Jeremy Fitzpatrick Rainbow Rowell. .. Adeana Left in. Todd Cooper. JejfZeleny . .. . Sarah Duev. Willian Lauer.... Nebraskan Editorial Board University of Nebraska-Lincoln ..Editor, 472-1766 ..Opinion Page Editor ...Managing Editor ... Sports Editor .....,.... ,•.... Associate News Editor .Arts & Entertainment Editor .Senior Photographer KlH l()KI \l No idle threat NA TO must keep ultimatum to be effective Bosnian Serbs surrendered most of their weapons in compli ance with a NATO ultimatum Sunday —just in time to avoid airstrikes. NATO had demanded that the Bosnian Serbs stop shelling Sarajevo and remove their weapons from the city. So far, it seems the Bosnian Serbs are cooperating. U.N. troops disabled or posted a guard over artillery left in and around Sarajevo. The Bosnian Serbs’ compliance shows that, at this point, they take NATO and its threats seriously. The United States and its allies must not lose that respect. The ultimatum was not a one-time threat. If the Bosnian Serbs rearm themselves, NATO should carry through with the airstrikes. If they rearm and NATO does nothing, NATO will lose credibil ity and negotiating power. Some speculate that the Bosnian Serbs are simply moving weapons from Sarajevo to shell on other besieged Bosnian cities. If true, this should be considered a violation of the ultimatum. If possible, the allied nations should use the momentum that has been created to push for more peace in Bosnia-Herzegovina. NATO’s ultimatum brought long-awaited peace to Sarajevo. Perhaps it could help bring peace to other parts of the country. This incident has also proven that airstrikes can be effective. Although the strikes have not been carried out, the Bosnian Serbs realize the damage the strikes could do. If the United States continues to act with care and strength, it may be able to help bring peace to Bosnia-Herzegovina without involving American troops. Voter apathy Low turnout reflects disbelief in ASUN David Letterman for president? When students vote in the ASUN elections this spring, Gary Doyle, a senior business management major, is urging them to write in David Letterman as their choice for presi dent. Considering what we’ve seen from the Association of Students of the University of Nebraska in the past, that might not be such a bad idea. Every year, ASUN presidential candidates make lofty, unrealis tic promises to students. And every year they fail to keep them. Of the 22,628 voters eligible for last year’s ASUN elections, only 3,172, or about 14 percent, voted. That ridiculously low number reflects an indifference students have toward ASUN. They don’t vote because they understand what ASUN does: talk. This year will probably be no different. But Letterman’s candi dacy could change things. Last year, the VOICE party was elected by about 50 percent of the vote, or about 1,586 students. If only 1,600 of UNL’s 22,000 students-vote this year and write in David Letterman, he would probably win the election. Actually, Letterman isn’t eligible because he is not a student. But if he received more votes than any other candidate, it would send a clear message that students want more from ASUN than they have seen in the past. The ASUN elections are two weeks away. The registered parties have until then to show students they are more qualified for the office than an ineligible candidate. I l>l It M 1111 Kmiok Women’s Center In response to the Committee for Fee Allocation’s decision to slash the Women’s Center’s budget: As a nontraditional student, I have found support and services through the Women’s Center that have been invaluable to my success at this uni versity. The Women’s Center has provided me with emotional support through its weekly support group meetings for students — men and women — who are single parents. A variety of groups meet at the center. The center gives me a quiet place to meet with my tutor when needed, a place to sit and gather my thoughts and reorganize before I return to my busy schedule. The Women’s Center has helped women deal with violence against women, offering counseling during Candy Harms’ disappearance and again during the Roger Bjorklund tri al. It supports the Clothesline Project, which bears witness to the survivors and victims of violence against wom en in Nebraska. ii nas assisieu me euurumauun ui the UNLSexual Harassment, Assault, Rape Prevention program, offered to students for free in conjunction with the UNL Police. The center has an ever-growing library that offers information on a variety of women’s issues. When a committee decides to limit funding for telephone, stafT, printing and copying services that are vital to the Women’s Center, I sincerely be lieve it is not taking a realistic look at what the center does. I am also beginning to realize that 1 have only myself to blame. This shows the need for older, nontradi tional students, an ever-increasing number of students on campus, to run for student