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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 4, 1992)
Opinion 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 Sex education Condom use should he taken seriously The Texas Abortion Rights League of SWT took responsi bility for about 2,500 students Wednesday by distributing condoms on the Quad. The main object of handing out condoms was to prevent pregnancy more than to protect against sexually transmitted diseases. Even though both issues are important to all Americans, they receive less attention than they deserve. Students seemed to like the idea of receiving free condoms, not only for the obvious financial benefit, but also because the distribution of the contraceptives signifies that students arc willing to take responsibility for their sexual activities. The convenience of having condoms on campus, whether in vending machines or handed out to anyone and everyone free of charge, is more likely to increase the use of the devices for everyone’s protection. The Texas State System Board of Regents took all contracep tives off campus four years ago because it didn’t want students to get ideas about sex they would not otherwise get. Other campus organizations should lake the initiative to hand out condoms or information about birth control and STDs. Since the early ’80s, condom usage has increased 15 percent because of the fear of contracting the AIDS virus. It’s time serious issues such as unwanted pregnancy and diseases are addressed by students and faculty alike. Too many people on campus already have AIDS or have become pregnant and needed family planning counseling. Perhaps if contraceptives and education were given more serious attention on campus, the rate of unwanted pregnancy — and therefore the need for abortions — and STDs would decrease. — The Daily University Star Southwest Texas State University Exam period Less time for finals cuts down on stress Several years ago the regents mandated that KU increase the number of instructional days in the semester. The result was that our final exam period was reduced from nine days in Fall 1991 to six days this semester. After studying several options, the calendar committee, which is made up of both students and faculty, found that shortening the exam period was the best way to bring the university up to the required minimum of instructional days. One deciding factor was the result of an extensive study involving other universities the size of KU. The exam period at KU was longer than any of these schools. Not only docs a short ened exam period bring KU up to speed with other universities and answer the regents request, but it also is more practical and beneficial than an extended one. A longer exam period, if anything, lends itself to prolonged periods of procrastination and partying rather than more lime spent studying and preparing for finals. An extended finals period also means more time spent stressing and worrying. A shorter exam period will teach students the importance of time management and organization. In the end, the quicker it is over, the less painful it will be. — The University Daily Kansan University of Kansas Staff editorials represent the official policy of the F;all 1992 Daily Nebraskan. Policy is set by the Daily Nebraskan Fidiiorial Board. Editorials do not necessarily reflect tFie views of the university, its employees, the students or the 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 fortlte editorial content of the newspaper lies solely in the hands of . its students. The Daily Nebraskan welcomes brief letters to the editor from all readers and interested ollicrs. letters will be selected for publication on tlte basis of clarity, originality, timeliness and space available. The Daily Nebraskan retains the right to edit or reject all material submitted. Readers also arc 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 returned. Anonymous submissions will not be 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. SuFsmit material to the Daily NebAskan, 34 Nebraska Union, 1400 R St., Lincoln, Neb. 68588-0448. • ERR... EMA,.. wav ONE YIU.L _ FAT. Thanksgiving I opened up the Daily Nebraskan Wednesday to page five and was im mediately assaulted by Sam Kepficld’sarticlc/'Stopthcguiltabout Thanksgiving.” I admit the title at tracted my attention. Less than a week ago, 1 was struggling with the same kinds of issues as I sal at my dinner table and ale a large, bountiful meal. I wondered exactly what the pur pose of Thanksgiving was and why I should be thankful my ancestors were pushed off their lands and were de stroyed by strange illnesses and wars. Finally, my brother and I decided that one good reason to celebrate Thanks giving was to recognize the generos ity of the Native Americans — they could peacefully sit down and eat with those who threatened their way of life by bringing them culture. Kcpfield is right on one point. The Puritans and pilgrims did not actually want loeradicatc the natives from this land, they only wanted them to slip silently into society without a word, or belter yet, they wanted them se questered away on what eventually became worthless reservation lands. The white men decided the answer