Net)raskan
Editorial Board
University of Nebraska-Lincoln *
Chris Hopfensperger.
Jeremy Fitzpatrick..
Alan Phelps.
Brian Shellito......
Susie Arth.
Kim Spurlock.
Sam Kepfield.
F M I < >UlM
... .Editor. 472-1766
Opinion Page Editor
.. .Managing Editor
.Cartoonist
,... Senior Reporter
... Diversions Editor
_.... .Columnist
Misled protection
Wesleyan condom debate flares up again
Last week, Nebraska Wesleyan University’s Student Senate
sent school officials an overwhelming message for the
second time in less than a year. But the chances for a
positive response from school leaders don’t sound any better this
time than the last if you listen to NWU President John White.
The senate has twice unanimously approved a measure request
ing condom machines be installed in the university’s residence
halls. White says the new bill could face the same fate as the (me
that was vetoed earlier.
John Heckman, who wrote and proposed both bills, said he
modeled the original proposal after the program at the University
of Nebraska-Lincoln.
But UNL’s plan, which received some resistance, was ap
proved and enacted after it was agreed the condoms would be
accompanied by educational materials.
That apparently isn’t enough for Wesleyan officials because
White says the question surrounding the issue is one of personal
responsibility and education.
By using that excuse, however. White is dodging the issue of
the school’s responsibility to help protect its students. He is
ignoring the dangers and diseases that can stem from unprotected
sex.
White even went so far as to say that having condoms more
easily available could lead to students having sexual encounters
on the spur of the moment. But that kind of thinking is backward.
In some situations, students are going to have sex — condom or
not. Having them easily available is just one extra measure of
protection against sexually transmitted diseases.
Space unity
Russia, US. should do mission together
In an attempt to cut its ballooning debt and address increasing
social programs at home, the United States should not
abandon its efforts at space exploration.
Specifically, the long-discussed manned mission to Mars
should not be eliminated in the current search to trim our deficit.
Critics of the proposed Mars mission point out that it is an
expensive program to attempt when the United States has many
pressing domestic problems to deal with. They are right to
question such a huge expenditure when our budget needs to be
cut.
But it would be a mistake for the United States to give up on a
Mars mission entirely. The exploration of space will yield
benefits in technology that will benefit our society in ways we
cannot even imagine today.
Instead of abandoning the expensive but important mission,
the United States should join its resources with Russia — another
country struggling to find the money to go to Mars. Financial
restraints may prevent either the United States or Russia from
going to Mars alone, but the two countries could make it to
gether.
Some efforts are already underway. The Associated Press
reported last week that scientists from both the Russian space
program and from NASA are saying that joint efforts are the
answer to a Mars mission.
One of the scientists, Dr. Louis D. Friedman of the Planetary/'
society, said Mars explorations “are going to be done intemapbn
ally or they are not going to be done at all.”
The United States and Russia should take advantage of their
newfound friendship and combine their resources to save a Mars
mission that would probably be eliminated otherwise.
I 1)1 I < >l< I M Pol l< \
Staff editorial* represent the official policy of the Pall 1992 Daily Nebraskan. Policy is set by
the Daily Nebraskan Editorial Board. Editorials do not necessarily reflect the views of the
university, it* employees, the students or the NU Board of Regents. Editorial columns represent
the opinion of the author. The regenu 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 editoritd content of the newspaper lies solely in the hands of
i< I’m ii s
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u;I I I KS TO TIIK EDITOR
‘Ignorance’
I am replying to Kirk Goings’ let
ter (DN, Feb 19, 1993) in which he
stated his opinion on gays in the mili
tary. The point I want to make isn’t
whether or not gays should be in the
military. This is quickly becoming a
dead issue, and in 10 years, people are
probably going to look back and laugh,
wondering why we made such a big
deal out of it.
What concerns me is the ignorance
Goings showed on the matter of ho
mosexuality itself, and the divisive
effect such ignorance is having on
America. Goings stated that homo
sexuality is merel y a lifestyle or choice,
and that “there is no conclusive evi
dence to prove that one is a homo
sexual from birth.” Maybe the term
neuroscience doesn’ t ring a bell, Kirk,
but there is strong, mounting scien
tific evidence to support the claim
that much of a person’s sexuality is
determined when he or she is bom. I
am not qualified to answer that ques
tion. But statements such as Goings’
show that many people’s opinions on
homosexuality are just plain igno
rant.