government positions. In the two years the center has been open, it has offered many new services and workshops for women on campus, including faculty and staff. To cut its budget would stunt further growth. Don’t cut the Women’s Center short. Deb Anderson junior family science Racism? What is the problem, specifically, with Sam Kepfield’s column (Feb. 16, 1994)? He identifies himself as an opponent of racial/ethnic quotas. As suming that a more positive definition ofhis position is “color blind,” I sec no overt racism in his editorial. Geno Venegas (DN, Feb. 18,1994) referred to Kcpfield as “a sheltered and racist white male.” Are we to assume that Kcpfield is sheltered be cause he happens to be white? Wouldn’t that be a racist conclusion? Has Kcpfield written in a derogato ry fashion about anyone because ofhis or her ethnic background? Not that I’ve read. Is he then racist? As for his being white, is this an aspect to be considered? Very obvi ously, racism is in no way confined to whites. Robert J. Tobin graduate student geology James MehsJing/DN Student needs In response to C.D. Ybarra’s letter concerning Regent Robert Allen of Hastings and the needs of students (DN. Feb. 17,1994): UNL is responsible for class avail ability, keeping qualified staff, ad ministration, maintaining an academ ic atmosphere and a select few other services paid for by tuition and hous ing fees. That’s it. Abortion is a personal, not a stu dent issue. If women don’t want to make gentlemen out of their boy friends, that’s their prerogative, not the university’s. I’m sorry to say it, but this country is run by the popular majority, or at least, it’s supposed to be. If the majority wants a commence ment prayer, they are more than enti tled to it. You don’t have to listen if you don’t want to. Freedom of speech means you can say anything you want, but no one is going to force you to believe it. Nothing is more offensive to me that 10 percent of the world is gay. Those numbers come from a study done in a prison. I suppose that sort of thing will happen to men with no principles, no morals and, consequent ly, no women around. Allen is more than qualified for his position, and I’m sure his constituents are aware of this, too. If this campus were run by students — who only know the MTV world and have never been in the real world — they would run it into the ground in a heartbeat. Allen’s perspective is one made from experience and common sense. Christopher W. Winkelmann sophomore mechanical engineering Abortion I’ve been following letters submit ted to the Daily Nebraskan about abor tion. People are entitled to their opin ions and I respect that. But people do not have their facts straight. When people who are pro-choice argue for the legal ity of abortion, they try to support themselves by saying it should be an option for cases involv ing rape or incest. When it comes to abortion, rape and incest are not an issue. According to Minnesota Citi zens Concerned for Life’s 1991 news letter, there are 1.5 million abortions annually; and in some cities, the num ber of abortions exceeds the number of live births. Of these abortions, 98 percent are done for reasons other than rape or incest. In fact, 37 percent of that 98 per cent are performed because the wom an does not want anyone to know she had sex. Two million couples are waiting to adopt a child. There are more people waiting to adopt than there are abor tions. So every child is wanted by someone. I f pro-choicers say a woman should be able to do with her body as she pleases, I do not disagree. If a woman wants to sell her body, that is her business. The child she is carrying is a separate living being inside her body, not a part of her body. How educated are people about abortion techniques? If a person does not have an opinion about abortion, or even if they do, I strongly urge every one to find out how abortions are performed and what it does to the child. Gary Cooper senior natural science Kepfield UNL has an excellent history staff who have taught me that cultural di versity is an essential part of under standing and interpreting history, the antithesis of what Kepfield espouses in his Feb. 16 column. To fulfill language requirements, I have had the pleasure of learning from two superb teachers — one from France, the other from Rumania. Dur ing the short year 1 have been here, I have had educational conversations with many people of different cultur al, ethnic and religious backgrounds. I am better person because of this. I am proud to have had the privi lege to attend this diverse, multicultural institution. Kepfield’s rhetoric is no product oi this fine university. With his article, he has finally at tained the status he’s always sought — to be known as a minority. Unfor tunately for Kepfield, it is a minority that has no place in this society- 1 denounce his radically bigoted, hate ful message and beliefs. Donald A. Clark graduate student history