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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 11, 1992)
OHNDN Nebraskan [ Editorial Board University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chris Hopfensperger.Editor, 472-1766 Dionne Searcey.Opinion Page Editor Kris Karnopp. Managing Editor Alan Phelps.Wire Editor. Wendy Navratil.. Writing Coach Stacey McKenzie....,.Senior Reporter Jeremy Fitzpatrick...Columnist Against the grain ASUN resurrects commencement debate A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision banned prayer in graduation ceremonies in schools from the elementary to high school levels. More recently, the UNL Commencement Committee de cided to eliminate the invocation and benediction from the University of Ncbraska-Lincoln’s commencement ceremonies. The committee’s decision — made for a public university — follows logically from the Supreme Court decision regarding other public schools, % Tonight, ASUN senators will defy logic and debate a bill that would ask me eommiiicc lo go back and reconsider ils decision. The issue was raised in the commiilcc by Herb Howe, UNL associate to the chancellor and a committee member. Howe said he brought it up because of the diverse beliefs and non-beliefs represented by UNL’s graduates. The Supreme Court decision about the role prayer should play in graduation ceremonies also played a part in raising the issue, Howe said. “This is an academic exercise,” he said. “Let’s keep it academic.” But ASUN Speaker of the Senate Andrew Loudon said the prayers were an important tradition in graduation and that the Supreme Court case didn’t ban prayer at university ceremonies. “It’s not against the law,” Loudon said. That means nothing. 1 Fighting words and blatantly racist comments are protected \ in most places by the freedom of speech. That docs not make them right — or excusable. The existence of prayers at graduation ceremonies goes against the grain of multiculturalism and sensitivity UNL is trying lo foster. Only so many religions could be represented in the invoca tion and benediction at commencement. Having to choose the representative of one religion over another— no matter how it is done — makes representation of all students impossible. That constitutes discrimination. For UNL to look over the emotions created by religious differences while it is trying lo create peace between students along racial lines would be hypocritical. Imposing the religion, or a religious speaker, of the majority on the diverse graduating class of UNL should be insulting and offensive to all students. But Loudon said the ban was not supported by the two committee members from the Association of Students of the University of Ncbraska-Lincoln members of the committee. It is unfortunate that ASUN’s representatives were less progres sive than the other members. Tonight, when Loudon plans lo introduce his bill on emer gency status, hopefully the entire group of senators will be more open. ♦ - Suff 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 studenlsorihe NU Board of Regents. Editorial columns represent the opinion of the author. The regents publish the Daily Nebraskan. They 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 iu students. The Daily Nebraskan welcomes brief letters to the editor from all readers and interested others. Letters will be selected for publication on the basis of clarity, originality, timeliness and space available. The Daily.Ncbraskan retains the right to edit or reject all material submitted. Readers also are welcome to submit material as guest opinions. The editor decides whether material f should run as a guest opinion. Letters and guest opinions sent to the newspaper become the property of the Daily Nebraskan and cannot be returned. Anonymous submissions will not be l I published. letters Should included the author's name, year in school, major and group affiliation, if any. Requests to withhold names will not be granted. Submit material to the Daily Nebraskan. 34 Nebraska Union, 1400 R St., Lincoln, Neb. 68588-0448. _____ ____ 1_ . UPC response Wc’rc writing in response to the letter to the editor (“UPC,” DN, Nov. 9) that comments on University Pro gram Council members leaving in the middle of UPC events. The informa tion in that letter is completely erro neous. UPC is composed strictly of stu dent volunteers who arc the first ones to arrive at a program and the last ones to leave. There has never been a sys tem in place for awarding points for attendance, nor is it necessary. The committee members arc there because they want to be there and enjoy being at the programs. They arc true volunteers and should be com mended for their hard work and dedi cation toward providing quality pro grams for the students at UNL. The thought that UPC is only a