The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, March 15, 1995, Page 4, Image 4

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    .
Daily
Nebraskan
Ecfitoriai 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
No comment
Chancellor’s refusal to talk disturbing
^ For a while now, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor
Graham Spanier has been eerily silent.
Through his silence, he has deceived the students, faculty and staff
oi mis university, as well as all
Nebraskans.
Ever since March 7, when
it was reported that Spanier
turned down the presidency of
the University of Washington,
the chancellor has been silent
about the offer and his future at
UNL.
Now reports are surfacing
that Spanier is seeking the job
of president of the Pennsylva
nia State University system.
And what does Spanier
have to say?
Nothing. And that’s the
whole problem.
It is bad for a university when its leader is reported to be looking to
leave. It is even worse when the leaderwon’tcomment on the situation
one way or another.
We understand the academic worldcan be very transitory. Spanier
shouldn’t be criticized if he wants to leave. If that’s the case, he should
just say so.
Loose lips are said to sink ships, but in this case, the silence is
stirring up the waters.
Interestingly enough, Chancellor Spanier is supposed to be off
campus beginning this afternoon for “spring break activities,” accord
ing to UNL spokeswoman Phyllis Larsen.
He couldn’t have picked a better time. When speculation and
rumors are spreading like wildfire, what does Spanier do? He fans the
flames with his absence.
Spanier told some news reporters Tuesday that the media had been
sloppy in its coverage of his employment. It is unfortunate Spanier
feels this way.
However, the chancellor must remember he answers to the people
—not himself.
The Graham Spanier that has run UNL since late 1991 has shown
strong leadership, whether or notpeople liked what he did. He always
faced his criticism head on.
It is time for Spanier to talk again.
Another view
Nebraska has two options when it comes to water regulations. It can
compromise with other states or go to court.
State Sen. Chris Beutler of Lincoln is offering somegood advice by
urging the state to compromise. Beutler warned that Nebraska could
face an expensive court judgement if it doesn’t adopt a law to jointly
regulate the use of groundwater and surface water.
The state of Kansas is ready to sue Nebraska for overuse of water
in the Republican River Basin in violation of an existing water
compact, according to Beutler. The lawsuit could result in tens of
millions of dollars in damages.
' The cost could be more than just money. A court ruling could
determine how much waterNebraska can use in the Republican River
Basin. With a compromise, Nebraskans can have a say in how much
water is used. _ island Independent
Editorial policy
Staff editorials represent the official
policy of the Sprang 1995. Daily
Nebraskan. Policy is set by the Daily
Nebraskan Editorial Board Editori
alsdonotnecessarilyreflect theviews
of the university, its employees, the
studentsortheNUBoardofRegents.
Editorial columns representthe 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 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 thebasis of clarity,
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 run 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 die 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.
■
I
Send your brief letters to:
Daily Nebraskan, 34
Nebraska Union, 1400 R St,
Lincoln, Neb. 68588. Or fax
to: (402) 472-1761. Letters
must be signed and include a
phone number for
verification. ,v w
Discrimination
In regards to Todd Meedel ’s
letter (March 14), back in the fall
there was a career and graduate
school fair for everyone at the
Devaney Center. I thought it was
well publicized. If Meedel would
have had the foresight to attend it
then, instead of waiting until the
last minute, maybe he wouldn’t be
so outraged at one of the few
services the university is trying to
offer to its minorities.
And, personally, I would
encourage Meedel to show up at
the minority fair. I hope no race
police are going to bar any from
entering if they’re not a minority.
But it seems the issue goes
deeper than just gaining admittance
to a job fair. The ideas underlying
affirmative action have always
been controversial. Although I
don’t completely agree with those
ideas. I’ve asked myself why we
have minority services. Why do we
have the women’s center? Are we
discriminating against males? Why
do we have all-male or all-female
schools? Are we discriminating
against the other gender?
A simple, superficial answer is
that we still have a ways to go
before achieving gender and racial
equality. Unfortunately, a real
answer, which involves historical
understanding and empathy, is
impractical at this point — that is,
it won’t get you an automatic
invitation to a minority job fair. It’s
deplorable that reverse discrimina
tion exists, but unless you are a
minority, you can never know how
much more discrimination you can
be faced with.
Kobporn Lulu Cha
senior
chemistry
‘Turn the page’
For all you people that have a
problem with the “Strip Pool” ad
that is being run in the Daily
Nebraskan, I have a few creative
suggestions for you.
If the ad in the Daily Nebraskan
bothers you so much, then just turn
the page. If the subject matter of
what is on a television show
offends you, change the channel. If
the morning radio station’s DJs
aren’t up to what you consider a
professional standard, then change
the radio station. If a movie’s
subject matter isn’t morally correct,
then leave the show. If the content
of a book is offensive, then, stop
reading.
Get off your high horse and
request your 88 cents back. Give
me a break, people. If you’re that
upset, then simply do not read the
Daily Nebraskan.
Steven Crandall
junior
arts and sciences
i ' ITimiMli iMiillilil iM—nT'~.!■».I
BretGottschall/DN
Gqrs in military
I must first disqualify myself by
saying that I am not a member of
the armed forces or a homosexual.
Rather, I am a “typical” American
who tries to look at social issues
with a just eye. In this capacity, I
hope others can relate to my
opinions.
“Don’t ask, don’t tell” is the
Clinton campaign promise that
brought hope to previously banned
gay U.S. citizens who desired to
serve their country. The military
openly acknowledges its belief that
homosexuals are bad for morale
and erode preparedness because
heterosexuals are wary of working
with them. The policy allows gays
to serve in the military provided
they don’t engage in homosexual
activity and keep their sexual
orientation a secret.
We are preparing our soldiers
with the most advanced skills,
techniques and technology in the
world. Yet, the military relieves
that our country’s best cannot
handle working with each other
unless they are all of the same
sexual orientation.
If you could imagine being a
heterosexual in a world of inverted
sexual orientation, you could better
understand what gays face in die
military.
I would like to see the “Don’t
ask, don’t tell” policy turn over.
The military possesses the most
current technology, why can’t it
possess ethics that are several years
old?
Dave Ahlman
sophomore
French and marketing
Lied lecture
When I heard about Martin E.
Marty’s conference on fundamen
talism, I decided not to go to the
Lied Crater because I believed that
he would accuse Islam and Mus
lims, like many other recent events.
Closing my eyes and ears seemed
good for me to keep living calm.
Later, I changed my idea and
decided to go to the lecture in order
to see how the accusing would be
done.
My decision was totally correct,
although I had a prejudice. I
learned about real fundamentalism
on March 9 from an expert. Thank
you, Professor Marty and support
ers of the lecture.
Ahmet Uhidag
graduate student
agronomy