Goings, next time before you feel
so qualified to speak out, why don’t
you check the facts? This will at least
give your argument some credibility
in the eyes of people who let science,
not emotion, guide them in their opin
ions.
Geoff Friesen
freshman
mathematics
‘Choice’
I d like to debate a few issues
concerning homosexuality. First on
my list is the issue of choice. As far as
I’m concerned, you have made a choice
^f you are a homosexual. Your actions
have shown what your choice was. I
didn’t make you do the act—no one
/ did. You made achoice to. In addition
to this, you also make your homo
sexuality a public issue. I don’t want
to hear about what you do. Keep it to
yourselves.
I have other concerns involving
the admittance of gays into the mili
tary and the Amendment Two contro
versy in Colorado. It seems to me that
the main point behind these two is
sues is the homosexuals’ desire to
introduce homosexuality as a natural
and normal part of society and at the
same time expect special treatment.
Neither should be allowed. Homo
sexuality is not normal and should not
be introduced, particularly to chil
dren, as such.
As for the military, I’d like to ask
a few questions. Who has the most
powerful military in the world? Who
is the only remaining superpower?
Finally, have you heard the phrase, “If
it ain’t broke, don’t fix it? It’s been
argued that the military should be a
“fair and accurate representation of
society.” I don’t want “fair” protect
ing me and my family, I want the best
military we can have.
As a final thought, I want you to
think about the health issue concern
ing gays in the military. The govern
ment provides for the health of its
military personnel and pays it through
our taxes. Now I ask you — do we
want to be paying lifetime health ben
efits for the group most likely to con
tract AIDS? I don’t.
Dallas Beshaler
freshman
broadcasting
Cuts
Sam Kepfield’s article (DN, Feb
24,1993) was one of the best to appear
in the Daily Nebraskan this year. Other
than his attack on the football team,
he had a very informative article that
every legislator and regent should
read.
Itis about time the board of regents
woke up and realized what a disgrace
thev are. Bickering among themselves
and jousting out presidents may be
their idea of a good lime, but we
students and our parents are fed up
with it.
I wish our legislators would realize
that a $14 million budget cut is not
very good for the university system. If
they just keep trimming off the budget
the university will end up offering
about as many classes as a school half
its size.
The university is an institution that
needs support throughout the state.
What we definitely don’t wed or
want is a terrible board of regents and
huge budget cuts.
Christopher A. Burkland
freshman
general studies
Abortion
Paul Koester’s pro-abortion argu
ments are so fundamentally flawed
that is is difficult to know where to
begin.
Koesier asks us to believe that,
after realizing the hypocrisy of his
Christian upbringing, he was able to
look at humanity in a new light and
realize what an utterly loathsome
world we all live in. He questions why
pro-lifers don’t support Planned Par
enthood because they are the ones
most likely to reduce abortions. He
states that he agrees we are talking
about life, but that the world is ex
ceeding its ability to contain any “glut
tonous humans like ourselves. Fi
nally he wants to know why the “anti
choice” crowd doesn't rally around
the distribution of contraceptives and
sex, education in the public schools.
Mr. Koester, I can only hope that
the rest of the pro-abortion crowd
doesn’t have it as wrong asryou do.
First off, Planned Parenthood has
clinics which perform abortions. That
is why they will never get an ounce of
support from the pro-life movement.
Secondly, if you think the world is
such a bad place to live, ask yourself
if you are glad to be alive. You have
the right to decide that for yourself.
But who speaks for the unborn? Also,
have you ever considered the thought
that maybe you woe a dreaded “un
wanted baby?" If so, do you think that
you would have wanted someone like
you on your side?
Finally, with regard to why pro
lifers don’t avidly support sex educa
tion and distribution of contracep
tives in our public schools, the answer
is simple. It does not work. Take New
York City, for example. There, sex
education begins as early as the fourth
grade. Condom distribution is at an
ill-time high. And with that, the teen
pregnancy rate has never been higher.
You make the connection.
Mr. Koester, the pro-life move
ment is not about denying women the
right to choose. It is about preserving
the sanctity of human life. It is about
guaranteeing an unborn child the right
10 live. Have you ever heard the say
ing about right to life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness? Read those words
md try to understand them. When an
unborn human life can cav|Uierly be
destroyed out of mere inconvenience,
it is no doubt that equal disrespect for
the rest of us is sure to follow.
' 'll
*
Thomas K. Eads
junior
chemistry
