and University of Nebraska L.incoln staff member complained numerous limes for extra security, they were given the same respect as a drunk fan. I paid tuition for five years in the belief that, as a student, I would be protected. As a former UNL staff member, I believed I would be re spected. I was obviously mistaken. UNL security is slow to respond, ticket-happy and disrespectful of the reason why they arc here: to protect the students, faculty and campus prop erty. I have had good experiences with security, and not all UNL officers arc the same. However, if the UNL band, which has not only been taken advantage of by the athletic department and on the top of Bob Dcvancy’s hate list for years, been abused by the system and ignored for all its hard work and dedi cation to this university, docs not get the proper protection it needs, I sug gest they boycott the games until they once again can enter into their own home stadium without fear of injury from their own classmates. I have had the opportunity to see many different college bands across the nation and the Comhuskcr March ing Band is one of the finest in the United States with an extraordinary program and deserves the respect it once had from its own university. Ranelle Luthy UNL graduate Editor’s note: UNL campus police are in charge of security at home football games. Lincoln Christian I am a 58-year-old woman who has been employed with the university for 21 years. My I i fcslylc is really conser vative — and I am a member of the Lincoln Christian Church. I had to chuckle at the thought that my church might be a cult. We take our teachings from the Bible; and our Sundays arc energetic and enthusiastic. There arc many out side activities in thcchurch, which,as in any church, people arc encouraged to attend if they can, but arc not forced 4 d There are many out side activities in the church, which, as in any church, people are en couraged to attend if they can, but are not forced to. -ft - lo. Many limes in church, Jay Kelly, our minister, has said to the college members—don’icomc to mid-week activities if you need to study; espe cially during the weeks around finals, he requests that they notaticnd activi ties until they arc done with finals. Kelly goes out of his way to be concerned about students’ study hab its and their grades; he integrates this into their church membership. Margaret Cullinanc Lincoln Racism 1 am writing in response to Sam Kcpficld’scolumn (“Enddiscrimina tion, make it legal,’’ DN, Sept. 16). In it, Kepficld claims to have the answer to America’s problems of ra cial tensions and inequality — simply make it all legal. First off, I find it highly hypocriti cal that one week he calls for censor ing the views and artistic expressions of an oppressed minority (in the form of rap music) and then has the audac ity to proselytize his own form of obscenities the next week. Now, obviously longing for the “good old days” of McCarthyism and forced segregation, he proposes to pass a law that would return us to the days when minorities were pushed to the back of the bus. This Racial Preference Licensing Act would allow anyone who wishes to discriminate to purchase a license and pay a tax, the profits of which would go into a so-called “equality fund,” and then simply advertise that they wish to discriminate in the course of their business. Kepficld’s plan to legalize dis crimination will not bring about the betterment of discriminated minori ties as he so claims. It would have the opposite effect. Who in their right mind would buy a “scarlet letter” license to discrimi nate? The answer is no one, well, cxccpl for Kcpficld, but it’s arguable whether he’s in his right mind. This is exactly why the Ku Klux Klan wear hoods. They want to prac tice their ignorant and intolerant be liefs in secrecy, immune to rctribu lion and attacks. Racists do not want to admit that they arc racist, not even to themselves. Like Kcpficld, people who wish to discriminate against oth ers often hide it under the guise ol morality, conservatism, or even eco nomics in order to justify it in their own minds. Rare arc the people who can be honest with themselves and admit their hateful feelings. Yes, even David Duke won’t admit that he’s a racist. So, what would be the ultimate effect of this Racial Preference Li censing Act? It would be a precedent, or foot in the door, for those to legiti mize their own polilicsof intolerance, ■and to bring this country toward a Fourth Reich of fascism. Despite any self-proclaimed good intentions on the part of Kcpficld, all I can answer is thaievcn Hitler thought he acted with good intentions. All the education in the world cannot cure the affliction of ignorance if one chooses to live his or her life blind to the world around them. Keith Pccha law P.S. Write Back The Daily Nebraskan wants to hear from you. If you want to voice your opinion about an article that appears in the newspaper, let us know. Just write a brief letter to the editor, sign it, (don't forget your student I .D. number) and mail it to The Daily Nebraskan, 34 Nebraska Union, 1400 R Street, Lincoln, NE68588-0448. Or stopjiy the office in the basement of the Nebraska Union and visit witfT tis. We're all cars. 1 ~