Daily
Nebraskan
Editorial Board
University of Nebraska-Lincoin
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
X marks the spot
Voters deserve multiple ballot choices
Lincoln voters have some tough choices to make in today’s pri
mary election.
For mayor, it’s either Mike Johanns or a write-in candidate.
Four city council seats up for grabs. The voters’ choices? In the
first district, it’s Coleen Seng or a create-your-own candidate. In
the second district, vote Linda Wilson or write someone in. In the
fourth district, Curt Donaldson is sweating it out against... no one.
Five key positions in the Lincoln city government are contested.
But only one position — the third city council district — has two
candidates listed on the ballot. Any challengers in the other races
come from write-ins.
Voting is a wonderful right and privilege, but when voters have
almost no choice but to “X” the one name on the ballot, there seems
no point. The decisions already are made.
Johanns, who has performed well as mayor, is basically in a popu
larity contest. Perhaps the ballot should read, “Do you approve or
disapprove of Mike Johanns’ performance as mayor?” The mayor
has no need to campaign and no reason to reach out to the voters.
He knows they must come to him.
That is a problem. Perhaps Johanns has extensive plans to reach
the voters later this year, but this is doubtful.
Voters are going to have less information in this election to make
an informed decision. Issues will be absent. If anything, a write-in
candidate should come forward to challenge the unopposed candi
dates’ views.
jonanns ana me mree unopposea cuy council canaiaaies neea 10
try to reach voters before November’s general election. They need
to have forums in neighborhoods and around Lincoln to let voters
know their plans for the next four years.
Foolish fad
Voting remains best way to limit terms
America’s elected officials are breathing easy this week.
Last week, the Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives
failed to approve a constitutional amendment for term limits, mark
ing the first defeat for the Contract With America.
But more than a victory for the Democrats, it’s a victory for
American voters.
Term limits are a bad idea whose time has not and will not come.
As was repeated last week by seemingly every Democrat taking
the floor: We already have term limits. They’re called elections.
As corny as that statement is, there is truth to it. What kind of
democracy would we live in if we did not allow someone to run for
office? And just because they have experience?
Sure, there are plenty of Washington politicians who are out of
touch with their constituents. But if voters take the initiative, those
people can be swept out of office.
But by not letting career politicians run again, we lose the good
ones with the bad ones. That’s something we can’t afford to do.
“Term limits” is a buzzword in this day and age, oddly enough a
battle cry for some who run for office, including Nebraska 2nd Dis
trict Representative Jon Christensen.
Nebraska voters have bought the “good news,” twice passing
initiatives that would limit the number of terms someone can serve.
Those proposals go directly against the U.S. Constitution. And
they go against common sense, v
EdKorial policy
Staff editorials represent the official
policy of the Spaing 1995. Daily
Nebraskan. Policy is set by the Daily
Nebraskan Editorial Board. Editori
alsdonotnecessarilyieflecttheviews
of the university, its employees, the
students or the NU BoaidofRegents.
Editorial columns rcpresentthe 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 topolicy 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 die
editor from all readen and interested others. Letters
will be selected forpubhcatioa on die basis ofdarity,
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Submit material to the Daily Nebraskan, 34 Nebraska
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NStelucNdi
vp!
‘More than sports’
I am writing this letter in re
sponse to DeDra Janssen’s article
titled “Learning to lose” (March
20). I was pleased that an article
was written about our boy’s basket
ball team and school, but I feel that
the story did not portray our school
and community accurately.
We have been fortunate enough
to be very successful in athletics in
recent years; however, we are quite
proud of all aspects of our school
and community. We feel that our
academic expectations and achieve
ments are top-notch as well.
We have had the Conference
Academic winner three of the past
five years. Most of our athletes are
consistently on the honor roll and
are members of the National Honor
Society.
In addition, one of our recent
alumni, Jami Kubik, now a freshman
on the Husker women’s basketball
team, earned Academic All-Big
Eight with a 4.0 GPA this past
semester. We are very proud of her
accomplishments.
With a senior-high enrollment of
140 students, we have 90 members
in our band and 60 vocal music
students. Our band and chorus
groups have received superior
ratings at district competition
through the last number of years.
We have also presented major
musical performances the last three
years.
I could go on and on; however,
the point I am making is that we are
more than a sports school. Teachers
do give assignments on game days,
and we do accept losses with
dignity.
I would say that we have been
fortunate to have a group of very
competitive student athletes with the
right work ethic who have had a
number of excellent coaches.
Combine these attributes with a
very supportive community, and
success has been the result.
Ron Streit
Cambridge Secondary principal
BretGottschall/DN
Lied protest
I am writing in response to the
anti-gay protest outside the Lied
Center for Performing Arts on
March 28. As a Christian, I would
like to begin by apologizing to both
the homosexuals and heterosexuals
who were offended by the actions of
the group of protesters from
Westboro Baptist Church of
Topeka, Kan.
I am ashamed of their actions as
Christians, and have yet to witness a
more disgusting display of hate
hidden behind the name of God.
God hates sin, not people.
Christ taught love, not hate.
Christians may disapprove of the
homosexual lifestyle, but hurling
hate-filled insults oversteps the
boundary of moral disapproval.
Christ would never have condoned
or contributed to such unloving
actions. Christians may not love the
sin, but they are called to love die
people.
Suzanne Cimino
sophomore
agronomy
‘Real class’
I wish to extend a note of thanks
to Erick Strickland and Jaron Boone
for being so cordial with us March
30 and 31. On those days, I brought
some students to tour the Lincoln
museums and have lunch at the
student union.
The students were thrilled to see
and visit with Erick. He was very
kind and social with the exuberant
crowd of middle-school students
from his old school in Bellevue.
Erick, you showed real class.
Thanks.
Dave Zach
science teacher
Mission Middle School
Bellevue
Right to privacy
So stunned was I by your March
30 editorial regarding the protesters
at the home of Dr. Winston Crabb, I
re-read the item three times. Was
this an early release of an editorial
meant for your annual joke issue on
April Fool’s Day?
“But the citizens of Lincoln do
need to know what Crabb is up to.
The doctor’s Country Club neigh
bors need to know what he does
when he goes out of town.” SINCE
WHEN?!
Do I expect to be kept informed
if my dentist practices oral surgery
in Omaha? What if my lawyer does
a seminar or, for that matter,
coaches little-league softball in
Walton? Should your neighborhood
know what YOU are “up to” when
you go out of town?
Remember, this is America.
Nobody’s neighbors have the right
or the need to know the details of
anyone’s life unless they are in
violation of the law. The Supreme
Court has ruled that abortion is a
legally protected medical procedure
and it has inferred a right to privacy
under the Constitution.
Although these protesters may
have a right to voice their opinions,
the Crabb family has the right to live
in Lincoln without being terrorized.
Christine Scudder
Lincoln -