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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 23, 1995)
Ohndn Thursday, February 23,1995 Page 4 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 JamesMehsling.. .Cartoonist Chris Hain. Senior Reporter Old debate Micron doesn’t warrant new UNO college The University of Nebraska at Omaha engineering program needs to be improved. After three studies costing thousands of dollars and a whole lot of arguing, nearly everyone agrees that this is true. UNO had planned to improve the college over the next three years. However, University of Nebraska President Dennis Smith said at a press conference Wednesday that he would accelerate these im provements, and that they may be completed as soon as next fall. That’s a departure from Smith’s December recommendation to improve UNO engineering education, which was not accompanied by a sense of urgency. But that was before Micron Technology Inc. came calling. The company has announced that Omaha is one of three finalists for its $ 1.3 billion computer-chip plant. It seems that in the rush to land the big fish, Smith has decided to change his bait. OK, the improvements to engineering education at UNO would have been made anyway. They may as well be made now. But the Daily Nebraskan would like to see other university improvements sped up as well, like repairs to Burnett and Richards halls at UNL. Regardless, Smith’s announcement also contained some disturbing news. The president said this accelerated UNO plan could lead to the creation of a separate engineering college in Omaha. What ashort memory we have when it is clouded by the promise of economic gain. Three studies, thousands of dollars and a lot of arguing also showed us that UNO does not need its own engineering college. It is nothing new to see a group of administrators bending over backwards to accommodate a special interest. But seeing President Smith in that group is new. The University ofNebraskacan’tsquander its limited resources on a UNO engineering college. This was a dead issue. Bury it again. Another View For an organization with a central role in America’s unfinished journey toward racial equality, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has been frighteningly close to collapse. The election of Myrlie Evers-Williams as chairman vouches that the NAACP is ready for its own journey back from the brink. Evers-Williams’ challenges are formidable, but she has several advantages. One is her deep personal tie to a civil rights group whose history is its most sacred asset. Perhaps only someone with those credentials could have ended the disastrous decade of mismanagement presided overby the defeated chairman, Dr. William F. Gibson. Evers-Williams and the new treasurer, Francisco L. Borges, have promised an end to the spend thrift accounting that has alienated both dues-paying members and benefactors. j But Evers-Williams’ most important decision will be the selection ofan executive director to replace the Rev. BenjaminF. Chavis Jr. His alliance with Louis Farrakhan eroded the N AACP’s biracial tradition. Evers-Williams seems well suited to the task of reasserting the NAACP’s trademark blend of militance and inclusivity. Other civil rights groups need its anchoring presence as they confront problems of economic discrimination, crime and family disintegration. Evers-Williams has given the NAACP anew chance at what looked like the last minute. Much depends on her success. — The New York Times Editorial polley Staff editorials represent the official policy of the Spring 1995. Daily Nebraskan. Policy is set by the Daily Nebraskan Editorial Board. Editori alsdo notnecessarilyreflectthe views of the university, its employees, the studentsortheNUBoardofRegents. Editorial columns represent the opin ion ofthe 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 setby the regents, responsibility for the edito rial content of the newspaper lies solely in the hands of its students. m Latter policy The Daily Nebraskan welcomes brief letters to the editor from all readers and interested others. Letters will be selected forpublication on the basis of clarity, originality, timeliness and space available. The Daily Nebraskan retains the right toedit orrejectall material submitted. Readers also are welcome to submit ma terial 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 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 Submitmaterial to the Daily Nebraskan, 34 Nebraska Union, 1400 R St., Lincoln, Neb. 68588-0448. of ?crr VOS Woor HM. m to &o w I THE SOUNu ,, i STOWS TfcN&V %■ ' 1 " Neb^i#:aii * m I - 7.7^ , ^ - ;4. '.\ V. 7. „ j .._.... ,. ■ . i Gender roles Since Yousuf Bashir seems to contemplate gender roles, I’m surprised he used the title “Woman is God’s gift to man” (Feb. 22). Bashir appears to have become more objective in his gender perspective, and that I applaud. However, the concept of one gender being a gift to the other, at least for me, seems to still be tainted with questionable gender concepts. Using the analogy of a gift, a possible alternative title could be “Man and woman, God’s gift to each other.” Of course, if Bashir actually considers one gender to be the gift of the other, despite its possible belittling connotation, that is his right. By exercising one’s right to various views, a society often tends to become that much more en riched. Further, had women entered the work force earlier, perhaps today a greater amount of gender and ethnic equality would exist. In closure, it’s pleasing to see someone question society’s norms and expectations. The questioning Bashir has demonstrated certainly indicates mental growth on his part. I hope it continues for him and for us all. Craig L. Boardman senior international affairs LETTUCE As a representative of the Lettuce Party in CBA, I am dumbfounded by the Daily Nebraskan’s editorial “Wilted lettuce” (Feb. 17). Andy Smith, LETTUCE party vice-presi dential candidate, made a mistake by commenting that the party was 99 percent greek. However, it is not a mistake that should change the repu tation of the LETTUCE party. LETTUCE is a real representation of the student population. Fitzgerald, Smith and Kissler are very much individuals. Their personalities will force them to do things differently. The party is not 99 percent greek. The three leaders and the rest of the party are all diverse individuals. The point is that we are all different, and we are not all greeks. The main, if not the only, thing we have in common is the goal to change a currently-stale ASUN. I joined the LETTUCE party be cause it is different from the parties represented year after year. Students needed a change in order to get their voices and opinions enforced. LET TUCE was the most obvious choice. Anthony Ford LETTUCE candidate CBA advisory board l y,i 0J..L. iiiiiii i " . I Bret Gottschall/DN Theatre smoke I would like to make several comments on Rainbow Rowell’s pseudo-review (Feb. 20) of the “Mad Forest” production that got “burned by smoking cast.” First, contrary to Rowell’s suggestion therein, the director of the play has an obligation to keep the production within the playwright’s intentions. This does not mean the actors go without their cigarettes, nor do they pretend to smoke unlit cigarettes, so the audience can whisper, “Hey, his smoke isn’t lit.” If Caryl Churchill wants smoke, she should get it. “But it’s theater,” Rowell claimed. But Rowell doesn’t sacrifice her work for the reading comfort of her audience, does she? Sure, some people are bothered by secondhand smoke. If so, instead of complaining, a more pleasing seat, further away from the stage, can be sought out at intermission. I would also like to take this opportunity to comment on the ' people who attend these shows. I have never been surrounded by a more disrespectful audience. I am talking about those dis tracting others by complaining about the smoke during the play, those who (even after the air cleared) began coughing ironically loud enough to show their displea sure and displaying their pride of “Hey, listen to me cough, I’m not a smoker!” No one cares! And how could I forget the fine “gentleman” who sat in front of me opening night with his size 14’s perched up on the stage. To those attending these shows, understand that it is an art you are witnessing. It’s an art that we produce because we have made it our lives, because of our passion for it. You wouldn’t draw a mustache and glasses on a portrait in the Sheldon, so PLEASE respect the artists on stage in Howell. Dana Wall freshman theatre arts