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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 9, 1993)
Opinion Friday, April 9,1993 Neljraskan Editorial Board University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chris Hopfensperger.Editor, 472-1766 Jeremy Fitzpatrick ....Opinion Page Editor Alan Phelps. Managing Editor Brian Shellito.Cartoonist Susie Arth.Senior Reporter Kim Spurlock. Diversions Editor Sam Kepfteld..Columnist Opening the ranks Women merit combative roles in military The military may soon be opening up new combat roles to women. But instead of opposing this change, some in the military are actually proposing it. The Navy sought permission last week to open four new classes of ships to women. The step was part of a measure aimed at a long-term objective of opening all ships to women within four years. In response to the Navy’s request, Defense Secretary Lcs Aspin decided to review the issue of women in combat for all the services. Aspin said he expected to introduce new initiatives for women in combat within six months. Last week Aspin told Congress he would probably accept the recommendation of the Presidential Commission on the Assign ment of Women in Combat to allow women to serve on all surface combat ships except amphibious vessels. He is also considering allowing women to fly combat aircraft. Even while the Navy is opening up its ranks further to women, others in the military arc likely to oppose Aspin’s attempt to further integrate the services. The fact that Aspin’s schedule for expanding women’s roles in combat will come at the same time that the Clinton administration is moving forward on the issue ol homosexuals in the military will further complicate the issue. But Aspin is correct in moving forward. Women have proven themselves in the military and allowing them to serve in more combat roles is the next logical step. Those who would stand in the way of such change may delay it, but they cannot stop the inevitable. Women deserve to serve their country just as men do. “That is the vehicle that could lower our cut even more. Thank goodness they introduced that sort of a vehicle for that to happen. ” — Mike Mulnix, executive director of university relations, reacting to the Legislature's Appropriations Committee decision that cut the proposed $13.98 university budget cut in half and recommended a 5 percent tuition increase. “To my knowledge it’s not up to the (Appropria tions) Committee to set tuition. The board (of regents) does It, and we take it very seriously. ” — Nancy O'Brien, NU regent, on the committee's proposal. “If we do the things we should do as a college, diversity would be in the curriculum and in every day college life. “Until we get to that point, we will go on. % — John Harris, special assistant to the vice chancellor for student affairs, after last weekend's racial and ethnic mini conference. “It was fun just to get used to things and get back in the groove. It’s kind of like getting out of jail." — Nebraska quarterback Ben Rutz, welcoming spring football. “This is like being born again. It's a good fit in the prime of my career. Miami's on the brink of the Super Bowl, and I think me going down there and them acquiring me Is a real good opportunity for both of us." — Former Comhusker Irving Fryar, a nine-year veteran in the National Football League, who was traded to the Dolphins. Staff editorials represent the official policy of the Spring 1993 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 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 die 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. 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 Nebraskan 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 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. Submit material to the Daily Nebraskan. 34 Nebraska Union. 1400 R St.. Lincoln, Neb 68588-0448. OOKT SmMOOR f. V.E&S Off UKE x 'W. CWi'T SW SEE ^KE i Or\*W J EM> G»W «^j3 'ERE!? Q[ET iCfc. -Wt-: Crushes have their advantages UTY c thought it was just a ■ I crush. “** *•* He was dead wrong.” These lines appear in the adver tisements for the new movie, “The Crush.” I’ve yet to see this cinematic gem, but I know this: I’m a little ruffled. This movie docs for people with crushes what “The Hand that Rocks the Cradle” did for nannies. You see, I have this friend, A FRIEND. (I think she lives in Canada now; so don’t try to track her down or anything. You definitely don’t know her.) And my friend, whom I admire and respect dearly, always has an immense crush on someone. She feels that at this stage in her life, it’s the only type of relationship she can enter with any success. She’s decided that her non-relationships with people she’s never or hardly met have been much more rewarding than any other relationship she has experienced thus far. OK, it’s not my friend; it’s me. I admit it. I can’t help it. I realize many young women my age arc hawking future husbands and picking out cutlery. When my mother was 20, she was changing my diapers and crocheting