was to sh ip the natives off to boarding schools like Carlisle so they could be instructed in a useful trade, all be cause the beneficent white father deemed his own culture to be supc i iui . tv cii, auoincr reason 10 ccicoratc Thanksgiving is thal people like Sam Kepficld can have adequate time to express their thankfulness for the bar gain prices our forefathers paid for this land—the Manifest Destiny may have only cost the lives of a few unimportant savages, but it has be come the cornerstone of this great, culturally aware nation. Still, thal is nothing for someone like Kepficld to feel guilty about — after all, he wasn’t alive then, and he has probably never even met a Native American. Of course, this is not the slant he pul on his article. It is some thing I deduced from common sense. Any human with the slightest propen sity for rational thinking would not equate cultural awareness with Hiller. But then again, common sense tells me Kcpfield is not your ordinary hu man. Kcpficld’s argument that things could be worse, that America could be under a socio-economic system to a less democratic nation, seems slightly reminiscent of the reasoning of Louis XIV to plant hundreds of orange trees outside the palace of Versailles. The orange trees look nice in full bloom. Their fragrance masked the stench of unwashed bodies and hu man defecation. If you can’t smell it, it can’t keep you awake at night. And, 1 as Kepficld seems to be arguing, if you can ignore the crap, you will only be able to notice the orange blossoms of American imperialism. Really Kcpficld, this is an ingenious way of facing reality. Jodi Byrd senior English Regents Regarding the chartering of a plane for the two regents so ihcy could attend an informal gathering: Accord ing to the bylaws, informal gatherings are not official meetings. Although the bylaws say that regents may be paid for official duties, it also says that if not enough regents arc present for a quorum, then no official action can be taken. Hey, you fabulous four, if no ac tion was taken, then what in the heck were you doing? Next time you have a little gathering, give me a call. I'll send over some beer and pizza. Per haps a little while wine for Nancy. A deck of cards? You know something? Since wc taxpayers paid for thcchariercd plane, I think wc also owr lhr.silr.nl four who were excluded a free trip. I suggest to them that they get together some cold, icy day in December and charter a plane at our expense. When you get there, give Massengalc a call, after all to make it official all you have to do is talk to him — according to Regent Don Blank of McCook — say, ‘‘Hey Pres, where arc you? What, you mean the evaluation isn’t going to be held here? Gosh, our mistake, our misun derstanding. Well, since we’re al ready here we’ll stay a few days. It sure is nice and warm here on the beach at Waikiki. “Oh, by the way, give our regards to Regents Wilson, Payne, Blank and Hoch at your ncx t informal gathering. If you like, we’ll send you some pine apple and poi. Aloha.’’ Mel Van Dyke Lincoln Hanukkah II seems lo me that people should know exactly what they arc talking about before they decide to denounce something (“Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah as minor holiday, profes sor says,” DN, Nov. 30). The article quoted Professor Stuart Margolis and also referred to Cantor Michael Weisser as saying the Jewish holiday Hanukkah \yas a minor holi day. What makes these two people believe that Hanukkah is so minor? First of all, the comparison of Ha nukkah to Christmas seems to be the ultimate premise for their conclusion that Hanukkah is minor. I am sorry to say loall of those who believe Hanuk kah and Christmas are synonymous, this is not the case. Ycs, the two holidays do fal I around the same time of the year, and gi fls arc given to friends and family members in the art of tradition. But with the giving of presents, the true meaning of Hanukkah is clouded over, and at the same time, so it seems with Christ mas. Keeping in line with the Hanuk kah/Christmas comparison, why not think about Christmas as being minor because presents arc given and the birth of Jesus is overlooked. Of course many, many people arc now saying that they don’t overlook the birth of Jesus in favor of giving presents. The same thing goes for Jews and celebrating Hanukkah. Jews reflect on the miracle of light and the Maccabcc family triumph instead of exchanging gifts. In fact, in orthodox families, gift-giving isn’t even a part of the holiday tradition. Now, in general reference to the idea of Hanukkah being atninor holi day, I want to first ask what makes any other holiday take precedence over another. To me, if an idea or an event is important enough to become a holi day, it is flat-out important. There shouldn’t be such a thing as a minor hoi iday. For those w ho arc not Jc w i sh, try to think about Easter as a minor holiday. Essentially, the question is what is minor and what is major and who has the right to pronounce one holiday bigger and more important than an other. Finally, 1 would like to say that Jews cannot be priests, as the article says the Maccabcc family is a group of priests. Andrew Nigel Bessinger sophomore pre-med David Badders/DN
