The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, February 16, 1995, Page 4, Image 4
Opinion Thursday, February 16,1995 Page 4 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 Safety first Proposed gun policy right on target A proposed change in the student code of conduct would affect how students living on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus keep their firearms. Currently the code forbids guns from all university buildings, ex cept living units. In residence halls, guns are stored by residence assistants and in greek houses by chapter presidents. The proposed policy change would require that students living on campus turn their guns over to University Police. The weapons would be stored at the police station. Police Chief Ken Cauble said police would provide gun covers and racks, as well as a location for cleaning. But before it takes effect, the policy must be approved by ASUN and the NU Board of Regents. These bodies should approve the measure. If something will make campus life safer for students, then it is a good thing. This policy will do that. By having students check their guns with police, UNL can avoid a situation where a student might get in a fight and then run up to their living unit, grab their firearm and retaliate with deadly force. An incident similar to this happened in a fraternity a few years ago. The university also could avoid another scenario like what oc curred in October 1992, when a student with a semi-automatic en tered a room in Ferguson Hall and attempted to open fire at a class. No one would argue with a policy that would prevent something like that from happening. The gun storage policy would not restrict students’ rights, either. A student would be able to acquire his or her gun from police 24 hours a day, as opposed to the hours that a residence assistant is available. Another view As if women don’t grapple with enough midlife crises, now they must add weight. It was with good intentions that the U.S. government changed national weight guidelines in 1990. For too long, women have felt pressured to be unduly thin. Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia are blamed on the overemphasis on weight. The 1990 guidelines, which replaced the leaner versions of nearly 40 years, correctly tried to refocus attention on health, not looks. But a study in last week’s Journal of the American Medical Asso ciation says die government went too far. According to the Harvard Medical School study, the guidelines have dangerously misled women by suggesting it’s desirable to gain weight as they age. The study found that even modest gains by women 35 and older seriously increased their chances of suffering a heart attack. The good news, is the study’s authors say the most effective way to maintain a healthy weight is through exercise, not dieting. The bad news is, thin is back in. — The Atlanta Constitution Editorial policy Staff editorials represent the official policy of the Spaing 1995. Daily Nebraskan. Policy is set by the Daily Nebraskan Editorial Board. Editori alsdonotnecessarilyreflectthe views of the university, its employees, the studentsortheNUBoardofRegents. Editorial columns represent the opin ion of the author. The regents publish the Daily Nebraskan. They establish the UNL Publications Board to su pervise the daily production of the paper. According to policy set by the regents, responsibility for the edito rial content of the newspaper lies solely in the hands of its students. Letter policy The Daily Nebraskan welcomes brief letters to the editor from all readers and interested others. Letters will be selected for publication on the basis ofclarity, originality, timeliness and space available. The Daily Nebraskan retains the right to edit or reject all material submitted. Readers also are welcome to submit ma terial as guest opinions. The editor decides whether material should ran as a guest opinion. Letters and guest opinions sent to die newspaper become the property of the Daily Nebraskan and cannot be returned. Anonymous submissions will not be pub lished. Letters should included the author’s name, year in school, major and group affiliation, if any. Requests to withhold names will not be granted. Subrmtmaterial to the Daily Nebraskan, 34 Nebraska Union, 1400 R St., Lincoln, Neb. 68588-0448. f- I-1 L^pJ . w J / _^)V? Send your brief letters to: Daily Nebraskan, 34 Nebraska Union, 1400 R St, Lincoln, Neb. 68588. Or fax to: (402) 472-1761. Utters , must be signed and include a phone number for t verification. WL Oscar picks Although my “quotes” in the article on the Oscar nominations (Feb. 15) were slightly mangled, I’d nevertheless like to go on record with my Oscar picks for the upcoming Academy Awards: Best Picture: “Forrest Gump” Best Actor: Tom Hanks Best Actress: Jodie Foster Best Supporting Actor: Martin Landau Best Supporting Actress: Too close to call Best Director: Robert Zemeckis I’m not saying I agree with these choices, but given the candidates nominated, these seem the likely winners. Overall, I predict that “Gump” will sweep the field. Wheeler Winston Dixon chair film studies Robert Allen I enjoyed the article by Rainbow Rowell on Nebraska Regent Robert Allen (Feb. 14). Articles of this type should be done for each of the members of the Board of Regents, so we can get to know them better. I believe the article gave a true representation of both Mr. Allen’s talents and also his shortcomings. Regardless of his shortcomings, I like Robert Allen. I believe that he is the only regent that truly gives his heart and soul into representing us, the students. During a time when our elected officials feel that when they get into office they can start representing their own special-interest group friends and not the common people, Mr. Allen’s efforts can only be applauded. When it comes down to the controversy between Chancellor Spanier and Mr. Allen’s opinion on his qualifications, Robert Allen represents ME. When have the students of this university ever felt that Spanier has been looking out BretGottschall/DN for our best interest? i What good will politically correct, social-reform education do for a university that, in a few more years, will not have buildings occupiable to teach it in? Do not think for a minute, Mr. Alien, that you are alone on the board; you have thousands of silent students backing you up. By the way, when this last six year term is up and it is “someone else’s turn,” I would be glad to take your place, because I will have had an honorable example to follow. Roger R. Johansen junior pre-dentistry 4vows are important In response to James Griffin’s letter “Beef is bad” (Feb. 7), explanations about beef and the industry need to be brought out. Contrary to some beliefs, beef is a nutritional choice of anyone’s diet. Beef is not only a complete protein, containing all nine essen tial amino acids, but is alto an excellent source of heme iron (the most easily absorbed type) and various vitamins. Beef is also lower in cholesterol than most other meat choices, including chicken, and is*, relatively low in fat if cooked properly. To continue, byproducts from cattle contribute to more than 300 pharmaceuticals and medicines, including insulin for the three million-plus diabetics of the world. Furthermore, surgical sutures are made from cattle byproducts, as well as plaster, asphalt and sporting goods. Stearic acids make tires run cooler and last longer. Bones, hooves and horns supply ingredi ents for buttons, glues, gelatin and photographic film. As you can hopefully now see, cows play a very important role in - our lives today. They provide us with much more than meat, milk and leather. Guess what? They even do this without harming our nation’s rangelands or other species. Jeff Erickson senior animal science Randy Burge senior animal science Some columnists Dear Mr. Karlgoff, I recently took a few of your articles to a psychologist friend of mine and asked for help in under standing your views on society. We came up with some results that might be hard to take, but as you say, “It’s the truth!” In an attempt to decode your articles, I offer a simplified, composite version of them: “I am a close-minded goof, who got this job for the school newspa per. This position will assist me in perpetuating overused and deroga tory stereotypes about every known group on campus. So sayeth the Lord.” M.L. Svoboda junior English