afghans. But, am I ready for that? Those crocheting needles can be dan gerous. I can’t plan for marriage or even a boyfriend. I’d have to hold his hand in public and do other scary stuff. I can’t say “significant other” without get ting the heebie-jeebies. Rather than wailing until the year 2000 to even look at men, I develop huge, harmless crushes. Actually, I’m convinced that serious infatuation is the relationship of the ’90s. It’s the only relationship where safe sex isn’t an issue. You don’t even have to worry about catching a cold. This is just one of the innumerable advantages of admiring someone from afar. It’s never time-consuming. No inconvenient phone calls. No in-laws. This solves the problem of falling deeply in love with someone who can’t pronounce his own middle name unless it's spelled phonetically. No endless “I love you,” “I love you more” battles. No eight-hour discus sions about where the relationship is hcatfcd. It’s headed nowhere, end of discussion. In fact, you don’t even have to talk to the person. This solves the problem of falling deeply in love with someone who can’t pronounce his own middle name unless it’s spelled phonetically. The object of youraffcciioncouldbccom pletcly toxic, but you’ll never know. Ignorance is bliss. And, I’ll never face any sticky breakup hassles. When I feel that I’m locked into a dead-end relationship, I don’t have to write any “Dear John” letters. Before yoy can say “Let’s just be friends,” it’s over, 1 just stop fol lowing him around. By following him around, I don’t mean violating stalking laws, killing his gerbil, slashing his tires and read ing him morbid poetry on “Donahue.” It means I know that if I walk to Economics really slowly on Fridays, we’ll both walk by the library at the same time... and maybe, just maybe, he’ll smile. If you’re still not convinced that a crush is right for you, imagine this: When all 17 pesky great aunts corner you at the next family reunion, poke you with their nine-inch nails and coo, “So, honey arc you seeing any one?" you can say in complete hon esty, “Why yes, I am SEEING a very nice young man on a regular basis.. ... when I catch a glimpse of him at the union and on Tuesdays and Thursdays when webothhavea 12:30 class in Avery. If you do decide to abandon your current lifestyle in favor of a commit mcnl-frcc crush, I advise giving your prospective crush a nickname to pro tect your anonymity and to prevent an ACTUAL relationship from occur ring. Names based on physical appear ance or complete nonsense will work. Call him Shaggy, Pigeon or Man Who Stands By Burnell. Now, if he over hears you telling a friend that Shaggy is soooodrcamy,he’ll just think you’re a hard-core Scooby Doo fan, if he’s even listening, and he probably isn’t. I am not the only U NL student who has discovered the freedom of crushes. I have a friend — no, really, this time I’m serious — who is infatuated with someone who looks just like Ralph Macchio. The nickname possibilities arc endless. Every time we walk by his frater nity, we have to check to see if he just happens to be outside catching Hies with chopsticks or washing his car. Wax on, wax off. I could fill the Daily Nebraskan with testimonials and reasons why crushes arc A-OK, but I don’t have much time. It’s Friday and I, um, have to get to Economics. Kimctl is a junior news-editorial, adver tising and Knglish major and a Dally Nebras kan columnist. -——— ummssmmm-—— ^arnei The new Camel billboard features that stud I y Joe Came I hold i ng a flower. Somebody please tell me: Could this flower be a sym bol stand i ng for a 11 the dates we will get if we take up smok ing, or could the flower be symboliz ing the funerals of those who buy into the ad campaigns of cigarette compa nies and end up six feet under before their lime? Paul Kocstcr senior agronomy Vacation I am writing in response to Russ Barger s leucr asking to have a Good Friday-Eastcr vacation (DN, April 8, 1993). First of all, the University of Nebraska is not a religious institution, nor should it act as one, regardless of the fact that 70 to 80 percent of the people arc Christian. The goal of the university is to provide its students with a liberal education. The univer sity has a responsibility to all of its students, not just to the Christian majority. To be able to uphold everyone’s freedom of religion, no religion should be supported by the university. Although I feel this university is very conservative, from my personal experience with the student body, I am relieved to know that the Christian majority is not being al lowed to run its ideas at will intoour university. Prayer at graduation and the elimination of the Easter vacation arc only two smal I steps toward truly separating religion from our school. Besides, Russ, if you want to prac tice your Christian beliefs, feel free! No one is slopping you from taking a day olf from school; just don’t make everyone else do it, too. You arc free to practice Christianity, and I should be free not to. . Doug Plcskac sophomore international affairs