Daily -
Nebraskan
Wednesday* October 13,1093
Nebraskan
Editorial Board
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Jeremy Fitzpatrick ...
Kathy Steinauer.
Wendy Mott. ..
Todd Cooper.
Chris Hopfensperger
Kim Spurlock .......
Kiley Timperley.
I m mm U
.. Editor, 472-1766
Opinion Page Editor
. .. Managing Editor
.Sports Editor
.. . Copy Desk Ch ieJ
.Sower Editor
Senior Photographer
Lawless
State needs law to protect homosexuals
A group gathered outside the Green Gateau restaurant
Tuesday to protest the firing of an employee. They said he
was fired because he is gay. No one has confirmed that
this is the reason for the firing; the owner of the restaurant said
conflicts in scheduling became a problem.
But scheduling changes were approved by management in July.
The situation behind the firing does not seem to be as simple as a
schedule conflict.
Regardless of the reason for the firing, this incident brings to }
the spotlight a problem in this state. Nebraska does not have a
law protecting against discrimination on the basis of sexual
orientation.
Without it, employees or job applicants, regardless of qualifica
tions, can be fired or denied employment because they arc homo
sexual. This is blatantly, obviously wrong.
UNL’s policy was amended in 1989 to say that no one can be
discriminated against on the basis of sexual orientation. Luckily
for UNL students, faculty and staff, they are protected under this
statement. But others in this state arc not protected. Employers
can deny employment or fire someone for being gay.
Sexual orientation deserves to be protected by law the same
way people of various races, religions, ages, sexes and handicaps
are protected. 1
The state needs to follow UNL’s lead and protect against
discrimination based on sexual orientation. Until that happens,
homosexuals who are just as qualified for a job as anyone else are
in danger of being denied jobs because of sexual orientation.
Foiled again
Haiti troop halt jeopardizes democracy
US. forces being sent to help restore democracy in yet
another foreign country have been met with resistance.
Noncombat soldiers who have been sent to Haiti to
help restore the government of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide
have been prevented from landing in the country.
Haitian Army Chief Raoul Cedras and police commander
Michael Francois prevented U.S. troops from landing. Their
action violates a commitment they made in July to allow democ
racy to be restored in Haiti.
Under the agreement, Aristide is due to return to Haiti at the
end of the month. A U.N. force of 1,600 troops — including 700
Americans — will be stationed in Haiti to aid Aristide’s govern
ment. The troops will consist of military engineers, police trainers
and administrative personnel.
But Cedras and Francois’ action puts Haiti’s return to democra
cy in jeopardy. Secretary of State Warren Christopher said
Tuesday that their actions could result in the return of U.S.
sanctions to Haiti.
Haiti is strategically important to the United States because of
its location in the Caribbean Sea. The problems of Haitian people
fleeing to the United States in boats will continue if oppression is
not ended in Haiti.
The United States needs to avoid trapping itself in another
situation like Somalia. But it also has an interest in seeing democ
racy return to Haiti. President Clinton should act firmly but
cautiously to put pressure on Cedras and Francois to let Aristide’s
government return to Haiti.
I III IOKI \| i’OI |< N
SufTeditorials represent the official policy of the Fall 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 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. _
l i i ii i< I'm k \
The Daily Nebraskan welcomes brief l< tiers 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, il any Requests to withhold names will not he granted Submit matciial to the Uailv
Nebraskan, 34 Nebraska Union, 1400 R St., Lincoln, Neb. 68588-0448.
‘One of their own’
Where are the peaceniks? Where
arc the circle-jerkcrs, beatniks and
potheads? They were ubiquitous dur
ing the Gulf War, where are they now
during the military operation in So
malia? Where is the graffiti that might
read,“Clinton Kills”or“No Blood for
Aidid”? Why aren’t they circulating
glum photos of innocent animals and
plant life that arc being unjustly in
jured in this ordeal? Don’t they have
the uncontrollable urge to speak out
for the victims and their families?
Perhaps they are all in disbelief that
one of their own could be abusing his
.control of American troops. Do they
not think that a liberal could be re
sponsible for senseless deaths?
Cristen Hiffernan
senior
psychology
Diversity
I am writing in response to the
letter written by Ross A. Bunt rock
(DN, Oct. 5). He writes, “The endless
pursuit of ‘diversity’ on this campus
and in every other segment of society
has led to the death of meritocracy.’’
It really irritates me when people
speak in broad generalities, especial
ly when specific evidence docs not
support their argument. Put another
way, I hate it when someone paints
with a broad brush, particularly when
the brush is filled with the wrong
color of paint.