resume stuffer is ludicrous at best. Skills such as leadership, decision making, problem solving and com munication art all developed to help students pursuccarccrs in higher edu cation, student affairs and entertain ment. The UPC ExccutivcCouncil mem bers arc more than willing to answer any inquiries about UPC events, but Su/.y Beemer jumped the gun and made assumptions based on incorrect information. We arc looking forward to seeing you, Beemer, at future UPC events and hopefully at UPC committee meetings so you will have a better idea of how our organization works and the dedication and passion that goes into each event. Gary Doyle president University Program Council Karen Freimund vice president UPC ‘Ablest implications’ L I was alarmed by the ablest impli cations of an article about budget cuts (“Budget cuts to leave snow on some paths,” DN, Nov. 3.) I hope that B ud Dasenbrock, direc tor of landscape services at UNL.and others who decide which sidewalks at UNL will not be cleared of snow this winter because of budget cuts will be consulting students, faculty and staff with disabilities so that all buildings will be accessible to them after snow storms. 1 I Neither the writer of the article nor Dascnbrock shows any awareness that some people cannot “drag out their cross-country skis ... to navigate some areas of campus this winter,”or that for some people it’s not an issue of “wcar(ing) proper footwear this winter on all areas of campus” to be able to get around. Barbara Di Bernard associate professor of English director, women’s studies I_I David Badders/DN Calendar errors I realize the Daily Nebraskan is not a professional newspaper and that its rcadcrsarc therefore expected to over look an occasional error. Recently, however, I have been appalled by the lack of attention paid by your staff to the movie theater listings at the end of the weekly Diversions section. Just in the Oct. 22 issue there were a total of 25 errors, not only simple typographi cal errors in show times, but in the actual movies listed. Movie-goers arc not the only ones affected by this blatant apathy toward simple investigation. When people go to the trouble to go out to a movie and find the movie they had planned to sec is not showing, they automati cally take their anger out on the the ater employees. Not only is this unfair to the employees who arc not respon sible for the error, bu l i l al so harm s the theaters themselves by causing more people tochoosc to rent rather than go out. All it would lake to print the cor rect information would be a simple phone call or even a walk downtown. How is it that these mistakes still make it into the paper week after week? A simple typo once in a while is understandable. An entire list of misinformation is inexcusable. Kristin Scacrcst psychology junior Resume fillers We have always appreciated the quality and diversity of the classes sponsored by the English dcparuncnl. However, recently we have been treated rudely by a graduate teaching assistant who got up and interrupted our single goal in life — filling our resumes. We have heard many things about UPC, but credit to attend? What the Sam Hill arc you talking about? As a graduate student, you should be very familiar with research, but I guess you wouldn’t receive a good grade for this researched topic be cause you arc completely wrong. When one criticizes a person or orga nization, one should know at least a couple of facts before opening mouth and engaging foot. Although wc arc not familiar with the event that you arc referring to, as hardworking, vcry-lilllc-gratiludc-rc cciving volunteers who also attend classes, have jobs, do Homework, main tain a decent grade poin t average — or at least make a whole-hearted attempt at it, attend cultural events and juggle these responsibilities, have a social life and be responsible citi zens, wc resent being labeled resumd fillers. With the lime and effort it takes to program an event for the student body, the least wc should be able to do is put it in our rcsum6. By being UPC chair men, we arc sure that one line on our rcsum6 is going to assure us a six figurc salary upon completion of matriculation at this university. Wc will agree with you that some of our comrades arc “rcsum6-sluffing scumbags,” but then again almost every organization on this campus has its share of these selfish, egotisti cal people. But in this white, hetero sexual, male, corporate, capitalist society of America, this is the way we arc socialized: to be strictly out for self. When you slop being a graduate leaching assistant, will you not pul this- in your resumd? After all, you have put in countless, tireless hours to cam that line in your rcsum<5. David L. Rabc _, chairperson UPC Major Concerts Angela T. Green - chairperson African-American Special Events