Daily
Nebraskan
Editorial Board
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
JeffZeleny.Editor, 472-1766
Jeff Robb.Managing Editor
Matt Woody.Opinion Page Editor
DeDra Janssen.Associate News Editor
Rainbow Rowell.Arts & Entertainment Editor
James Mehsling.,.Cartoonist
Chris Hain.Senior Reporter
Power trip
Gov. shouldn’t meddle in NU affairs
The people of the state shouldn’t be fooled by Gov. Ben Nelson’s
veiled attempt to exert more control over the University of Ne
braska.
His idea to appoint the members of the NU Board of Regents is
one example. The proposed constitutional amendment he requested
(LR29CA) that would seek more control over the University of
Nebraska budget is another—and more dangerous — example.
“This is not a power grab,” Nelson told the Legislature’s Edu
cation Committee on Tuesday.
as tne saying goes: it it
walks like a duck... and it talks
like a duck... chances are it must
be a duck.
And this duck sounds
like it has a powerful quack.
Nelson apparently is
concerned that his office doesn’t
hold the reins over an agency that
represents 17 percent of the
state’s budget.
Nelson said there was
nothing “draconian” about the
state’s chief executive having
ft if”*- i r mi control over that percentage of
BretGottschaii/on the state’s budget.
The Daily Nebraskan believes that if Nelson’s proposal is ap
proved and the people of the state adopt it, exceedingly harsh—
or “draconian”—consequences could follow.
These consequences could include: a disproportionate geographic
representation of the state and increased lobbying from outside
special-interest groups.
A 1977 Supreme Court decision, Exon vs. the NU Board of
Regents, should be a standing precedent in this matter. The regents
are more responsible if they are elected. Questions of accountabil
ity can be drawn to any appointed governing body.
The Education Committee should not advance this constitutional
amendment to the full Legislature.
In one breath
President Clinton announced Wednesday his nomination of Michael
Cams, a retired Air Force general, for the post of Central Intelli
gence Agency director.
Cams would succeed R. James Woolsey, who left the agency last
month after a rough two years. Critics pointed to what they saw as
Woolsey’s mishandling of the Aldrich Ames spy case.
So far, both Democrats and Republicans have been supportive of
Cams, unljke Clinton’s other current nominee, Henry Foster for the
position of surgeon general.
Robert Gates, the director of the CIA during the Bush administra
tion, has voiced his support for the nominee.
“I think he’s a terrific appointment,” Gates told The Associated
Press. “He’s been a user of intelligence, and he understands a good
deal about how intelligence is prepared.”
The United States Senate should confirm Cams.
Editorial policy
. Staff editorials represent the official
policy of the Spring 1995. Daily
Nebraskan. Policy is set by the Daily
Nebraskan Editorial Board. Editori
alsdonotneeessarityieflectthe views
of the university, its employees, the
studentsortheNUBoardofRegents.
Editorial columns represent the opin
ion ofthe author. The regents publish
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rial content of the newspaper lies
solely in the hands of its students.
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The Daily Nebraskan welcomes brief letters to the
editor from all readers and interested others. Letters
will be selected forpublication on the basis ofclarity,
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Nebraskan retains the right to edit orrejectall material
submitted. Readers also are welcome to submit ma
terial as guest opinions. The editor decides whether
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am
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Right choice
I usually look forward to
Michael Justice’s articles in the
Daily Nebraskan because I find
them intelligent and witty. How
ever, his last article on abortion
(Feb. 6) disappointed me.
First, the pro-life position is not
a religious-only position. I know
many people who are not religious,
vet still see abortion as wrong
because biologically, it ends the
growth and development of a
person.
Second, I would like to say that a
woman made her choice when she
decided to have sex (this does not
include cases of rape or incest,
when pregnancy rarely results).
Finally, I feel that I do share the
same reelings as women who are
pregnant and afraid. I got pregnant
at 16.1 was afraid, but I also
realized that this baby was my
responsibility. Although I could not
raise it, I thought that for my
child’s best interest I would place
him for adoption, not dispose of
him.
I, too, think of my child daily,
and they are thoughts of joy because
I know that I made the right
decision not only for me, but for
him also. I have a bright future
with good grades and feel very
happy that I made a beautiful
contribution to the world and a
lonely couple incredibly happy.
Tina McMenamin
freshman
general studies
‘Dr. Justice’
All hail the eminent Ph.D. of
theology, Dr. Michael Justice, for
he knows “all about God.”
Perhaps instead of arguing finer
points of Christian history (in an
offensive and ignorant manner),
Dr. Justice might want to take a few
classes in logic, for his is just a tad
on the inconsistent side.
Dr. Justice faults Christians for
wanting a better world; presumably,
this is “hypocritical.” But in the
same breath that he becomes
irritated at us beacons-o’-truth for
“preach (-ing our) personal set of
beliefs,” we learn from the good
doctor that crime, kids killing each
other and random violence is
wrong.
What!? How can Mike make
such judgments? It must be because
he knows “all about God.”
I find it hard to see why the good
doctor is justified in berating
Christians for expanding HIS OWN
set of morals to the unborn. Dr.
Justice might tell us it would be
wrong to loll a 5- (or should I say
14-) month-old baby, but a 5
month-old child in the womb is fair
game. What’s up, Doc?
After some careful consider
ation, Dr. Justice might even be
able to find the not-so-subtle
difference between his sister’s
“choice” and his friend’s. In his
sister’s “choice,” no one was
required to die.
Shane Tucker
senior
biology
'No sense’
Michael Justice’s column
“Abortion is woman’s decision”
(Feb. 6) made no sense at all. For
someone who claimed to “know all
about God,” Mr. Justice forgot how
much God likes the truth. For an
article on abortion, I found that it
tended to try to tear apart the
Catholic Church and not tty to
support his stand on abortion.
As for the part of the article on
abortion, the pro-life activists do
not pass judgment on a woman who
is in a crisis; we leave that to God.
We try to protect a child who has
no voice yet and can’t stand up to
say they have a right to “life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happi
ness,” as everyone else does.
Donna Mills
sophomore
education
Jesus
How dare Michael Justice •
digress? Just because his interpreta
tion of the Jesus Conference meets
his own shallow beliefs, or he
interprets it to do so, doesn’t mean
he has any right to mock what I and
so many believe, namely the
teachings of the Catholic Church.
I don’t know the whole story
behind this Jesus Conference, but
Jesus did live here, he probably did
some fishing and he was a man; a
God-made man. He did not have to
be, over the course of time, elevated
to omnipotent status, because he
was already there during his time
on earth.
Justice simply cannot overlook
all of the wonderful and seemingly
impossible things that Jesus did
while he was among us. It is our
faith that makes us strong, and
helps us believe, and if Justice is
lacking in this gift, I will pray for
him.
Brian Coulter
senior
agricultural engineering
Abortion
“God so loved the world He gave
His only Son, not to condemn but
so that we might be saved.”
We have been given so much in
this world. Did you know God loves
YOU as if you are the only person
on earth? He died for YOU! He also
died for each unborn child so that
they would have life.
However, they are not getting a
chance to live in this world if they
are aborted. What if your neighbor
killed his teen-age son? That would
be considered murder, and you
would want him to get his just
punishment.
Yes, there is a difference
between killing a teen-ager and an
unborn child. The unborn child is
defenseless! They have no way to
protect themselves or to fight back.
I am not against abortion just
because of my religious beliefs, but
because abortion is inhumane! How
we treat others is how we treat God.
When we kill an unborn child, we
hurt God. Are you willing to say
that God doesn’t exist to mask your
self-serving morality?
Terri Rickel
junior
elementary education