Buntrock’sslalcmcntspresume two
thines: White males who do not have
disabilities are always competent and
all other people are always incompe
tent. He also presumes he understands
the way concept of meritocracy has
been applied in this country. All of
these presumptions are false.
Meritocracy in America is still alive;
it simply has a new twist to it.
Ne i thcr skin color, tender nor phys
ical challenge should be the sole de
terminants for a job, as these charac
teristics and competence arc not nec
essarily interchangeable terms. But
“merir as we approach the 21st cen
tury should include the abil ity to view
reality from different perspectives. It
should include the ability to judge a
person’s statements from the content
of the speech, and not from the color
of the skin surrounding the lips from
which that speech flowed. It should
include the ability to understand that
when a person experiences a physical
challenge, his/her intellectual capac
ity docs not diminish. It should in
clude the ability to understand that
diversity is not a code word for anti
white male.
The mark of a good attorney is the
ability to see things as they really arc,
when your clients’ emotions have
clouded their thinking. An emotional
argument based upon solid facts and
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sound legal analysis is hard to beat.
An argument driven by the “passion
of ignorance" is hard to stomach.
Lisa G.T. Swinton
special assistant attorney general
unit supervisor, Nebraska Depart
ment of Social Services
graduate student
pre-medicine
Gender
I read with interest the editorial
entitled “Who needs him? NU must
decide if president is necessary (DN,
Oct. 11).” While I recognize the edi
torial policy states that “editorials do
not necessarily reflect the viewsof the
university ”etc., my question remains
the same. Docs this person know some
thing that the rest of us do not? Implic
it in this headline is the incredible
assertion that our next president, if
needed at all, will be a man. I think
that’s very interesting.
Claudia Price-Decker
chairwoman
Chancellor’s Commission on the
Status of Women
junior
women’s studies
‘Unfortunate use’
Whal was the point of running
Patrick Hambrecht’s column “Gays
still in cage” (DN, Oct. 12)? It was a
confusing, rambling piece that only
brought out most heterosexuals’ mis
conceptions and ignorance about sex
ual orientation. Homosexuality is nei
ther bad nor good, inferior nor supe
rior, right nor wrong. It just is, was and
will always be one of the many colors
of humanity’s variation that makes
our world ’s cul lures so rich and amaz
ing.
Choosing a column such as his for
your publication’s commentary on a
day of self-liberation and pride, as is
National Coming-Out Day, is an un
L
pun 1
OWERVW?'
fortunate use of the exposure the Dai
ly Nebraskan provides.
Scott Ferguson
sophomore
Spanish, English
Review
I am responding to the Primus con
cert preview article (DN, Oct. 7). If
that was supposed to be a preview of
the band, which appeared in Omaha at
the Peony Park Ballroom, why is more
than half of the article a slam against
the band and what it stands for? I
thought a concert preview was sup
posed to highlight a band’s career to
let people know what they’re about
before they decide if they want to go
to the show. Instead, what we have
was an opinionated article that most
or all Primus fans would disagree
with.
I am not a huge fan of Primus. 1
really appreciate the band for what
they arc: the most unique band out
there and a breath of fresh air to the
standard grunge band. I would hope
that before someone speaks for the
whole music community, they should
investigate further about a band’s ca
reer. Not once have I heard a fan or
anyone in the alternative music scene
say that Primus is stale, and that noth
ing ofT“Suck On This” was fun any
more.
Just reading the preview really
makes me think that if someone read
the article, they probably wouldn’t
want to go to the show. Way to get
them psyched for the show.
William F. Homan
senior
broadcasting/advertising
Football
During the two years I have been a
student at this school, I have seen the
DN improve drastically. The layout
has improved, the writing is better
and the graphics look great. But the
story headlined, “Huskcrs survive
workout without any new injuries”
(DN, Oct. S) was an absolute farce.
Every few weeks we are treated to
one of these “stories.” 1 must say, I
was really sweating Thursday night’s
game against Oklahoma State, who
on earth would we have turned to if
Calvin Jones, Lawrence Phillips,
Damon Bcnning and the other 14
running backs who were above Clinton
Childs on the depth chart got hurt?
I’m sorry, DN journalists, but this
just simply is not news. Stick to the
good journalism you produce, such as
the recent stories about Gerald
Armstrong and Billy Wade. Don’t tell
me which Husker suffered a hangnail
in practice. I, and the other 23,999
students on this campus simply don’t
care.
Chris Dingman
graduate student
community and regional planning
