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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.
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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
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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